8 Best Bournemouth Hen Do Ideas
- Beyoncé Dancing – Learn some booty shaking moves as you learn to dance like Beyoncé!
- Inflatable Games – Hilarious hen chaos. Do battle across a number of crazy inflatable games.
- Kwidditch – The wizarding game brought to life, perfect for any Potter loving brides.
- Afternoon Tea – Sophistication, elegance and, importantly, a delicious selection of cakes!
- Bubble Mayhem – Bonkers, chaos, mayhem – the perfect blend for adventurous hens!
- Cocktail Mixing – No hen party is complete without cocktails. Learn, make, taste and taste!
- Life Drawing – Brushes at the ready, gear up for a hilarious afternoon painting a nude hunk!
- Rage Buggies – High-octane hen chaos. Hit high speeds as you and the girls go off-road.
A Guide To Your Bournemouth Hen Weekend
Star Bars
Urban Beach - We do love to be beside the seaside and there is no finer stretch of coast than Urban Beach where the barmen and the drinks are all rather cheeky and decidedly tasty!
Chaplin's Cellar Bar - For something completely different to your usual pub-life head to Chaplin's. This multi-award winning venue is full of surprises, live music and a fantastic atmosphere.
Bar So - If you like your beats loud and your cocktails fast flowing then Bar So is just what the bartender ordered. With great tunes, top DJ's and a large helping of girlie glamour Bar So is the place to be for Bournemouth's bright young things.
Best Bites
Aruba - Resplendent on Bournemouth seafront is Aruba, a fantastic place to get a table, enjoy a fusion of international flavours and prepare for your big night out.
Hot Rocks - Arrive for the food, stick around for the cocktails. Hot Rocks has a varied menu sure to suit your whole party, and once you've finished eating you can hang around and party until 3am.
Sights & Sounds
Sights
Of course Bournemouth's biggest draw is the miles of perfect golden beaches. Not only can you pass a few pleasant hours topping up your tans in the summer months but they are also the perfect place to rest and refresh tender heads in the morning.
If you're a culture vulture you can head to Russell-Cotes Gallery. This incredible house was a gift from Russell-Cotes to his wife which they filled with incredible arts and objects from around the world.
But in Dorset it really is a case of location, location, location, the best of which is nearby Sandbanks which has some of the most expensive properties in the world!
The pier! Bournemouth Pier gives a great view along the coast and no trip beside the seaside is complete without a stroll along the “prom-prom-prom” (where the brass bands play tiddly-om-pom-pom).
Sounds
Some of the brightest bands on the music scene head through O'Neill's which is a fantastic place for the best new bands. Indie, Irish folk, rock, acoustic, O'Niell's is a massive advocate of supporting local talent from a wide range of genres and every night really is great craic.
In the Diary
March - Folk Festival. Bournemouth is a key player in the folk music scene and this festival brings in some of the biggest names.
June - Food & Drink A festival for lovers of good food, good drink and good music.
August - Bournemouth Air Fesitval For one weekend in August, Bournemouth is over taken with one of Europe's largest air shows.
December - Christmas Market The UK's best Christmas market. There, we said it. If you've ever fancied a bit of real, traditional Christmas shopping then Bournemouth is the finest market you'll see, with hundreds of artisan traders flocking to the city centre.
Top of the Shops
Vintage Market - Located next to the Royal Arcade on selected Saturdays, this is a great place to pick up some unique items ranging from clothing to crafts and pretty textiles.
Clobber - If you're tired of the same old shops and are a vintage girl at heart then Clobber is definitely worth a visit.
Southbourne - This area, which lies a little further away from Bournemouth's main drag, is packed full of pretty independent bistros, cafes, shops and is within a short walk of the beach and everything you'll want to visit.
Girls About Town - Getting around Bournemouth...
Everything in Bournemouth is easily accessible by foot as the town centre is quite compact. If you're looking to head further afield to places like Sandbanks then the buses cut through some incredibly picturesque countryside. Overall though the seaside and beaches really are best explored by foot.
Hen Days
For any South Coast hen party it would be rude not to really enjoy the stunning beaches: Paddleboarding, Surfing, Coasteering and Horse Riding all allow you to take advantage of this outstandingly beautiful stretch of coast.
