Hen Do Ideas: 50+ for Every Budget
Key Takeaways
- Ask the bride what she actually wants — not everyone wants a wild night out
- Budget per person ranges from £30 (garden party) to £300+ (weekend away)
- The best hen dos match the bride's personality, not a generic template
- Plan around the group: if the bride's mum is coming, adjust the activities accordingly
- Book the big things (accommodation, restaurants, activities) 2-3 months ahead
A great hen do matches the bride — not a Pinterest template. If she’s adventurous, take her coasteering. If she’s a foodie, book a private dining experience. If she’d rather be in pyjamas watching films, that’s the hen do.
This guide has 50+ ideas across every budget, from free garden parties to luxury European weekends.
How to plan it
Before choosing activities, ask the bride three questions:
- What’s the vibe? Relaxed, adventurous, party, or pampering?
- Who’s invited? Just bridesmaids, or wider friends and family? (If her mum’s coming, a pub crawl might not work.)
- What’s the budget? Be honest. Not everyone can afford a weekend in Barcelona.
Activity ideas by budget
Budget: under £50 per person
| Activity | Cost Per Person | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic in the park with prosecco | £10-20 | Half day |
| Home spa night (face masks, nails, films) | £5-15 | Evening |
| Cocktail making at home | £15-25 | 2-3 hours |
| Garden party with games | £10-20 | Afternoon |
| Beach day with a bonfire | £5-15 | Full day |
| Karaoke night (private room) | £10-25 | 2-3 hours |
| Treasure hunt around town | £5-15 | 2-3 hours |
| Movie marathon night | £5-10 | Evening |
| Pottery or craft evening | £15-30 | 2-3 hours |
| Bake Off challenge | £10-20 | 3 hours |
Mid-range: £50-150 per person
| Activity | Cost Per Person | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon tea at a fancy hotel | £30-50 | 2-3 hours |
| Spa day | £40-100 | Full day |
| Cocktail masterclass | £30-50 | 2 hours |
| Cooking class (Italian, Thai, sushi) | £40-70 | 3 hours |
| Life drawing class | £25-40 | 2 hours |
| Dance class (salsa, burlesque, Charleston) | £20-40 | 1-2 hours |
| Wine or gin tasting | £25-50 | 2-3 hours |
| Escape room + dinner | £30-60 | Half day |
| Horse riding experience | £40-80 | 2-3 hours |
| Boat trip or river cruise | £30-70 | 2-4 hours |
| Flower crown making workshop | £30-50 | 2 hours |
| Glamping one-night stay | £50-100 | Overnight |
Premium: £150-300+ per person
| Activity | Cost Per Person | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend cottage rental + activities | £100-200 | 2 nights |
| City break (UK: Bath, Edinburgh, Brighton) | £150-250 | 1-2 nights |
| Festival-style glamping weekend | £100-200 | 2 nights |
| Luxury spa retreat | £150-300 | 1-2 nights |
| Hen do abroad (European city) | £200-500 | 2-4 nights |
| Private yacht or boat hire | £50-100 (group rate) | Half day |
| Country house hire (exclusive use) | £80-150 | 1-2 nights |
| Michelin-star dining experience | £100-200 | Evening |
The most popular hen do formats
The spa day
The most popular single-day hen do. A group spa session with treatments, robes, champagne, and lunch.
Cost: £40-100 per person (spa entry + one treatment + lunch). Best for: Mixed-age groups, relaxed brides, groups where not everyone drinks. Book: 2-3 months ahead. Group bookings fill fast at popular spas. Tip: Ask about group rates and whether they have a private area for your party.
The afternoon tea
A civilised option that works for all ages and all budgets. Many hotels offer hen-specific packages with prosecco and decorations.
Cost: £25-50 per person (tea + prosecco upgrade). Best for: Mixed-age groups, daytime celebrations, the bride who loves a scone. Tip: Book a private room or area so you can be as loud as you like without disturbing other guests.
The weekend away
The most popular multi-day format. Rent a cottage or Airbnb, plan activities for Saturday, and have a relaxed Sunday morning before heading home.
Cost: £100-250 per person (2 nights accommodation + activities + food + drink). Best for: Close friend groups who want quality time. Book: 3-4 months ahead for good cottage availability.
