73 Stag Do Locations Across the UK & Europe

Best Stag Do Locations in the UK: What's Actually Working Right Now

Based on 12,000+ UK stag do bookings we've handled since 2007.

Keeping it closer to home? Nearly half our stag groups are staying in the UK, and it makes sense. No passports, no flight costs eating into your budget, and you can start Friday night instead of wasting half of Saturday on airport transfers. We've got 39 UK stag do locations covering everything from coastal weekends to city centre carnage, and our recent booking data shows some clear winners.

Newcastle's been our busiest UK destination, and it's not even close. The city absolutely dominated our bookings in 2025, and that momentum hasn't slowed. The Quayside and Diamond Strip deliver more bars per square mile than anywhere else in the country, and lads are choosing it over London because you get the same quality nightlife at £4-5 per pint instead of £7+.

Right behind Newcastle, we're seeing Cardiff and Edinburgh bookings surge. Both cities saw massive growth throughout 2024 and 2025, and they're still climbing. Both are winning groups over with better value than London and brilliant nightlife that doesn't feel like you're being rinsed. Cardiff's got unique activities like The Welsh Games, while Edinburgh delivers whisky experiences and proper Scottish chaos when the sun goes down. Both are easier on the wallet than southern cities.

Bristol stag weekends keep delivering the perfect mix: quad biking and paintball during the day, Harbourside bars at night. Liverpool brings pure party atmosphere without premium pricing. Brighton gives you beach access plus nightlife. And York quietly wins groups over with its mix of history and absolute mayhem on Saturday nights.

London's losing ground fast. Our 2024 and 2025 booking data shows it dropped from joint first to fifth place as stag groups vote with their wallets and head to better-value northern cities. Birmingham and Bournemouth have fallen out of our top 10 entirely. The trend is clear: Newcastle, Cardiff and Edinburgh now dominate because they deliver legendary weekends without the London price tag.

“Newcastle's been absolutely mental this year. Every other group that rings up asks about the Quayside. Cardiff and Edinburgh are right behind it. Lads are realising they get brilliant nights out at half the price of London.”

Eleanor
Group Booking Specialist

Best Stag Weekend Destinations in Europe: Where Groups Are Booking

These insights come from our 25+ European destinations and thousands of groups we've sent abroad.

Looking to head abroad? We've got European stag weekend destinations covered, and our recent booking data tells a clear story. Benidorm's still dominating European bookings. It held the top spot throughout 2024 and 2025, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. When lads want guaranteed sunshine, nightlife that doesn't quit, and a proper blowout weekend, Benidorm keeps winning. No other European destination comes close for pure stag do carnage.

Spain's crushing it overall. Nearly 1 in 4 of our European bookings go to Spanish destinations, and it's not just Benidorm. Tenerife's been rising fast. Groups are realising you can get winter sun and beach clubs in one package. Barcelona, Marbella and Magaluf all stay strong because Spain delivers on weather, nightlife and value.

And with flight prices holding steady and Spain continuing to offer some of the best value in Europe, we’re already expecting these destinations to stay at the top for 2026 stag groups too. The demand hasn’t dipped once across 2024 and 2025, and everything we’re seeing suggests the trend will carry straight into next year.

Amsterdam and Lisbon sit just behind Benidorm as our second and third most-booked European cities. Both deliver completely different vibes. Amsterdam for the full experience and culture mixed with madness, Lisbon for authentic Portuguese nightlife and cobbled streets filled with incredible bars. Dublin rounds out the top 5, staying consistently strong with groups who want Guinness, craic and Temple Bar chaos.

Eastern Europe still delivers unbeatable value. Budapest and Prague stag weekends keep pulling groups who want their budget to stretch. Beer at just over a quid in Budapest versus £6.50 in London explains why. The nightlife's brilliant, activities like shooting ranges and beer bikes are everywhere, and accommodation doesn't rinse you. Portugal's growing quietly too, with Lisbon and Albufeira both holding strong positions for groups wanting golf, beach and bars.

UK vs Europe Stag Weekends: What's Right for Your Group?

Helping over 1,000 groups compare UK vs Europe every year gives us a clear view of what actually works. Right, the big question every best man wrestles with: stay in the UK or head abroad? Here's how to make that call without endless group chat debates spiralling out of control.

When UK Makes Sense

Budget's usually the main driver for UK bookings. No flights means you're saving £50-£100 per person before you've even had a pint. Everyone gets there easier without passport drama, you can start properly on Friday night instead of wasting Saturday morning on airport transfers, and when that one lad inevitably spends his flight money on pre-drinks, it doesn't derail the entire weekend.

