Hen Party Ideas: The Ultimate List

If you’re looking for what to do on a hen party then no doubt you are on the hunt for a load of fun ideas for a hen party to make sure the weekend goes with a bang.

We’ve rounded up a list of the ultimate unique hen party ideas and activities so that you and your hens can start brainstorming about how to throw your bride the BEST send-off into married life.

What Are The Best Things To Do At A Hen Party?

There are so many fun hen party activities to choose from that there is no one size fits all itinerary for what to do on a hen weekend.

Some of the most popular things to do at a hen party are:

• A Spa Day
• Renting a big group house
• Afternoon tea

But if you’re looking for even more fun hen party ideas, we have got over 60 unique suggestions that you will remember forever!

Keep reading or watch our video feating the best things to do for a hen weekend in 2023.

If you want to organise a hen party at your house, here are the best hen party at home tips.

How Do You Make A Hens Party Fun?

The great thing about choosing your hen party ideas is that there are so many ways to make a hen weekend fun.

1. Create a Whatsapp group so all the hens can get to know each other
2. Choose a hen party theme to suit the bride
3. Plan fun hen party activities for the weekend (see list below)
4. Ensure there is plenty of good food and drink
5. Prepare fun hen party games to play

Hen Party Activities & Ideas in 2023

Let’s first run through a few popular ideas for hen weekends that might be of interest to make sure we’ve covered off all the usual suspects of things to do on a hen weekend.

Then, we’ll move onto a list of more unusual hen do activities and ideas to give you all the inspiration you’ll need throw a more alternative hen do.

1. A Big Day/Night Out

While it’s fairly standard nowadays to turn a hen night into a fully-blow hen weekend, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking it back to basics and heading out onto the town with your favourite ladies as a simple hen night idea.

If you’re looking for a night out with a difference, book the VIP Bottomless Brunch at Ballie Ballerson Ball Pit Bar!

2. Afternoon Tea

A classic activity, afternoon tea is the ultimate of all the classy hen do ideas. Most towns and cities have a plethora of afternoon tea options and you can nearly always negotiate a good deal on the cucumber sarnies and scones if you are a large group. You can also always liven it up by making it a Champagne afternoon tea!

Check our our favourite afternoon teas in the UK.

3. Hen Spa Day

Is there anything more relaxing than spending the day being submerged in a jacuzzi, sweating it out in the sauna and cosied up in a big fluffy white bathrobe with some of your bestest pals?

Having a spa day is one of those great chilled-out pursuits for hen parties that will give you ample time to talk bridesmaid hairstyles and wedding planning details.

Check out group spa days*.

4. Cookery or Baking Class

If you see your last weekend of freedom as a good excuse to get your hens in the kitchen and learning something new, then taking a cooking class together is a great idea. There are loads of different options and you can learn everything from baking bread and patisserie to a full-blown meal that you can all eat together afterwards.

5. Go To A Theme Park

If the bride is a bit of a thrillseeker then why not give her a weekend to remember by checking in to one of the UK theme park resorts?

→ See Alton Towers Deals*

→ See Thorpe Park Deals*

6. Murder Mystery Evening

Channel your inner Miss Scarlett and invite your hens to the ultimate hen party murder mystery evening. This also makes for great budget hen party fun as you can pick up a murder mystery game fairly cheaply and then all set to work on your DIY costumes. Don’t forget to have a prize ready for the best outfit!

If you’re looking for a hen-party-friendly murder mystery, we love this one that is called “Girls just wanna have guns.”

Price: £20.00 (Buy on Amazon*)

7. Hen Party Dance Class

It’s time for you all to channel your inner Dirty Dancer and pick up some new skills on the dancefloor. There are SO MANY dance class options that you could spend the morning learning to move like Beyoncé, twerk like Miley Cyrus before lunch and finish it off by perfecting your American Smooth all before dinnertime.

8. Hen Treasure Hunt

This is one of the single most fun hen party activities around as you can make it completely personalised to the area where you live or the interests of the bride. Put together a scavenger hunt and split your friends into teams and see who makes it back first having completed all the tasks.

Check out this deal for a scavenger hunt adventure game available in 14 locations costing just £6.

9. Arts and Crafts Hen Weekend

If your bride is a creative soul then a great hen weekend idea she would definitely enjoy spending the weekend indulging in some arts and crafts with her best friends. The options for arts and crafts hen weekends are endless and you can either book an organised crafty activity or put together your own simple arty tasks to do at your hen do accommodation.

