Punts are shallow-water, flat-bottomed vessels with open tops and square bows. The punter stands tall in the boat and propels it by pushing a pole into the riverbed. Originally constructed for fishing and moving cargo, they’ve since been used primarily for pleasure and are a popular sight on the Oxford waterways. Try your hand at this classic English pastime (and test your balance!) along an idyllic stretch of the Cherwell River. Ask the locals for the proper Oxford technique and be sure to agree that they do it all wrong in Cambridge. Can you tell what makes it different from the gondolas of Venice?