London Hen Do

Did you know?

• London’s one of the world’s most visited cities; 20 million tourists came to see what all the fuss is about in 2017!
• Big Ben may be the most famous clock tower in the world, but its name actually refers to the bell. In 2012, the tower was named the Elizabeth Tower.
• The Houses of Parliament are actually called the Palace of Westminster and it’s the biggest palace in the UK.
• Bizarre but it’s illegal to die in Palace of Westminster. We’re being dead serious! Wonder what the punishment would be?
• There’s a street in London where you have to drive on the wrong side of the road (for the UK) by the entrance of the Savoy Hotel.
• London’s most notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper, was never caught and there’s a mystery surrounding his identity to this day.
• Author J M Barrie kindly gifted the copyright to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1929, meaning they receive all its royalties.
• There’s a pet cemetery in Hyde Park.
• Some strange things have been left on the London Underground including a coffin, a park bench and dead bats in a jar.
• Luxury department store Harrods is a great place to visit on your hen do in London, but did you know they sold cocaine until 1916?
• The O2 Arena in Greenwich is large enough to fit either the Statue of Liberty of the Great Pyramid of Giza inside!
• Les Miserables is the longest running West End musical, first appearing on stage in 1985.
• Angel tube stations features the longest escalator in Western Europe.
• The royal jewels in the Tower of London are said to be worth more than £20billion.
• Buckingham Palace has the biggest private garden in London and it includes a lake, tennis court and even a helicopter landing pad!

London in numbers

• You can see for an epic 40 miles at the top of The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe. If you’re planning a hen do in London, it’s a must see!
• London buses travel an estimated 302 million miles each year.
• There are more than 300 languages spoken in London.
• London Underground transports more than three million people every day.
• The London Eye’s capsules are numbered 1-33 despite there only being 32 of them because there’s no number 13. Someone was superstitious!
• In 2012, London became the first city ever to host the Olympics three times.
• In 1966, the Great Fire of London destroyed four fifths of the city.
• Three babies have been born on the tube, the most famous of which being TV presenter Jerry Springer.
• Black cab drivers have to learn a whopping 320 routes through 25,000 streets to get their licence.
• Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square is more than 169ft tall.

Eating together is a brilliant way to destress before the big day and The Big Smoke is jam-packed with fantastic places to chow down.

Activities for Foodie Hen Parties in London

Chocolate Making - Are you a group of chocoholics? Why not pair eating with learning a fun new skill? This chocolate making hen do in London is led by a master chocolatier (what a job!) who’ll teach you all how to make your own chocolaty delicacies. You’ll cut, dip and decorate before taste testing everything you’ve made.

Bottomless Brunch - What better way to toast your last weekend of freedom than with an indulgent bottomless brunch. You’ll chow down on a tasty brunch dishes accompanied by unlimited glasses of alcohol from prosecco to cocktails. This group pleasing experience is available at a range of venues from glitzy hotels to lively chain bars and everything in between. You could even be tucking into bottomless brunch on a boat on the River Thames!

Cooking Class - Are you as obsessed with The Great British Bake Off as we are? Unleash your inner culinary queen on your London hen do as you’re taught how to make a range of dishes by a top chef from cakes to savoury goodies. You might even be taught by a former GBBO contestant!

FishWorks - 2-4 Catherine Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5JY

If you’re celebrating a hen do in London and are a seafood fan, this is the restaurant of your dreams! FishWorks are famous for serving up fresh, sustainable and delicious dishes from oysters to mackerel fillets. They also have restaurants located in Marylebone and Mayfair.

Salsa Temple - Victoria Embankment, London, WC2R 2PH

For a fiesta of flavour, Salsa Temple is a great spot, serving up Mexican classics. There’s plenty of frills here, you’ll get some great tasting options like quesadillas and you can even add some cocktail making or a gin masterclass to make things more fun.

Las Iguanas - Festival Terrace, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

If you fancy something a little more exotic during your hen party in London, try a two-course meal with a drink at Las Iguanas with a range of sizzling dishes to choose from that are inspired by Latin America. Whether you like your food super spicy or mild and creamy, you’ll find something you love on their extensive menu.

