Frequently Asked Questions

When booking a tour in person, we do take cash as well as card payments. Note that our in-person rates are higher than our online rates.

We offer discounts for Cambridge students, NHS workers, and carers. Drop us an email to receive the code to take 10% off your punting tour total.

We also offer discounts through promo codes. When these are available, they will be on our Instagram page here. Or, check our Google Business page here.

Whilst payment can be taken through third parties, to book you onto our system, you will need to confirm a time slot for your punting tour. We can then book you in for a specific slot and send across a confirmation email with all the information you need for the day.

You can book and pay for punting over the phone between 9 am and 5pm, 7 days a week. Call us on 01223 651 659 and press option 2 to speak with our office team. Alternatively, invoices can be emailed across facilitating payment to be made via bank transfer or card.

With online bookings, or bookings made over the phone, upon receiving your payment, we will send you an email confirmation of your booked punting tour. This will show the time and date of your tour, the ticket type that you selected, and will include useful information such as how to reach our location.

There is no need to print this out. You do not need a physical ticket to show upon arrival. Simply arrive in plenty of time, and give the name on the booking to one of our helpful cashiers. They will then show you to your boat and the punting tour can begin.

Punting bookings are per group. We do not charge per person, but rather for the entirety of your group.

For instance, if you are booking a shared tour for up to 3 passengers, the ticket will permit entry to all of your group of 3. This ticket does not need to be repurchased for each passenger.

Solo travellers need to purchase a ticket for up to 2 people.

To make sure you have enough time to find our location, we recommend that you aim to reach us 10-15 minutes before the tour time. If you are new to Cambridge and unfamiliar with how to navigate it, it’s always safe to allow extra time to reach us, as late arrival will result in a missed or shorter tour.

The price depends on whether you are booking a private or shared punting tour and the time you are looking to depart. More information can be found on our pricing page but essentially tours are most heavily discounted before 11am when we are at our quietest. We also charge a peak rate during the weekends and school holidays.

You can book online up to 20 minutes before the departure time. Please ensure you allow enough time to reach us. Late arrival will result in a missed tour (or a shorter tour in the case of private tours that arrive up to 25 minutes late).

During busier times our online tours will sell out in advance. If you have a specific time in mind we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

When booking your shared tour ticket you will be asked to select a time and date. If you have booked via a third-party site and have not been given a time please contact us at the office (info@letsgopunting.co.uk) to get booked onto a specific departure to avoid a long wait on arrival.

If online private or shared tour tickets are unavailable for your selected date it will be because tickets have sold out. We have a set number of reduced-price tickets available per day. If online tickets have sold out please do come down to our check-in on the corner of Jesus Green where our cashier will assist you in booking on to the next available departure.

Whilst you can just turn up for both shared and private tours we strongly recommend booking in advance online or over the phone with our friendly office team. Our on-the-day rates charged at our river location are significantly higher than our discounted online rates. Additionally, at peak times, there can be a considerable wait time for the next available tour..

If your group is larger than 24 people or you have specific requirements please do contact us to book via invoice or phone.

On rare occasions, the river may be closed for maintenance. As soon as we are made aware of any closure, we contact all customers who have a booking on the dates in question to offer either a full refund or a chance to reschedule.

When the water current is too dangerous to safely operate punting tours, we also have to hold off on providing our service. In which case, customers are informed as soon as possible and have the option of a full refund or rescheduling.

​​This will depend on how much notice you have given us when cancelling your booking.

Option 1 – If you cancel with more than 24 hours notice we will offer you either a credit note for the full value (use within 12 months) or a 70% refund.

Option 2 – If you cancel with less than 24 hours you will not be eligible for a refund or reschedule.

We go ahead in all weather (as long as conditions are safe for our staff and customers). We have umbrellas on board when rain is predicted and blankets when its cold.

If you would like to amend or cancel your booking due to adverse weather (significant rain,wind or low temperatures):

Option 1 . With at least 24 hours notice we can amend your booking to a different time or date (subject to availability). If the new slot is more expensive then you will need to pay the difference. No refund will be due if the new slot is less than has been paid. If you do not know when you would like to reschedule to we can offer you a credit note to rebook within 12 months or a 70% refund.

