So, you are here to learn if you do have to book punting in Cambridge – and the answer is: no – but it’s better to book. Although you can show up and book in person for your punting tour, there are many benefits to booking online in advance.
Why it’s good to book punting in Cambridge
One easy reason why it’s better to book punting in advance is because it’s cheaper! The online rates, as a rule of thumb, are at a better price. If you are looking for cheap punting in Cambridge, booking online also means you can look around for promo codes. The best place to check for promo codes is on our Instagram page here – give us a follow to keep up to date with all the best deals. And of course, all the best photos of the River Cam.
Booking punting in advance, even if just by a few hours, means you get to reserve a slot. If you show up in person without a booking, you might be waiting around for up to half an hour for a tour – if not longer if we are full! Just remember, if you have booked a slot with us, be sure to arrive on time. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on the experience.
Once you have made your booking, we will send through a confirmation email with everything you need to know. Make sure to factor in travel time; finding parking in Cambridge can be a tricky mission! If coming by train, leave plenty of time to get to us as the train station isn’t in the very centre of Cambridge (plus, cancellations and delays of train journeys are far from unheard of). Click here to see where the train station is on the map!
How much does punting cost if you just show up?
There isn’t a set rate. It’s hard to give an easy answer, I’m afraid. Many factors go into the pricing such as the time of day, day of the week, month of the year, and how busy we are. The sales team on Quayside and on the corner of Jesus Green are always there as an option if you’d prefer the spontaneity of showing up and booking on the spot – but make sure to look out for members of staff from our company for the most competitive rates. You can also book right at the train station!
To avoid any uncertainty, we recommend booking in advance. But do you have to book punting in Cambridge? No, you don’t.
How to book punting in Cambridge
If you are looking at how to book punting in Cambridge, you first need to know your group size. If your group is large, you might only be able to choose a private tour because you’ll be taking up an entire boat. Each of our boats holds twelve passengers, if you have more than nine people, you cannot opt for a shared tour. In most cases, you can book everything on our website. For bookings of more than twenty-four people, get in touch with our office to make arrangements. You can call 01223 651 659 or email info@letsgopunting.co.uk, we will get back to you with a quote ASAP.
The booking page will ask if you would prefer a shared or private tour, and will then ask how many passengers will be attending. You can then select the date you had in mind. This will take you to our prices and availability for you to select from. Once payment is taken, you will receive a confirmation email with useful information to prepare you for your tour. It’s that easy!
So there you have it. It’s best to book punting in advance. That doesn’t mean you can’t book punting in person. Our team is there to greet you and find the best ticket for your group. Any questions? Give us a call!
