PRIVATE OXFORD WALKING AND PUNTING TOUR – LED BY ALUMNI

Key Highlights

• Fully private experience led by Oxford alumni and professional chauffeurs.
• Explore Oxford’s most iconic colleges and historic landmarks.
• Exclusive private punting tour on the River Cherwell
• 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: Private Walking Tour + Private Punting

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

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

• Duration: 3 – 4 hours
• Includes: Private walking tour, New College entry + private punting tour
• Excludes: Food and drinks, gratuities

Option 4: Prospective Student Walking + Punting Experience

• Duration: 2.30
• Includes: Private tour tailored for prospective students (student life, admissions, subjects) + private punting tour
• Excludes: College entry, food and drinks, gratuities

Option 5: Prospective Student Tour + New College Entry + Punting

• Duration: 3 – 4 hours
• Includes: Private tour tailored for prospective students (student life, admissions, subjects), New College entry + private punting tour
• Excludes: Food and drinks, gratuities

Bespoke & VIP Private Experiences

We specialise in fully tailored private Oxford experiences, far beyond standard tour formats.

These may include:

•  Multi-language tours (Mandarin, Spanish, and more upon request)
•  Subject-focused academic tours (science, engineering, law, medicine, humanities, arts)
•  School, university, and prospective student programmes
•  Corporate experiences and executive away days
•  Celebration experiences (birthdays, hen parties, proposals)
•  VIP half-day, full-day, or multi-day itineraries

For premium bookings, we can arrange:

• Dedicated alumni guides for extended experiences
• Private dining and restaurant reservations
• College entry and curated academic access (where possible)
• Accommodation and transport coordination
• Multi-city itineraries (Cambridge, Oxford, London)

Each experience can be tailored to your:

• Interests and academic focus
• Group type and occasion
• Language requirements
• Schedule and preferred pace

Create Your Own Bespoke Experience

📧 Contact us at [email protected] with your request, including:

• Group size
• Dates and timing
• Occasion (e.g. proposal, birthday, academic visit)
• Academic or thematic interests
• Any VIP or logistical requests

Our team will design a fully personalised Oxford experience for you.

Full Description

Experience Oxford in the most complete and refined way with this private walking and punting combination tour, designed for guests who value privacy, flexibility, and depth. This combined private 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.

Your private punt is reserved exclusively for your group. 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 an exclusive, balanced and authoritative Oxford journey. This combination tour offers the ultimate Oxford experience — seamless, personalised, and unforgettable.

Itinerary

Part 1: Private 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: Private 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

• Families and private groups
• Schools, universities, and prospective students
• Corporate groups and executive clients
• Alumni groups and academic visitors
• Couples and special occasions (proposals, anniversaries)
• Birthday celebrations and hen parties
• Travellers seeking a premium, all-in-one Oxford experience

Practical Information

Meeting Point:
Outside 11 Broad Street, Oxford, next to the red mailbox.

Duration:
2.30 – 3.30 hours

Group Size:
Private tour (up to 25 guests per walking tour guide; punts up to 4 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 Oxford alumni and academically trained guides
• ✔ Fully private and tailored experience
• ✔ Ideal for academic, cultural, and celebratory visits
• ✔ Flexible pacing and subject-focused touring available
• ✔ Trusted operator with thousands of positive reviews
• ✔ Professional, rigorously trained chauffeurs
• ✔ High-quality, safe, and well-organised tours
• ✔ Ideal for both sightseeing and special occasions

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

What’s Included

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

What’s Not Included

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

Upgrades & Add-Ons

• 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 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