Cambridge from London
The best Cambridge punting tours
Shared and private punting on the Cam, a walking tour with a graduate guide and King’s College Chapel: here is how to plan the day from London, with honest advice on the real price of a punt, colleges you can and cannot enter and the train there.
See our 4 picks
Cambridge punting starts from €14 per person on a shared boat. Trains from London King’s Cross take under an hour, so it is an easy day trip.
Our 4 picks for Cambridge punting and tours
A shared punt, a private punt, a walking tour and a day trip from London. All four show free cancellation. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
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from €14 per person Our top pick 50 minutes 4.7 (803) reviews on GetYourGuide
Shared punting tour with a guide
A 50-minute punt past King’s College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs and Clare College Bridge. You sit on raised seats, with blankets and umbrellas. Not for non-swimmers.
Best for The cheapest way onto the river
Check availability: Shared punting tour with a guide on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per group up to 3 45 minutes 4.7 (1,570) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided River Cam punting tour, price per group
A 45-minute guided punt with stories of the university and student life. The price is per group of up to 3, with a private option. Cushions and blankets are on board.
Best for Couples and small groups
Check availability: Guided River Cam punting tour, price per group on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 1.5–2.5 hours 4.7 (1,468) reviews on GetYourGuide
Walking tour by alumni, with King’s as an option
A Cambridge student or graduate shows you the Mathematical Bridge, Senate House and The Eagle pub. An upgrade adds self-guided entry to King’s College Chapel. You meet at King’s Parade.
Best for Learning the history of the colleges
Check availability: Walking tour by alumni, with King’s as an option on GetYourGuide -
from €144 per person 10 hours New, no reviews yet
Oxford and Cambridge day trip from London
A guided day with Oxford, Christ Church, Senate House, the Corpus Clock and King’s College Chapel. Entry fees are extra unless you upgrade. New on GetYourGuide: no reviews yet.
Best for Both university cities in one day
Check availability: Oxford and Cambridge day trip from London on GetYourGuide
Cambridge punting and tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared punting tour with a guide | €14 per person | 50 minutes | The cheapest way onto the river | The lowest price per person, rated 4.7 from 803 reviews. |
| Guided River Cam punting tour, price per group | €35 per group up to 3 | 45 minutes | Couples and small groups | The most-reviewed punt here, rated 4.7 from 1,570 reviews. |
| Walking tour by alumni, with King’s as an option | €27 per person | 1.5–2.5 hours | Learning the history of the colleges | Led by real graduates, rated 4.7 from 1,468 reviews. |
| Oxford and Cambridge day trip from London | €144 per person | 10 hours | Both university cities in one day | The only pick with transport from London; listed last, as it has no reviews yet. |
Shared punting tour with a guide
€14 per person50 minutes 4.7 (803)
Details
- Who it suits
- The cheapest way onto the river
- Why we picked it
- The lowest price per person, rated 4.7 from 803 reviews.
Guided River Cam punting tour, price per group
€35 per group up to 345 minutes 4.7 (1,570)
Details
- Who it suits
- Couples and small groups
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed punt here, rated 4.7 from 1,570 reviews.
Walking tour by alumni, with King’s as an option
€27 per person1.5–2.5 hours 4.7 (1,468)
Details
- Who it suits
- Learning the history of the colleges
- Why we picked it
- Led by real graduates, rated 4.7 from 1,468 reviews.
Oxford and Cambridge day trip from London
€144 per person10 hoursNew, no reviews yet
Details
- Who it suits
- Both university cities in one day
- Why we picked it
- The only pick with transport from London; listed last, as it has no reviews yet.
- None of the 4 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 4 offer free cancellation.
- Private option: Guided River Cam punting tour, price per group; Walking tour by alumni, with King’s as an option.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
The real price of a punt: per person or per group
A shared punt is priced per person, from €14. The guided punt is priced per group of up to 3, from €35.
For one person, the shared punt is cheaper. For two or three, the group punt can cost about the same each and gives you more space.
Cambridge colleges and King’s
You can walk the streets around the colleges, but going inside is limited. The alumni walking tour stays in public areas.
King’s College Chapel sells tickets online by time slot. Its early-bird price ends every Sunday night for the week ahead, so book early.
From the river, the punts pass King’s College Chapel, Trinity, Queens’ and St John’s, a good way to see the colleges from outside.
Cambridge day trip from London
One day is enough for a punt, a walking tour and King’s College Chapel. Take a morning train, start with the walking tour at King’s Parade, then punt after lunch.
One punting company is open every day except Christmas Day. In late October 2026, its last tour is at 17:30, or 16:00 on Sundays. Strong winds can stop self-hire punts.
London to Cambridge by train
Trains from King’s Cross reach Cambridge in 49 minutes direct, about every 30 minutes in the day. Greater Anglia also runs from Liverpool Street, fastest 1 hour 12 minutes.
Cambridge is one of the closest cities, and our day-trip guide lists more day trips from London. For taxis and airport transfers, see our getting around London page.
Before you book in Cambridge
Per person or per group
Check the price unit before you pay. The guided punt is priced per group of up to 3.
Find the right mooring
The shared punt leaves from Jesus Green. The guided punt has two meeting points, set by your option.
Book King’s ahead
King’s College Chapel sells timed tickets online. The early-bird price ends each Sunday night.
Watch the weather
Punts have blankets and umbrellas, but strong winds can stop self-hire. Check the forecast.
Access
The guided punt is not for wheelchair users. The shared punt is not for non-swimmers or people with motion sickness.
Cambridge: questions and answers
How much does punting in Cambridge cost?
Can you walk around the University of Cambridge?
What are the best things to do in Cambridge on a day trip?
More Cambridge tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore day trips from London
Sources (6), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.