Ready to kick this pre-nuptial party up a notch? The nightlife in the Big Smoke is the stuff of legend and we’ve got a variety of entertainment, hip hen party hangouts and out-of-this-world nightclubs for you ladies. From traditional boozers that are hundreds of years old to bang on trend cocktail bars, there’s something for everyone on your epic hen night in London. Here’s some of our night-time highlights:

Cocktail Making - For an interactive activity that’s sure to break the ice and kick start the last night of freedom with a bang, you can’t beat a spot of London hen party cocktail making. We’ve got fun-filled masterclasses at a range of locations in the city where you can make and taste loads of drinks and get involved with some lively games. Get ready to get competitive with the rest of the hens as you race against the clock to make the tastiest drink in the shortest amount of time. Some masterclasses even offer games where you’ll need to make a cocktail whilst blindfolded. Do you have what it takes?

Gin Tasting - Without a doubt, gin is the drink on everyone’s lips at the moment. If you fancy getting to grips with Dutch Courage and Mother’s Ruin, why not try an interactive gin tasting? You’ll get to try a whole host of delicious gins and learn about their history from a passionate gin expert. Some tastings even teach you to create your very own gin cocktails. Yum! This activity is a great warm up to a big night out but, alternatively, if you fancy something a bit more laid back, you can add a two-course meal after your gin tasting to help soak up some of that alcohol and unwind with your besties.

Party Boat Cruise - See England’s capital city from a totally different perspective onboard a party boat cruise. Most of us have partied a lot on dry land so why not give the water a go for your hen do in London? You’ll cruise down the River Thames, making memories and soaking up the famous sights with a drink in your hand. Many of the cruises also include food and a DJ to provide a non-stop party atmosphere. What’s not to love?

Club Aquarium - 256-260 Old Street, London, EC1V 9DD

Club Aquarium is the only club in the UK with a swimming pool and jacuzzi and is also famous for its epic 80s nights. Strippers are a London hen do staple and this Shoreditch nightclub is also home to Adonis Cabaret who pull out all the stops to entertain you with scintillating stripping and dance from the hottest hunks as well as comedy and singalongs from the divine drag queen host.

Ballie Ballerson - 97-113 Curtain Road, Hackney, London, EC2A 3BS

Did you spend hours in a ball pit as a child without a care in the world? Now you can re-live these amazing memories at Ballie Ballerson for your hen do in London! This venue’s main glowing ball pit houses over one million balls for you to throw, play and sink into. You’ll also enjoy a mouth-watering cocktail menu and top tunes to dance to.

Tiger Tiger - 29 Haymarket, West End, London, SW17 4SP

If you’re a group of disco divas, there’s only one way to finish your big night out and that’s tearing up the dancefloor of one of the best nightclubs in London! Superclub Tiger Tiger is located near Piccadilly Circus and offers six themed rooms to let your hair down in. Dance to retro hits in Decadia or R&B grooves in the LUXE bar. There’s something for everyone here.

The Stand Up Club - 7 Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EE

Fancy some LOLs? Hit up The Stand Up Club and be entertained by hilarious comedians. You’ll laughs your heads off as you enjoy a line-up of several different comedians with different styles to get everyone chuckling. One thing’s for sure, you’ll leave here with massive smiles on your faces.

A hen weekend in London is fabulous, fast-paced and fun all year round.

Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race

Whether you’re a rowing fan or just fancy ogling some fit guys, head to the River Thames in April to witness The Boat Race between students of Oxford and Cambridge.

London Marathon

Also taking place in April is the world famous London Marathon. Don’t worry, you don’t have to join in if you don’t fancy doing that much exercise on your hen do in London! More than half a million spectators come to line the route, watch the runners and cheer them on as they pass some of the most iconic landmarks in the city. There’s a real feel good atmosphere after too.

The Chelsea Flower Show

In May, you can visit one of the world’s most famous flower shows. The Chelsea Flower Show attract visitors from all over the globe with stalls, competitions and exhibitions of gardens, vegetables, flowers and floral arrangements.

London Motorexpo

Fancy something a bit different? The biggest free event of its kind, the London Motorexpo takes place at Canary Wharf in June and celebrates all things car related. If you’re interested in cars, you’ll love this expo as you see new cars launched and hear the latest news and innovations.

London boasts so many options that no two hen weekends are ever the same. It is all up to what the bride or group are into. If you want to try some pampering, then our exclusive deal with Benefit

Cosmetics will see your hen group receive incredible styling in a chic and upscale salon. You could take to the famous river Thames for a cruise and drinks out on the water. If heights are more your thing then take the cocktails up to the sky with a champagne flight on the London Eye.

For those looking for something quintessentially British then a spot of Afternoon Tea would be perfect. We don’t do things by half measures here though and can offer this tea experience on a famous London red bus while taking in all the landmarks of the city.

Wimbledon

June and July sees thousands of spectators descend on South West London for the oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon. Even if you don’t like tennis, it’s a nice excuse for a glass of Pimms and some strawberries and cream!

