Now that summer is (hopefully) here to stay, why not enjoy a sunny Sunday punting on the River Cam? Only one hour from London by car or train, which makes it a perfect day outing, it is a lovely way to discover the beautiful old colleges of the University and Cambridge picturesque surroundings.
Punts, a type of flat-bottomed boats not dissimilar to gondolas, were introduced in Cambridge at the beginning of the 20th century by the students, who used them for both leisure trips and racing on the River Cam. Today, they are an almost mandatory way of discovering the old medieval colleges as well as the pretty countryside further upstream around Grantchester Meadows, a favourite for picnicking.
While companies hiring punts are aplenty, Doubletree by Hilton has launched a tailor-made (from two to 12 passengers) and rather stylish variation of the traditional experience, complete withgourmet picnic, punt umbrellas and blankets. Available to hotel guests and non-residents, they come in two versions: the first one (from £65.95 for two) includes a one hour self-driven punt ride, while the Ultimate Veuve Clicquot Punting & Picnic experience (from £120 for two) is a chauffeur-driven 90-minute cruise.
For more information: www.doubletreecambridge.com
