48 Hours to Party in Bristol
Bristol: vibrant, energetic and achingly-cool, it’s the ultimate hen destination and the perfect place to host the bride’s fab send-off before she takes the plunge into marital life. Get ready, ladies, it’s going to be huge!
48:00:00
Arrival
You arrive in the heart of the West Country ready and raring to party! No time to waste, throw your bags in your new digs and get out and about.
45:24:31
Activity No.1 – Escape Room
You and the girls decide to kickstart your weekend by taking on one of Bristol’s brilliant Escape Rooms! You have an hour to break out otherwise you’ll be trapped inside… potentially forever! Bit of a risky choice as the first activity of the weekend really, better hope you escape!
44:04:52
The First Night
Congrats, you managed to break free! That’s a spot of luck given the bride has a big event coming up, probably would have gotten in a spot of bother for missing that. Time to see what Bristol has in store then, you head off to get glammed up for your first night on the town.
42:45:32
Dinner
Right, this is the bride’s big send-off, you can’t head to the golden arches or another similar fast-food establishment, you’ve got to pull out the stops on her weekend away. Good job you booked up a fabulous three-course meal so you can get some delicious dancing fuel ahead of your night on the town.
40:17:11
Activity No.2 - Dreamboys
This is how the bride says goodbye to the single life – with one last look at a load of insanely hot hunks at Dreamboys! Head to the fabulous venue where you’ll receive a complimentary cocktail before the gorgeous slabs of muscle take to the stage to do their thing!
37:27:23
The Club
The blushing bride won’t be forgetting that one in a hurry! Time to stop drooling over the Dreamboys and hit the dance floor as you and the girls cap off your evening in style. With Guestlist Nightclub Entry, you can skip the long lines and dance right on in.
29:06:54
The Morning
Well, the number of sunglasses at the breakfast table even though it’s not even sunny is a solid indication of how well the night before was. No time to sit about feeling sorry for yourselves though, Bristol’s hen activities aren’t going to conquer themselves!
27:41:12
Activity No.2 – Somerset Challenge
Hilarious inflatable action from start to finish, you and the girls decided to really crank up the crazy on your big weekend in Bristol with the chaotic Somerset Challenge. Go toe-to-toe as you battle it out over a host of fast-paced, adrenaline-inducing games to crown the champ!
23:43:11
Lunch
Yes, it would’ve been nice if the bride had won seen as it’s her big weekend and all that, but she should’ve been better at it! It’s not your fault you’re an awesome bouncer. You can’t teach that, you’re either born with it or you’re not! Time for a quick bite before your second activity of the day.
21:23:44
Right, time to get your choreography on point for your second night out! What better routine to learn, too, than one made famous by the most iconic girl band of all time. You can even pull it out at the wedding reception and dazzle all the friends and relatives in attendance.
18:24:30
Cocktail Mixing
After you’ve perfected your flawless dance moves, it’s time to get ready for another night out! You and the girls kickstart the night with a spot of Cocktail Mixing to get everybody in the party mood. Remember to taste as you go – for quality control purposes only, of course!
15:21:33
The Second Night
Now everyone is revved up and ready, it’s time to hit a couple of bars before you unleash your newfound moves on the dance floor. Watch out, Bristol, you won’t know what’s hit it! Prepare to be wowed!
12:10:34
The Club
OK, so the timing was a tad off! Who cares? You were still the best dancers in there. Probably. Although the bride was too busy singing to really notice you were pulling out the dance moves and the Geri Halliwell of the group was stuck in the bar queue. But you rocked it and that’s all that matters.
00:00:00
Home Time
Well, that’s it! Bristol, you were monumental! The bride had a blast and you all partied hard. Time to rest up before the big day when you can well and truly rock your Spice Girls dance moves in unison.
40 Reasons Why Bristol Is Beautiful!
Banksy - You can't mention Bristol without bringing up Banksy. The illusive street artist put the city on the cultural map with his world-famous satires of pop-culture. But who is the mystery artist...?
