​​Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our Punting and Walking Tours have separate check-in station that are 25 minutes apart by walking. Please ensure that you arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time. The meeting point for our walking tour is located outside Great St Mary University Church on the Senate House Hill, CB2 3PQ. There is a bike with a blue navy umbrella that says Cambridge Walking Tours. Our punting station is located by the river next to La Mimosa restaurant, Thompsons Lane, CB5 8AQ, look for the red umbrella that says Cambridge Punters.

Unfortunately our system cannot detect some chinese emails such as qq/sina/163. Please use gmail/outlook/yahoo or university email.

If there is a student in the group, the entire group is eligible for 10% discount, enter the coupon code ‘STUDENT’ at checkout. If there are children in the group, enter the code ‘CHILD’ at checkout, followed by the number of children. For example, If there is 1 child in the group, use ‘CHILD1’. If there are 6 children in the group, use ‘CHILD6’. If there are students AND children in the group, use the ‘CHILD’ coupon codes for the highest discount.

Yes. Our Cambridge walking tour includes visits to the grounds of Pembroke College and Pembroke College Chapel, subject to their opening times. Additionally, we offer an upgrade option for entry tickets to King’s College and King’s College Chapel. If you would like to visit specific colleges, we recommend booking a private tour for your group because we can arrange entry to the majority of colleges subject to college opening times.

Our punting tours have a maximum capacity of 12 people, while our walking tours have a maximum capacity of 19 people. We take great pride in making sure our tours are both fun and safe, so we limit the capacity to ensure that everyone has enough space and is not overcrowded.

Punting tours are in English. Walking tours are available in English, Cantonese or Mandarin.

You can show up for both shared and private tours on the day, but booking in advance will get you a cheaper price. For a guaranteed time slot and to avoid waiting, we recommend booking both shared and private tours online.

Please check in 10 minutes before the start time of your tour.

Yes, you can call us to make reservations, ask questions, and make payments over the phone.

For groups 12+ for punting and 19+ for walking tours, please contact us and we will provide an exclusive quotation for your booking.

Yes, NHS workers can receive a discount. Simply email us with proof to receive a promo code as a token of our appreciation for all that you do.

We will still proceed on tour and provide umbrellas if it is lightly raining. If it rains excessively, you can continue with the tour, receive a voucher for a future tour, or receive a 70% refund.

Our tour guides are trained to ensure their voices reach all passengers, even if you are seated farthest from the guide. However, if you have difficulty hearing, feel free to request that they speak louder.

For our punting tours, well-behaved dogs are welcome to come along. Unfortunately, regulations at the colleges we visit on our walking tours don’t allow dogs, so they will have to sit this one out.

Suitcases, stroller, bags, wheelchairs, etc. can be stored at our check-in desk while you are on tour. 

We don’t have a ramp, but we can assist with boarding the boat. Please contact us ahead of time to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have a limited supply of children’s life jackets available. Please let us know in advance if you need one.

We do not offer refunds if you are late. You must give yourself enough time to reach the meeting point.

Yes, you can bring your own food and drinks. Just make sure not to use glass cups and be mindful of others when eating or drinking on a shared tour.

Unfortunately, self-hire punting is not an option. However, if you do not have experience punting, we recommend taking a guided tour so you can relax and enjoy the view, drinks and food, while our knowledgeable tour guide does the hard work of punting for you. Self-hire boats accommodate up to 5 passengers. Guided tours are on a larger boat that can accommodate up to 12 passengers and provide you with the opportunity to learn about the history of the city and it’s colleges.

If you wish to feed them, please bring nuts and seeds.

There is no specific age requirement, however, under 16’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Yes, there is no minimum age requirement and we offer life jackets for added safety, upon request.

If you can sit down and stand up, even with some assistance, then you will have no problems participating in the tour.

Due to insurance purposes, customers will not be able to try to punt themselves.

Smoking is permitted on private tours only, at the discretion of your tour guide.

Public toilets are situated near our departure points. Please allow yourself enough time to arrive on time.

Grand Arcade and Castle Hill Car Parks are located close to the city centre and offer safe and secure parking options. The Park and Ride services are also available for those traveling by car, offering convenient access to the city centre and helping to reduce traffic and emissions. For more details, refer to our find us page.

Our punting tour guides are local experts of Cambridge with extensive knowledge about the city’s history and University. Our walking tour guides are either locals, students or University alumni.

We suggest going for the morning or sunset tour for a more relaxed experience. If you prefer a livelier ambience, opt for the peak afternoon times.

No need to worry, the river’s current is weak, and the boats move steadily.

Tips are always appreciated, but not required. Your tour guide will receive 100% of any tips received.

Blankets are available on the boat during cold weather conditions.

The areas we pass through are all on private college property, so it is not possible to step off the boat. We offer a round trip that returns to the starting point, but we can also arrange a one-way tour if you prefer.

The Floating Cam Boat typically operates during peak times of the season. For more information, you can contact them directly through their DM.

For special events like proposals, please contact us to discuss the arrangements.

Our shared tours have set times and will depart regardless of the number of people.

Please note that children over 1 count towards the tour capacity due to insurance purposes. Infants under 1 are not included in the count.

Children under 3 who can sit on an adult’s lap and do not occupy additional space are free of charge.

We are open all-year-round.

If you have an ‘off-peak’ train ticket, which usually applies to weekdays from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm and after 7:00 pm. You can typically take any train during these times as long as your ticket is with the same train operator and unless specified otherwise. Under normal circumstances, there is a train approximately every 30 minutes from Cambridge to London Kings Cross. On weekends, Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays in the UK, all trains are considered ‘super off-peak’, meaning that you can take any train with your given train operator. The latest train from Cambridge to London is after 10:00 pm. We recommend to download the ‘Trainline’  app to instantly book and view all train schedules.

Do not join our tours if you or anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19. Contact us immediately to reschedule, receive a credit note, or refund. You must provide proof of your positive test result by uploading it to the NHS app and contacting us by 9am on the day of your scheduled tour to be eligible for a refund.

Our tour guides are trained to ensure their voices reach all guests, even if there are over 20 people in the group. However, if you have difficulty hearing, feel free to request that they speak louder. Alternatively, if enough notice is given, we can equip the guide with a voice amplifier.