Can we bring our own birthday food and drink?

Yes! You are welcome to bring a full picnic, birthday cake, and drinks on board. Check out our Boating on a Budget Guide for great picnic ideas.

Can we bring the dog to the party?

Absolutely, all our boats are dog-friendly and are welcome for just £15 each

Do you offer birthday gift vouchers?

Yes! If you want to gift an unforgettable experience, you can purchase an open-dated voucher here

What time do we start?

Each boat has a fixed daily start time, shown when you book. If you need a different time, just get in touch and we'll do our best to accommodate you

What is there to see/do on the Grand Union Canal?

There's plenty to see and do, with different experiences depending on whether you head north or south from our mooring at Cow Roast Marina. Our handy canal routes guide has some great information to give you an idea of the birthday adventure you'' be enjoying

07700 166234

Day Hire from £180 - £345 - Evening Hire From £160 - see full pricing

Birthday Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal

Celebrate on a Private Narrowboat Day Out

Looking for a birthday celebration that feels genuinely different from crowded pubs, standard restaurants, or expensive city venues? What if your birthday didn't have a venue at all - just a boat, a stretch of the Grand Union Canal, and a few hours to spend exactly how you like!

You can take the tiller yourselves - it's genuinely easy, and half the fun for a group of any age - or add a skipper and let someone else handle the driving while you relax. Either way, you'll have quiet countryside, herons and swans along the bank, and a canalside pub or café to pull in at if you fancy a stop.

It suits almost any kind of birthday mood - a relaxed toast with a small group as the fields drift past, or a quieter afternoon marking a milestone with the people who matter most. There's no bar to share and no one else's party in the room - just your celebration, on your own boat, exactly as you want it.

Perfect for Any Milestone (For Groups up to 40)

We run four boats - Albert, Victoria, Lavender, and Hay Day - so your celebration isn't limited to a single layout or headcount. Book one boat for an intimate get-together, or take the whole fleet for a larger, multi-boat celebration accommodating up to 40 guests, all cruising the same stretch of canal together.

Narrowboat Birthdays are ideal for:

Milestone birthdays looking for something other than a rented function room
Small groups who'd rather skip a loud bar or restaurant booking
Multi-generational celebrations, from grandchildren to grandparents
Anyone who wants the boat, the guest list, and the day entirely to themselves

No Experience? Completely Stress-Free.

You do not need a license or any previous boating experience to hire with us. Most of our customers are complete beginners! Departing from Cowroast Marina means you start your journey on the 2.5-mile lock-free Tring Summit, offering the easiest, most stress-free cruising environment possible.