So your best friend’s partner has just popped a sparkly ring on her finger and now you’ve been tasked with organising the hen do; congrats! Organising a hen do for your fave girl is without a doubt one of the most exciting events to arrange, and we know that you’ll do an incredible job. But first of all, you’ll need to think up which destination to head to.
There’s many great options in both the UK and abroad, but one of our absolute favourite countries to visit is without a doubt Scotland! We offer two lively locations here; Edinburgh and Glasgow, both of which are jam-packed with loads of brilliant hen party ideas. So if it’s a Scotland hen party that’s on the cards, then you’ve come to the right place! Why not find out more about these amazing cities with our handy guide below?
Why is Scotland good for a hen party?
Scotland is an extremely popular destination for hen parties looking to discover a vibrant, new city, without having to go abroad. The two most popular choices on offer here are definitely Edinburgh and Glasgow - there’s just so much to see and do! Edinburgh’s a wee sweetheart with its traditional mix of both traditional and contemporary pubs and bars, great restaurants and incredible landmarks, including the famous Holyrood park and Arthur’s Seat. Oh and there’ll be plenty of men sporting kilts too, just so you know. Keep an eye out for the bagpiper outside Edinburgh Castle!
Glasgow’s another hen party hot spot where you’ll find loads to do. This city is known for being one of the friendliest around, so it’s not unusual to have a good chin wag with the locals. And when it comes to a top nightlife and hen party activities, this city will have you covered, with everything from cocktail making and themed dance classes to pub crawls, afternoon tea and naughty male strip shows- we know that you’ll have an unforgettable time in this vibrant party hub.
The best cities in Scotland for a hen party
What makes these cities so amazing for a hen party we hear you ask? Everything! But if you’re after the specifics for each of our offered cities, take a quick read below and discover just why we love these incredible destinations so much!
Edinburgh
Ready to embrace Edinburgh? This capital city is famed for its cobbled streets, beautiful city skyline and The Fringe Festival - the largest arts festival in the entire world! But it’s also home to all kinds of great attractions and activities to enjoy during the day, along with an unbeatable nightlife as the darkness falls, making it perfect for hen parties.
Pay a visit to see the lovely animals at Edinburgh Zoo, scare yourself silly at the Edinburgh Dungeons or take a trip to this country’s most famous landmark; Edinburgh Castle - it’s also one of Britain’s most visited tourist spots! Also, as any budding Harry Potter fan will know, much of JK Rowling’s inspiration for the Harry Potter books derived from Edinburgh, and she actually wrote many books whilst living here! We’d definitely recommend taking a stroll around the city if you get the chance and visiting GreyFriars Kirkyard and Victoria Street, as seen in the HP movies!
And don’t forget to head to The Royal Mile in the Old Town and make the most of the many beautiful photo opportunities on offer! Afterwards, make a stop off for a wee dram at one of the traditional pubs or grab a bite to eat at a fantastic restaurant, many of which are independently owned. Fancy dancing till the early hours? Then make your way over to the New Town for stylish and contemporary bars and clubs.
Glasgow
Welcome to Glasgow! This top city was voted best UK city break in 2021 by Condé Nast Traveller, so you’ll know you’ll be in good hands with a hen do here. The beauty of Glasgow is that there’s so much for everyone to see and do, with many options for those on a budget too!
For museums and galleries, you’ll be spoiled for choice with plenty of iconic places to visit, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, The Burrell Collection and The Mackintosh House at the Hunterian Art Gallery. For outside spots, you’ll have your pick of over 90 parks and gardens, including Glasgow Green, Kelvingrove park and The Botanic Gardens. If you’re centrally located, then make sure to take some time out to spot some of Glasgow’s beautiful art murals in the city centre - the perfect place to catch an insta photo!
For retail therapy, shopaholics alike will shop 'til they drop on Buchanan Street, the city’s main pedestrianised shopping area. Here, you’ll find all your favourite high street stores, including the original House of Fraser. For shopping centres, you’ll have a choice of Buchanan Galleries, The Enoch Centre and Princes Square. For something quirky, head to one of the city’s weekend markets where you’ll be able to pick up a bargain or two! There’s loads to choose from including Merchant Square Craft Market, The Barras and The Farmers Market.
Top 10 Hen Party Activities in Scotland
1. Cocktail Making
No hen party in Scotland is complete without an unforgettable cocktail making session! Here, you and the rest of the girls will be taught all the secrets to whipping up your very own concoctions, as taught by a professional mixologist. You’ll each try your hand at mixing up a variety of popular drinks. You’ll muddle, mix, stir, shake and pour your way to perfection with one of these experiences. Best of all, you’ll get to drink your handy work! There’s plenty of choice when it comes to fun activities in Scotland - will you choose a cocktail making class in Glasgow or a cocktail making class in Edinburgh? Decisions, decisions!
