Taking your Cambridge River Tour

Embarking on your Cambridge Punt Tour

(click here to download our directions to the La Mimosa punt station as a pdf)

If you’ve booked onto one of our private or shared tours to see the historic sights of Cambridge, like Trinity College, where Sir Isaac Newton studied, King’s College and more then we look forward to seeing you.

Please check your booking confirmation for your chauffeured punt tour departure location. To check in for your punt tour, please make your way to the punt station indicated on your booking confirmation.

If you have any trouble finding them, give them a call on the phone number on your booking confirmation. 

If you are leaving from La Mimosa then at Quayside, you’ll also have access to public toilets for a comfort break – your last chance to go for the next hour or so!

The buttons below will take you to the correct pages to get information on and book private tours, shared chauffeured punting tours, walking tours or even a combined walking and punting tour, led by experienced local guides. Punting is the closest thing to a gondola ride Cambridge has to offer and we think that the sights here are much more impressive. But you can be the judge of that.

Tour Departure points

The punt tours usually leave from the punt station adjacent to the “La Mimosa” Italian restaurant. It’s a short stroll along the board walk from Quayside, towards Jesus Green, and a lovely quiet spot, making it much easier to board your boat tours.

We are now also able to offer punt tours that depart from the other end of the river at Granta Place. If you book a punt tour from our walking tour page, these will leave from the other end of the Backs. Please check your booking confirmation for the correct departure point for your tour.

If you’re here looking for Cambridge gondola rides, then we’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is that there aren’t any gondolas in Cambridge. The good news is that the boats that look a bit like them are actually called punts. In a way you could consider these the Cambridge equivalent of gondola cruises. Rest assured that you’re in the right place for the best boat tours of Cambridge University, well the bits that we can show you from the river at least.

Our tours will give you the historical facts and information about the famous sights of Cambridge. You’ll see places like the Mathematical Bridge, King’s College Chapel, Wren Library and loads more on the river.

Cambridge Punting Prices

If you want to book for a larger group, or do not want to go on a shared tour, please look at our private tours page. For corporate events please get in touch so we can discuss your requirements in more detail.

Please note that the prices below are just an indication of rates, for the most up to date Cambridge boat ride prices please see the booking system itself:

The simplest way to get there is to travel to Magdalene Bridge at Quayside and follow the riverside walkway all the way to the end.

Quayside is the place to come to check in for your punt tour

Please take a stroll along the wooden walkway until you see La Mimosa and look out for one of our friendly members of staff.

Car Parking

There is no car parking at the punt station. Park Street Car Park is now closed until 2024 at the earliest.

The closest car parks are a few minutes walk away at either The Grand Arcade (CB2 3QF) or Castle Hill CB3 0AT and you can click on either of the names for a status update as to how full they currently are.

Please make sure that you allow enough time to get parked and make your way to the punt station for your trip. On busy days the Grand Arcade car park is used heavily and you may have to wait to get in.

Alternatively, there is on street parking on Chesterton Road. This is limited to a 2 hour maximum stay. You can get to Chesterton Road by using the post code of the Arundel House hotel CB4 3AN.

Alternatively, there are a number of Park and Rides on the outskirts of the city. The Madingley Road one is convenient for both the M11 and A428 and the buses stop on Bridge Street. Madingley Road Park and ride

There are regular buses from the railway station and the nearest bus stop is Bridge Street.

Virtual punt tour

We know how great punting along the River Cam is because, well, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by the beauty of Cambridge on a daily basis.

However, if you haven’t yet paid a visit to this fantastic and historic city, then you could (almost) be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about. With that in mind, we have created this virtual punt tour video, that in a minute and a half, gives you a bit more of an idea of what our 45 minute punt tours are all about.

There’s no sound, so you can watch it on the sly at work when no one’s looking (we won’t tell anyone if you don’t), and you we don’t need to give you any spoiler alerts as far as ruining any of the stories that you will hear on a tour. Enjoy:

For more images like these, have a look at our gallery, check out our Instagram account,  read our blog post about Cambridge during lockdown or even better than any of those, come and join us on a guided punting tour of Cambridge!

Want to know more about how to get the best out of your punting experience?