Option 2 –  With less than 24 hours notice but more than 3 hours notice we will amend your booking subject to availability. A moving fee of £15 for shared tours and £30 for private tours will be charged. With less than 24 hours notice no refund will be offered.

If conditions are dangerous for our staff and customers we will contact you to cancel your booking. In this case we will offer to either reschedule your tour, offer a credit note or a full reund.

Dangerous conditions include, but are not limited to, overhead lightening storms, gale force winds, extreme heat or cold and fast flowing current.

Please contact us as soon as possible if you are going to be late.

Shared tours can be held for a maximum of 5 minutes. If you are more than 5 minutes late you will miss your departure and will need to repay to book onto a later tour (subject to availability).

If you arrive within 25 minutes of your private punting departure time we can still get you out on the river for a shorter tour time. Please note the boats will need to be back in time to be ready for the next scheduled departure. Some sights may be missed out of the tour as a result.

If we are given a minimum of 2 hours’ notice, we can move your tour to another time slot, subject to a moving fee and dependent upon availability.

This depends on where you are coming from. But, if you are coming from the train station specifically, you can ride the following buses:

The A The busway to Jesus Lane, where it would then be a 7-minute walk to us.

The X3 and get off at Bridge Street, with a 4-minute walk to our location.

The number 7 bus will take you to Emmanuel Street, which is a 15-minute walk from our location.

The number 1 bus will take you to Christ’s College, which is then an 11-minute walk.

Note that there are also options where you can change buses – the options included here strictly apply to direct journeys.

For coach drop-offs, the closest option is Chesterton Road, opposite Arundel House Hotel. From here, cross Jesus Green Lock Bridge and follow the river along to our location. It’s under a 5-minute walk.

For Coach parking, one option is Madingley Road Park and Ride, permits are £10 per day and are obtainable on-site.

Another option is the Cambridge Golf Driving Range, Cowley Road. Permits are £10 per day.

We do not have any disabled parking on site.

If you have a blue badge, then you can park for up to 3 hours free of charge in any of the multi-story car parks and Castle Hill Car park.

For further information see the councils website: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/parking

There is no free parking close by between 9am and 5pm, below you will find information on our closest car parks and Pay & Display options.

Pay & Display: Usually limited to 2 hours between 9am and 5pm, and free outside of these hours. The following are a 5-10 minutes from our departure point:

• Chesterton Road
• Pound Hill

Car Parks:

• Park Street Car Park: Suitable for longer stays, approximately a 5-minute walk.
• Castle Hill Car Park: Suitable for longer stays and can be quieter than more centrally located car parks, approximately a 12-minute walk.
• Grand Arcade and Grafton Car Parks: Multi-story options for extended parking, conveniently located in central Cambridge, each about a 15-minute walk away.

The City centre car parks can be very busy and are up to £25 to park for an entire day. If visiting Cambridge for the day, it may be easier and more cost-effective to use the city’ Park & Ride scheme.

Unfortunately, we do not have parking on site. See here for information on the closest parking options.

All punting tours come with a skilled chauffeur who will be your guide and carry out the physical punting of the boat with anecdotes to engage you in the history of Cambridge. It’s an experience of full escapism in the majesty of the University of Cambridge.

The tour itself will cover 7 colleges and 9 bridges – including the most iconic sights in Cambridge. These are exclusive sights to the River Cam, and can all be experienced in our 50 minute tour.

All boats have raised and cushioned seating, and blankets and umbrellas are available upon request. This allows for a spacious and comfortable experience, whether you opt for a shared or a private tour.

We tend to open at 09:15 each day, and the last tour of the day depends on the time that the sun sets. The earliest of the last tour of the day is at 15:15, and the latest final tour of the day is at 19:45.

Punting is a classic English boating activity of propelling a flat-bottomed boat, called a punt, along a river or canal. This is all done manually with a long pole to push against the riverbed. It’s a popular pastime, especially in the UK, particularly in university towns like Cambridge and Oxford.

Historically, punting was used to transport goods across the water. Today, it’s a leisurely activity to enjoy. Punting in Cambridge is especially beautiful because of the sights along the riverside.

At this time we do not offer chauffeured tours to Grantchester. All of our tours are return trips along the college backs.

