Have you been asked to plan a hen party in London? Well, it’s not unusual to feel daunted by the task.
While the number of things to do are endless, organising exactly the right list of things to do (as well as doing them in the right order) can feel like an uphill task. Follow this guide or tweak it to suit your hen and her nearest and dearest if you want to feel confident about throwing the perfect London hen party.
Start the party on the train
The easiest way to get into London is likely to be via train, so book tickets (reserving seats so that you can all sit as close together as possible). And, make the trip fun too. Of course you don’t want to be too noisy or cause too much disruption to the passengers around you, but get the hen dressed up and perhaps open a bottle of Prosecco to toast to her upcoming wedding – and weekend of fun!
Get glammed up
Begin the hen do by getting glammed up somewhere like the Cheeky Parlour (at Redchurch or Holborn). You and the girls can have your hair, nails and makeup done so that you’re photo-ready for the rest of the weekend (photos from the hen party are going to be uploaded all over Facebook and Instagram after all), taking advantage of the reasonable prices and bespoke packages.
Plan a big activity
Next, make sure you’ve planned a big activity into the day. This activity is the ‘thing’ that the rest of your day is structured around, so it needs to last long enough and be something the hen will really enjoy. For example, why not head to the West End for a world-class show? Wicked is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in London, so if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth snapping up tickets for it this year. Don’t think it’s just for kids either – you’ll all be on the edge of your seat to soak up the set, costumes and makeup, and you’ll be singing the songs for the rest of the night. – Make sure you check out our interview with Willemijn Verkaik
But, if the hen (or the rest of you) would prefer to do a workshop of some sort, you can do anything from cocktail making on a boat to having a cooking lesson at Jamie’s Italian Cookery School – both of which are available in London. Or, for something a little racier (but tasteful), how about booking everyone onto a burlesque master class? The Cheek of It is based in the city and frequently takes groups for hen parties – expect plenty of glitter, sparkle and sequins.
Stop for dinner and drinks
You’ll also need to plan where you’re going to eat during the hen party, which means you’ll need to send a group message to all attendees to check their dietary requirements. And it’s worth booking a table ahead of time – London is a busy place and, if your hen party is quite large, many restaurants will expect you to have made a reservation. For something a little bit quirky, consider booking afternoon tea on the Tea Bus Tour where you’ll all get to do a spot of sightseeing while digging into delicious sandwiches and cakes.
Find a dance floor
As it draws closer to the evening, freshen up before heading out into the city for a night out. If the hen is a bit of a party girl, you can’t go wrong with surprising her into the VIP entrance of a top nightclub. For example, the Ministry of Sound in the south of London is bound to be one of the best nights out you’ll ever experience if you and the rest of the hen party love dance and house music. Or you fancy something a little edgier, make a beeline to Piano Works.
Find a good hotel or Airbnb
Finally, if you’re staying overnight in London, it would be a shame to have to split the party up when it’s time for bed. Instead, book hotel rooms on the same floor, or consider sharing the cost of an Airbnb so you can have a kind of sleepover together. It will keep the party going and you’re bound to make happy memories and forge closer friendships by continuing the hen party into the night – even if it’s just swapping a pair of high heels for your comfiest pyjamas and tucking into the midnight feast you’ve bought on the way home.
So, how does that sound for a hen party in London? If you like any of these ideas, book ahead and remember to plan in some little thoughtful surprises for the hen to really make it feel special for her: a short video from the groom containing a special message telling her to have fun and that he’ll see her soon is bound to go down well, for example.
