Reading Hen Party

Star Bars

Mix - Mix is slick, polished and effortlessly classy. This cocktail lounge is where Reading's bright young things go to relax with a Tequila Sunrise in hand, and you couldn't ask for a more laid back start to your big night out.
Where? Unit 5, Kings Walk, RG1 2HG

Coconut - Cocktail queens rejoice! Coconut's professional mixologists are sure to impress with their imaginative creations and this spacious bar is the perfect place to indulge in a few cheeky bevvies. The beautiful Asian artwork on the walls is reason enough alone to pay Coconut a visit!
Where? 63 St. Mary's Butts, RG1 2LG

Milk - Got milk? Well, this bar doesn't actually, but what it does have is a devilishly delicious range of rum based cocktails as well as a fabulously alternative vibe in a space that looks like the loft-conversion of your dreams.
Where? 8 Merchants Place, RG1 1DT

Best Bites

Shed - This is a modern café/restaurant with a woody, rustic aesthetic and a healthy amount of bunting. Whether you're sitting out in the sun, tucking into a delicious toastie or enjoying the company of the hens indoors with a hangover-conquering bacon baguette, you'll find plenty of reasons to love this cute spot.
Where? The Old Forge, 8 Merchants Place, RG1 1DT

Nibsy's - When you're laden with shopping bags there's nothing better than a spot of coffee and cake and that's exactly what Nibsy's excels in. This charming café is airy, light, and the eats on display wouldn't look amiss on The Great British Bake Off.
Where? 26 Cross Street, RG1 1SN

Sights & Sounds

Sights
Sights and Sounds in Reading After a particularly heavy night out, a visit to the delightful Forbury Gardens could provide the perfect way to wash away the excesses from the previous evening's alco-frolics. On a (hopefully) sunny day, these Victorian gardens are absolutely gorgeous and seeing as they've been recently restored, they're looking better than ever. We recommend taking a group selfie by the famous Maiwand Lion statue; after all, you can never have too many!

Sounds
Reading's students and budding young professionals all have one thing in common; they all spend their weekends partying in Q Club. Most Reading nights out end up here, and its resident DJ's spin only the freshest tunes for you to throw shapes to - the hens won't want the fun to end!
Lola Lo is a perfect for a bride-to-be who loves the unusual. Pacific island décor is the order of the day here so you'd all do well to dress up with a grass skirt and flowery lei and really drink up the tropical atmosphere. 'If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain...'

In the Diary

June - Royal Ascot. Ladies day is a traditional celebration of all things lady-like and we're sure your hens are the perfect example.
August - Reading Festival. We've all heard of it, but if you haven't experienced a day at Reading you're missing out!
December - Christmas Market. Soak up the festive spirit and peruse delightful market stalls filled with niche pressies for your loved ones.

Top of the Shops

Reading is within a couple of hours of London, so as you'd expect, this town buzzing with students and aspiring professionals is slick and stylish. But don't be fooled by all the flash clothes, those fashionistas you're seeing on the high street didn't pay top dollar for their wears, and you won't have to either. With a range of vintage stores about, you can escape the main shopping districts and explore Reading's niche backstreets in search of a bargain buy.

The Oracle - Although it's not as cheap or anywhere near as bijou as the vintage stores, Reading's main shopping precinct is still worth a look and there's plenty of places to eat as well as shop.

Frock and Roll - Retro-chic is certainly in fashion at the moment and the unique range of dresses you'll find here look as if they came straight out of the swinging 60's...'It's greased lightning!'
Where? 111 Watlington Street, RG1 4RQ

Creative Crafts & Workshops - This lovely boutique is positively bursting with creativity and the gorgeous dresses and accessories that have been lovingly hand-crafted are sure to look amazing on the tiles tonight!
Where? 3 Harris Arcade, RG1 1DN

Girls About Town - Getting around Reading...

This pretty town isn't that big, but here at GoHen we understand that a hard days shopping can be seriously tiring. It's times like these where Reading's superb bus network proves to be supremely handy. In fact, you can even buy a ticket to use for your entire stay - save the coppers for the cocktail bar ladies!
Or if you prefer old fashioned leg-power you can make the most of a public ReadyBike throughout your big weekend.