The Wurzels - A trip to the West Country without singing a Wurzles song is like going to Paris and not drinking wine. So altogether now... "I've got a brand new combine harvester..."
Somerset Challenge - There's no better way to immerse yourselves in West Country culture on your Bristol hen party. Drunk Pub Skittles, Cider Run, it's non-stop hilarious fun with Somerset Challenge.
The Harbourside - While most cities are fixated with the idea of having a city centre that's absolutely rammed with clubs and bars, Bristol has taken the rather sensible step of spreading out its wealth of establishments along the charming harbour which is the place to party.
Cider - There are many reasons to love Bristol and cider is one of the best. You'll find the UK's finest ciders available in bars and clubs all over Bristol.
Bah Hum-bug - In 1979, a strange hum could be heard by literally everyone in the city. Despite mass investigations (and city wide speculation) no cause was ever found. Alien invasion or mass hysteria?
Thekla - A nightclub on a boat? Yep, that's Bristol for you! Thekla puts on live gigs from some of the best artists in the country as well as some of the most vibrant club nights in town.
Ribena - The delicious blackcurrant juice drink was invented in Bristol's National Fruit and Cider institute. And it tastes very nice with Guinness.
Cary Grant - One of Hollywood's all-time greats but how different his career and films would have been if he'd stayed using his true Bristol accent. "Alroight moy luvverrrr?"
Blackbeard - The world's most famous pirate started life as 'Edward Teach', born and raised in Bristol. Legend has it that he buried some of his booty under St Mary's Church but it hasn't been discovered. Yet...
SWX - One of the newest fixtures in the Bristol clubbing scene, SWX has an ultra-trendy feel and showcases the best DJ talent in the South West for the party-loving masses.
Balloon Fiesta - The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is world renowned and will soon get even better with the arrival of.... SKYBALLS!
The Big Smoke - Bristol is the biggest city in the South West and has one of the UK's best club and art scenes, out partying many much bigger cities it's no wonder it's one the UK's top stag and hen destinations.
Millennium Square - This futuristic square is chock full with bars, restaurants and a massive screen showing the biggest live events and bizarrely, nature programmes. Trust us; hearing David Attenborough's dulcet tones on a night out is a weird one!
Student Town - With not one, but two massive universities (Bristol and UWE) this city is full of bright young people looking for a good time. 400,000 students live here, meaning that the clubs are always buzzing and drink prices are lower than the national average.
Home of America? - Bristol is sometimes referred to as 'The Home of America'. This is because John Cabot, the man who aided the discovery of America set sail from the city in 1497.
Bristol Basin, NYC - A piece of Bristol is literally in New York! At the end of WWII when American ships to return to the USA, they used rubble from bombed out Bristol to add stability to their vessels. The ballast then ended up being used as landfill for what would become Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive.
Mr. Wolf's - One of the city's most loved venues, Mr Wolf's is a local institution and huge party hotspot. One of the liveliest places for anyone to get their boogie on.
Illusions - There's two kinds of magic inside this fabulous bar. The baffling tricks pulled off by the in-house magicians is one, and the second is the truly delicious cocktails. Anyone for an ice-cold Debbie McGee?
Mbargo - It's not uncommon to come to this brilliant bar for a few drinks and end up staying at Mbargo all night long to get down to the sounds of floor-filling tunes with the beautiful local 'talent'.
Cabot Circus - Super trendy shops, big designer names and high street favourites make it a fabulous shopping city.
Afternoon Tea - After a busy day of shopping fun, a spot of afternoon tea in Bristol is sure to refresh and delight the girls on your hen weekend.
Café Wall Illusion - The famous 'café wall illusion' is named after a café that used to be on the bottom of St. Michael's Hill. Although it's thought that it was more a case of bad tiling rather than Derren Brown-level trickery.
Stephen Merchant - One of the South West's most successful funny-men, Bristol born Merchant's fabulous sense of humour has taken him from the city's sleepy suburbs to the dizzying heights of LA.