If being near the water doesn't float your boat you can always line up a dance class for the girls with everything from Thriller to Burlesque to choose from.
Hen Nights
Bournemouth is a big party town with a wide range of fantastic bars and restaurants to choose from.
If you're after something a little more cheeky then a Male Strip Show or hunky Butlers in the Buff will put a smile on everyone's faces.
Alternatively you could have a few laughs at a Cabaret Show or Comedy Club.
But for any big night out you should expect a little VIP treatment so let us know and we'll arrange guestlist nightclub entry to avoid you having to worry about queuing or struggling to get in to any of your chosen party venues.
40 Reasons Why Bournemouth Is Amazing!
BATMAN! - That's right girls; none other than Batman himself, Christian Bale grew up in Bournemouth, attending the town school until the age of 16. It's unknown how often he visits his hometown, but you never know, you might just have a run in with The Dark Knight himself...
Glamping! - It's like camping, but with added style. Enjoy cute décor and the joys of outdoor living with the bonus of hot showers, toilets and (most importantly) a bar on site. Check out our Bourne Under The Stars glamping.
The Old Fire Station - Bournemouth's bright young things can be found in this retro venue set in the refurbished surrounds of (surprise) an old fire station. Without doubt one of our favourite venues.
4.7 Million - Literally millions of people flock to Bournemouth every year for sunny beaches and some of the best seaside clubbing thrills in the country.
Hold-on... - It turns out that Amanda Holden was quite the free spirit in her youth; she allegedly rode around town on a bicycle in the nude, even stopping to scream 'say no to crack' at a burly security guard!
Surfing - This seaside town has a magnificent reputation for surfing. When conditions are perfect, you can really rip up the waves like a real surf-chick with top tips from experienced instructors.
Mind the drop! - Winston Churchill lived in Bournemouth as a youth, but its a little known fact that he almost died after falling 29feet from a local bridge.
Busted... - The 'Great Train Robbers' were arrested in Bournemouth, a good thing too, they could've made away with £2.6 million but got caught because they live their fingerprints on a Monopoly set.
Vinyl - This bar-cum-club makes for a cocktail-filled wonderland whether your drink of choice is a crisp Pina Colada or a marvellous Mojito. Vinyl delivers big tunes and big flavours.
Cocktail Mixing - If you've ever looked at a bartender mixing a cocktail and thought, 'I could do that' then this is your chance to play around with all things alcoholic and tasty in pursuit of boozy success! Find out more about Cocktail Mixing.
750,000 - That's the total number of Ice Creams that are bought across Bournemouth's beautiful seven mile beach stretch. That's more than 2000 a day...
Power shower - Bournemouth entered The Guinness World Book of Records in 2011 as 152 people huddled beneath a giant water-spewing structure to break the record for the most people to have ever showered together. Strange but true.
Tony Blackburn - Infamous for terrorizing the airwaves in the 60s on pirate stations like 'Radio Caroline', Blackburn spent a few of his formative years in Bournemouth as a boy before embarking on a now legendary career in TV and radio.
Cabaret Show - Cabaret is basically a seaside tradition, but with cracking comedians, hot male strippers and one hilariously sassy drag queen, this definitely isn't what you'd call 'family friendly'.
Literary residents - J.R.R Tolkien and Enid Blyton both lived here, and Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in this fabulous seaside town.
Alum Chine - This beautiful area filled with tropical plants from the Canary Islands, New Zealand, Mexico and the Himalayas is possibly Bournemouth's best kept secret, so ssshhhh!
Romantic beginnings - The first house in Bournemouth was built by a man named Tregonwell in 1810 after his wife's love of the South Coast persuaded him to settle here, 'n'aaaaaaaaaaaaaw!'
Beach Huts - The town had the UK's first purpose-built beach huts in 1909, and a Bournemouth beach hut became the first to be allowed to hold weddings and civil partnerships in 2011. In other news, we just died of a cuteness overload.
O2 Academy - The town's biggest gig venue, the Academy hosts big names of every genre from hip-hop to rock and metal - the fact that this is set in an old Victorian theatre simply adds to the euphoric atmosphere on any gig night.
