6 Step Hen Party Planning Guide (Plus 20 Unique Ideas)

A Hen party is a really exciting event, that’s why you need to do something special! We’ll take you through the 20 best Hen party ideas, plus how to plan and organise everything in 6 simple steps. So let’s get started!

20 Best Hen Party Ideas

Glamping
Activity Day
Night on the Town
Fine Dining
Spa Day
Cocktail Masterclass
Theatre or Concert
Karaoke Party
Brewery Tour
Escape Room

Day at the Races
Bottomless Brunch
Afternoon Tea
Boat Party
Crazy Golf
Bowling
Dance Class
Chocolate Making Experience
Theme Park
Holiday Abroad

How to Plan a Hen Party in 6 Simple Steps

Trying to plan a Hen party with a large group of people can be difficult sometimes, especially if everyone has different ideas, schedules, budgets etc. But it doesn’t have to be a big hassle! Follow this step-by-step guide to help you plan the perfect Hen party without any of the stress!

Decide who’s involved
Set the budget
Pick the time and date
Choose the best idea
Make the booking
Plan the details

Decide Who’s Involved

First thing’s first, decide who’s involved. This means, who’s doing the planning and who is invited. It’s fine to have a bit of input from all the guests, but it’s a lot easier when one or two people are making the decisions and bookings.

It’s usually the maid of honour who organises the Hen party, with the help of some of the bridesmaids, but the Hen should have a say too. Unless it’s a surprise!

Once you know who’s invited, then you need a quick way of contacting everyone at once. The best way to do this is with a group message or private Facebook event.

Set the Budget

Once you know who’s coming, then you need to talk about the budget. Usually everyone shares the cost of the Hen party equally, but sometimes someone can offer to pay for everything. But you need to be clear about what people are expected to contribute from the off.

After this, you need to set a budget for the Hen party. Speak to everyone about how much they’re willing to pay and go from there. You need to have this conversation before planning anything else to make sure no one ends up getting left out if they can’t afford to attend.

Take a look at our party planning budget tips for some help with setting the budget and sticking to it!

Pick the Time and Date

Now you’re ready to start discussing some possible dates. This can be one of the hardest parts of planning a Hen party, especially if you’ve got a big group because unfortunately a lot of people have clashing schedules. The earlier you start discussing the date, the better.

Choose the Best Idea

Finally you’re ready to start planning the fun stuff! Keep going through this post to find our the 20 best Hen party ideas, there’s definitely something for everyone! Consider if there will be any need to plan transport or accommodation at this point too. This way you know it’s feasible before spending more time organising it.

Make the Booking

Once you’ve chosen exactly what activities you’re doing for the Hen party and confirmed it with all the guests to check that they’re happy, then you can make the bookings. Make sure to ask everyone to transfer the money or give you their contribution as soon as you’ve .booked it.

Plan the Details

After all the essential planning is complete, you can start thinking about the details. Here are the main things you’ll need to consider.

Hen Party Games: It’s good to have a few games or activities in mind to do on the day to keep your guests entertained.
Fancy Dress: Some Hen parties have a fancy dress code or personalised tops. Fun.com is a online huge party supply store that has loads of great costumes to choose from!
Decorations: Make sure you don’t forget to make your venue look the part with some great decorations. Shindigz is a great online party supply store that you can use to find great decoration ideas with over 34,000 party supplies for every occasion and next day delivery!
Party Bags: Giving all your guests some party bags with fun Hen party accessories is a great way to complete the experience.

1. Glamping

Glamping is one of the best Hen party ideas for small groups. You can either hire yurts, log cabins or various other luxury camping accommodations with all your friends. There are plenty of a activities that you can involve too, like pamper sessions, swimming or activity days. Or you can simply chill out with your friends in a hot tub with a bottle of bubbly! You can go for as long a stay as you’d like, or just book a one-night get away. Plus, there are loads of glamping sites around the UK so you’re sure to find one that’s not too far from home!

Average Price: From £50 per person per night.

2. Activity Days

Outdoor activity days are perfect for smaller Hen party groups that don’t just want to sit and relax! There are so many activities you can choose from to make a day of it. Some of the best are water sports, assault courses and paint ball. It’s a great idea if you’re hosting your Hen party in summer and want to get outside and enjoy the sun. It’s also one of the cheaper ideas on this list, plus you can get some great value deals if you book as a group. There are plenty of outdoor activity centree located in the UK too that you can choose from.

