Shared | Combined Oxford University Walking & Punting Tour With Optional New College Entry Led By University Alumni

OXFORD WALKING AND PUNTING TOUR WITH OPTIONAL NEW COLLEGE LED BY UNIVERSITY ALUMNI – COLLEGES, TRADITIONS & STORIES

Key Highlights

• Shared experience with a chance to meet new people.
• Combine Oxford’s leading walking tour with a chauffeured punting experience.
• Led by Oxford University graduates & students.
• Explore Oxford’s most iconic landmarks.
• Entry into Divinity School (subject to availability).
• Optional New College entry add-on available.
• Learn how the Oxford collegiate system truly works.
• Discover famous colleges, hidden traditions, and insider stories.
• Discover hidden lanes and lesser-known corners.
• Relaxing punting tour on the River Cherwell.
• Scenic river views past Christ Church Meadows and college gardens.
• Bring your own refreshments or purchase drinks at the pontoon.
• Tours available in English, Mandarin and Spanish, with additional languages for the walking tours.

Tour Options

Option 1: Shared Walking Tour + Shared Punting

• Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
• Includes:
  • 90-minute shared alumni-led walking tour.
  • 30-minute break.
  • 30-minute shared chauffeured punting tour.
• Languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish for the walking tour.
• Shared experience, perfect for meeting fellow guests while exploring with an expert guide.
• Group Size: Up to 25 guests (walking) and up to 4 per punt.
• Excludes: Entry to non-pre-booked colleges, food and drinks, and gratuities.

Option 2: Shared Walking Tour + New College Entry + Shared Punting

• Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours
• Includes:
  • 90-minute shared alumni-led walking tour.
  • New College entry for a self-guided tour anytime before closure.
  • 30-minute shared chauffeured punting tour.
• Shares the same characteristics as Option 1.

Full Description

Oxford rewards curiosity — and the best way to understand it is through both its streets and its river. This combined Oxford walking and punting tour brings together a 90-minute alumni-led walking tour with a traditional chauffeured punt along the River Cherwell, creating one of the most complete Oxford University introductions available.

Begin on foot with a walking tour designed and delivered by Oxford graduates and academically trained guides. This is not surface-level commentary. You will gain real insight into how Oxford works today — including the collegiate system, the tutorial method, admissions realities, and the traditions that continue to shape student life. As you explore the architectural heart of the University, you will encounter celebrated landmarks such as the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, and the Bridge of Sighs, alongside historic college quadrangles and hidden corners that reveal the character of the city beyond its postcard views.

After the walking tour, the experience softens on the water. During your chauffeured punting tour, you glide along the River Cherwell past Christ Church Meadows and college gardens, discovering Oxford’s most scenic and literary landscapes. These riverbanks are closely tied to the city’s cultural history — including landscapes associated with Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (who taught at Christ Church), and Oscar Wilde, who studied at Magdalen College. Along the way you may pass the Oxford Botanic Garden, Magdalen College School fields, and St Hilda’s College gardens, enjoying an elegant and relaxing river journey that complements the intellectual depth of the walking tour.

For guests who wish to deepen their experience, there is an optional add-on to enter New College (subject to availability). Founded in 1379, New College can offer access to medieval cloisters, gardens, and a chapel reflecting Oxford’s deep academic and religious heritage. When selected and open on the day, this option adds a further layer of immersion within the college walls.

Together, the walking tour, punting experience, and optional New College entry create a balanced and authoritative Oxford journey: academically grounded on foot, culturally rich on the river, and immersive within the college environment. Ideal for first-time visitors, families, and culturally curious travellers, this shared combination tour is designed to represent Oxford properly — with depth, clarity, and atmosphere.

Itinerary

Part 1: Walking Tour

• Central Oxford Viewpoints – Explore the historic medieval heart and bustling High Street.
• Balliol College (Exterior) – Admire the grand Gothic facade of one of Oxford’s oldest colleges.
• Sheldonian Theatre (Exterior) – View Christopher Wren’s 17th-century masterpiece for graduations.
• Bridge of Sighs Viewpoint – One of Oxford’s most photographed landmarks.
• Bodleian Library Grand Courtyard – Step into the majestic Schools Quadrangle of the world-famous library.
• Divinity School (Interior subject to availability) – Oxford University’s oldest purpose-built classroom.
• Radcliffe Camera (Exterior) – See Oxford’s most famous circular landmark and stunning square.
• University Church (Interior subject to availability) – View the historic spiritual centre and its ornate medieval spire.
• Merton College (Exterior) – Discover the ancient stone walls of a 13th-century academic gem.
• Christ Church Meadows (Views) – Enjoy scenic river views and the city’s most famous skyline.
  • New College (when purchased as an extra addition) – Visit anytime, during opening hours before closure, one of Oxford’s largest and most grand colleges, featuring stunning medieval cloisters, an original 13th-century city wall, which even inspired the creation of Hogwarts.