Wine Tasting - Is there a more elegant way to spend an evening on your Bournemouth hen do than wine tasting? Possibly not, as you'll be trying a truly sophisticated range of wines from all over the world.
The Beatles - The fab four enjoyed time in Bournemouth. Apart from London and Liverpool, no other UK town saw more of George, Ringo, Paul and John, and the cover of their second album With the Beatles, was taken at the Palace Court Hotel.
Alex James - The cutest member of Blur is a Bournemouth boy through and through. He now owns an award winning cheese farm.
Recording Studio - Record your own chart busting hit at a professional studio.
Mr Blue Sky - Bournemouth enjoys an average of 7.7 hours of sunshine a day during the summer months, making it the perfect place to top up your tan without the hassle of jetting off abroad.
60 Million Post Cards - The girls will love this incredibly chic bar where the walls are plastered with maps and postcards sure to inspire wanderlust in even the most settled home-birds.
My heart will go on... - When past Bournemouth resident and poet Percy Shelley died prematurely while abroad, it's said that his heart refused to burn on his funeral pyre, leaving a friend to return the heart to the south coast where it's still buried today. Creepy?
Frankenstein - His heart was sent back to his widow, Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. It just got creepier!
Afternoon Tea - After an afternoon of hen thrills and spills, a spot of Afternoon Tea could make for a splendid break before the party continues in the evening.
Oceanarium - Tottering turtles, picture-perfect penguins and fancy fish complete a line up of truly beautiful sea creatures awaiting on your Bournemouth hen do at the amazing Oceanarium.
Halo - This club is funky, stylish and simply stunning. Set inside the depths of an old theatre, this is Bournemouth nightlife of the highest quality, even if your own Halo has slipped.
Poole Harbour - A walk along Poole Harbour is a sure-fire way to clear away the excesses of even the latest of late nights, plus it's the second largest natural harbour in the world. Only Sydney's is bigger!
The Inferno - Ignite your night with a few cheeky glasses of wine at The Inferno, a metropolitan pub which feels more like a hip, trendy London bar than a Bournemouth boozer!
Pole Dancing - After you've gotten over the inevitable giggles, Pole Dancing is brilliant fun and can actually be a fair old workout once you get going.
Cameo - Great cocktails, fantastic music and good times by the ice-bucket load. Cameo is a glamorous stop for any Bournemouth hen weekend. Good friends, good tunes, good times!
Gareth Malone - Girls, your attraction to Gareth Malone is completely and utterly understood and justified. If all our music teachers looked as cute as him in school we'd be veritable virtuosos by now...
East Cliff Lift Railway - A lovely piece of Bournemouth invention, the East Cliff Lift Railway is wonderful to watch in action as it zig-zags it's way from the seafront to the cliffs above. Beats walking!
Reef Encounter - A really chilled-out bar and one of our favs, Reef Encounter overlooks the sea and is an ideal place to enjoy a brief encounter of the incredibly delicious kind!
Ghosts and ghouls... - Bournemouth has a few ghostly residents including the terrifying 'witch of the hill', and it's also said that the phantom of an actress who died on the Pavilion stage still treads the theatre's boards at night... Yikes!
Murder Mystery - This is a dinner to die for! Enjoy three delicious courses and solve a murderous mystery before the killer strikes again?!?
Grease Dancing - If Bournemouth's sandy beaches have got you in the mood for some Summer Lovin' then this fabulous dance workshop is amazing fun and can actually provide a real workout.
Top Tweeters
Bournemouth Fun - Get the lowdown on local news and events.
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Bournemouth Buzz - Stunning beach photos and event news.
Make it Bournemouth - Get news on all the biggest (and coolest) Bournemouth events.
- 1. Seven miles of glorious sandy beaches
- 2. Fantastic nightlife, from exotic clubs to beachside bars
- 3. Huge variety of shops, from high street chains to boutiques
- 4. Unforgettable watersports and outdoor activities
- 5. Boscombe Pier, with great views and friendly cafes and shops
It's time for a hen weekend in Bournemouth!