Average Price: Around £25 per person per night.

3. Night on the Town

Having a night on the town with you and your gals is the classic Hen party ideas. It’s really easy to organise, if you know your local city, plus it’s one of the cheaper ideas on this list. You can even make a weekend of it and book a hotel or air bnb and stay over in a new city. Some of the best cities for nightlife are London, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Cardiff. You don’t have to just go to bars and clubs. Why not try a casino for something a bit different that you and your friends will really enjoy.

Average Price: This depends on where you’re going but it’s one of the cheaper options on this list!

4. Spa Day

Spa treatments are the ultimate indulgence that you can treat someone to for their Hen party. If a party sounds too stressful and too much work, a spa day is a perfect alternative. You can book a full day or relaxation or even a weekend trip, or just a treatment if you’re looking for a cheaper option. There are loads of options available so you’re sure to find a spa that’s local and suits your budget. It’s a Hen party idea that’ll definitely be appreciated by someone with a hectic lifestyle!

Average Price: From £100 per person

5. Fine Dining Experience

If you’re planning a Hen party for a food lover, you can’t get much better than a fine dining experience. It’s a classic is that’s popular for a reason. You can choose from a variety of restaurants in major city centres to experience a night of life changing food! It might sound expensive, but there are actually a lot of great vouchers and deals out there so it doesn’t have to break the bank!

Average Price: Around £50 per person

6. Cocktail Masterclass

Drink tasting and masterclasses are a great indoor Hen party idea for adults. If you know someone who is into cocktails, there are loads of cool bars that offer cocktail masterclasses so they can learn how to make their favourite cocktails. Gin is very popular at the moment, so why not book a gin tasting session for someone’s Hen Party? Or if they’re into craft ale and love a fine wine, there are plenty of tasting sessions out there to choose from.

Average Price: Around £25 per person

7. Theatre or Concert

Treating someone to some musical or theatre tickets is a great Hen party experience. It’s a really thoughtful idea that will definitely be appreciated by any drama enthusiast. You can book tickets to see a show locally or go all out and book a West End performance to really make it a special Hen party. Why not make a day of it and explore London whilst you’re there to!

Average Price: Anywhere from £20-£200+ per person

8. Karaoke Party

Karaoke parties are the ultimate way for guests to get involved and have fun with the party entertainment. Karaoke machines are really easy to set up at home, you just need some basic equipment. Head over to our list of the top 20 karaoke machines which includes the best party karaoke machine options. It’s great for any age group and can be set up at home or in a hired venue. Take a look at our Karaoke Party Guide for some advice, tips and ideas.

Average Price: Really cheap if you’re hosting at home. Karaoke machines start from around £50.

9. Brewery Tour

If your Hen likes a bit of a drink, then why not have a trip out to a Brewery for a tour? It’s a bit more unique than the classic night out and is a great day activity to try. There are loads of different types of breweries to choose from too. Gin is all the rage at the moment, so if you and your party like a good G&T then this could be the perfect idea! There are plenty of other breweries too, like beer and other spirits. Or you could even go to a wine garden if you know one locally.

Average Price: Starting from around £40 per person.

10. Escape Room

Escape rooms have become a really popular indoor Hen party idea over the last year or so. If you’d like to celebrate a Hen party with a small group of friends, it’s a great option to consider. There are loads of escape rooms in major cities and quite a few dotted around smaller towns so you’ll have no trouble finding one. They’re not very expensive either and don’t last too long. This means it’s a great activity to do as a last minute Hen party idea.

Average Price: Starting from around £10 per person.

11. Day at the Races

A day at the races is the perfect way to spend a Hen party. Try the local greyhound or horse races if you have one. It’s also the perfect idea if you’re hosting your Hen party around ladies day in April or May as the Grand National is one of the best races to watch. It’ll give you and your friends a chance to get dressed up and enjoy a day of drinking champagne and sitting in the sun. If you’re just going to the local tracks, the day doesn’t have to be that expensive either, with entry tickets starting at around £10 depending on the location.

Average Price: Tickets start from around £10.