Part 2: Punting Tour

• Traditional chauffeured punt on the River Cherwell
• Christ Church Meadows
• Oxford Botanic Garden (views)
• Magdalen College School fields (views)
• St Hilda’s College gardens (views)
• Return to the Boathouse
  • The punt tour can be extended by a further 30 minutes if arranged before booking, continuing south towards the Isis — Oxford’s name for the River Thames — where the river opens out.

Who This Tour Is For

• Couples and families
• Visitors looking for a unique evening experience
• History enthusiasts
• Guests interested in the collegiate system and the ancient university
• Future applicant aiming to experience Oxford from the inside
• International travellers
• Alumni visitors
• First-time visitors to Oxford
• Nature and landscape lovers

Practical Information

Meeting Point:
Outside 11 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AP, next to the red post box.

Group Size:
Up to 25 guests per walking tour guide; punts up to 4 per boat

Languages Available:
Walking tours are conducted in English. Mandarin and Spanish are available when selected at booking; other languages are available upon request.

Accessibility:
The route is largely step-free but includes cobbled and uneven historic streets. Please contact us before booking and we will advise on your specific requirements.

Why Choose Alumni Tours

• ✔ This is the original, widely imitated “Alumni Tours” format, created around a genuine student experience.
• ✔ Includes all features of our Oxford Walking Tour plus punting
• ✔ Led by Oxford alumni and academically trained guides.
• ✔ Shared, communal experience.
• ✔ Focus on history and traditions.
• ✔ Trusted operator with thousands of positive reviews.
• ✔ Professional, rigorously trained chauffeurs
• ✔ High-quality, safe, and well-organised tours

🎟️ Book your shared combined tour today and experience Oxford at its finest.

What’s Included

• Oxford University student or graduate Guide
• 90-minute guided walking tour
• Exceptional access to Divinity School (when accessible)
• Gain an insight into student life at an elite university
• Learn about the Oxbridge application process from a student
• Historical insights and storytelling
• Entry to New College (when you book this option)
• 30 minutes punting tour
• Live commentary throughout

What’s Not Included

• Indoor access to structures unless booked in advance
• New College entry (unless selected)
• Gratuities
• Food and drinks on the punt (available for purchase or BYO)

Upgrades & Add-Ons

• New College self-guided visit (subject to availability; access anytime during the day before closing)
• Extend the punting to 60 minutes (it must be requested at the time of booking)
• Private bespoke Oxford day experiences
• Cambridge + Oxford private tours
• VIP academic-led experiences
• Concierge travel planning

Check-In & Arrival Information

Please arrive 5–10 minutes before your scheduled start time.

Your guide will wear an official lanyard, potentially alongside branded Alumni Tours apparel.

If you are running late, please contact us as soon as possible. Delays unrelated to the company’s responsibility are not covered by refunds. If you are late, we will not be able to guide you over the phone to catch up with the group, so please be on time.

Additional Information

What to Bring:

• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes

Special Requirements:
Children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult

Health & Safety:
The walking tour takes place on historic streets, which may include uneven surfaces and cobblestones. The punting tour takes place on the river — please follow the safety briefing before boarding.

Important Information

College Entry:
Entry to Divinity School is subject to availability and university opening times.

Weather Policy:
Tours operate rain or shine

Late Arrival:
Late arrivals may miss part or all of the tour

Route Variations:
Routes may vary depending on access, weather, or events

Behaviour:
We reserve the right to remove guests who disrupt the experience

Liability:
Guests participate at their own risk

FAQ

What makes this tour different?
Our guides are Oxford alumni or students, offering an informed and authentic perspective grounded in real history and folklore.

Do we go inside colleges?
This tour focuses mainly on exterior locations. Occasional college access is possible but not guaranteed. Access to New College is included when the option is booked.

How long is the tour?
Approximately 2.5 hours (or up to 3.5 hours if you visit New College)

Is this a private tour?
No, the experience is shared.

What languages are available?
Standard walking tours are conducted in English; Mandarin and Spanish. Punting tours are mostly subject to the guide’s linguistic proficiency.

Is it suitable for children?
Yes, it is suitable for all ages.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?
Yes, the tour runs in all weather conditions.

Contact & Confirmation Notes

Communications:
Please provide an email address and phone number that you can access regularly, as we may need to communicate updates. While we are responsible for sending updates, it is the guest’s responsibility to check for and receive these communications.

Cancellations & Refunds:
For small groups, cancellations made 24 hours or more in advance are eligible for a full refund. Larger groups may require a longer cancellation notice period. Please contact management to confirm the applicable cut-off time.

Guests must check in on time and at the correct meeting point or risk missing the tour and needing to purchase new tickets. Traffic or train delays will not qualify for reimbursement or rebooking.

Please arrive at least 5 minutes early.

✆ +44 1223 787270
📧 [email protected]
alumni.tours