At Let’s Go Punting we’ve compiled and answered some of our most frequently asked questions about punting tours and the history of Cambridge.
Why is Cambridge called Cambridge?
When Cambridge was founded around the area of Castle Mount around the 12th Century, it became the head of the navigation of the then-called River Granta. Of course, as it was becoming an important trading port, a bridge needed to be constructed. Thus, they built the Great Bridge, which is known today as the Magdalane Bridge. The Great Bridge was the only bridge crossing the Granta at the time, and with the years passing by, people started to call it ‘Grentebrige‘, ‘Cantebrigge‘ and finally, Cambridge; and gave the river the name River Cam.
What is Cambridge famous for?
Cambrigde is famous for the University of Cambridge and it’s alumni. Cambridge University is the number one university in England and one of the top universities in the world.
What is Cambridge University?
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and – although some people think it’s a single building – it consists of 31 Famous Colleges. Many famous thinkers, scientists and poets graduated here – including Oliver Cromwell, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.
Which river is Cambridge on?
Cambridge is on the River Cam (known as River Granta in Saxon Cambridge). The River Cam is the main river running through in eastern England and it’s total distance to the sea is approximately 40 miles. The River Cam plays a central role in Cambridge’s life; if they are not on the river punting, people spend their freetime at riverside parks, bars and restaurants.
What are the boats called in Cambridge?
The boats on the River Cam are called punts. A punt is a long, a long, narrow flat-bottomed boat, square at both ends and propelled with a long pole, and it’s used on inland waters chiefly for recreation. Punts aren’t only found in Cambridge, they can also be found in Oxford, Canterbury and Kent in the UK.
Why is punting called punting?
‘Punting‘ simply comes from the word ‘punt‘, just like ‘skiing’ comes from the word ‘ski’.
What is punting on the river? What is a punting tour?
Punting is smoothly gliding along the river on a punt being propelled by a person and a punt pole or stick whilst enjoying the view. A punting tour is doing exactly same thing, but with a knowledgeable Tour Guide / Punt Chauffeur.
What is punting in Cambridge?
Punting in Cambridge means gliding through the famous College Backs in the heart of the city. During your tour, you will see 7 riverside colleges, including Magdalene, St John’s, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King’s and Queens’ College. On our Guided Tours at Let’s Go Punting, Punt Chauffeurs share the interesting history of Cambridge with the travellers. There are two types of Punting Tours in Cambridge that you can book with us: private and shared tours.
How much does punting cost in Cambridge?
Punting costs anything between £5 – £149 when booking online at Let’s Go Punting, depending on the type of the tour (private or shared), the season, and the given day of the week. The most common price for Shared Tours is £12 per adult and £120 for Private Tours. However, Special Offers and Discounts are available throughout the year. To check the current prices, please click here for Shared Tours, and here for Private Tours.
How long does punting take in Cambridge?
Punting in Cambridge takes usually around 45-50 minutes for a chauffeured tour along the college backs. However, options for shorter and longer tours are always available. When hiring your own punt (commonly known as self hire and not currently offered at Let’s Go Punting) you will be charged per hour.
Are dogs allowed on the punts in Cambridge?
Dogs are allowed on private tours, and well behaved dogs are allowed on the shared tours sitting on the lap.
We hope this information has answered some of your questions about Punting in Cambridge. If we missed anything gives us a shout on Twitter or Instagram and we will be happy to answer your questions……