• Knitting or Crochet Workshop: £16 per person
• Soy Candle Making Workshop: £29 per person
  

11. Cocktail-Making Class

Essential knowledge for any 20 or 30-something is how to whip up a killer margarita, so taking your hens to a cocktail-making class is essentially providing them with key skills they’re going to use for the rest of their lives. Plus, you have to sample every drink you make so it’s bound to be a fun day out…

One of the best ways to get a good deal on a cocktail-making class is to book it via a voucher site like buyagift.co.uk.

The vouchers are often for just one or two people, but if you all book for the same date then you’ll get a great deal to enjoy the experience together!

Take a look at:

• The Hero Cocktail Experience for 4 at Superheroes Bar – £144

12. River Cruise

Oh yes this is one of the more classy hen do ideas. Sashay onto the vessel of your choice with your hens and be wined and dined as you float along a river taking in the view. A good idea if you want an excuse to get dressed up in your finery too.

• London Evening River Cruise*
• York River Cruise*

13. Make Up Masterclass

If you’ve always wanted to know how to blend, highlight and contour then this hen party idea is your chance to learn. You and your hens can have a personalised make up masterclass with an expert make up artist and ask all those burning make up questions. You can even ask them for tips on how you’re going to do your bridal make up for the wedding day.

14. Life Drawing

There’s no better time to study the naked form than right before you commit yourself to married life. Life Drawing is a super fun hen party activity to do with your hens and there’s no artistic experience necessary as there’s usually an artist there to help you hone your skills. Think Year 9 art class, but with a naked dude sat there instead of a bunch of dried flowers.

15. Go Karting

Challenge your gals to the race of their lives by taking them go karting. You can either all race individually or work as a team to race in relay.

Check out the Go Karting voucher deals on sites like Buyagift to get some of the best deals:

• Grand Prix Karting for Two in Hertfordshire – £99
• Karting Experience at 8 locations – £39

16. Paintball

You might think paintballing is just a stag do activity but it’s actually one of the most exhilarating hen do ideas. Why not surprise your hens by getting them all camouflaged up and crawling through the forest.

17. High Ropes or Assault Course

Hopefully none of your hens suffers from vertigo because high wire activities like Go Ape will have you swinging through the canopy from tree to tree like a bunch of Tarzans (or Janes).

Another great option for a challenging High Ropes course is the one at Bear Grylls Adventure near Birmingham.

You can get amazing deals for GoApe through Buyagift, check out these deals:

• Treetop adventure for 2 at GoApe (24 locations) – £36
• Forest Segway Experience for 2 at GoApe (12 locations) – £70

If you need to book for more than 2 then simply order multiple vouchers for the group then book on the same day.

18. Make Over and Hen Party Photoshoot

How often do you have the chance to get dressed up to the nines and have a classy photoshoot with your best friends? The great thing about booking a photoshoot is that you’ll have some amazing photos of you all to treasure for years to come.

19. Unusual hen party activities? Try an Escape Room

Escape Rooms have become really popular in recent years and they make a great hen party activity because it’ll help all your hens get to know each other and work together.

We LOVE the look of the Bear Grylls Adventure Escape Rooms in Birmingham.

20. Karaoke

There’s nothing that says last night of freedom like belting out the classic with your besties. You can either get up on the main stage and karaoke in front of a crowd or hire a karaoke booth with your pals. Don’t forget to Instagram Story the whole thing.

21. Hire a Butler in the Buff

To make it a night to remember, you can hire a butler in the buff. A good-looking young man will arrive at your abode and spend the evening serving you drinks, nibbles and frankly indecent amounts of nudity. Best to keep this one a surprise for the bride!

Check out our Butler in the Buff Guide.

22. Bottomless Brunch

You had me at Mimosa. Enjoying your hen weekend with bottomless drinks and delicious brunchy food is basically the dream come true. Do it.

Who doesn’t love a Bottomless brunch? You can get a great deal for 5 people for a BB at Lucky Voice Islington at the moment:

• Bottomless Brunch with Karaoke Party for 5 – £200

23. Pole Dancing

It’s always good to learn a new skill and pole dancing is VERY good for you so it makes for a great hen party idea. Even beginners can learn a few impressive moves in a matter of hours at a hen party pole dancing workshop.

