Cherwell Boathouse
Boat Parties for hen parties in Oxford
Cherwell Boathouse is a boat parties provider for hen parties in Oxford. Based in Oxford (OX2). from £25 per punt per hour. Sessions last 1-3 hours and run for up to 6 guests. Rated 4.5 from 1,778 reviews.
- Price
- from £25 per punt per hour
- Duration
- 1-3 hours
- Group size
- Up to 6 guests
- Where
- Based in Oxford (OX2)
- Rating
- Rated 4.5 from 1,778 reviews
Is it right for your group?
Best for
- Up to 6 guests planning a hen party in Oxford
- Groups happy to travel to Oxford
Consider before booking
- Groups larger than 6: check before enquiring
Hen party boat parties in North Oxford
Up to 6 guests · 1-3 hours
4.51778 reviews
Run by Cherwell Boathouse
Vetted Hen Hideaways activity provider
Hen friendly
Punting is seasonal (roughly February to mid-October) from 10am, closing 7pm-10pm by date; restaurant open for lunch and dinner.
1-3 hours
Seasonal punting (roughly February to mid-October), from 10am; closing varies 7pm-10pm by date, punt hire closes 1 hour before closing. Restaurant open for lunch and dinner.
Great location
North Oxford
About Cherwell Boathouse
What makes this a great fit for your hen weekend
On Bardwell Road in North Oxford, the Cherwell Boathouse is Oxford's punting idyll: a working boathouse and restaurant on the River Cherwell where your hen group can take to the water by day and dine by the river as the light goes down. Punting runs from 11am to 7pm, with punts carrying up to six. so the group splits into flotillas and the river becomes a regatta of varying competence.
Sessions last one to three hours depending on ambition and navigation. The restaurant covers lunch and dinner, which makes the boathouse a full afternoon's headquarters: punt first, feast after, all beside the water.
Rated 4.5 from more than 1,700 reviews, the Cherwell Boathouse has been Oxford's riverside ritual for generations. For hens who want the classic Oxford experience. poles, punts and prosecco-adjacent sunshine.
Cherwell Boathouse is the answer. The bride does not punt.
The bride is punted. This distinction is ancient and absolute.
What this experience offers
Pricing
from £25 per punt per hour
Frequently asked questions
What is Cherwell Boathouse?
We are Oxford's finest punt station on Bardwell Road in North Oxford: around 80 traditional wooden punts, all built on site, plus rowing boats and Canadian canoes, on the River Cherwell. Punting is a truly timeless, slightly eccentric, quintessentially Oxford pleasure, suitable for novices and experts alike, and our restaurant on the bank makes the before and after effortless.
How does punting work for a hen party?
You hire the punt and punt yourselves: one of you stands at the back with the pole (we will show you how; the punter boards last and the technique takes minutes), and up to five friends ride with the cushions, strawberries and Pimm's. Groups take several punts and drift together: upstream about half an hour to the Victoria Arms, or downstream through the University Parks, a great spot for picnics. If you would rather all relax, chauffeurs can be requested via the QR code at the punt station, and group bookings of five or more punts go through punts@cherwellboathouse.co.uk.
How much does it cost?
Punts hire by the hour or the day: £25 per hour on weekdays and £27 per hour at weekends (one hour minimum hire), or £125 for a full weekday and £135 for a full weekend day, with each punt carrying up to six people (five seated plus the punter). Split between a full punt, that is a few pounds each for the most Oxford hour of your hen weekend. We hold a debit or credit card as the deposit while you are on the water.
Do we need experience, and is it safe?
No experience needed; punting suits complete novices and our team will kit you out with pole, paddle and cushions and talk you through it. A few house rules: no more than six per punt, no punt racing or splashing, non-swimmers should wear a life jacket (ask at the punt office), we cannot hire to anyone under 16, and anyone hiring a river craft does so at their own responsibility. We are dog friendly, so four-legged bridesmaids are welcome aboard.
When are you open, and do we need to book?
Punting is seasonal, roughly February to mid-October, and our hours follow the light: from 10am, closing between 7pm and 10pm depending on the date, with punt hire ending an hour before we close. Check the current dates on our website. With around 80 boats, availability is usually good midweek; weekends are a lot busier, so arrive early, or be prepared to sit by the river with an ice cream or Pimm's watching the activity until a punt frees up. Life could be worse.
Where are you, and can we eat with you?
You will find us at Bardwell Road, Oxford (OX2 6ST), in North Oxford. Our restaurant is open for lunch and dinner on the riverbank, so the classic hen shape writes itself: punt first, then lunch or dinner with us, then into the city for the evening. Call us on 01865 552746.
Guest reviews
1778 reviews
Ratings for Cherwell Boathouse. Reviews last updated on 26 October 2026.
7 September 2026
Hubby and I had dinner here after visiting the beautiful Blenheim Palace. The food was excellent and the vibe is very welcoming. The staff are friendly, and although we didn’t come with a reservation, we were assisted and seated by the manager. We were seated at the patio and the river view is just delightful! Definitely recommend this place and 100% will be coming back in the future!
5 September 2026
We held our wedding reception at the Cherwell Boathouse, catering to 90 people. Trish, Joe and the team were fantastic to work with in planning the wedding, and were very accommodating regarding changes to food and access requirements at the eleventh hour. The food was delicious and we received numerous comments praising the quality. We would highly recommend the Cherwell Boathouse as a wedding venue.
23 May 2026
Enjoyed a fabulous lunch today on a hot holiday weekend Saturday. Felt very fortunate to be seated at the best table, on the porch overlooking the river but thankfully in the shade. The service was excellent, very professional and fun. They catered for my girlfriends dietary requirements (celiac). She had the asparagus as a main, me the brill. Both very good, with great accompanying drinks. We would have stayed all afternoon if we could. Reall excellent, thank you
Reviews shown in full. We show up to five reviews per business.
Hen Hideaways guides
Featured in our guides
Where you'll be
Bardwell Rd, Oxford OX2 6ST
North Oxford
Nearby hen party houses
Discover more hen party houses in this area
Listed on Hen Hideaways October 2026Listing updated 25 October 2026
Other hen party activities in Oxford
Creative Classes (20)Social Gaming (18)Pamper Parties (13)Cocktail Making (9)Tours & Tastings (7)Escape Rooms (3)Spa & Wellness (3)Wine Tasting (3)
Boat Parties in other locations
Boat Parties in Dorset (12)Boat Parties in Weymouth (10)Boat Parties in Bath (8)Boat Parties in Cambridge (6)Boat Parties in Somerset (5)Boat Parties in Wiltshire (4)Boat Parties in Bristol (3)Boat Parties in Cardiff (3)