Shared | Alumni-led Walking & Punting Tour w/opt New College
This tour offers something few others do: the chance to experience Oxford both on foot and from the water, all in one visit. Enjoy a full Oxford experience by combining our 90-minute student- or graduate-led college walking tour with a 30-minute chauffeured punting tour—a perfect way to take in the city’s history and beauty.
The tour is outdoors. If selected when booking, AFTER THE WALKING TOUR ENDS, your experience can be enriched with a self-guided visit to New College, one of the university’s most historic and picturesque colleges.
Then, without needing to plan a separate activity, you’ll step into a traditional punt and be taken along Oxford’s quieter, greener side. As you glide past the Botanic Gardens, Christ Church Meadows, and the banks where Lewis Carroll once walked, you’ll see a view of the city that most walking tours simply don’t reach.
It’s a well-balanced way to enjoy both Oxford’s rich academic tradition and its peaceful riverside setting—all in a single experience.
Options
English tour
Punting Tour
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
What's included in Shared | Alumni-led Walking & Punting Tour w/opt New College
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Meet the guide OUTSIDE the address, not inside. The location is not part of our business. The meeting point is the RED PILLAR MAILBOX in front of 11 Broad Street. Your guide wears a royal blue item of clothing with a heraldic shield—this may be a jacket, cap, beanie, scarf, or polo shirt.
Balliol College
Gain an overview of one of the oldest universities in the world while admiring the first of many architecturally grand buildings.
Trinity College
Take a look into some of the strange traditions that come with an old and prestigious university. From pranks to tortoises, student life certainly isn’t boring here!
Inclusions
- Exceptional access to interiors (WHEN ACCESSIBLE)
- Oxford University Student or Graduate Guide
- Enjoy a chauffeured punting tour along the River Cherwell
- Learn about the Oxbridge application process from a student
- Learn about Oxford history and anecdotes
- Gain an insight into student life at an elite university
- Enter New College (WHEN YOU BOOK THIS OPTION)
- Gratuities
- Indoor access to structures unless booked in advance
- Refreshments
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- ##IMPORTANT: Before booking New College, please note the following timings: Spring/Summer 2025 (10th March to 14th October): Open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm Last entry at 4:30 pm All visitors must leave the premises by 5:00 pm If you have any doubts or questions, feel free to contact us.
- New College is generally 10 to 15 minutes away from the tour’s end point. Please keep this in mind before booking.
- Wheelchair users are welcome on the tour. Please note that one small area is inaccessible, though it only accounts for a few minutes of the route. Some parts of New College may also be difficult to access. We advise caution due to uneven surfaces, curbs, and potential trip hazards. Please also be mindful of vehicles and bicycles, particularly in busy areas.
- Not recommended for travellers who cannot complete a 90-minute walk
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- Important: meet the guide OUTSIDE the address, not inside. The location is not part of our business. The meeting point is the RED PILLAR MAILBOX in front of 11 Broad Street. Your guide wears a royal blue item of clothing with a heraldic shield—this may be a jacket, cap, beanie, scarf, or polo shirt.
End Points
- Your tour will finish at the Oxford Punting Station OX14AU
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
Present your ticket to your guide at the red pillar box outside 11 Broad Street, Oxford. The guide will be wearing a blue uniform item, hat, or scarf with the Alumni Tours heraldic crest. We recommend arriving at least 5 minutes early to allow time to locate your guide and check in. - Please present your booking confirmation at the gate of New College, stating that you have booked with "Alumni Tours". - Your punting tour will depart 2 hours after the start of your walking tour, or 3 hours after if you have added New College. Punting departs from Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, OX1 4AU. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in and provide the lead traveller’s name, mentioning that the booking is with "Alumni Tours". ##IMPORTANT: (the company cannot take responsibility for issues caused by not following these guidelines): Late arrivals cannot be refunded. Once the tour starts, the guide cannot be contacted. Cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance are fully refundable, unless otherwise agreed, especially for large groups. Snacks and drinks are allowed, but not inside college buildings. The walk lasts 90 minutes at a steady pace and includes uneven surfaces. Wheelchair users are welcome, but the tour is not suitable for those with mobility difficulties. No scheduled toilet breaks. If you leave the group for an extended time, you may not be able to find them again upon your return. This is at the customer’s own risk. Dress appropriately and wear suitable footwear. Bring water in warm weather. Standard tours are conducted in English, but guides come from a cosmopolitan mix of students and alumni; please be prepared for a variety of accents. Pets are not permitted inside colleges, except for guide dogs. Complaints must be directed to management by phone or email. Please do not address complaints to the guide, as they are not authorized to handle them. Follow the guide’s instructions and local safety rules. Inform your guide if unwell
