Cambridge Tours & Punting Trips: 15 Ways onto the Backs

1.Cambridge University Walking Tour by Alumni™ Kings College Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,336 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $33Our pick

Walk Cambridge with a graduate guide such as Niamh, Megan, Rupert, or Lise, hearing campus stories, college rivalries, and student traditions. The 90-minute route visits the Corpus Clock, Eagle pub, College Backs, Trinity, St John’s, and Senate House. Add King’s College Chapel for £25.

“Rupert gave us a really interesting and enjoyable tour. He shared lots of facts and anecdotes as well as his own personal experiences and insights. He was very engaging and personable”

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2.Cambridge University With Alumni: Optional Kings College Entrance

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,987 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $34

Walk Cambridge with a current or former student guide, visiting college courtyards, the Mathematical Bridge, Senate House, Trinity, and King’s College Chapel when you choose the entrance option. Expect two hours, a maximum group of 18, uneven streets, and lively stories about Cambridge traditions, famous alumni, and student life.

“The guide was very friendly, interactive and informative. She knew everything about Cambridge. She also gave us recommendation about places to eat. Great tour.”

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3.Punting Tour in Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,690 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.)

Glide along Cambridge’s River Cam for 45 minutes with a live English-speaking guide. You’ll see the College Backs, Mathematical Bridge, King’s College Chapel, and St. John’s covered bridge from a shared punt. Guides such as George and Charles have been praised for clear stories and friendly service, though river traffic can make the trip feel crowded.

“This was probably our 4th punting tour, we tend to take family when visiting. This was out first time with Scudamore's. The team was friendly and accommodating. The trip went well but our personal guide was not super informative and spoke very quietly so it was hard to hear him.”

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4.Guided River Cam Punting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,469 reviews · 45 min

Settle into a traditional punt for a 45-minute guided ride along the River Cam. Your English-speaking punter leads you past seven Cambridge colleges, sharing university stories, student traditions, and tales of figures such as Isaac Newton and Prince Charles. Comfortable cushions and blankets help on cool days, while private groups are available.

“Great day for punting! Excellent activity and informative, funny and knowledgeable punt guide. Highly recommend!”

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5.University Alumni Tour with Kings College Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,282 reviews · 1.5 - 10 hours · from $33

Walk through Cambridge with a current or former university student who explains college traditions, student life, famous landmarks, and local oddities. Choose the option with King's College and enter the chapel to see its fan-vaulted ceiling, stained glass, and Rubens painting. Guides include Mark, Sonya, Paul, Anna, and Mike.

“The tour was great, it was a small group which was nice, our guide was wonderful, had an abundance of information and knowledge about Cambridge, the University and the surrounding area and was both informative and entertaining. Would recommend.”

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6.Alumni-Led Walking Tour w/ King’s College Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,177 reviews · from $26

Walk Cambridge with a current student or graduate who explains college life, admissions, history, and local stories. See King's College, Trinity, Queens', Corpus Christi, the Cavendish Laboratory, Senate House, and The Eagle pub. Add King's College Chapel at booking for its remarkable late Gothic interior.

“My brother and I attended this tour as he will be going to university in Cambridge and wanted some knowledge about the city. Our tour guide, Anahita led our group with enthusiasm, a lot of knowledge, humour and care. I would recommend doing the tour if you do visit Cambridge.”

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7.Shared Guided Punting Tour of Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 787 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $22Best value

Spend about 45 minutes in a shared punt on the River Cam, with room for up to 12 people. Your guide handles the pole while sharing Cambridge stories, college traditions, famous alumni, and bridge lore. Look for guides such as Matteo, Josh, Isa, and Eamon, praised for friendly commentary and a good sense of humor.

“We very enjoyed this tour. The guide's explanations were very clear and interesting Thank you so much.”

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8.Cambridge Walking & Punting Tour by Alumni™ King’s College Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 698 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $76

Start outside King’s College with a Cambridge student or graduate guide, then walk past the Corpus Clock, Eagle pub, colleges, and Senate House. Add King’s College Chapel before relaxing on a chauffeured punt past eight colleges and nine bridges. Guides such as Niamh, Elliott, David, and Annie have been praised for lively stories and student insight.

