Maids of honour and bridesmaids alike, consider us your helping hand. If you’ve been tasked with planning the ultimate hen do to see your friend off into married life, don’t worry; we’ve gotchu. We’ve got the ultimate list of ideas for a hen do that will have the bride-to-be clucking with eggcitement (apologies for all the fowl puns!). So, without further ado, here’s a rundown of the best hen do ideas in London. You can thank us later…
1. Get the party started at a bottomless brunch
There’s nothing quite like a bottomless brunch for a hen do activity because daytime drunk is practically synonymous with the event, eh. From bottomless brunches hosted by drag queens to ones involving cooking classes, there’s something for everyone in our beloved capital. Check out our list of ‘em all here.
2. Say giddy up at Moonshine Saloon
Sexy cowboys and cowgirls, with added cocktails and immersive theatre – what’s not to love?
Moonshine Saloon in Aldgate will encourage you to smuggle in illicit moonshine (i.e. BYOB), and step behind the swinging doors for a selection of dice and card games, and an adventure with the local guys and gals (and a shady sheriff too). Bartenders will create bespoke cocktails for your hen party with your booze Cop your tickets here.
3. Amp up the action with a paintballing party
Who says the boys have to have all the fun?! Sometimes there’s nothing better than letting off some steam chasing some mates in a field with a gun stacked full of paint pellets – and hey, we’re not here to judge. From Cold War-themed nuclear bunkers packed full of high-adrenaline activities to wooded arenas offering bespoke fancy dress costumes, you can have a whole lot of fun in our capital shooting at each other on a hen do. We all love a healthy dose of competition right?
4. Find yourself lost in the world of Avora
If you’re looking to get transported to a new world with you and your fellow hens, then you really should look no further than Avora: New World Cocktail Experience. As the story here goes, you’ll rock up at ‘Roscorp Laboratories’, owned by a greedy CEO, and be briefed on a mission before you enter the magical world of Avora.
Donning a custom jumpsuit, you’ll head on into this unique space and source ‘magical buds and secret elixir’s for three unique cocktails, all the while admiring the gorgeous greenery, and other-worldly attributes dotted about. As you get acclimatised, a moral dilemma will present itself: do you continue to support the plans of the billionaire, or rebel and protect this new planet? The choice is yours… get a hold of your tickets for this otherworldly, Hackney-based experience here.
5. Have the ride of your life on a racetrack
Slightly less adrenaline-fuelled but still amping up the competitive side of things, why not take to four wheels and see who’s got the biggest need for speed among the hens? You’d certainly go down in the books for planning a hen do with a difference it has to be said.
From a mighty track which stretches to over a kilometre in length, to a fun, video game-themed interactive course close to the bars and restaurants of Shoreditch High Street, there’s plenty of scope for you and your gang to unleash your inner speed demons. Ready, set, go!
6. Immerse yourself in the glow of a luminous ballet show
Ballet of Lights adds an illuminated twist to your hen do plans in London. Wearing glimmering costumes adorned in fibre-optic lights, six ballerinas twist and twirl on stage to reimagine iconic ballets like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Discover the magic of classic ballet under a new light with your besties this season.
7. Dance the night away at one of the capital’s best clubs
Now we couldn’t do a roundup of the best hen do ideas in London without mentioning this one. After all, what’s a hen do without busting a few moves to Queen Bey or Rih Rih?! It’s no secret that our beloved city plays host to some of the coolest nightclubs on the planet, from sweaty, rave-filled warehouses to long-established legends of the nightlife scene like Fabric.
One of our favourites is the brand-spanking-new, 15,000-capacity venue Drumsheds – based in an old Ikea in Tottenham. It’s absolutely gargantuan and has a killer lineup this year which includes Skepta, Gorgon City, Andy C, Major League Djz, Charlotte De Witte, The Hydra and Jamie Jones. Bring your dancing shoes!
8. Treat yourself to a little afternoon tea
From fluffy scones and warming cups of tea to salmon sarnies and flutes of bubbly, we like to think we’ve got the whole afternoon tea thing down here in London Town. If you’re really wanting to add a bit of class to your hen do plans, then this is probably your best bet.
From a celebratory afternoon Champagne tea at The Wolseley to ones themed to Sherlock Holmes, there’s a whole host of different ones for you to indulge in and treat yourself. After all, she’s only getting married the once, right?
9. Imagine you’re in a girl band and try out some karaoke
Another one of the best hen do ideas in London here, nothing says a party like letting loose at karaoke. After all, drinking is actively encouraged, you can often hire your own booth, and let’s face it – no one cares if you can’t hold a tune.
From Angel to Camden, there’s pretty much no corner of the capital which doesn’t have karaoke. So, if you’re looking to channel your inner Whitney Houston, there’s absolutely no stopping you! Altogether now… “I wanna dance with somebody, I wanna feel the heat with somebody”… Heck, you can even join the UK’s largest karaoke party billed ‘Massaoke’ if you fancy one big old sing-a-long. Get a hold of your tickets here.