Choco-city - Did you know that the first ever chocolate bar was produced in Bristol? Fry's Chocolate Factory was the marvellous company behind the project, and we've also got them to thank for the chocolate Easter egg.
Chocolate Making - If the thought of creamy, rich, handmade chocolates gets your mouth watering, then our chocolate making hen party is perfect for you.
Who owns Bristol Airport? - It's a bizarre but true fact that Bristol Airport is actually owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. Now that sounds like a scheme with wings...
James May - Another local boy done good, "Captain Slow" lost his Bristol accent and joined up with Clarkson and Hammond as part of the BBC most successful ever TV show.
Bristol Old Vic - How many wonderful thespians have treaded these hallowed boards? Patrick Stewart, Pete Postlethwaite, Jeremy Irons and Daniel Day Lewis to name a few.
Nelson Mandela House - The residence of Rodney and Del Boy Trotter in hit British comedy Only Fools and Horses isn't in Peckham but Bristol. The infamous 'Batman and Robin' scene was also shot in Broadmead. 'Rodneeeeeeey!'
High-priority - Bristol was 4th on the list of British cities to be targeted by the Soviet Union in the event of a nuclear strike during the Cold War.
Russell Howard - Absolutely hilarious, incredibly good looking and an all-round hottie, Russell is proud of his Bristol roots. Especially his 'mad mum'.
Maisie Williams - Game of Thrones fans might be interested to know that Maisie Williams (aka Arya Stark) was born in Bristol. Although we haven't seen any direwolves in town yet.
Skins - Hens in their 20s will no doubt remember noughties teen drama Skins in all it's alcohol-induced sex-fuelled glory. But did you know that the show was filmed in Bristol and that Hannah Murray (who played Cassie) is from here? You do now!
Park Street - Possibly the most beautiful street in the city, Park Street is full of amazing restaurants and bars as well as bijou boutiques selling designer wears and bargain buys for vintage-lovers.
Bristol Museum - On a rainy Bristol afternoon, a jaunt around Bristol Museum is a great way to while away the day. See scary mummies, freaky dinosaur remains and amazing paintings, all under one majestic roof.
Lee Evans - It must be something in the water, Lee Evans is yet another funny man who was born in Bristol and lived there until he was 12.
J.K. Rowling - The people of Bristol have a very special connection with the Harry Potter series, seeing as it's now world-famous author was born here and Harry is supposedly based on a real life Bristol lad.
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Visit Bristol - Discover news and top tips of Bristol attractions.
Bristol Bites - Foodie heaven and the latest news on the city's food scene.
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Bristol 24/7 - Local news and events from the brilliant people who live here.
- 1. Cabot Circus, the new, huge shopping complex
- 2. Thriving music scene, with lively gigs and annual festivals
- 3. Buzzing harbour front by the River Avon
- 4. The biggest nightclubs in the South West
- 5. The fantastic Somerset Challenge, complete with welly wanging!
A "gurt lush" Bristol hen party!
A real taste of the West Country, Bristol's tasty treats, fantastic laughs, hilarious action packed activities and wonderful bars and nightlife really do have it all.
Why: Reasons to celebrate in Bristol
The question really should be why wouldn't you have a hen party in Bristol?!? Not only is the city famed for it's huge party atmosphere but the city rocks to the sound of laughter. Comedians who have lived, trained or sharpened their comedic tongues in Bristol include; Stephen Merchant, Russell Howard, Bill Bailey, Miranda Hart, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Mark Watson, to name but a few.
And the city has plenty of artistic swagger too with artists, authors and performers aplenty having lived and worked here; Damien Hurst, Nick Park (creator of Wallace & Gromit which is still made here), JK Rowling, Robin Cousins, Sophie Alderton, Derren Brown and of course the reclusive and mysterious street artist Banksy whose work can be found all round the city.
The city is simply a live with a buzz of creativity and good vibes. This is really evident on any big “Brizzle” night out. And trust us, if you're planning a Bristol hen party, every night out is a big night!
