The 15 Best Cambridge Tours & Punting Trips

1.Cambridge University Walking Tour by Alumni™ Kings College Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,336 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $33Our pick

Walk Cambridge with a graduate guide who explains college rivalries, student traditions, and the stories behind the Corpus Clock, Eagle pub, Trinity, St John’s, and King’s College. The 90-minute tour stays mostly outside. Add a self-guided King’s College Chapel visit for £25, if selected when booking.

“Really good overview to help us understand how the college's work. This is an amazing campus. Helped me to orient to the city while my son studied here for a week”

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2.Cambridge University With Alumni: Optional Kings College Entrance

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,987 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $34

Walk Cambridge with a current student or alumnus who explains college life, famous graduates, and university traditions. You’ll visit King’s College Chapel if you choose that option, then see Peterhouse, Pembroke, Corpus Christi, the Mathematical Bridge, the Backs, Senate House, St. John’s, and Trinity College. Expect two hours of walking on uneven streets.

“Thank you for our guide Mark on this lovely tour it was a great experience I would always repeat. You gave me a new perspective of Cambridge (and some interesting of Oxford).”

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3.Punting Tour in Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,690 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.)

Cruise Cambridge’s River Cam in a shared punt for about 45 minutes. Your guide steers past the College Backs, Mathematical Bridge, King’s College Chapel, and St. John’s covered bridge while sharing stories and history. Morning and afternoon trips are available, with a maximum of 12 people and a ticket valid for six months.

“An amazing and interesting tour. George who took us on the tour was wonderful and friendly and gave us lots of historical information. We also had lovely weather for it too so made it even better. I would highly recommend this as something to do when your in Cambridge.”

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4.Shared Guided Punting Tour of Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 787 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $22

Join Cambridge Punt Company at Jesus Green for a shared 45-minute ride along the River Cam. Your punter guides the boat past Trinity, St. John’s, King’s College Chapel, the Mathematical Bridge, and famous college gardens while sharing history, student stories, and answers to your questions. Boats hold up to 12 people and return to the starting point.

“A fun 45 minute boat ride passing some of the famous colleges and universities that Cambridge is famous for. Really worth doing if you’re in town and get the chance”

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5.Cambridge Walking & Punting Tour by Alumni™ King’s College Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 698 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $76

Meet your Cambridge student or graduate guide outside King’s College for a 90-minute walking tour covering the Corpus Clock, The Eagle, Trinity, St John’s, and more. Add the self-guided King’s College Chapel visit, then relax on a chauffeured punt past eight colleges and nine bridges. Guides have included Niamh, Elliott, Annie, and David.

“This is an exceptionally entertaining tour, ideally suited for anyone wishing to gain an introductiory insight into the complex Cambridge University and its 31 Colleges, from the perspective of a bonafide alumnus. Our tour guide for the walking portion of our tour, Elliott, halfway through a 6 year Doctorate of Medicine program, was nothing short of amazing as he educated and informed our group in his highly articulate style. The 2nd part of our tour was super-entertaining as we punted along the River Cam for approximately 45 minutes and were able to view 8 Colleges and some 9 bridges. Our guide regaled our group with history, facts and interesting folklore…”

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6.Shared Punt Tour – Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 540 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.)

See Cambridge from the River Cam on a guided punt lasting about 50 minutes. Your punter steers while explaining Magdalene, Trinity, King’s, Queens’, the Bridge of Sighs, Mathematical Bridge, and more. Shared boats hold no more than six people, with guides such as Ben, Benji, Tom G, Zac, and Callum praised for humor and clear storytelling.

“Benji our punter was so informative and also funny. A great informative enjoyable relaxing way to learn some history of Cambridge university”

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7.Creepy Cambridge – Cambridge’s Most Entertaining Ghost Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 366 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Walk central Cambridge with guides such as Peter, James, Alex, Ben, and Sid, hearing ghost stories tied to Magdalene Bridge, the Round Church, Clare College, Market Square, and famous university figures. Expect a relaxed, interactive walk in English, lasting about 75 to 90 minutes, with college exteriors rather than interior visits.

“James, our guide, was friendly, engaging, and interesting. He took us down spooky streets and told great stories. We saw parts of Cambridge we wouldn’t have otherwise. A lovely time. Thank you, James!”