24. Day at the Races

Aintree, Ascot or Newmarket? They’re all fabulous choices for a hen party for a day out darling so you just need to decide which hat.

25. See a West End Musical

Mamma Mia, Matilda or The Lion King? There are so many amazing shows on in the West End and touring the UK that there’s bound to be one that your whole squad will enjoy. Check out our list of great hen party musicals

Find the best deals to see a musical when the theatres reopen on London Theatre Direct*.

26. Wine Tasting

Do you know your Grigio from your Merlot? Time to hone those taste buds, girlfriend and take your clan to a wine tasting experience as an idea for a classy hen party.

27. Pony Trekking

Feel the wind in your hair as you gallop through the open fields on your very own Black Beauty. Or, if you’re not so experienced in the saddle it could also be a sedate wander through the countryside on horseback.

28. Games Night

If you’re not up for a big night out then how about a Big Night In? Gather your pals and a few of our great hen party game ideas and you’ll be set for a hilarious night in.

29. Comedy Club

Get front row seats for the hottest comedy show in town and you and your friends will be wetting yourselves with laughter all weekend long.

30. Bootcamp Assault Course

Those hens might have thought they were getting a relaxing weekend to celebrate the bride’s last days as a single woman, but they can think again. Why not take them all by surprise and challenge them to a day of outdoorsy, messy fun and watch while your nearest and dearest try and scale a vertical wall on an assault course bootcamp.

Great for helping all your bridesmaids to get to know each other very quickly…

Unusual Hen Party Activities and Ideas

Are you looking for some more unusual and different hen do activities? Trawl through our extensive list of unusual hen do ideas & activities to find the best quirky and unique entertainment.

31. Book A Luxury Private Yacht

You might think that chartering your own luxury yacht would cost a bomb, but thanks to Red Letter Days you can book a 3 hour luxury sunset cruise for 6 people for £1,600.

Ok, it’s not exactly cheap but that only works out at just over £250 each and imagine the memories you will make!

See the deal* and use discount code RPLAN15HEN to get an extra 15% off!

32. Go Inland Surfing

What is Inland Surfing we hear you ask? Well, it’s an artificial 180m long surfing lake that provides safe and consistent waves all year round for beginners and pros!

The Wave is located near Bristol and you can choose to have a surf lesson or join in with one of the non-guided surf sessions if you already know your way around a surf board.

A guided surf session at The Wave* starts from around £65.00.

33. Do An Alpaca Experience

What is an “alpaca experience” exactly? This is your once in a lifetime opportunity to hang out with some of the fluffiest and funniest pals you’re ever going to meet. It’s a hen party activity that none of your hens will ever forget!

You’ll head to an alpaca farm and spent 2 hours doing a meet and greet with them, then take them for a walk in the countryside. Definitely one of the more random hen party experiences, we’ll admit.

An Alpaca Experience starts from around £25 for two people which makes it the perfect activity for smaller hen groups.

34. Take A Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

Could there be anything more magical and memorable than heading up, up and away in a giant hot air balloon with your best mates? One of the most amazing hen party activities on this list for sure.

You can book a hot air balloon ride for less than £139 per person when you use our 20% off code on Buyagift*, just use PLANTHEHEN20 to get the best deal!

35. Record A Song At A Recording Studio

If you and your hens can hold a tune – or even better if you can’t – then why not go one step further than just karaoke and record your own track in an ACTUAL recording studio. You’ll get it to take home with you on a CD.

36. Perfume Making

This is one of those hen party classes that keeps on giving! A bit of sandalwood, a touch of hyacinth and a smattering of cedarwood. You and your hens can each put together your signature scent and take a sample of it home with you to wear on the wedding day. Such a special idea.

37. Go To A Festival

Celebrate your last weekend of freedom with the ultimate sense of freedom at a music festival! Or, if musical festivals aren’t your thing you could try a literary, arts or crafts festival.

38. Downton Abbey For The Day

Yes you read that correctly, you and your hens can spend a whole day pretending you are in an episode of Downton! You can all play at being scullery maids before you get dressed up as lords and ladies of the manor to host your very own banquet.

Definitely the most unique hen do idea we’ve heard of so far!

39. Go To A Cat Café

If you’ve got a hen-load of cat-lovers then why not incorporate a trip to a cat café into your hen weekend? They’ve been cropping up all over the country the last few years so you’ll find them everywhere from London to Aberdeen.