10. Take to the mighty River Thames aboard a boat
Ahoy there, matey! It wouldn’t be a hen do roundup without the mention of a booze cruise now would it? And luckily for you and your fellow hens, our beloved capital is full to the brim with them.
With departure dates all through the year, live DJs, drinks aplenty and plenty of space for a boogie, they promise a bloody good time, and London has everything from Bollywood-themed extravaganzas to a silent disco as you sail down the Thames. Plus, you’ll be able to soak up some pretty epic panoramic views as you go. If you can see straight of course…
11. Have a giggle at a comedy club
There’s nothing quite like having a good old belly laugh is there – particularly when you’ve got a gaggle of gals with you. So what’s a better plan for a hen do idea than going to a comedy club?
London Town is full to the brim of some of the best comedy clubs in the world – taking place everywhere from large arena-style venues to tiny pub basements – and for most of them, you can grab a ticket for under a tenner. Win, win. From comedy on the Thames to bottomless booze comedy in Vauxhall, there’s loads for the taking here, so see where takes your fancy!
12. Challenge your group of gals to some healthy competition
Now this one thoroughly deserves its spot on this roundup of the best hen do ideas in London. Feeding London’s enduring love affair with rooftop pop-ups, Roof East in Stratford has woven the magic of turning an east London multi-storey car park into a free-spirited playground.
There’s plenty on the roster here when it comes to games. Old favourites Sluggers are back with their batting cages, whilst the ever-popular Birdies crazy golf and East London Bowls Club are returning to the bill once more. Add in Giant Jenga and archery – not to mention loads of street food options and boozy bars – and you can see why this one’s on the list!
13. Get saucy at a cabaret or burlesque club
Hooray, Cabaret! For those who love wacky shows, unusual performances and sparkling entertainment, London has an excellent selection of venues and clubs to watch cabaret in London. From drag performers to burlesque shows to entertaining comedy bits, get the girls together and enjoy everything from fire breathers and acrobats to burlesque performances and even erotic acts – oh I say!
A favourite of ours is The Phoenix Artist Club, which offers up an unforgettable cabaret show. Hidden away in an iconic West End theatre, London’s most theatrical members club is home to a variety of nightly shows. Get involved here.
14. Soak in the vibes of an intimate live jazz show
The Jazz Room is a 60-minute musical journey through the golden eras of a host of genres. Not only does this concert series pay tribute to jazz legends like Spencer Williams and Louis Armstrong, but they also celebrate icons of soul like Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder. A live music show featuring drinks and 10/10 vibes is the ideal warm-up to a hen do in London.
15. Pamper yourself silly at a luxurious spa
Our penultimate addition to this roundup of the best hen do ideas in London is one for those looking for a bit more of a relaxed vibe. Pamper the bride-to-be silly with a whole gamut of treatments – from head massages and facials to salt-infused steams and pedicures – at some of the city’s biggest and best spas.
One of our top picks would be the five-star Landmark London, which sits just a stone’s throw from Marylebone and features a chlorine-free indoor pool, a Jacuzzi and sanarium and even a ‘Mediterranean by Candlelight’ massage which uses essential oils and crystals too. It’s the perfect way to celebrate your mate’s imminent marriage, we’d argue.
16. Boogie on down at a London musical festival
Music festivals are the perfect opportunity to get messy, dress outrageously and, probably least importantly at this point, watch some bloody great music. Luckily for us, London has bucket loads on the bill, like the fabulously flamboyant Elrow Town – which is described as ‘a town governed by fun, where everywhere you step is a dancefloor’ – and yearly staples like All Points East, City Splash, Field Day, Cross The Tracks and the poptastic Mighty Hoopla.
Just some of the acts confirmed for the 2024 season include Nelly Furtado, Andrea Boccelli, Young Fathers, Eve and Jessie Ware, so it’s gonna be a good’un – particularly with some hens in tow. We’ll see you in the field with all the glitter paint on!
17. Test your team-building skills at Prison Island
Forget the flower crowns, it’s time to see which of your girlies is truly ride-or-die before the big day. Prison Island is where you’ll trade in bubbly for a high-stakes, action-packed team challenge across 31 unique prison cells.
You and your team will be challenged with various mental, physical, and technical tasks, testing your communication and quick-thinking skills as the clock ticks down. It’s the perfect pre-wedding trial to prove you can all work together for the ultimate escape from spinsterhood.
18. Unwind together at a Candlelight concert
Candlelight concerts in London blend elegance and luxury for a truly sophisticated hen do plan. Surrounded by flickering candles and live classical music on strings, the atmosphere feels intimate and effortlessly special. It’s a chance to enjoy a refined pre-wedding celebration with friends while soaking in the city’s cultural charm. This season, there are tributes to everyone from Vivaldi and Bach to Taylor Swift, Coldplay and many more.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best hen party ideas in London. From treating yourself to a spot of afternoon tea (oh darrrrrrling!) to dancing the night away at a raucous nightclub, our beloved capital is bound to satisfy whatever the bride-to-be is looking for. That’s all, yolks!