2. Afternoon Tea
If it’s an indulgent afternoon tea experience you’re after, then you’ve come to the right place, because there’s masses of choice on offer in Scotland! From posh hotels and quirky afternoon tea buses, to mobile, traditional and an afternoon tea-se that comes with a gorgeous male stripper, there’ll be something here to float everyone’s boat, whether you opt for Glasgow or Edinburgh!
3. Highland Experience
Looking for the ultimate Scottish activity to try with your girls during your trip to Edinburgh? Then look no further than the Highland Experience, a fun and completely bonkers session, where you and your group will get stuck into all kinds of hilarious games. From hurling wellies and tossing cabers to the shopping spree dash and tossing the bouquet, it's all to play for here. And don’t forget to come wearing your novelty tartan hats!
4. Male Strippers
Is it really a hen party if there’s no strippers involved? Add a little bit of risque fun to your best pal’s hen do in Scotland with one of our top Edinburgh male strip shows or male strip shows in Glasgow! Whether you’re looking for a sizzling hot hunk to come and visit you in your home, hired accommodation or hired venue for a private 15-minute show, or whether you’d like to combine some stripper based fun with a striptease nude life drawing session, we’ll have you covered when it comes to a bit of eye candy!
5. Nude Life Drawing
Don’t worry if you’ve not done any art since the days of your GCSEs, because this exciting, arty experience is all about having fun with your girls and trying something new! With this activity, you’ll try your hand at sketching a male nude life model, who will strike a series of poses for you all. The session will be led by a friendly art tutor, who will equip you all with the necessary materials and provide their top tips to creating a masterpiece. From traditional nude life, and mobile nude life experiences, to something a bit sexier that includes a racy striptease too, all your nude life drawing wishes can be found right here in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
6. Escape Game
Ready to work together as a team and solve a series of puzzles, riddles and challenges? If you love using your brain and quick wit, then one of Scotland’s top escape games will be perfect for your hen group. With a great choice scattered across both Edinburgh and Glasgow, there’ll be some exciting and challenging games on offer whichever Scottish city you decide to go for!
7. Flower Crown Making
Get crafting with the girls and make a beautiful keepsake with a gorgeous flower crown making workshop in Edinburgh. Led by a friendly art tutor, they’ll teach you everything you need to know to create a stunning floral crown that’s completely unique to you. You’ll use a variety of different flowers to make your dream floral crown using the necessary weaving techniques. This experience is perfect for a bride-to-be who loves arty, laid back activities. We can’t wait to see what your flower crowns look like!
8. Bubble Mayhen
Bubble Mayhen is the perfect experience for those girls seeking something active and a whole lot of silly fun! You’ll each sport a giant inflatable zorb on your top halves, leaving your legs to move freely. You’ll take part in a whole host of hilarious and completely bonkers games, such as queen of the ring and bulldog. But first up, why not try a somersault in this fantastic zorb - it’s incredibly fun and super freeing! Bubble Mayhen is available in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
9. Dance Classes
Fancy learning an impressive dance routine and performing it at your best friend’s wedding? Then why not take part in one of our dance classes during the Scottish hen do and get set to wow the crowds. You’ll be taught by a professional dance instructor, who will have you acing the moves in no time! We’ve got an incredible choice of dance classes in Glasgow and Edinburgh to decide between. In fact, there’s too many to name! Enjoy dance classes to the music of superstars like Britney, Beyonce and Lady Gaga or dance your socks off to your favourite musical decade like the 80s and 90s. There'll be a dance class on offer to cater for everyone's musical tastes! Just head to our music and dance experiences page, select your chosen city and pick your favourite genre from the dropdown activity menu.
10. Pub Crawls
Get ready to discover Edinburgh and Glasgow’s best watering holes with one of these epic Pub crawls! Whether you’re looking for a guided pub tour with your very own buff chaperones or whether you want to take things at your group’s pace and do a self guided tour, there’s plenty of options available in these fantastic Scottish cities!
There’s nightlife spots for every group’s tastes and styles here, from cosy traditional pubs and party bars, to banging nightclubs that will take you through to the wee hours. These bar crawls are a great choice for hen groups that are new to the city and aren’t sure what venues are the best to hit up! So save the hours of research and reading online reviews and choose one of these unforgettable pub crawls instead!
Nightlife in Scotland
The nightlife in Scotland is absolutely electric, especially if you're heading to one of this country's top cities such as Glasgow or the vibrant capital of Edinburgh! Whether you're looking for a chilled pub to relax in with friends, discover some of your chosen city's best watering holes, searching for a slap up meal or wanting to party the night away at one of the many nightclubs, Scotland really does have it all!
Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers an unbeatable nightlife, with something for everyone’s tastes. Expect a fusion of old and new watering holes in this city, with the Old Town’s Royal Mile boasting a great array of more traditional pubs, perfect for relaxing and cosy evenings. For those seeking something a bit more lively and modern, head to New Town over the bridge and get set to discover a whole variety of vibrant venues that will take you through to the early hours. If you’re new to Edinburgh, then make sure you check out our guided and self-guided pub crawls and venue passes, where you’ll be able to make the most of this amazing city!
Glasgow
If you’re looking for a decent night out in Glasgow, then you’ll be onto a winner with this epic city. It’s fun, the locals are friendly and you’ll be met by a massive choice of top bars, pubs and nightclubs! The city centre offers up a diverse array of brilliant spots to sink some drinks and have a boogie. From sleek and stylish bars with chic interiors to late night haunts and trendy student clubs, we can guarantee you’ll find something to cater for your group’s tastes right here! The majority of the action takes place just behind the main shopping area, Buchanan Street. There’s also Sauchiehall Street that’s known for its fun vibe and affordable drink prices.
Alternatively, the West End is the city’s more affluent area, so you can expect to pay more for your drinks if you decide to head here. It’s about a 40-minute walk from the city centre - head to Byres Road where you’ll be met by all kinds of bars. It’s a gorgeous place for those seeking more upmarket pubs and bars.
Eating out in Scotland
We all know that you’re going to need to get your fill of hearty grub whilst you’re in Scotland - how else are you going to energise yourselves for a busy weekend in one of these top cities? With a trip to Scotland, you won’t have to worry about missing out on your favourite foods, because literally every kind of restaurant genre you can think of is here! With that in mind, we’ve got some top ideas for eating out in both Edinburgh and Glasgow below.
Edinburgh
If you're on the hunt for somewhere to eat during your trip, then Edinburgh has got endless options for you. The city is famous for its food scene and there are literally tonnes of places to visit that will leave your taste buds satisfied and wanting more! Whether it's Indian food, Italian or Spanish; there really is something for everyone here. You'll find some of the best restaurants in town right next to each other too, so you won't have to walk far to see what's on offer.
Head to The Royal Mile where you’ll find the likes of pizza, pub grub, seafood, burgers, Italian and traditional Scottish dining! The New town is home to even more restaurants, with everything from Asian fusion to well known chains and brands such as The Hard Rock Cafe. Whatever you and your group fancy, you can expect to find it here in Edinburgh!
Glasgow
Glasgow’s a diverse city when it comes to food, so whether you’re after a quick bite to eat and a coffee from a well known chain, or if you’d prefer to sink your teeth into something at an independent restaurant, then you’ll find plenty on offer here!
In Glasgow City Centre, there’s a bit of everything, so you really can’t go wrong! Expect well known restaurants such as Las Iguanas, Taco Bell, Prezzo, Wagamama and TGI Fridays, amongst other favourites. There’s even a Hard Rock Café here, where you’ll enjoy the brand’s staple high energy vibe as you tuck into burgers and American classics. There’s also many independent restaurants in the city centre for anyone looking for something a little more unique.
Those with a bit more cash to splash should head to the city’s vibrant West End, an affluent area filled with buzzing pubs and bars and places to eat. You’ll be able to choose from everything including steakhouses, traditional Scottish, Indian, Italian and seafood restaurants - there’s even Michelin star spots here if you’re looking to push the boat out.
Getting to Scotland
If you’re looking to head to Scotland for the big hen party, then there’s multiple ways you can reach this amazing country! There’s regular daily flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh from England, including London Gatwick, London Luton and London Stansted.
Alternatively, if you prefer not having the hassle of heading to the airport and waiting around for your flight, you can always make your way up to Scotland on one of the many train services available nationwide. You could even make an adventure out of it, by booking a ticket on the ‘Caledonian Sleeper’, an overnight service departing from London Euston stopping at Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond!
What’s special about the sleeper, is that it’s like a train with hotel rooms! There’s a variety of cabins available, some of which include their very own en-suite bathroom - talk about luxury. Of course, if you’d like to enjoy the Caledonian Sleeper, but at a cheaper price, then why not opt for one of their coach seats, which provide everything you need for a relaxed journey and great sleep, such as secure storage, headrest and footrest, USB charging point and complimentary night kit!
Finally, your other option of travelling to Scotland is via road - either by driving yourselves and making a road trip out of it, or by making your way up by coach. Coach services include National Express and Mega Bus, which are perfect for those seeking affordable travel.
Book your Scotland hen weekend today!
If you’ve read this far, then we’re pretty certain that a hen party in Scotland is the one for you and your girls. But which city will you choose? Will it be the thriving capital of Edinburgh or vibrant, bustling Glasgow? Whichever city you choose, each offers an amazing array of top hen party activities and experiences with something for every group - whether you’re looking to relax, have a laugh, or party hard! Take a browse of our fab Scottish destinations now and get set for the best hen do ever!
