Hen Party Activities & Ideas

The Most Popular Hen Party Activities

We’ve organised more than 55,000 hen parties since 2007 (that's over 660,000 people), so we see very quickly which ideas work for most groups. These stay at the top because they’re fun, easy to join in with and suit different ages.

Themed Dance Classes

Our themed dance classes stay at number one. You pick the theme – ABBA, Beyoncé, 90s classics or newer routines like Texas Hold ’Em – and an instructor teaches you a routine. Nobody needs to be a good dancer; the fun is in giving it a go together.

Life Drawing

Life drawing is cheeky enough for a hen do but relaxed enough that mums and aunties enjoy it too. The tutor brings everything and the model keeps the group entertained. The mix of drawing, chatting and laughing over each other’s sketches usually becomes one of the highlights of the weekend.

Cocktail Making

A cocktail class is a natural choice if you want something social without rushing around. You mix a few drinks, take turns behind the bar and enjoy what you make. You can book a venue or choose a mobile cocktail class at your accommodation.

Mobile Activities at your Accommodation

More groups book houses, lodges and apartments now, so mobile activities keep getting more popular. Craft workshops, cocktails, life drawing, buff butlers, yoga and dance sessions all work well in a living room or open-plan space.

“When groups stay in a house, mobile activities usually make the day run smoother. You’re already in the right place and nobody is chasing taxis.”
— Emily, Group Booking Specialist

Outdoor & Active Ideas

Off-road buggies, sports days, quad biking and paintballing suit groups who prefer being outdoors and want something energetic. Just keep a simple indoor backup ready for British weather.

A quick note on European hen activities

If you’re heading abroad, the most popular choices tend to be cocktails, boat trips, butlers and life drawing. Options vary a lot by city, so browse our hen party destinations page to see what’s available.

Hen Activity Types Explained

Every hen group has its own style. When our team speaks to you over the phone, one of the first questions we ask is what type of activities your bride is looking for. These categories help you match activities to her personality, your group and your budget.

Dance and Song Activities

This is our biggest activity type for bookings - most groups book something from here as one of their activities. Lip sync battles, silent disco tours, dance classes and karaoke booths all sit here. No experience needed, and they start from £23pp.

Creative and Crafty Activities

Ceramic painting, flower crowns and textile crafts work well for mixed ages. Sessions typically last around 90 minutes and you take something home. Browse our Crafty Hen Activities.

Food & Drink Based Activities

Cocktail making, bottomless brunches, afternoon tea, chocolate making and prosecco bikes all sit here. These activities suit the widest age ranges and work well for mixed groups.

Cheeky and Sexy Activities

Dreamboys, Pimp That Penis and butlers are best for close friend groups. Not ideal if mums or colleagues are coming. Browse our Sexy Hen Activities.

Mobile Activities

Mobile activities jumped in popularity over the last 2 years, as more groups choose hen houses. Craft workshops, cocktails, life drawing, buff butlers, yoga and dance sessions all come to you. See Mobile Hen Activities.

Fun and Funny Activities

Bubble Mayhen, Lip Sync Battle and gameshow style activities work for groups who want something energetic and silly. Explore our Funny Hen Activities.

Budget Friendly Activities

Smartphone treasure hunts from £16pp, silent disco tours from £23pp, and mobile activities that save on taxi costs. We can deliver DIY craft kits to your house, or send a cocktail bartender who'll make drinks for your group for 2 hours. Browse Cheap Hen Activities.

Our expert hen party planners can help find something that fits your budget.

Unusual and Unique Activities

Goofy games, silent discos, quirky workshops and escape style experiences for brides who’ve “done the usual stuff.” Browse Unusual Hen Activities.

Luxury and premium activities

Spa sessions, private chefs, premium cocktails and higher end dining when your group’s happy to spend more. Explore Classy Hen Activities.

Outdoor & active activities

Off-road buggies, sports days, quad biking and paintballing suit groups who prefer being outdoors and want something energetic. Just keep a simple indoor backup ready for British weather.

Popular Hen Activities by City

• London: cocktail making, boat parties, bottomless brunch
• Liverpool: life drawing, line dancing, Dreamboys
• Manchester: cocktail making, pimp that penis, crazy golf
• Newcastle: prosecco bike, bubble mayhen, geordie games
• Cardiff: welsh games, sip and paint, bottomless brunch
• Edinburgh: highland games, silent disco tour, cocktail making & meal

Heading abroad? You’ll find different activities in each destination. See what’s available on our hen party locations page.

How to Choose the Right Hen Activities

We've organised hen parties for over 660,000 people since 2007, so we've seen what works (and what doesn't) for thousands of groups. Here's how to pick activities that'll actually suit your bride and your hens.

Start with your group

If you've got a mix of ages or people who don't know each other well, go for something sociable and relaxed as your first activity to break the ice. Cocktails, crafts, dance classes and life drawing all get everyone chatting without anyone feeling awkward.

Think about the bride

If she's the first one on the dancefloor and loves a big night out, go for lively or cheeky ideas. If she's happier with cosy nights in and proper chats, look at creative workshops or food based activities instead.

