Punting in Oxford

Punting is a popular activity in Oxford but not to the same extent as in Cambridge. The activity differs slightly between the two cities and in both instances, you have the option of either a guided punt or hiring a boat and doing it yourself.

A punt is a flat-bottomed boat that is propelled by someone standing to the rear of the punt in a similar manner to a gondola with the main difference being that a punt is propelled by pushing against the river bed while a gondola is propelled by an oar.

Unlike in Cambridge, where the punter stands on the till (the small raised deck to one end of the punt) and punts with the open end of the boat facing forward; in Oxford, punters stand inside the boat and punt with the till facing forward. Students in Oxford claim that this is the proper way to do it.

Oxford is a considerably quieter spot for punting than Cambridge and it feels like a rather rural experience once you get away from the Magdalen Bridge. This is mainly because the River Cherwell flows through Oxford’s green belt and past parks including Christ Church Meadow and the Oxford Botanical Gardens.

The main drawbacks with punting at Oxford are that the Cherwell is deeper and muddier than the Cam in Cambridge making it a more difficult place if you’re doing it yourself.

In Oxford, you can also punt on the Thames (which is also called the Isis as it flows through the city). The Isis alongside Port Meadow is probably the best spot for punting in Oxford as the river at this point is shallower than the Cherwell with lovely scenery and some nice riverside pubs to go past; however, it is not as good if you go below Folly Bridge as this part of the river is much deeper and shared with both rowing and motor boats.

You can rent punts from either the Cherwell Boathouse, the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse or Salter’s Steamers. The Magdalen Bridge Boathouse is easiest to get to and also offers chauffeured punting but the Cherwell Boathouse is cheaper and it on a quieter stretch of the river making it a better option if you’re doing it yourself as a first-time punter.

Cherwell Boathouse
Bardwell Road, Oxford OX2 6ST
Phone 01865 515978
Open mid-Mar–mid-Oct 10am–dusk daily
Punt rental prices £23/hour on weekdays and £25/hour on weekends with £115–125 refundable deposit. The punt fits up to six people (five seated and one punter).

Magdalen Bridge Boathouse
The Old Horse Ford, High Street, Oxford OX1 4AU
Phone 01865 202643
Open Feb–Nov 9.30am–9pm daily
Punt rental prices £30/hour (the punt fits up to five people)
Chauffered punting is also available, priced at £45 for 30 minutes

While both the Cherwell Boathouse and Magdalen Bridge Boathouse rent punts on the River Cherwell, Salter’s Steamers rent punts on the Isis. While the Isis near Port Meadow is the perfect spot for punting, the spot near Folly Bridge where Salter’s Steamers operates from is not quite as good. This part of the river is deeper and it often busy with motor boats and university rowing team practice and is not recommended for the first-time punter.

Salter’s Steamers
Folly Bridge, Oxford OX1 4LA
Phone 01865 243 421
Punt rental prices £25/hour with a £50 refundable deposit. The punt fits up to five people.

If it were possible to rent punts further north on the Isis near Port Meadow that would be the best option, but it isn’t so your best option in Oxford is to rent one on the River Cherwell.

If you want to try your hand at punting, our recommendation is to rent a punt from the Cherwell Boathouse, which is farther from the centre (around a 25-minute walk) compared with the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse but it is a quieter stretch of river for the first-time punter and the Victoria Arms riverside pub is within a relatively short punting distance from here. The Cherwell Boathouse also has a nice restaurant as well as Stu’s Tea Hut serving tea, coffee, beer, Pimm’s, tacos and ice cream. If you were to rent a punt from the more centrally located Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, then your best option is to head north up the Cherwell, which will take you past meadows and the backs of Magdalen College, Merton College and St Catherine’s College which is a lovely part of the river for punting.

However, the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse is much easier to get to from central Oxford and you can take a chauffeured punting tour from here, which is a great option if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.

Guided punting tours versus renting a punt and doing it yourself

You have the option of going on a guided punt or renting your own punt and doing it yourself. While most people visiting Cambridge choose a tour, renting a punt and doing it yourself is the more popular option in Oxford.

Renting a punt and doing it yourself is also the cheaper option, particularly if there is a group of you as the rental fee covers the boat which can hold up to six people (five sitting plus the punter). However, a chauffeured punting tour is still a very good value activity and is highly recommended.

All three punting companies in Oxford rent punts but only two of them offer the option of a chauffeured punt and chauffeured punts often need to be booked in advance. Both the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse and Salter’s Steamers offer this service and the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse seems to be the more popular of the two.

So, if you want to do it yourself, rent your punt from the Cherwell Boathouse but go to the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse (or to Cambridge) if you want someone else to do the work for you.

How to punt

Punting has been described as being both very easy to master and not as easy as it looks.

It usually best to start off by standing in the boat, which is the Oxford way.

Then drop off the pole into the water from the side of the punt and gently push it as it hits the river bed. Then walk your hands back up the pole and push again.

The idea is to be gentle, as it is supposed to be a relaxing leisure activity and not a race. Push the pole gently and at the end of each stroke, relax and let the pole float back up.

It is usually easier to steer by letting the pole drag behind you and using it as a rudder, but experienced punters will steer as they push the pole rather than use the pole as a rudder.

What to do if your pole gets stuck?

Occasionally your pole may hit mud on the river bed and get stuck. There is a good chance that you will fall in the river if you hold on your pole and try to pull it out, so your best option is to simply let go and then paddle back to retrieve the pole. There should be a paddle in your punt specifically for this purpose.