40. Trampoline Workout Class

At Bounce Fit you and your girls can spend an hour or two bouncing away to hot tunes and working up a sweat. They describe it as High cardio but low impact and definitely something you’ll all remember! Bouncefit can be done all over the country.

41. Zombie Experience Bootcamp

If a standard hen party assault course is too ordinary for your hens, you can choose to put them through a ZOMBIE bootcamp! Described as a “totally immersive horror experience”, this is a perfect choice for brides who love something a bit different!

42. Graffiti Workshop

If tiaras and L-plates aren’t your thing and you fancy something a little grittier for your hen do, how about trying your hand at some graffiti? You can do graffiti workshops at various places around the country where you will learn techniques and designs then have the chance to test them out. 

43. Axe Throwing

It’s time to get medieval with some axe throwing! This sport of old requires you to lob an axe at a wooden target – perfect for de-stressing during the intense phase of wedding planning too. You can do axe throwing at various locations around the UK including Oxford, Chester, Bristol, Bath and Cardiff.

44. Roller Disco

Yes ladies, it’s time to take it retro and don your skates for a roller disco hen party! Whether you’re a whizz on the wheels or will be clutching the sides for the first five laps, you’re going to have SUCH a laugh.

45. Hot Tub Boat Down The Thames

Also known as the “HotTug”, you and your pals can all pile into a moving, wood-fired hot tub that will take you down the Thames! It’s heated to a toasty 38° C so your tour through the capital will be cosy and fun. Each hot tub can fit up to 7 people and costs £32 per hen.

46. Garter Making

Something old, something new, something … you made on your hen do? Combine old traditions with something new and get your hens on the task of making you a DIY garter to wear on your wedding day! You can take a workshop in lots of locations around the country, or even have someone come and teach you.

47. Play Bubble Football!

What do you mean you’ve never stuck a giant inflatable dome on your head and run around trying to score goals? Now is the time to challenge your hens to this activity without falling over laughing every five seconds. Imagine the photos…

48. Stand-Up Paddling

How well can you balance? If you’ve never tried paddleboarding then there’s no better time to end up in water surrounded by a load of you pals. There are SUP-providers all over the country and you can even take your hen party on a Paddleboard city tour.

49. Blow Dry Party

Why not take your hens to the salon and all enjoy getting your hair spruced up together? There’ll be champagne, nibbles and a whole lorra waves and updos. The perfect afternoon activity before heading out to paint the town red.

50. Make DIY Flower Crowns

You can take a workshop and learn how to all make the most beautiful DIY flower crowns. You’ll be able to select your favourite blooms to incorporate into your individual flower crowns and then wear them out in the evening!

51. Do A Hen Do Parkrun

If your bride is a keen runner then the hens are going to need to take one for the team here because it involves getting up and running 5K at 9am on a Saturday. BUT Parkrun is so much fun, there are lovely, encouraging people and you might even gain a new hobby out if it!

Doing Parkrun on your hen weekend is surprisingly popular and with hundreds of events throughout the UK there is bound to be one near where you are staying.

52. Hiking Hen Party

It’s time to get out into the great outdoors and inhale some of that fresh countryside air. Why not take your hens on a hiking hen do? The UK has some incredible walking routes for you to discover from the Lake District to the Highlands. Also, think of how good the packed lunch could be…

53. Make The Wedding Bouquets

You might think this is impossible unless the hen party is the night before the wedding but no, it is possible. You can have your hens help you make THE MOST BEAUTIFUL dried flower bouquets and corsages and store them away ready for the big day.

Such a cute hen and relaxed party idea!

Just order a selection of dried flowers you like the look of online and let your creativity run wild – it’s much easier than you think.

54. Coasteering

If jumping off cliff edges and wading through tidal water sounds like one of your fave hen party activities then why not give Coasteering a go on your hen weekend? Our island nation has plenty of beautiful sites for an exhilarating day out in the water. Don’t forget your GoPro!

55. The Romans

If your hen party is near Liverpool and you feel like channelling your inner gladiator or trying something completely random then The Romans is the activity for you! Basically, you’re all going to get dressed up and Romans and get drunk.

It’s like a primary school trip, but with sambuca instead of squash.