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8.Private Cambridge Punting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.)

Book a private 50-minute chauffeured punt for up to 12 people on Cambridge’s River Cam. Your punter guides you past King’s College Chapel, the Mathematical Bridge, seven college backs, and the Bridge of Sighs, adding local stories along the way. Guides such as James, George, Ryan, and Noah are known for lively, well-informed commentary.

“Amazing experience and tour guide. It was informative and fun. We had four adults and two kids below the age of 2 and it worked perfectly. Safe, interesting and very central.”

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9.Shared Punting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 330 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Join Rutherford’s Punting Cambridge for a chauffeured 50-minute shared punt from Jesus Green Moorings. Your guide pilots the boat beneath nine historic bridges and through Cambridge’s private College Backs, adding stories about the university and riverside buildings. Boats hold up to 12 people, and guides such as Max, John, Matt, and Adam are known for lively, informative commentary.

“Absolutely must do while in Cambridge, it is a beautiful way to explore Cambridge and to see the various sights. We throughly enjoyed our punting tour!”

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10.Cambridge University Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 316 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $20Best value

Walk Cambridge with guides such as Dave, Ian, Jon, Martin, and Bobby, learning how faith, politics, science, and university life shaped the city. The 90-minute to two-hour route begins at the Round Church and usually includes about two college interiors, though access varies. Expect a moderate to fast pace and up to 15 people.

“Thank you for a wonderful day in Cambridge. As a young family with two young children, we really enjoyed hearing the stories about Cambridge. Although our son asked us a lot of questions during the tour, we felt comfortable and happy to continue with the group.”

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11.Walking Tour of Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 305 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Walk through Cambridge with a private English-speaking guide such as Jo, Paul, Dick, Judith, or Kirsten. Choose a route, ask for college or university details, and consider adding King’s College Chapel. Tours last about two hours, suit groups of up to six, and can begin at the meeting point or another central Cambridge location.

“It was very nice walking tour of the colleges, great overview to prepare you for a deeper dive next day! Dick shared a lot of great information about alumna and their achievements.”

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12.Cambridge University Colleges Guided Punting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 220 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Join a small-group punt carrying up to 12 people and glide along Cambridge’s River Cam with a student or alumni guide. You’ll see Darwin College, the Mathematical Bridge, King’s College, Trinity Hall, and Magdalene while hearing stories about Pink Floyd, Stephen Hawking, and Queen Victoria. Cushions, blankets, and flexible start times make this an easy city highlight.

“Had a great tour with our guide Harry! Would definitely recommend the tour. Harry shared information about the colleges in an entertaining way with us so that the tour passed very quickly. Thank you very much for this nice holiday experience!”

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13.Private | Cambridge University Tour By Alumni™ & King’s Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Walk Cambridge with a current student or graduate guide, visiting King's, Trinity, St John's, the Mathematical Bridge area, the Corpus Clock, and historic science sites. Guides such as TJ, Lindsay, Maria, and Jess have led lively tours with useful student-life insight. Add King's College Chapel in advance for a self-guided visit after the walk.

“Tour guide was knowledgeable, we knew about Cambridge University history and each colleges. Four teenage enjoyed the trip.”

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14.City Sightseeing Cambridge Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 185 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $23

Use a 24-hour ticket to tour Cambridge by double-decker bus, staying aboard for the roughly 80 to 90 minute loop or hopping off at stops near King’s College, the Fitzwilliam Museum, the station, The Backs, and the American Cemetery. Recorded commentary is available in nine languages, with buses every 40 minutes.

“Very happy with this experience. I had only half day by the time I reached, but one and half tour with the bus was pretty pleasant due to the beauty around the city. The tour made it very convenient to move around in Cambridge.”

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15.Rowing experience in Cambridge! No experience required

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 182 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Learn the basics of rowing at Cambridge City Rowing Club, practise timing on indoor rowing machines, then take a racing eight onto the River Cam for about an hour. You receive hands-on coaching in a group of no more than eight, with a helmsman guiding the boat throughout.

“This is a great club and teaches you the basics of rowing really quickly and easily. It is a great activity to make friends and do community building. This was my favorite activity when I visited Cambridge. Will definitely come back when I have a chance.”

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