Hen Days

Reading is absolutely packed with the kind of frolics that'll make your hen party truly unforgettable. Looking to get hands on? Enjoy Cocktail Mixing, Pizza Making or one of our fabulous Craft Parties! For active girls, Glee Dancing, Pole Dancing and our hilarious Twerkshop is sure to provide some big laughs. A day at the races is a must when you're this close to Ascot and of course, a relaxing Pampering Day is always a good idea after the bride-to-be's weeks of stressful wedding planning. See all our hen party options...

Hen Nights

Reading has some of the best nightlife in the UK, and there's a load of amazing nightclubs that we'll be able to arrange guestlist entry for. In the mean time however, you can expect to enjoy Comedy Clubs, Casinos and Restaurants as well our killer Murder Mystery dining experience. See all our nightlife options...

It's time for a hen party in Reading!

Sitting pretty in between Oxford and London, Reading takes the best of both cities and combines them in to one fantastic hen destination - with none of the rocketing prices! The nightlife is easily equal to that of a big city, and the day times have a plethora of options to keep you and the girls busy until the night falls - including one of the best shopping centres in the south east outside of London. High quality, high octane, and low cost, a Reading hen party is perfectly placed for a delightfully diverse hen weekend!

Why: Reasons to celebrate a Reading hen party

With England's humungous capital sat on one side, and pretty, tranquil Oxford on the other, it would be easy for Reading to slip by unnoticed as a hen weekend destination. Reading has too much to offer to let itself fade in to the background though - and this booming big town has stolen the best aspects of its famous neighbours and combined them, whilst avoiding all their pitfalls. The nightlife is thriving, punching well above its weight as a town and providing the sort of drinks scene that can stand up against that of any city in the south west. The days aren't slacking either - Reading has all the variety of London, but with the added space for outdoor pursuits that Oxford provides. Of course, as a spot that's free of the tourists that plague the cities, Reading's prices are kept low all year too - so if you want a top dollar weekend for bargain bucket prices, Reading is the town for you! And we couldn't talk about the virtues of Reading without mentioning the incredible live music scene in the town - although, would you expect anything less from the home of one of the UK's biggest music festivals?

What: What should you do on a hen party in Reading?

You've got a lot of choice for your Reading hen weekend - from the classic to the quirky, there's a whole lot of options when it comes to deciding how to spend the lead up to your big day. From salsa dancing to sumo wrestling, Reading has nearly 50 different activities to keep you entertained during the day, and the space and greenery around the outskirts means there's plenty of options to get out of the town and in to some fresh air. With a range of nightlife options too, there's plenty to keep you going all night long as well. For a successful hen do, it's all about getting the balance right. You know, keeping your friends entertained but not overwhelmed, having plenty to do whilst still having downtime to catch up and relax. We'd suggest something like a dance class or outdoor experience in the morning to break the ice, and get all the girls bonding, before you change and grab some lunch - try pizza making or afternoon tea. An afternoon free for a little retain therapy or sightseeing, before you get the evening started with a cheeky vodka tasting or cocktail making class. A meal to get you fuelled up for the night, a comedy club or casino to get you in the mood to party, and then it's time to hit the clubs!

When: The best times to visit for a hen party in Reading

Reading is an urban location, so unless you've got your heart set on some water sports, it's no better in the summer or winter - and because it's tourist free, aside from the Reading Festival season, you'll have no need to have to battle it out for the best hotels. There are a number of other events going on through Reading all year round - there's the Reading Food Month in June (good for free samples), the Real Ale and Jazz Festival in July, the iconic Reading Festival in August, and in October you can chose from Beerfest UK, or the Reading Comedy Festival - with top names like Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican, and Jason Manford, it's a big one.

Shop: Reading shopping areas & recommendations

Reading has something for everyone when it comes to shopping, from quirky independent boutiques to high end fashion stores - wherever you head in the city you'll find some form of retail outlet. The Oracle has high-end stores, from Hollister to Hotel Chocolat, as well as a great range of eateries from Wagamama to Cote. For small, unique stores take a walk down Harris Arcade, where you'll find one-of-a-kind sweet shops, music stores and make-up stalls. Whichever shopping area you make a beeline for, shopping in Reading is excellent and you're in for a treat.

How: getting to Reading

Easily - it's very close to London, so you just need to follow the signs for there, and then head west a bit - the M4 runs just past. The train station connects to places like Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Manchester and York - or it's only half an hour on the train from the capital, so even hens without cars can get in with no problem.

Looking for information and stats about Reading? See more info here.

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What they said about Reading...