Shared Cambridge Punt Tours

College Backs Punting Tour

The green tape grass rooted in the soft mud
Sways leisurely in the water;
I am willing to be such a waterweed
In the gentle flow of the River Cam.

From Second Farewell to Cambridge (Xu Zhi Mo)

The 1.6 km (1 mile) section of the Cam known as the College Backs is one of the loveliest stretches of river in England. Set amidst spacious lawns and intimate gardens are some of Cambridge's finest buildings, including King's College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs and the Wren Library.

Our award-winning shared College Backs tour offers the perfect introduction to Cambridge. Sit back and enjoy the spectacular, world-famous views, whilst your expert river tour guide brings the city’s fascinating story to life. Our guides are at your service come rain or shine, so why not pay us a visit to experience Cambridge’s most popular tour?

We run regular scheduled 45-minute shared punting tours every day, conditions permitting. These can be joined on a walk-up basis at any time with an online Peak Ticket or before 12 noon with an online Off-peak Ticket.

feature-img Tickets starting from £60

feature-img Cheap weekday rates

Tickets valid for 6 months

1. Select time of week:

Monday to Friday

Saturday and Sunday

WEEKDAY TICKETS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. To purchase please do so at our kiosks directly on the day.

Visit Cambridge on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds and benefit from cheaper rates on one of our shared tours.

Highlights:

- See the Mathematical Bridge
- Pass by the world famous King's College Chapel
- Marvel at Clare College Gardens
- Admire the Wren Library
- Punt under the Bridge of Sighs

Visiting Cambridge for weekend getaway? Make some time to go punting, choosing from our peak and off-peak options.

Highlights:

- See the Mathematical Bridge
- Pass by the world famous King's College Chapel
- Marvel at Clare College Gardens
- Admire the Wren Library
- Punt under the Bridge of Sighs

Know before you buy ▾

COVID-19 Safety ▾

Getting here ▾

Shared punt tours along the Backs can be taken daily, departing every 15-30 minutes. Our punts can seat up to 10 people in 4 socially distanced rows.
Your e-ticket can be redeemed at either our Mill Lane or Quayside Punting Stations and is easy to use: just present our staff with a print-out or show it to us on your mobile device and we will redeem it for reserved places on the next available tour. Availability is usually best on weekdays and weekend mornings.
You can use your peak tickets for both peak and off-peak times. Off-peak tickets can be upgraded to peak times directly at our kiosk and you'll need to pay the difference in price.
Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.
E-tickets are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase and are not refundable.
E-tickets are subject to our Terms & Conditions.

Please call us on 01223 359750 if you have any questions about your purchase.

What we’re doing differently

Requiring visitors to book in advance to avoid crowding and limiting numbers on each punt.
Thoroughly sanitising all equipment (boat, cushions, pole and paddle) before and after each use.
Implementing designated pedestrian route layouts and signage on site, along with dedicated members of staff to monitor the flow of people.
Conducting briefings and hire handover procedures from 2 metres away.

What we ask of you

Only punt with members of your own household or one additional household - including each household's support bubble.
Bring your own hand sanitiser (and other PPE if you want to of course).
Be confidently mobile as we have had to adapt how we hold the boat to get you on and off and are unable to offer you a supporting hand or arm.
NOT to participate if you / anyone in your household have been infected or displayed any coronavirus symptoms, or have been in contact with anyone that has the virus, within the last 14 days.

During your visit

In order to maintain social distancing, please arrive on time. Sadly, if you're more than 15 minutes late, we won’t be able to guarantee you entry. Your entry will be at the discretion of the Duty Manager, who will base their decision on visitor numbers and the ability to maintain social distancing.
Have your booking confirmation ready to show the Scudamore’s staff member at the front entrance, preferably on your mobile device, to minimise contact.
To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing, and government guidance throughout your visit. Please look out for our staff and any signs around the site, taking care to follow their guidance.
Be aware that, as a safety precaution, we are currently unable to provide any customers with personal floatation devices.
You are encouraged to clean or sanitise your hands immediately before and after your trip. Hand sanitiser will be available on site for the use of any customers who don’t have their own.

We have two locations in the city centre where you can redeem your e-ticket:

Mill Lane Punting Station

Granta Place
Mill Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1RS

Quayside Punting Station

Magdalene Bridge
Cambridge
CB5 8AB

Parking and Public Transport

More information on Cambridge parking and public transport to our locations can be found here.

2. Select weekday peak or off-peak arrival:

2. Select weekend peak or off-peak arrival:

Row of up to 3: Weekend Off-Peak	Quantity
Kiosk £70.00 per row Online £70.00 per row

Punting on a weekend? Come down before 12 noon and enjoy our cheaper rates.

Weekend peak tickets sold out online

Have a question?

How long is the tour?

Our award-winning tour is 45 minutes long. Your tour will finish at the same place you started from.

Where do I need to go to redeem my ticket?

You can use your ticket at one of our two punting stations: Mill Lane or Quayside.

Can I use my off-peak ticket after 12 noon?

If you wish to use your off-peak ticket at our peak times after 12 noon, you can pay the difference and upgrade it directly at our stations.

Can I use my peak ticket before 12 noon at off-peak times?

Yes. Your peak tickets are valid for off-peak times.

What if the weather changes on the day?

All of our tours are going as normal unless the river conditions are dangerous and we have to stop operating. We recommend bringing an umbrella in case the weather changes. Due to safety reasons, we're currently not providing our standard umbrellas and blankets.

How many people can each boat hold?

To observe social distancing we've limited our punts to 9 people each, split into 3 rows of 3 people each. If you're looking to have a group larger than 9 please contact our Bookings Team on 01223 359750 or at enquires@scudamores.com

Any other questions?

Email: enquiries@scudamores.com
Phone: 01223 359750

College Backs Map

Download our College Backs map before you go.