56. Visit A Lavender Farm

The UK is full of stunning fields of lavender and many of them have opened their doors to allow you to spend the day gathering your own bunches of lavender, enjoying a cake in the tea room or even doing an open-air yoga class amongst the blooms. Best in summer.

57. Dinner In The Sky

This will 100% be the most memorable dinner of your life and is one of the top hen party ideas in the UK. In London, you and your pals can sit at a 22-seater table suspended 100ft in the air. You’ll be wined and dined while you enjoy 360 degree views of the capital.

58. Yoga In The Sky

You and your hens can kick off the hen weekend by doing yoga in the skies overlooking Brighton in the British Airways i360 pod.

59. Take A Helicopter Ride

This is probably a hen do activity for small groups rather than if there is a huge gaggle of you, and you’ll need to check whether all the hens have got the nerve to go up into the sky, but it is definitely one of the most exhilarating hen do activities!

A helicopter ride in London is available from around £94 per person. Take a look at this deal from Adventure 001.

If you’re looking to book a helicopter ride elsewhere, take a look at this deal* which is valid in 38 locations around the UK.

60. Bake With a GBBO Legend

Did you know that you and your hens can enjoy learning to get the perfect rise and perfect your creme pat with ACTUAL Bake Off legends from the TV series? Available in London, Manchester and Brighton.

61. Pottery Painting

Time to get crafty with a hen party idea that will reveal which of your hens has the most artistic talent. You can head to a pottery café in towns and cities all around the country and some even let you pop open a bottle of champers to help your creative juices flow!

62. Ride The Party Bus

All aboard! You can hire a red double decker party bus to ferry you and your hens around for a whole evening. Tours available include a nightclub tour and a Burlesque tour!

63. Kite Surfing

If you’re after hen party ideas for a thrill-seeking bride then why not take her hen party kite surfing! That will surely be an experience that you and the hens will never forget.

Cheap & Free Hen Do Ideas

If money is tight or you are organising a hen do on a budget then don’t panic, we have plenty of ideas for free hen do activities that will help you have the best hen weekend on a shoestring.

Organising a cheap hen party doesn’t mean you can’t make it super fun.

We all know that when it comes to hen parties, the costs can add up really quickly and it can turn into a really expensive weekend. That’s why it’s a really good idea to incorporate some of these free hen do activities into your itinerary.

Cheap Hen Party Ideas

• Have a posh picnic in the park – you just need a couple of folding tables, some white tablecloths and some candles then ask everyone to bring a chair and a dish then you all dig in! You can even ask everyone to dress up nicely for it to add an extra touch for the insta snaps.
  
• Play GBBO – elect a Prue and a Paul, or a Mary and a Paul if you want to go old school, all chip in for some bulk-bought ingredients and then each team has to come up with a showstopper bake.
  
• Hold a retro sports day – You could head to the local park to do this. Gather a few garden games, whatever your hens have got lying around, or make some of your own and then hold your very own sports day, just like primary school! This is very memorable free hen party activity.
  
• Treasure Hunt – you can really easily put together your own hunt that you and your hens can do around your local area. You can even tailor the tasks to your bride, for example, “Source a business card from someone called Jen”, “Get a photo of your team dressed as nurses”. Let your creativity run wild with this one, everyone will LOVE it.
  
• Play printable hen party games – It’s not all about Never Have I Ever, we’ve got a list of loads of hen party games you can work through, you can just print off a few in advance.

It’s so tempting to sign yourself and your hens up for various types of organised hen weekend fun such as spa days, white water rafting and bootcamps but if that means that half of your hens can’t afford to join then there isn’t much point!

Hopefully that has sparked off some ideas to help you include some free hen do activities.

Think of your hen party as a chance to spend time doing fun but normal things with friends that you never normally have time for and you’ll end up having an amazing time without spending a fortune.

If you’ve been to any hen parties where you did brilliant but cheap things, let us know in the comments and we’ll include them!

---

Phew, that was quite the list of hen party activities wasn’t it? Over 60 ideas and activities for your hen weekend.

We’re hopeful that this ultimate guide to deciding what to do on your hen party will have got you thinking about how you want to spend your hen weekend with your best friends.

If you’ve been to a hen do recently and done some amazing activities that we’ve not listed here, please do give us a comment and let us know and we’ll add it with a credit to you!

---

Disclaimer: Links marked with a * are affiliate links. We earn a small commission for each purchase you make, it doesn’t cost you any more but it helps support Plan The Hen 🙂