Planning a hen do is not an easy task. Between gathering everyone together and getting the whole gang to chip in on an amount they all agree on, there is the difficult job of picking a location for the do itself.
Just how do you pick, and where might be some suitable places to celebrate a hen party? We’re here to help with that; here are the best hen party destinations in the UK and abroad.
What Makes A Great Hen Do?
A hen do is what you make of it – ‘you’ here meaning your glorious gaggle of friends and family, and of course the bride. If you’re a fun-loving bunch, then partying will surely be the focus, but if you like to sample the finer things, your hen party could benefit from a laissez-faire trip of wining, dining and restful experiences. The opportunities are endless – but where could you go?
The Best UK Hen Party Destinations
According to a recent report discussed in the Mirror, the average cost of attending a hen party in 2022 is £242 (up 60% in ten years) with accommodation and meals out accounting for the biggest costs. In the current climate of rising travel costs, decreased spending money and, ideally, efforts to fly less, might the UK be the safer bet?
Keeping things domestic is a winning choice when it comes to planning a hen do; it ensures things remain relatively simple and within budget – giving you all the more room to book some extra fun luxuries for the big night.
Brighton
For a very different hen do experience, why not take your gaggle down to the seaside for an extremely British coastal jaunt? Brighton is naturally one of the best choices here, being a resort that contains multitudes – from cultural delights to quintessential beachy fun like the arcades. Oh, and Brighton’s food scene isn’t half bad either.
Read: The best cocktail bars in Brighton
Manchester
Manchester is city chock-full of 24-hour party people, and it shows. From the glitz and glamour of its rooftop hotel bars to the sticky floors and stickier cocktails of its Oxford Road nightclubs, you can’t go far wrong for an excellent evening – to say nothing of the endless array of bottomless brunches you could be choosing from!
London
Last but certainly not least, where else but the Big Smoke? London is a sprawling megacity of adventure and experiences, and a brilliant place to bring a large group for a weekend to remember – or forget, as it were. There’s incredible food wherever you look, and each district has its own merits for a night on the town.
From sophisticated afternoon tea parties to chocolate tasting experience on the London Eye, check out these 5 alternative London hen party ideas to get properly inspired!
The Best Hen Party Adventures Abroad
Of course, sometimes home soil simply doesn’t cut it for the last ‘free’ nights of the bride-to-be’s life. Foreign shores beckon, with some amazing destinations around the world presenting their own unique backdrops for a full-scale hen celebration.
While going abroad tends to be costly, there are myriad clever ways to bring costs down; for example, NHS workers can benefit from Easyjet discount codes to make certain trips an absolute steal, and there are all manner of group savings to be made on accommodation, dining, and entertainment options.
Budapest
One lesser-travelled entry on the hen-do list might be Budapest, or as it is more alluringly known, the City of Spas. With thermal baths and relaxing spas by the dozen, this could be the pampersome trip of a lifetime for you and yours.
If it’s partying rather than pampering you’re after, then you’ll be pleaded to hear that Budapest has earned a reputation as being the playground for twenty something hedonists wishing to venture further afield than the usual party hotspots of Amsterdam, Barcelona and the rest.
For those folk, District VII is definitely the hippest place in the capital. Though once ravaged by war, left run-down and ruined for many years, after undergoing a restless revitalisation, the historic Jewish corner has blossomed into an up-and-coming cultural hub. Jam packed with bars, cafés and restaurants, the bohemian atmosphere of District VII has been likened to Berlin’s Kreuzberg.
If you’re planning a visit then hitting the ruin pubs with their worn-down pieces of furniture and thrifty interiors should definitely place high on the itinerary. The best of their kind have live music and DJs on the weekends, as well as film nights and art exhibitions. One of our favourites is Mazel Tov which serves up delicious Israeli/Mediterranean food in a green and leafy setting.
Ibiza
Speaking of DJs and dancing, if a party atmosphere is your group’s number one priority, why look further than Ibiza? The island resort has made a name for itself as a veritable paradise of party, and is the perfect high-octane destination for a hen party ready to let loose.
From cruising on a catamaran and dancing at Ibiza rocks too watching the beautiful sunsets with a cocktail in hand, there’s plenty to do on a Ibiza hen do. Of course, the island has plenty to offer beyond the parties; check out these ways to unwind in Ibiza for more on that.
Bucharest
Don’t let the low and slow pace of life in rural Romania fool you into thinking the nightlife is lowkey. There’s plenty going on in the capital Bucharest, nicknamed ‘the Paris of the East’ thanks to its stunning architecture and unique monuments. Indeed, the affability of the locals and affordability of the place make it a great choice for a party.
Temperatures soar here in the summer, to over 30 degrees Celsius in the height of the season, and with plans afoot to turn the city’s Mori lake into a huge artificial beach, there’ll be plenty of time for topping up your tan in preparation for the big day in the unlikeliest of locations. There’s also Europe’s largest urban beach, the Sands of Therme, just outside Bucharest.
At night, the city comes alive, with several lively clubs hosting the action. For hyped-up hen dos, Bamboo is the ultimate spot for dancing and debauchery. It’s notoriously difficult to get into, so make sure you’re dressed smart but not overly showy, and keep your cool in the queue.
Should your group’s tastes lie more in getting spooky than sloppy, then make sure you leave the city to visit Bran Castle; like no other castle in the world, it’s nicknamed Dracula Castle and is located in Transylvania.
If that final entry sounds like your kind of thing, then check out these 5 Eastern European party towns IDEAL for stags and hens. Cheers!