Shared | Combined Cambridge University Walking & Punting Tour With Optional King’s College Led By University Alumni

SHARED CAMBRIDGE WALKING AND PUNTING TOUR WITH OPTIONAL KING’S COLLEGE LED BY UNIVERSITY ALUMNI – COLLEGES, TRADITIONS & STORIES

Key Highlights

• Shared experience led by Cambridge University graduates & current students
• Explore Cambridge’s most iconic landmarks.
•  Enjoy a shared chauffeured punt along the River Cam
•  Discover insider stories, traditions, and student life
•  Optional King’s College Chapel entry add-on
•  Bring your own refreshments or purchase drinks at the pontoon
•  Optional twilight punting with illuminated boats (seasonal)
•  Winter experiences with blankets, hot drinks, and mulled wine

Tour Options

Option 1: Shared Walking Tour + Shared Punting

• Duration: Approximately 2.75 hours
• Includes:
  • 90-minute shared alumni-led walking tour
  • 45 minute shared chauffeured punting tour
• Languages: English, Mandarin and Spanish
• Shared experience, perfect for meeting fellow travellers while exploring with an expert guide
• Group Size: Up to 25 guests (walking) and up to 12 per punt
• Excludes: College entry, food and drinks, gratuities

Option 2: Shared Walking Tour + King’s College Entry + Shared Punting

• Duration: Approximately 3.30 hours
• Includes:
  • 90-minute shared alumni-led walking tour
  • King’s College Chapel entry
  • 45 minute shared chauffeured punting tour
• Shares the same characteristics as Option 1

Full Description

Experience Cambridge in its most complete form with this expertly curated walking and punting combination — designed to give you both a deep understanding of the University and a relaxing journey along its most iconic river.

Your experience begins with a shared walking tour led by Cambridge University alumni and students, offering a level of insight far beyond standard city tours. As you explore the historic streets, your guide brings the University to life — explaining how the collegiate system works while sharing stories of student traditions, rivalries, and world-changing alumni.

You will pass some of Cambridge’s most celebrated colleges, including King’s College, Trinity College, and St John’s College, while uncovering how this institution has shaped figures such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Alan Turing.

For those seeking an enhanced experience, an optional add-on allows entry into King’s College Chapel during the walking tour (subject to availability). This provides the opportunity to step inside one of the most extraordinary Gothic buildings in the world, with expert context from your guide.

Following the walking tour, continue your journey on the River Cam with a shared chauffeured punting experience operated by Scudamore’s, Cambridge’s oldest punting company and a trusted partner of Alumni Tours.

Departing from Mill Lane near the Mill Pond, your professional chauffeur guides you along the famous college backs while providing engaging live commentary. Glide beneath historic bridges and admire the elegant architecture, landscaped gardens, and iconic views that define Cambridge.

For a more atmospheric experience, twilight punting options may be available, offering illuminated boats and quieter river conditions. During winter months, guests can enjoy blankets, hot drinks, and seasonal offerings such as mulled wine.

This combined tour offers the perfect balance of intellectual discovery and relaxed sightseeing — ideal for those wanting to experience Cambridge from both land and water in one seamless experience.

Itinerary

Part 1: Shared Walking Tour

• King’s College & King’s Parade – The historic heart of Cambridge and home to its most iconic chapel
• Corpus Christi Clock – A striking modern timepiece symbolising the passage of time
• The Eagle Pub – Where the discovery of DNA was first announced
• Site of the Old Cavendish Laboratory – Groundbreaking scientific discoveries and Nobel Prize history
• Corpus Christi College – One of Cambridge’s oldest and most atmospheric colleges
• Queens’ College & The Mathematical Bridge – Famous riverside architecture and engineering legend
• The Backs – Scenic views across the river and college gardens
• Trinity College – Academic powerhouse and home of Sir Isaac Newton
• St John’s College – Grand courts, historic rivalries, and stunning architecture
• Senate House, Gonville & Caius, and Great St Mary’s – The ceremonial centre of Cambridge

Part 2: Shared Punting Tour

• Departure from Mill Lane (Scudamore’s Station)
• The River Cam and the Backs
• Mathematical Bridge, Kitchen Bridge, Bridge of Sighs
• Views of King’s, Trinity, St John’s, and Magdalene Colleges

Who This Tour Is For

• First-time visitors wanting a complete Cambridge experience
• Couples, families, and groups
• History enthusiasts and culturally curious travellers
• Guests interested in Cambridge University and its traditions
• Prospective students exploring the city
• International travellers and returning visitors
• Architecture and landscape lovers

Practical Information

Meeting Point:
King’s College Main Gate, King’s Parade, Cambridge

Duration:
2.75 – 3.75 hours

Group Size:
Up to 25 guests per walking tour guide; punts up to 12 per boat

Languages Available:
Tours are conducted in English. Mandarin and Spanish are available when selected at booking.

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
✔ Seamless walking + punting experience
✔ Focus on real history, traditions, and insider knowledge
✔ Trusted operator with thousands of excellent reviews

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

What’s Included

• Professional alumni guide
• Professional private alumni guide
• Historical insights and storytelling
• 45 minutes punting tour
• Live commentary throughout

What’s Not Included

• College entry fees
• King’s College entry (unless selected)
• Food and drinks (available for purchase or BYO)
• Gratuities

Upgrades & Add-Ons

• Private bespoke Cambridge 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 must 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 Cambridge 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 2.75 hours (or 3.75 hours including King’s College access).

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

What languages are available?
Standard tours are conducted in English; Mandarin and Spanish are available when selected. 

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 contact you with 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