It could be the invigorating sea air, or the miles of gloriously sandy beaches. Maybe it's the trendy beachside bars and chic boutiques overlooking the glittering bay. Or the award-winning nightlife, sun-soaked activities and deliciously decadent spas that combine to make a Bournemouth hen do such an unforgettable experience. Whatever the secret, there's something undeniably infectious about the golden shores of Britain's top resort. It's no surprise that this sassy, vibrant, party-loving hub of the south continues to shine as one of our top destinations in the UK.
Sun-kissed & fun-packed
Girls just wanna have fun in the run up to the big day and when it comes to letting your hair down and celebrating in style, hen weekends in Bournemouth really are the best bar none!
And with sensational hen do packages in Bournemouth and Bournemouth hen party houses ranging from cosy B+B's to your very own hen house, GoHen have all the ingredients needed to get your party started in fantastic fashion!
So why not drop us a line and take a step closer to feeling the sand between your toes, with a glass of something fizzy by your side...
Why choose Bournemouth?
With sun, sea, sand, buckets of charisma, a fantastic range of activities and a town jam-packed with everything from stylish bars and clubs to chic eateries, spas and shops galore, Bournemouth is perfectly kitted out for pre-wedding parties to let loose by the sea. Whether you want to top up that tan, indulge in a beachside cocktail (or... three?), get stuck into some adrenaline-fuelled activities or treat yourself in the swanky stores, hen weekends in Bournemouth offer an amazing choice for a girls' weekend away.
From funky clubs to fish and chips, surfing to spas, the pier to the glamorous Sandbanks, Bournemouth really is a dream destination for hen parties looking to let their hair down in a thriving cosmopolitan town.
What can you do?
Whatever takes her fancy! You'll be spoilt for choice with over 80 fantastic hen do activities in Bournemouth to choose from. Day or night, from the beach to the club to the sauna, surfboards and torso of your tasty chocolate male model, we guarantee you're in for a real treat that the girls won't be forgetting any time soon!
Get dance floor ready with some hen do dance classes at our top dancing studios, or make the most of your beachside location with some action on the waves. Surfing, Paddleboarding and Coasteering are guaranteed to get the heart racing and a turn on the hovercraft is sure to blow away any hint of a hangover!
After all that hard work it'll be time for a reward, so lie back and enjoy being pampered and preened to perfection at a top spa, or indulge in some well-earned retail therapy with a mooch down to Westbourne, affectionately known as ‘The Village', with its mix of designer stores, beauty shops and delicious eateries or pop over to Boscombe for quirkier gifts, great open-air markets and a meander along Britain's Best Pier. A stroll down Old Christchurch road is great for smaller shops, or head straight to the town centre for its impressive collection of high street stores, boutiques, restaurants, cafés and coffee shops.
Bournemouth after dark...
When it comes to after-hours entertainment Bournemouth's vibrant nightlife offers a fantastic collection of exotic bars, great nightclubs, live music, comedy, cabaret, casinos and an electric atmosphere that will see you rocking those killer heels well into the early hours!
Take a ride in our fire engine limo where your hunky hosts (in uniform!) will deliver you in enviably unique style to Bournemouth's top clubs and bars, or forget the outfit altogether and add a saucy male strip show or your own buff butlers to the occasion for a fantastic night to remember!
When to visit Bournemouth
Summertime is undoubtedly when Bournemouth comes alive as a dazzling array of festivals revel in the balmy climate, stunning backdrop and party vibe of the high season. From the award-winning Arts By The Sea, Food and Drink fest and Carnival, to the regatta, funfair and free concerts at Christchurch and Summertime in the South across Poole Quay and the Sandbanks, there are endless opportunities to soak up the sun and great entertainment in equal glorious measure. And with the BIC, pier, Pavilion and spectacular Bournemouth Gardens hosting events throughout the calendar, not to mention the sprinkling of festive magic brought by December's Christmas Market, Bournemouth is a pretty special place to visit any time of the year.
Let's get this party started!
Between the golden sands, lively nightlife, enviable location and party-loving crowds, Bournemouth is one of the most popular locations for hen and stag parties in the UK. So there's no better time to get in touch and start planning the pre-nuptial event of the year! Give our dedicated team a call on 01225 474200 or send us a brief today.