Consider where you're staying

City centre hotels work brilliantly with venue based activities you can walk to. Ideally you want everything within a mile of the city centre so you're not doing long taxi rides in heels. Hen houses and countryside cottages are perfect for mobile hen activities that come straight to your door.

Keep the day simple

One to two daytime activities, time for food and time to get ready is usually plenty. Then book something fun for the night like Dreamboys, Popworld entry or a nightclub with booths. When the plan's simple, everyone actually relaxes and enjoys themselves.

The easiest decisions come when you focus on what the bride will enjoy most. Once that’s clear, everything else falls into place.

Eleanor
Group Booking Specialist

Hen Do Costs & Budget Guide

After organising 55,000+ hen parties, we've seen every budget scenario going. The honest truth? You can have a great hen weekend at almost any price point if you plan it right. Here's what actually works.

Keeping costs down

If you're watching the budget, stick to one main activity during the day and build the rest of the weekend around DIY ideas. Create your own hen do scavenger hunt, organise a bar crawl yourselves, or make lunch the activity with afternoon tea somewhere lovely. Booking restaurants for earlier time slots often gets you on early bird menus too, which can save £10-15pp.

Mid-range plans

Most hen groups sit in the middle when it comes to spending. A typical mix that works well is one activity like cocktail making, a nice meal out, and a few bars afterwards. This usually lands around £150-250pp for the full weekend including accommodation.

Want it all sorted without the planning stress? Our hen party packages bundle activities, accommodation and nightlife together at fixed prices.

Premium options

If your group's happy to spend more, you can add spa sessions, private dining and premium cocktail venues. Browse our Luxury Hen Activities for ideas that'll make the weekend feel extra special.

Budget tips

• Agree a rough budget early so nobody feels pressured later
• Choose one main activity rather than packing in loads
• Avoid bank holiday weekends when prices jump
• Consider cheaper locations like Birmingham or Newcastle over London

When to Book Your Hen Activities

After organising thousands of hen weekends, we know exactly which slots disappear first and when you need to move fast. Here's what our booking teams see every week.

Book early for the best choice

Saturday afternoon slots between 1pm and 4pm sell out first, especially for dance classes, life drawing and cocktail making. If you're planning a hen party between April and July in cities like Liverpool, Newcastle or Brighton, you'll want to book 8-10 weeks ahead to get your preferred time.

What fills up fastest

• Dreamboys and cocktail classes in major cities on Saturday nights
• Life drawing in popular hen destinations (Liverpool books solid 10+ weeks ahead)
• Mobile activities for hen houses in peak season
• Evening shows with limited seating or fixed capacity

Last minute bookings

If you've left it late or been let down by a one-man-band supplier, contact our team. With 135+ activities across 65+ UK locations, we can always find you something that works, no matter how close you are to the date. Our booking specialists are used to pulling together last minute plans that still feel properly sorted.

Hen Party Activity Ideas

Classic ideas

• Cocktail making
• Dance class
• Life drawing
• Bottomless brunch

Classy ideas

• Perfume making
• Ceramic painting
• Spa day
• Yoga

Cheeky ideas

• Dreamboys
• Pimp That Penis
• Buff butlers
• Mobile life drawing & butler

Different ideas

• Olympic shames
• Silent disco tour
• Glow netball
• Disco dodgeball

Ideas for large groups

• Old school sports day
• Life drawing
• Smartphone hen treasure hunt
• Dreamboys

Ideas for small groups

• CSI: save the groom game
• DIY Pimp that Penis Kit
• City treasure hunt
• Butler in the buff

Ideas for hen houses

• Mobile life drawing
• Mobile cocktail making
• Yoga sessions
• Craft workshops
• Mobile pamper party

Biggest Mistakes Hen Groups Make

Our booking teams speak to bridesmaids every single day, and the same issues come up time and time again. Here's what catches groups out and how to avoid the stress.

Leaving activities too late

Popular Saturday afternoon slots sell out 8-10 weeks ahead in busy cities, and ticketed events like Dreamboys go even faster. Book your main activity as soon as you know your date and destination to avoid settling for second choice times.

Choosing something that doesn't suit the group

Think about the bride, the age range and how well guests know each other before picking something too wild or too calm. A group of close friends in their twenties can handle cheeky activities, but if the bride's mum and future mother-in-law are coming, you'll want something everyone can enjoy.

Not checking house or Airbnb rules

Some properties welcome hosted activities, others have strict no-external-suppliers rules. Always check with the owner before booking mobile activities to avoid awkward conversations when your life drawing model turns up.

Trying to fit too much in

If you're staying the weekend, one activity Friday night and two on Saturday is plenty. We'd love you to book more (obviously), but we know that's the sweet spot. Any more than that and someone always ends up knackered or feeling rushed.

Underestimating travel time

Moving 12+ people across a busy city always takes longer than you think. Set off earlier than feels necessary, and plan your day geographically so you're not zigzagging across town. Start on one side of the city centre and work your way across as the day goes on.

Relying only on outdoor plans

British weather does what it wants. If you're booking outdoor activities, have a simple indoor backup ready or at least pack coats and brollies. We've seen too many groups scrambling for Plan B on a rainy Saturday morning.

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