12. Afternoon Tea

This is a great casual indoor Hen party idea for adults. It doesn’t last very long so can be great as part of someone’s Hen party schedule. You’ll find plenty of afternoon tea gift experiences online in your local area so it’s a good last minute idea too! It’s a classy Hen party idea that’s great for groups but doesn’t cost too much either.

Average Price: Really cheap if you’re hosting at home. You’ll just need to pick up some ingredients and supplies.

13. Bottomless Brunch

Going to your local restaurant for a bottomless brunch is another great Hen party idea. It’s the perfect way to kick start the day and get everyone in the Hen party spirit. The menu will depend on the location, but most places offer prosecco and light snacks from about 10:30 onwards. There are plenty of chain restaurants in big cities that offer great bottomless brunches. But you can also check your local area if you’re not in a major city, as plenty of restaurants are starting to catch on to this bottomless brunch trend!

Average Price: Roughly £20-30 per person.

14. Boat Party

If you’re not content with a classic party or night out, and want to do something a bit different, then you can’t get much better than a boat party. If you’re near a major river, lake or canal, we can almost guarantee that there will be a party boat near you. You can either hire your own private boat party, or go on one of the regular boat parties that are open to the public. It’s a great idea for pretty much every size group and it’s a great experience to try. Some packages even include free drinks or a sit-down meal so you can have the full VIP treatment.

Average Price: Upwards of £200 for 10 people.

15. Crazy Golf

Crazy golf isn’t just for kids! Alcoholic crazy golf courses have definitely grown in numbers over the last few years, with one of the biggest players, Junkyard Golf being located in several major cities including London and Manchester. Enjoy a game of crazy golf with wacky courses and enjoy some top notch cocktails at the same time! It’s one of the best value Hen party ideas on this list as it often costs less than £10 per person per course. Just remember to book if you have a large group of people playing.

Average Price: Starting from £10 per person.

16. Bowling

Similar to alcoholic crazy golf, the combination of bowling and cocktails has grown in popularity massively over the last few years. All Star Lanes is one of the leading bowling experience venues with bowling alleys in several major cities. They even have a superb restaurant and bar inside the venue. It’s a great day activity to go with if you’re planning to keep partying afterwards, or you can go late at night as most venues are open until at least 11PM. This idea is perfect if your Hen party group consists of around 8 people or less.

Average Price: Starting from £10 per person.

17. Dance Class

This is a unique indoor Hen party idea that’s perfect for any Strictly Come Dancing fan! Book a session in with a professional dancer to learn some new moves and have a great time! You can choose from a range of dance styles. From hiphop to ballroom, there’s a class for everyone. It’s also a good one to enjoy in with friends as there’s the option to book a group dance class session too!

Average Price: Around £20 per person per hour.

18. Chocolate Making Experience

This is the perfect indoor Hen party idea for any chocolate lover! Spend a few hours having a go at making you’re favourite treats, and when you’re all done, you get to take it all home with you! What could be better than that! It’s a pretty cheap idea too, so you don’t have to break the bank to have a great Hen party.

Average Price: Roughly £25 per person.

19. Theme Park

If you’re a bit of a thrill seeker, then going to a theme park in the day on your Hen party is one of the best ideas you can choose! It’s a great day activity if your group has around 10 people or less. You can head to your local theme park for some thrills in the day and then continue the party into the night if you’re not too tired! This is a great idea if your Hen party is in the summer months and it doesn’t cost too much either. Theme park tickets usually start from around £25 per person, but sometimes you can get a discount for large groups.

Average Price: Starting from £25 per person.

20. Holiday Abroad

Going on a holiday abroad for your Hen party is one of the best ways to celebrate this event. It’s probably the most expensive idea on this list, but it’s a fantastic experience. It’ll take a bit of organising and is best for groups of around 8 people or less. Choose any destination you like! Some of the most popular for Hen parties are Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Amsterdam, Prague and Krakow. Try and book this one as far in advance as possible to get the best deal!

Average Price: Accommodation and flights start from around £200 per person for 3 nights, plus holiday expenses.

Head over to our answers to Hen Party FAQs for loads more help and quick tips. If you’re looking for some more party planning advice, then head over to our other blog posts for more ideas!

20 Best Party Themes

Like our Facebook Page and follow us on Pinterest!