SHARED OXFORD WALKING AND PUNTING TOUR – LED BY ALUMNI

Key Highlights

• Shared experience led by Oxford alumni and professional chauffeurs.
• Explore Oxford’s most iconic colleges and historic landmarks.
• Scenic river views past Christ Church Meadows and college gardens.
• Optional New College entry add-on.
• Bring your own refreshments or purchase drinks at the pontoon.
• Winter experiences with blankets, hot drinks, and mulled wine.

Tour Options

Option 1: Shared Walking Tour + Shared Punting

• Duration: 2.30 hours
• Includes: 90-minute shared walking tour + 30-minute shared punt (up to 4 guests per boat)
• Excludes: College entry, food and drinks, gratuities

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

• Duration: 3.30 hours
• Includes: 90-minute shared walking tour, New College entry + 30-minute shared punt (up to 4 guests per boat)
• Excludes: Food and drinks, gratuities

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: Shared Walking Tour

• Central Oxford streets and landmarks
• Balliol College (exterior)
• Sheldonian Theatre (exterior)
• Bridge of Sighs viewpoint
• Bodleian Library Grand Courtyard
• Radcliffe Camera & Radcliffe Square
• University Church of St Mary the Virgin (exterior)
• Merton College (exterior)
• Christ Church Meadow (views)

Part 2: Shared 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

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, next to the red mailbox.

Duration:
2.30 – 3.30 hours

Group Size:
Shared tour (up to 25 guests per walking tour guide; punts up to 12 per boat)

Languages Available:
English, Mandarin, Spanish and other languages upon request

Accessibility:
Accessible for wheelchair users; may not be suitable for those with limited mobility

Why Choose Alumni Tours

• ✔ Led by Cambridge University alumni and students
• ✔ Authentic, research-based storytelling
• ✔ Shared, communal experience
• ✔ Focus on history and traditions
• ✔ Trusted operator with thousands of positive reviews

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

What’s Included

• Professional alumni guide
• 90-minute guided walking tour
• Historical insights and storytelling
• 45-minute shared punting tour
• Live commentary throughout

What’s Not Included

• Food and drinks
• Gratuities
• Entry into colleges or buildings

Upgrades & Add-Ons

• Private bespoke Cambridge 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 be wearing royal blue Alumni Tours uniform items (jacket, cap, scarf, or beanie) featuring the Alumni Tours crest.

If you are running late, please contact us as soon as possible.

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 tour takes place on historic streets which may include uneven surfaces or cobblestones

Important Information

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?
No, this tour focuses on exterior locations only.

How long is the tour?
Approximately 90 minutes.

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

Is it suitable for children?
Yes, and families.

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