“Elliott was amazing with his knowledge and funny stories. Such a great experience. Well worth the cost.”

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9.Shared Punt Tour – Cambridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 540 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.)

Cruise the River Cam for about 50 minutes while your guide handles the punt and explains Cambridge’s colleges, bridges, and stories. You’ll pass Magdalene, Trinity, Clare, King’s, and Queens’ College, with guides such as Ben, Benji, Callum, Tom G, and Zac praised for humor and clear storytelling. The boat holds no more than six people.

“Very enjoyable hour spent on the river with knowledgeable guide. Well run trip with customer safety paramount Give it a go”

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10.City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 520 reviews · 1 day · from $22

See Cambridge from an open-top double-decker bus with an 80-minute circuit, 18 stops, and audio in eight languages. Hop off for the Fitzwilliam Museum, Botanic Garden, university colleges, River Cam, or American Cemetery and Memorial. The $22 ticket gives you a full day of rides, though buses run every 40 minutes and end at 6:10pm.

“We had never visited Cambridge before so the hop o hop off bus gave us an excellent overview of the city. We would recommend an early hop on for the whole tour, then repeat and hop off for a more detailed look and add a walking tour. Easy to book, clean efficient bus, helpful , courteous and knowledgeable drivers with amazing driving skills around narrow streets.”

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11.Shared Punting Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 427 reviews · 50 min · from $26

Cruise the River Cam from Jesus Green Moorings with an English-speaking guide who punts past Cambridge’s colleges and bridges. You’ll see King’s College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs, the Mathematical Bridge, and more while hearing stories about the city’s rise from medieval market town to world-class university center. Cushioned seats, blankets, and umbrellas are provided.

“Archie was a great guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Great punter, we had a lovely and smooth ride the whole time. Was reassuring to know he was a lifeguard too!”

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12.Alumni-Led Walking & Punting Tour w/Kings College

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 418 reviews · from $82

Walk Cambridge with a current student or graduate, then punt along the Cam past eight colleges and nine bridges. Guides such as Sophie, Francesco, and Ari add student-life stories, folklore, and practical insight. Add King's College Chapel for its famous fan-vaulted ceiling and interiors, and allow up to four hours for the full experience.

“Megan was an excellent guide, friendly and informative, with a lovely approach. Would highly recommend.”

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13.Creepy Cambridge – Cambridge’s Most Entertaining Ghost Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 366 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Walk through central Cambridge with guides such as Peter, James, Alex, Ben, and Sid, hearing ghost stories tied to Magdalene Bridge, the Round Church, famous colleges, Oliver Cromwell, and old city streets. The relaxed tour lasts about 75 minutes, sometimes longer, and usually views colleges from outside.

“We had a lovely evening on this tour. Sid was a great tour guide. He was knowledgeable, funny and kept us interested and entertained throughout. Would recommend.”

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14.Guided Shared River Punting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 298 reviews · 180 days

Join an English-speaking guide on a shared punt from Mill Lane station for about 45 minutes. Pass eight colleges and nine bridges, including King’s College Chapel, Clare College, the Wren Library, the Mathematical Bridge, and the Bridge of Sighs. Guides such as Jack, Daisy, Alex, and Phoebe bring Cambridge’s story to life.

“Really enjoyed this trip!! Was just the right amount of information and a chilled way of seeing what there is around! Would recommend!”

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15.Punting Tour on the River Cam

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 276 reviews · from $48

Spend 50 minutes drifting along the River Cam with a local punter-guide, passing King’s College, the Mathematical Bridge, Clare Bridge, Wren Library, and the Bridge of Sighs. Guides such as Charlie, Ben, Alice, Hayden, and Tom are praised for lively stories and calm boat handling. Bring drinks, dress for the weather, and book off-peak for a quieter ride.

“The location of the meeting point wasn't accurate. There is lots of bost docks ..the location you have direct wasn't correct .. The punting chauffeur, James is very professional.”

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