Water activity / Oxford
Punting
the Cherwell.
The practical guide to choosing a boathouse, hiring the right punt and following the river without spending the whole trip wondering when to turn around.Open the river guide ↓01 / Choose the right launch
Two boathouses.
Three different days.
Magdalen Bridge puts you immediately beneath Oxford’s famous skyline and college landscape. Cherwell Boathouse starts further north, with easier access to University Parks and a longer rural route toward the Victoria Arms.
The best choice is not simply the cheapest. Decide how long you have, whether you want city scenery or countryside, and whether anyone in the group actually wants to learn to punt.
02 / Hire a punt
Start in the
right place.
Magdalen Bridge Boathouse
Under Magdalen Bridge, at the east end of the High Street
- Self-hire
- £35 per hour
- Full day
- Longer hire available; return at least 30 minutes before sunset
- Capacity
- Up to 5 people
- Season
- 1 February–30 November, weather permitting
- Typical hours
- 09:30–21:00, or until one hour before sunset
- Chauffeur
- £50 per 30 minutes for up to 4 passengers
Cherwell Boathouse
50 Bardwell Road, North Oxford, OX2 6ST
- Self-hire
- £25/hour weekdays · £27/hour weekends
- Full day
- £125 weekdays · £135 weekends
- Capacity
- Up to 6 people: 5 seated plus the punter
- Season
- Mid-March–mid-October
- Typical hours
- Generally 10:00 until dusk; seasonal closing times vary from 19:00–22:00
- Chauffeur
- Requested at the punt station; large groups should enquire in advance
03 / Interactive river guide
Choose a route.
Follow the river.
This is not turn-by-turn navigation. It is a spatial guide to launch points, landmarks, realistic turnaround points and the one awkward constraint: the rollers between the upper and lower Cherwell.
Use the guide rail while the map loads, or open the operator link for directions.
04 / The five-minute lesson
How to punt
without the drama.
- 01Stand at the back
Face forward with feet apart and knees soft. Keep your weight centred rather than leaning over the edge.
- 02Drop the pole vertically
Let it reach the riverbed. Do not throw it forward or use it like a paddle.
- 03Walk your hands up
Push the punt past the planted pole, then recover it hand over hand as the boat glides.
- 04Use the pole as a rudder
Trail it behind the punt for small steering corrections. Slow, early adjustments work best.
- 05If it sticks, let go
A lost pole is easier to recover than a person in the river. Operators can explain the safest recovery method.
05 / Before you push off
Keep the day
afloat.
- Check the weatherOperators can suspend hire in poor conditions. Calm, dry days are far more enjoyable.
- Protect phones and bagsBring a waterproof pouch and keep valuables low in the centre of the punt.
- Wear sensible shoesChoose something secure with grip. The punter’s platform will get wet.
- Use a life jacket if neededNon-swimmers should wear one. Ask the operator before launching.
- Watch the return timeLeave enough time for the return current, queues and a less direct journey than planned.
- Age restrictionCherwell Boathouse does not hire to anyone under 16. Confirm supervision rules for your group.