The short answer is yes, definitely, punting’s worth it.

Punting is a quintessentially British activity, and paired with the atmospheric sights of some of Cambridge University’s most iconic colleges (we are looking at you, Kings College Chapel) it is an almost inevitable must-do on any trip to Cambridge. It doesn’t have to break the bank and is guaranteed to leave you with treasured memories. Consequently, there is only one answer to the question of ‘is punting worth it?”

A bit about Punting in Cambridge

Punting in Cambridge, as a leisure activity, has been around since 1910 when Scudamores founded their Mill Lane punting station. Since then, punting has been taking over Cambridge by storm. By the 1920s, punting overtook any other form of boating to be the largest activity on the river in Cambridge. There have also been many pieces of literature that have referenced the River Cam, including ‘The Old Vicarage, Grantchester‘ by Rupert Brooke and ‘Taking Leave of Cambridge Again‘ by Xu Zhimo.

But this doesn’t help with your question of: is punting worth it?

Our tours are a 50-minute return trip of the College Backs, we depart and return from our landing stage on the corner of Jesus Green. During your tour of the mile-long stretch of the College Backs, you will see seven colleges and nine bridges. The famous College Backs route is largely only accessible by either buying admissions to the individual colleges or by taking a punting tour with a licenced tour operator.

We offer chauffeured guided shared or private tours. With a chauffeur, you can cruise down the river without the worry of clashing with other boats. Your experienced guide will delight you with various anecdotes of the colleges and university life. All guides appreciate questions. Because of this, you can customise the tour to your preferences.

Why you need to try it

Firstly, it is a traditional English activity. ‘Pleasure punting’ has been around since the nineteenth century – starting off in London. Nowadays ‘pleasure punting’ can also be done in Bath, Canterbury, Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon. However, it is Cambridge which undoubtedly takes the crown when it comes to the popularity of punting.

Not only is punting one of the top things to do in Cambridge, it is also one of the top things to do in the United Kingdom. Just imagine – you wouldn’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Or, say, New York without the Statue of Liberty. So why would you come to Cambridge and not go punting?

Punting also provides an excuse to indulge in the slower pace of life or as the Italians call it ‘Dolce Far Niete’ (pleasant idleness). Punting gives you 50 minutes to sit, relax, marvel at the atmospheric beauty of the college architecture, and observe the vibrant ecosystem that inhabits the River Cam. Just look at these paintings (Lady in a Punt by Henry John Yeend King, and Lady and Child Asleep in a Punt Under the Willows by John Singer Sargent) from the nineteenth century and you’ll see exactly how recreational punting is.

Why is punting worth it?

This informative video also helps to answer the question. It explores both the pros and cons of punting in Cambridge – but ultimately shows that punting is worth it. At least – especially in Cambridge!

Key highlights include;

1. Punting is one of the only ways to access the College Backs. It’s without question the easiest way to do it.
2. As our tours are guided you will gain access to anecdotes about Cambridge University you wouldn’t otherwise hear, especially as most of our tours are done by Cambridge locals.
3. The most iconic Cambridge sights – including the Bridge of Sighs, Kings College Chapel and Mathematical Bridge – can all be ticked off your list.