Hen party planning: knowing where to go and when

Hen party planning: knowing where to go and when

You’ve been asked to be a maid of honour and you couldn’t be happier. You can’t wait to watch your best friend or sister walk up the aisle and marry the man of her dreams. But first of all, you have the not so small task of planning a hen party and giving your girl the best send-off.

Planning anything this big is difficult at the best of times and while it’s easy to make quick decisions, without the correct research it can be hard to organise. So first, when should you plan a hen do? Well, it needs to be put in the diary as far in advance as possible, especially if you are looking at going abroad.


But, before you starting booking accommodation and activities you need to take a minute and think about where the hen would want to go and what she will enjoy. We have picked out some three of the most popular hen party destination to give you some ideas.

London

London – the big smoke is one of the most obvious hen party destinations with hundreds of bars, pubs and clubs to keep you entertained. You can opt for your classic hen do of karaoke, overindulging in cocktails and dancing on bars or why not go for something a little different such as The Nottingham Carnival that takes place in August each year?

A yearly celebration of London’s Caribbean communities culture and tradition, the Notting Hill Carnival is the ideal event for a party girl bride to be. With an estimated 2 million people attending last year, it’s jam-packed with dancing, music, masquerade and delicious Caribbean food.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland’s number one city and is a great hen do location. With its well-known history, wild nightlife and range of activities available – you should be taking advantage of what this city has to offer.

If your hen is looking for something a little more relaxing than just a boozy weekend, Edinburgh could be the perfect choice. For a little pre-wedding shopping, Princes Street and George Street should be on your list – where you can shop till you drop whilst enjoying the area’s beautiful architecture and medieval castle views.

Stop off for a picnic and prosecco in one of the stunning gardens or parks located in Calton Hill, before a visit to Edinburgh castle to get some of the best views of the city and finish your weekend off sipping cocktails and raising a glass for the hen.

 

New forest

For the lady who loves her food and drink, an alternative hen do activity would be to visit The New Forest annual food and drink event. Sampling local ales and wine, tasting fresh produce from local farmers and testing out your culinary skills at a cookery school – what’s not to love?

During the month of July, the Hampshire Food Fair takes place in many parts of The New Forest. With luxury hotels and spas situated close by, you can also spend a day relaxing and having a gossip with a glass of fizz before treating yourself a massage.

Now it’s time to decide what event or activity best suits your hen and then plan out your day. The earlier you do it the easier it will be to create the perfect day.