Sample weekend itinerary:
| When | Activity |
|---|---|
| Friday evening | Arrive, settle in, takeaway and prosecco |
| Saturday morning | Brunch, games, or a local activity |
| Saturday afternoon | Main activity (spa, cooking class, wine tasting) |
| Saturday evening | Dinner out or private chef, party at the cottage |
| Sunday morning | Leisurely breakfast, gift opening, head home |
The night out
The traditional format: dinner, drinks, dancing. Still popular but increasingly combined with a daytime activity.
Cost: £50-150 per person (dinner + drinks + club entry + taxis). Best for: Party-loving brides, city hen dos, younger groups. Tip: Pre-book a table for dinner and a booth at the bar/club. Walking around on the night hoping for availability ruins the mood.
Ideas by bride personality
| Bride Type | Best Activities |
|---|---|
| The foodie | Cooking class, wine tasting, restaurant crawl, private chef |
| The adventurer | Coasteering, wild swimming, hiking, surfing, zip lining |
| The homebody | Cottage weekend, pamper night, movie marathon, garden party |
| The party lover | City break, cocktail crawl, karaoke, nightclub VIP |
| The creative | Pottery class, life drawing, flower arranging, craft workshop |
| The sporty one | Paddle boarding, horse riding, go-karting, dance class |
| The culture vulture | Theatre trip, gallery visit, walking tour, wine region tour |
Planning tips for the maid of honour
Set a budget early. Ask everyone what they can comfortably afford. Plan to the lowest budget, not the highest — nobody should go into debt for a hen do.
Create a group chat. Add all attendees (not the bride) for planning discussions. Use polls for date options and activity preferences.
Collect money upfront. Use a shared pot (Splitwise, Monzo shared tab, or a simple bank transfer) to collect contributions before booking anything. Chasing payments after the event is painful.
Book the big things early. Accommodation, restaurants, and activities should be booked 2-3 months ahead. Last-minute booking for 10+ people is stressful and expensive.
Don’t over-plan. A schedule with every minute accounted for is exhausting. Build in free time for chatting, napping, and spontaneous fun.
Consider the whole group. If the group includes the bride’s mum, sister, and friends from different life stages, choose inclusive activities. Not everyone wants to go clubbing, and not everyone can afford a weekend abroad.
Have a Plan B. If your main activity is outdoors, have an indoor backup. If the restaurant booking falls through, know a second option.
What the bride actually wants to know
Will there be a dress code? Matching t-shirts are fun for some groups and mortifying for others. Ask the bride.
Will there be games? Some brides love hen party games. Others find them cringe. Ask.
Will there be surprises? A nice surprise: a personalised gift, a video message from absent friends, a cake. A bad surprise: a stripper nobody asked for, an embarrassing dare in public, posting unflattering photos on social media.
Will photos go online? Agree ground rules before the night. Some brides want everything on Instagram. Others want zero social media until after the wedding.
Further reading
- Budget Hen Party Ideas — hen dos under £50 per person
- Unusual Hen Do Ideas — something different
- Classy Hen Do Ideas — elegant celebrations
- Hen Party Games — the best games and icebreakers
- Hen Do Destinations UK — the best UK cities
- Hen Do Abroad — European destinations
- Hen Party Accessories — decorations and essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hen do cost per person?
A hen do costs £30-300+ per person depending on the format. A one-day activity (afternoon tea, spa, cocktail class) costs £30-80 per person. A one-night stay (Airbnb, dinner, activities) costs £80-150. A full weekend away costs £150-300+. Hen dos abroad cost £200-500+ including flights and accommodation.
Who plans the hen do?
Traditionally, the maid of honour plans the hen do with help from the bridesmaids. In practice, whoever is most organised and willing takes the lead. The planner should consult the bride on the guest list, budget, and general vibe (relaxed vs party, day vs weekend) before making any bookings.
When should you have a hen do?
2-4 weeks before the wedding is most common. This gives enough time for any bruises, sunburn, or hangovers to heal, while keeping the excitement close to the big day. Avoid the week immediately before — the bride will be stressed with final wedding preparations.
Does the bride pay for her hen do?
Traditionally, no — the group pays for the bride. In practice, this depends on the budget. For expensive hen weekends, the bride often pays her own travel and accommodation while the group covers her activities and meals. For budget hen dos, the group splits the bride's share equally. Discuss this openly to avoid awkwardness.