Reading hen party

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.