Unfortunately at this time, we don’t offer self-hire punting, all of our services are guided tours along the River Cam. If conditions allow it is possible for customers to have a go at punting on Private Tours.

Punting is an incredibly safe activity and children of all ages are welcome on our punting tours. That being said, we usually advise parents/carers with young children to position the children in the middle of the punts and make sure they are not putting their hands on or over the edge of the punt. The punts are very stable and will not tip over. We have a limited number of children’s life jackets available. Please contact us in advance if you will require children’s life jackets so we can ensure they are available for you.

Our boats hold up to 12 passengers. Each boat has 4 benches, and each bench seats up to 3 people.

Children do count as passengers. Infants under 12 months do not need to be counted within the maximum of 12 customers per punting boat.

If your group size is over 12 passengers, additional boats will be needed.

Due to the historic nature of the city council landing stage, unfortunately, we do not have step-free access. There are 5 steps down to our landing stage. More information can be found in our accessibility guide. Our staff are on hand to help customers who require assistance onto the boats. Please call ahead of time to discuss your requirements, or email us at info@letsgopunting.co.uk

In order to get into our punts you need to be able to step down 5 steps and then down again into the boat (we do have a step which can be installed so it is 2 small steps into the boat if needed). Our punts are fitted with low-raised seating for added comfort. Our chauffeurs and auxiliary staff are on hand to assist customers into the boats as required. See our accessibility guide for more information.

Punting is extremely safe but we do have a limited supply of children’s life jackets available. If you require a life jacket please contact us in advance so we can ensure we have a life jacket available for you.

We recommend that you share your experience on Google – you can find our Google Business profile here. Alternatively, if you have an issue that you would like to address that may require correspondence? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our office team is available seven days a week.

Prams and buggies can be left at our punting station whilst you enjoy your tour with us. A member of our team is often on hand to monitor, though leaving personal items is at your own risk. We advise that valuables are brought on board with you for the tour itself.

If your pram or buggy can be folded, there may be space to bring them on the boat itself. Please ensure that you arrive on time for your punting tour so that these options can be explored.

Punting is safe for all ages, there is no minimum age to join our tours. We ask that under 16 year olds are accompanied by an adult. Infants under the age of 12 months are not included in the ticketing and have free entry to our punting tours.

Tipping the punting chauffeur is entirely optional. If you feel the service deserves a tip, feel free to do so. Chauffeurs keep 100% of any tips they receive.

Alternatively, if you leave a 5-star Google review and mention the name of your chauffeur, we gift them with a small bonus.

In summary, tipping your punting chauffeur is welcomed but not required.

On private punting tours, you may be able to try punting yourself. This is dependent on how much time, if any, is left at the end of the tour once the boat is back from the sights. Trying punting yourself is at your own risk, is done at the chauffeur’s discretion, and is only available for private tours.

We advise that you let the chauffeur know that you would like to try punting yourself at the start of your tour. This way, they will know to try and leave enough time for it. This is also dependent on weather conditions as the chauffeur may decide it is not safe for customers to try in wet conditions.

Feel free to decorate your boat however you please. Note that your boat is unlikely to be available before your tour slot, meaning that decorating will eat into your tour time.

Additionally, you must remove all decorations at the end of the tour so the boat is ready for the next departure, leaving the boat as you found it.

We recommend dressing with an extra layer to prepare for the outdoor activity.

However, we do provide blankets and umbrellas if needed.

Dogs are very welcome on private tours. If joining a shared tour we ask that you book a section for up to 6 people if you would like to bring a dog onboard.

For private chauffeured tours we can provide a selection of delicious picnics (Deli, Brunch, Afternoon Tea and Sushi). We also cater for larger events and can provide bespoke catering quotes on request. Champagne, Prosecco, Alcohol-free Prosecco and Water are available to pre-order on private tours. Additionally, we offer a selection of beers, ciders and soft drinks available for events. For more information on the picnics and drinks which we offer please see our picnics page.

You are very welcome to bring your own food and drinks (including alcohol) onboard. For health and safety reasons please bring plastic glasses/flutes as opposed to glass. If booking a seat on a shared tour, please be considerate of those around you when consuming any refreshments. All rubbish should be taken with you at the end of your tour and disposed of responsibly.