City of London Festival

This time of year (June and July) is also host to the fantastic City of London Festival where you’ll find fun activities, shows and exhibitions on London’s history and culture including music, dance, films and literature.

Nottinghill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival in August is an awesome Caribbean-inspired street festival, packed with parades, live music and delicious food and drink, all celebrating Caribbean culture and not to be missed!

Winter Wonderland

Make your hen do in London super festive in November and December with a trip to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, an extravaganza with more than 100 attractions including ice skating, rides, stalls, bars, entertainment and live music. We feel Christmassy just thinking about it!

With so much to see, do and enjoy, you’re spoilt for choice with hen party ideas in London!

Getting to Your London Hen Do

If you’re coming from outside of England, you’ll find that London’s s served by several major airports including Heathrow, London City, Gatwick and Standstead. Trains and coaches are also great options and, as you can imagine, London is very well served by a regular timetable of both. You could also drive to your hen do in London but with congestion charges and parking being sparce, it’s best to leave the car at home.

If you’ve set your heart on driving, you’ll find London takes around four hours and 20 minutes from Manchester, two hours and 50 minutes from Birmingham, two hours from Brighton or Portsmouth, seven hours and 30 minutes from Glasgow and three hours and 25 minutes from Cardiff. The city is conveniently reached by big motorways but like we said, it’s usually best to leave the car at home and hop on a train or coach.

CENTRAL

The centre of London is still the place with the highest concentration of venues to go for a hen night. Traditional hotspots like Soho have a naughty reputation and while gentrification has spruced the place up a bit, it still has elements that hark back to its past as a red-light district.

Another famed location to spend time in to the early hours is Covent Garden, with its mix of high end bars and restaurants. It is also a favourite spot for London’s burgeoning street performing scene, a great day time activity for the whole group, while the shops are to die for. A city this size needs a dancefloor to match and Heaven nightclub under Charing Cross is one of those that deserves the title of super club.

NORTH

North London is filled with trendy neighbourhoods and is particularly popular with young professionals. When you are young and have expendable income then the need for bars is paramount! This part of town doesn’t disappoint. Areas like Islington and Angel are easily accessible from the tube and have an awesome selection of chic bars and pubs that are perfect for hens who are passionate about their drinks. It might not be as wild as other parts of London, but who’s to say you can’t make them see the error of their ways with your partying?

Getting Around London During Your Hen Do

As you’ve probably figured out, London is pretty huge but luckily, it’s served by some excellent and iconic transport links including the Underground, black cabs and red double decker buses. The easiest way to get around has got to be by tube which can take you all over the city pretty quickly and easily. Be warned, it can get extremely busy during rush hour and Londoners live very fast-paced lives so don’t expect to be able to dawdle around the Underground. It’s a good idea to plan your journey in advance, so you know where you’re going and which line you need so you don’t get lost.

You can use London’s Oyster card system on tubes and buses or just pay with your contactless card. Simple! Don’t forget to walk around different neighbourhood though; there’s so much to see. If you’re celebrating your hen do in London until the early hours, you’ll discover there’s loads of taxis waiting at all the best hotspots. How convenient!

SOUTH

South London is pretty much defined as anything south of the river Thames. It benefits from being slightly less congested than its northern neighbour, with open spaces more common and room to breathe. There is no shortage of places to go for your London hen night out though. Clapham is the spot for sophisticated drinks and cocktails. If you have dancing feet, then one of the most famous nightclubs Ministry of Sound is right here in Elephant and Castle. Vauxhall is another hotspot that has become a playground for the capital’s night owls and now our London hen parties.

EAST

If you head east of central London you quickly find one of the most unique areas of the city. A huge clash of cultures is occurring in East London with traditional cockney communities crashing into the super hipster crowd, creating a quirky culture and the nightlife to match. Hoxton and Shoreditch is the centre of cool in London and are very close to central London. Brick Lane is a mecca for curry lovers and seems to never sleep with a whole mile of wall to wall restaurants.

WEST

If your hen party choose to go west, then you will be walking in the footsteps of the rich and famous. While London is known to be a place where the have’s and have not’s rub shoulders, West London is quickly becoming a millionaire’s hideout. The Kings road attracts the shoppers and then the cocktail bars host a who’s who of famous faces with cash to burn. A hen weekend in the west is for those London hen groups looking for glamour over cheap drinks. Chiswick is the hub for celebrities, boasting a ridiculously long list of stars. Dress to the nines and enjoy how the top 1% live for one night!