Newcastle, Cardiff and Edinburgh are leading the charge because they deliver proper nightlife at £4-5 per pint instead of London's £7+. Bristol and Liverpool give you activities plus bars without the premium pricing. Brighton covers beach access if someone's demanding it.

Choose UK if: Budget's tight (under £250 per person), lads can't all take Friday off work, or you need to keep travel simple because half the group are scattered across the country.

When Europe Wins

Just over half our groups head to Europe, and it's usually because the groom wants guaranteed sunshine. Spain dominates with Benidorm accounting for our #1 overall destination. When you factor in better weather, €2 pints in Prague or Budapest, and that "lads on tour" atmosphere, Europe justifies the flight cost for most groups.

The reality: most Europe trips run Thursday to Sunday, which means burning three days of annual leave instead of just the weekend. Make sure everyone can actually get that time off. We've had groups where a mate's a teacher (term time flights cost double) or someone's in retail (December's a no-go). Factor that in early.

Amsterdam and Lisbon are the consistent performers. Groups come back raving about both. Budapest and Prague win on pure value if you want your money to stretch further. Portugal works brilliantly for groups wanting golf, beach and bars in one weekend.

Choose Europe if: The groom demands sun and beach, everyone can stretch to flights (usually £350-£600 total per person), and all the lads can actually get the time off work without drama.

Budget Reality Check

UK Weekend: £200-£350 per person all-in (no flights, activities generally cheaper, accommodation competitive)
Europe Weekend: £350-£600 per person (includes flights, accommodation, airport transfers, activities)

If three or more lads genuinely can't commit to the Europe budget or can't get the time off work, stay UK. If everyone's in and the groom wants sunshine, Europe wins. Neither choice is wrong. Just depends on what your group actually needs.

How to Choose the Best Stag Do Location (5-Step Expert Guide)

This is the same 5-step framework our team uses when guiding groups through planning. Right, you've seen the grid of destinations above and you've read what's actually working for groups. Now here's how to nail the decision:

1. Start With the Groom's Personality

This is his weekend, not yours. If he's a "few pints with the lads" type who hates being the centre of attention, Newcastle or Liverpool delivers low-key brilliance. If he's "let's do something absolutely mental," Benidorm or Prague fits perfectly. If he's moaning about turning 30 and needs sunshine therapy, Lisbon or Barcelona sorts that.

Don't pitch Vegas when he'd rather have a quiet one in York. Don't book Brighton when he wants Eastern European chaos. Match the destination to his actual personality, not what sounds good to the loudest lad in the group.

2. Set the Real Budget Early, Then Actually Stick to It

Groups spending £200-£350 total per person choose UK cities like Leeds, Cardiff or Manchester. Groups with £350-£600 to play with pick Benidorm, Budapest or Amsterdam. Don't do that thing where you pitch Ibiza in the group chat then realise only four lads can actually afford it.

Send a poll, get honest answers on budget, then shortlist destinations that genuinely fit. Someone always drops out because of money. Plan for that from day one.

3. Match Location to Activities You Actually Want

Not sure what activities are available? Browse our complete guide to stag do activities to see everything from paintball and karting to clay shooting and beer tasting. Once you know what you're after, you can match them to the right location.

Want outdoor carnage like paintball, quad biking and rage buggies? Bristol, Nottingham and Prague deliver the full package. Want pure nightlife and nothing else? Newcastle, Benidorm, Liverpool. Want both? Prague and Bristol nail the balance between adventure during the day and bars at night.

Don't pick a beach resort if the groom wants shooting ranges and go-karting. Don't book a landlocked city if he's demanding watersports. Seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how many groups get this backwards.

4. Think About Travel Logistics (Properly)

If lads are scattered across the country, Birmingham or Manchester work because they're central and everyone can train it. If you're all south-based, Brighton or Bristol make sense. If flights are involved, pick destinations with multiple daily direct routes. Benidorm, Amsterdam and Dublin all have brilliant flight options from major UK airports like Manchester, Birmingham and London Heathrow.

Factor in Friday travel if lads can't get the day off work. UK wins here because you can head out Friday evening and still make Saturday morning activities. Europe usually means burning half of Saturday on flights and transfers, or taking Thursday and Friday off work to get the full three nights most groups do abroad.

5. Actually Vote On It (Don't Let the Loudest Lad Decide)

Shortlist three options that fit budget and activities. Send them in the group chat with rough cost breakdowns. Give everyone 48 hours to vote. No endless debates, just pick one. The destinations getting the most votes are Newcastle, Benidorm and Cardiff because they balance price, nightlife and activities without anyone feeling like they've compromised too much.

Once you've got the vote, book it. Waiting for everyone to be 100% happy means you'll still be debating in three months' time and miss the decent accommodation.

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