Salter’s Bros Steamers

Had a great Birthday party on here. Inside area for drinks and able to sit down. Then upstairs deck for dancing with music. Great place to have a party and very pleasant service from the whole of the company. Not sure how much it cost but definitely something to think about if organising an event.

A brilliant family day out, according to our Oxford team. Have fun punting from Folly Bridge on the River Thames. Continue the Brideshead Revisited experience with a picnic in Christ Church Meadow and a walk in the College grounds. While you are there, pop your head around the doors of the Great Hall, which doubles as Hogwart’s dining hall in the Harry Potter films.

Punting is fantastically good fun and I really recommend it for a summer afternoon with friends. Whilst the initial cost of hiring a punt might seem high, divide that between a few people and it soons becomes much more reasonable.
However, I would agree with notquiteox. Although this is the most scenic place to punt, with Christchurch towering over beautiful and surprisingly rural meadows, and rowers giving it an incredibly Oxford attitude, it’s not ideal for learning. As well as the points above, I’d add that the current can get quite strong and if you go too far from the edge it’s too deep to punt, meaning you’re swept along rather helplessly, which is great fun until you realise you need to be back somewhere or until you need to steer

Gerry & I took the Steamer from Abingdon the year before last, on a glorious summer day.
It’s a lovely way to start a trip out — bear in mind it takes a LONG time — but we’d organised a few cans of ready-​mixed Pimms and soaked up the sunshine.
As you potter along, keep your eyes peeled for some beautiful houses and, if you’re lucky, you’ll see kingfishers on the trees by the bank and diving into the water.
From there, take a wander through Christchurch Meadow before a couple of cocktails and a leisurely dinner. The perfect summer afternoon and evening.

Not the best place to learn to punt but it is very scenic.
If you are a learner punter then I’d recommend the Cherwell boathouse in North Oxford or Magdalen Bridge punts. The problem with learning to punt on the Thames is that it gets quite deep in places (which makes it hard to get the pole in and to get a good push) and there is lots of other river traffic. The motor boats don’t like you getting in the way and even if you are safely out of the way they create waves. The serious rowers (and in Oxford they are VERY serious rowers) also don’t have a lot of patience with learner punts swinging across their bows. The other rivers are much quieter and better for people starting out.
On the other hand you can punt past Christchurch Meadows, past the old and new college boathouses, you can even go up the Cherwell and get to Magdalen Bridge.
Make sure you have plenty of money or a credit card to leave as a deposit.