London Hen Party Ideas You'll Actually Want to Do

Most bad hen parties aren’t bad because the activity was bad. They’re bad because the group got split across three Ubers, half of them were in heels for nine hours, and nobody had actually asked the bride what she wanted to do.

So this is a genuinely useful list rather than a list of things that photograph well: the main categories of London hen activity, who each one suits, and the logistics that decide whether the day works.

First, three questions worth answering

• How big is the group? Under eight, almost anything works. Over fifteen and you need formats built for groups: private spaces, pre-booked slots, or an event where everyone arrives at the same time.
• Day or night? A daytime centrepiece plus an easy dinner is usually better than three consecutive nights out, especially with a mixed-age group.
• What does the bride actually enjoy? Dancing, spa, competitive nonsense, or being fed? Pick the centrepiece from that answer, not from Pinterest.

Cocktail masterclasses

The reliable classic. Most cocktail bars in London run group masterclasses in a private or semi-private space: you make two or three drinks, someone teaches you to shake properly, and it’s an easy 90 minutes that gets everyone talking. Works well as the opening activity because it breaks the ice between the bride’s work friends and her cousins.

Dance classes

Choreography classes (disco, Beyoncé routines, burlesque, cheerleading) are the most fun-per-pound option in London if the group is up for it. The catch is that they are only fun if everyone is a bit self-conscious together; one aggressively reluctant guest can flatten the room. Book it early in the day, before drinks.

Spa days and afternoon tea

The calmer route, and often the right one for a Sunday or for a group with mums, aunties and pregnant guests. Spas cap group sizes tightly, so book far ahead. Afternoon tea is the most dependable “everyone is comfortable” option in the city.

Competitive socialising

Darts, mini golf, shuffleboard, karaoke booths, escape rooms. These are excellent for groups who hate the idea of a “hen activity”. Note that escape rooms and karaoke booths usually cap at six to twelve people, so a big group gets split into teams, fine if that’s deliberate, annoying if it’s a surprise.

Boat parties on the Thames

This is what we do, so read it as a recommendation with our name on it. A hen group on a boat solves the single hardest problem of a London hen do: keeping everyone in one place. You board together, you can’t drift off to another bar, and there is nowhere for the group to fragment.

The Disco Wonderland ABBA Hen Party is a sailing on the River Thames with DJs playing ABBA, disco and party classics, bars onboard and an open-air upper deck. Day sailings are a disco in the sunshine; evening sailings catch the sunset and keep going under the city lights. Tickets are £25 Early Bird and £30 General Release via FIXR, it’s 18+, and sailings normally depart from Tower Millennium Pier, although the boarding point can occasionally change, so always check your ticket.

Practical hen notes: it’s a public sailing rather than a private charter, so you get the energy of a full boat rather than a room of only your group. Groups of ten or more get 15% off, which is handled through group bookings. Wear something you can dance in and shoes you can stand on a moving deck in for a few hours.

How to build the actual day

• One centrepiece, not four. A single anchor event plus food and drinks around it beats a packed itinerary.
• Book the anchor first. Especially anything on the river in summer: good dates sell out months ahead.
• Keep travel short. Pick a dinner spot within walking distance of the anchor event, not across the city.
• Collect money before you book. The organiser should never be £400 out of pocket waiting on bank transfers.
• Share one document. Times, addresses, what to wear, who’s paid. Nobody reads the group chat scrollback.

Do that, and a London hen party is genuinely easy. If you want the anchor sorted in one click, have a look at the upcoming sailings.