The cheapest and best way to see one of UK’s most popular holiday destinations & the pitfalls tourists make each summer
WHEN it comes to UK holiday destinations – Cambridge consistently features in the top five, thanks to its historical buildings and world-class university.
It’s especially popular in summertime, when scores of tourists flock to the city’s river to take in the sights.
George Geach has worked as a ‘punting chauffeur’ in the city for the last three years, taking tourists on trips along on the River Cam in his boat.
He says it’s hands down the best, and most affordable, way of seeing Cambridge – thanks to the unique position the river has through the university colleges.
Around 200 punts are manned by chauffeurs on the 4.5 mile stretch of the river.
A punting tour in Cambridge costs just £15 per person and each boat holds up to 12 people.
The tour lasts 45 minutes, where a chauffer pushes a flat-bottomed boat along the water with a 16ft pole.
In total, guests pass seven University of Cambridge colleges, venture under nine bridges, including saac Newton’s Mathematical bridge, and see Jesus Green Lock, built in 1836.
Even in the winter when the weather is more depressing, he enjoys “people taking it as more of a romantic experience”, where they wrap up and drink mulled wine.
George said: “The land either side of the river is owned by the University so it is an affordable, concise way to see everything in one go.
“Otherwise you’d have to pay to see the colleges individually – where here you can sit on the boat with a river tour guide and chauffeur.”
He added: “It’s better than being in Oxford. If you look at other places – you don’t really see as much as you see when you go punting in Cambridge.”
However, with 900,000 people taking a ride each year, the 23-year-old has seen his fair share of obscure experiences.
George said: “One guy on a boat was quite drunk and very peckish.
“He saw another boat with a pizza and he dived in the river and swam over to the other boat.
“He stole their pizza and swam back to his boat – and got attacked mid-swim by swans who wanted a bite themselves.”
George has also experienced a number of stag and hen-dos, where jumping into the River Cam is a usual part of the tour.
He shared: “They cause lots of drama – all sorts of screaming and shouting and jumping in.”
Then there is the risk of falling in the water…
George explained: “I always tell people that the boats are really safe and there’s no way you can fall in.
“The only person who could fall in, is the guy at the back.
“However we have had people falling in the river after their girlfriend has pushed them in whilst taking photos of King’s College.
And the company has also had some proposals go wrong.
“We’ve had failed proposal tours where tour guides are told that there will be a proposal mid tour only for the answer to be a big fat no,” George added.
Some visitors, who feel extra confident are also keen to have a go at punting for themselves.
George commented: “We have self-hire antics where people renting a boat out for themselves for the first time.
“They go round in circles, smash into bridges – causing general havoc.
“They then blame the tour guides for not being skilled enough pushers to get out their way when they are blocking the entire river.
“A collision in unavoidable.”
There was also one time during the May Ball fireworks at St John’s, when around 50 boats are parked up to watch the fireworks, when some guests desperately needed the loo.
George shared: “One boat load of people were parked up underneath a weeping willow and charged people £5 a pop to have a wee under the cover of the singular tree within the vicinity.”
Despite all the weird and wonderful experiences, George still loves what he does.
Cambridge’s counterpart Oxford is also has punting tours, as do some other UK locations including London on the River Thames, Canterbury on the River Stour and Stratford-upon-Avon on the River Avon.
One man, who lives on a canal boat, says it is the best way to experience the UK.