Hen Party Canal Boat Hire
A hen do with a difference
Most hen parties follow a familiar script — a bar crawl, a spa day, or a busy activity centre shared with other groups. A canal boat hen party is genuinely different: for the whole day, Tilly is yours and yours alone. No sharing the experience with strangers, no rigid time slots squeezed between other bookings — just your group, steering the boat together, working through locks, and enjoying each other's company at your own pace.
It's also a lovely change of tempo if your group has already done the big, loud version of a hen do before — a slower, more relaxed day that still feels like a proper occasion.
Make a day of it
A full day hire runs for around seven hours, giving your group plenty of time to cruise, moor up for lunch, and make the most of the occasion. Many hen parties choose to bring along decorations, a picnic, or drinks to enjoy on deck, and stop at one of the waterside pubs and cafés along the Grand Union Canal along the way.
If you'd like to make the day feel extra special, it's also a lovely idea to combine your booking with a gift card for the bride-to-be, whether it's covering the whole day or just a thoughtful extra touch.
Swap the usual hen do for something a little different — a relaxed day on the water, just your group, the Grand Union Canal, and no queues, booths or booked-out bars to fight through.
What's included
A full safety briefing and boat handling demonstration before you set off
Support through the first lock, so the group feels confident steering and working the locks together
Full use of Tilly for your hire period, including the toilet, gas hob, kettle and everything you'd need for drinks and snacks on board
Fuel included, with no hidden extras
Skippered hire for hen parties
For hen parties specifically, we ask that a professional skipper is added to the booking. It means nobody in the group has to concentrate on steering or locks, everyone can relax, celebrate and enjoy a drink together, and the whole day runs smoothly from start to finish. It's a small addition to the day that makes a big difference to how relaxed everyone can actually be.
Please note that we're not able to accommodate stag parties. This policy is about keeping the experience calm and enjoyable for every guest on the water that day, including other customers moored nearby.
Planning your hen party booking
Group size — Tilly comfortably holds up to 10 people, so let us know your numbers when booking
Book ahead — weekends over summer are the most popular time for hen parties and can book up weeks in advance
No experience needed — nobody in the group needs any previous boating experience; with a skipper on board, that's one less thing to think about entirely
Check availability and book your hen party day on Tilly today.
What Our Guests Say
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"Absolutely excellent day Paul who boat it was excellent explained everything very helpful boat very clean everything was so clean would book again it was a excellent day" > — Catherine W.(Google Review)