What: Planning for Bristol?
There are two ways to go about planning a hen do, you can phone around all the suppliers and hotels hoping for deals and trying your charms or you can let GoHen do the running around for you, so you can relax knowing everything is in safe hands and be sure of paying low prices for amazing memories.
Let's put our calculators away for a second and go all Carol Vorderman (who has also spent time living and learning in Bristol).
Countdown to a great party...
Booking your own Bristol hen do you'll have to pay the going rates, that is normal although with some cheeky charm, good fortune and hope you speak to the right person on the right day you might be able to swing a deal. At GoHen we've been planning hen parties for over a decade and during that time we have built up fantastic relationships with our hand picked hotels, nightclubs and activities (at GoHen we take the time to check out all our suppliers personally and if they don't measure up to our high expectations we simply won't use them).
These great long-standing partnerships and the high numbers of hen groups we help get to Bristol means we get great deals from our suppliers. These are deals we pass on to you.
“Hmmmm why don't you just save the difference and make more money?”
A very valid question but for us the maths is simple (although admittedly we're slightly slower at doing it than Carol). If we can arrange wonderful Bristol hen parties (and yes we can) at fantastic prices then not only will our hens tell their friends about us but they'll also come back and book with us again.
Shop: Bristol shopping areas & recommendations
Bristol is a shopper's paradise, with the main shopping areas stretching from the city centre to the new Cabot Circus development and on to out-of-town complexes like the huge mall at Cribbs Causeway. The city centre is home to not only Cabot Circus but also Quakers Friars, The Galleries and Broadmead malls, which together have over 500 shops! Just a short walk from the city centre you'll find the classy boutiques of Clifton and a host of other independent shops and markets, including St Nicholas' Market which is open 6 days a week and sells a range of local food, second hand books and unusual antiques.
How: Getting to Bristol
Bristol has the oldest still operating train station in the world, so they've had a lot of time to build up rail lines to all over the country! Bristol Temple Meads is the main station, and has services from Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, London and York... amongst others. There are also a few coach services to London, though not other cities. If you plan on driving, it's close to the intersection of the M4 (if you're coming from the east or west) and M5 (if you're coming from the north or south).
Stay: Choosing your Bristol accommodation
Bristol's got a fantastic range of top quality accommodation in and around the city centre, perfect for hen parties as you'll be a mere stones throw away from great activities and entertainment. We've got everything from simple hostels, very cost-effective, right up to luxurious 4 star hotels if you fancy pushing the boat out. Alternatively, why not stay in one of our spacious central apartments? The girls will love the space and you can easily come and go as you please. For our fantastic range of options and more information see our Bristol hen accommodation page.
Party: Where Bristol hens head after dark
Clifton has a fantastic selection of classy bars and swanky cocktail bars, as does Park Street, or head to the harbour side for great pubs and big clubs. We've found the very best evening entertainment options, such as comedy clubs, booze cruises and the sexy Butlers in the Buff to make sure your evening in Bristol goes with a bang - keep all the girls happy with one of our hen night ideas in Bristol! Pre-planning your evening is a great way to ensure it runs smoothly and you go to top quality, group friendly venues.
When: The best times to visit Bristol
Bristol is a city destination, so whether you come in winter or summer, you won't be missing out on anything. Furthermore, there are fantastic events in Bristol all year round, from balloon fiestas to music festivals, so no matter when you do it's likely there'll be an event or two to nosy round! In July there's the Shakespeare Festival, and St Paul's Carnival, a free African American carnival with processions, music and performers. Also in July is the Bristol Foodie Festival (yum!) and the musical Bristol Harbour Festival, and then watch the skies in August for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta! If you're heading over later in the year then cheer on the crowds at the Bristol Half Marathon, and head to Encounters Festival, the UK's longest running competitive short film and animation festival. Top off the year with a visit to the Bristol German market, and you're in for the merriest of hen dos!
