Shared walking tours last 90 minutes (60 minutes for the Ghost Tour) at a steady, comfortable pace with occasional stops. Some areas may have uneven or unpaved surfaces. Wheelchair users are welcome, though the tour may not be suitable for walkers with significant mobility difficulties. On shared tours, guides follow a set schedule and cannot wait for late or distracted participants. Participants should take care when crossing roads or navigating crowded areas, as Alumni Tours cannot be held responsible for accidents caused by unsafe behaviour.
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You are welcome to bring well-behaved dogs on our punting tours. Dogs are also allowed on walking tours, except where access to university buildings is required. In such cases, the dog must remain outside, in line with college regulations.
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When booking a large group (40+ people) email us at [email protected] and we will prepare a specialised quotation for your booking.
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Punting can be enjoyed all year round and is a wonderful experience in every season. The punts have a limited number of umbrellas and blankets to ensure you remain comfortable, whatever the weather conditions!
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We recommend dressing appropriately for the weather. However, we may cancel a tour if conditions are deemed unsafe. In such cases, you will have the option to rebook or receive a credit for a future tour.
Cancellations and refunds due to bad weather are at the discretion of Alumni Tours. Tours will generally continue in wet conditions unless they are considered too severe to operate safely.
Punting tours will run unless river conditions are hazardous. Umbrellas and blankets are provided to ensure your comfort in all weather.
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Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to check-in.
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Cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance are fully refundable, unless otherwise agreed, particularly for large groups. After this period, no changes or cancellations are possible, and any adjustments are at the discretion of Alumni Tours.
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We do not offer refunds if you are late. You must give yourself enough time to get to the meeting point. If you realise you are running late prior to the start of the tour, please get in touch and we’ll see if there’s anything we can do!
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Yes, we offer a discount to students, youths and seniors.
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Wear suitable footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. Bring water in warm conditions. Punting station may be able to provide a limited amount of blankets and umbrellas. Alumni Tours is not responsible for providing clothing or other weather-related items; it is the customer’s responsibility to prepare by checking the forecast in advance.
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Walking tours: maximum of 25 people per guide.
Punting tours: maximum of 12 people per punt in Cambridge and 4 people per punt in Oxford. -
Our tours are primarily outdoors and do not include college entry unless a relevant add-on is purchased. The exception is the Harry Potter tour, which includes entry to New College.
For Cambridge tours, you can upgrade to include a King’s College Chapel ticket after the walking tour.
In Oxford, our walking tour may include entry to The Divinity School or a college where available, but this cannot be guaranteed.
If you wish to visit a specific college, please contact us to arrange a private tour. With advance notice, we can organise entry to most colleges in both Cambridge and Oxford, subject to their opening times.
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Standard tours are conducted in English. Guides may have different accents, but their English is at an academic level, as they are students or alumni of Cambridge or Oxford.
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Our tour guides can take tours in a variety of languages. Please get in contact with us if you wished to discuss what languages are available at the time, either via email at – [email protected] or by giving us a call on +441223 787270
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We recommend using the facilities before the tour. In Oxford, public toilets are available at Gloucester Green and Market Street, and in Cambridge, restrooms are available at Lion Yard. There will be no toilet breaks during the tour, and stopping may result in missing the group.
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Your confirmation email, sent after booking, will include details of the meeting location. Our guide will be wearing a royal blue item (uniform, hat, beanie, scarf, etcetera) with the Alumni Tours crest visible—please approach anyone in this attire, as our guides will not know your appearance in advance.
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Cambridge walking tours: meet at the King’s College entrance on King’s Parade (CB2 1ST).
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Cambridge punting: departs from Scudamore’s Mill Lane punting station (CB2 1RS).
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Oxford walking and Harry Potter tours: meet at 11 Broad Street, by the red pillar post box (OX1 3AP). Do not go to the Oxford Tourist Information, which is nearby, and please do not enter any surrounding buildings, as we are not associated with local businesses. Nearby shops include Theo’s Cafe and Oxford Campus Stores.
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Oxford punting: departs from Magdalen Bridge boathouse (OX1 4AU).
Private walking tours can be arranged to meet at a different nearby location—please contact us if you wish to arrange this.
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In Cambridge, the recommended car park is:
Grand Arcade car park – CB2 3QF.
- 5 minute walk to the meeting point for walking tours
- 10 minute walk from the departure point for punting tours
In Oxford, the recommended car parks are:
Worcester Street car park – OX1 2BQ.
- 10 minute walk to the meeting point for walking and Harry Potter tours
- 20 minute walk to the departure point for punting tours
St Clement’s car park – OX4 1AR
- 15 minute walk to the meeting point for walking and Harry Potter tours
- 5 minute walk to the departure point for punting tours
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In Cambridge, luggage can be stored at Campkins Cameras, 12A King’s Parade, just a minute from the walking tour start point. The cost is £6 per item.
In Oxford, City Spare Space offers luggage storage at 33 George Street, three minutes from the walking tour start point, for £7 per item. Alternatively, Radical Storage has several locations across the city for £5 per item. Both services can be booked online.
For additional options, you may also use the following websites https://stasher.com/ / https://radicalstorage.com/ / https://luggagehero.com/ / https://bounce.com/
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Complaints should be sent to management via email at [email protected]. We use email rather than phone calls to maintain a clear, written record of the issue. Please do not raise complaints with the guide, as they are not authorised to handle them.