...to ask for some alternative Hen Party ideas?

[Merryoldgoat]

Sorry for how boring this is - please move along and ignore if it's not your thing.

I'm Matron of Honour for my friend and I'm trying to organise a hen party but really stumped for the main activity and would love some alternative ideas...

We are a smallish group, London based and wide age range. One hen (me) will be 2 months post c-section abs at least one other will be heavily pregnant.

Bride is well into theatre and music but is very clear she doesn't want a load of nonsense and people to be spending loads of money - it's definitely just an one day event. She's vetoed afternoon tea and spa day.

We have:

'Activity'
Dinner and Drinks
More drinks and maybe dancing

I've looked at theatre shows but it's hard to find a reasonably priced show everyone will like. Any other ideas? I'm old and hardly go anywhere anymore so feel a bit out of my depth. Suggestions in the London/Clapham/Wimbledon area much appreciated.

Sound Of Music Sing-A-Long!!

I went to one. Best night of my life!!

Oh my god! That sounds amazing! I'll subtly find out if it's her type of thing...

What about something at the prince of Wales (I think) cinema at Leicester Square, they show musicals, quote alongs and do sleepover film marathons,

Sing a longs - princecharlescinema.com/PrinceCharlesCinema.dll/Home

Escape room?
Crystal Maze the-crystal-maze.com
Crazy golf swingersldn.com/home/west-end/index.html#

Comedy night?

Those are all great ideas - thank you all

What about cocktail/ mocktail making?

There's a massive pub in Balham - is it called The Bedford? - that sometimes does live music / comedy / club nights.

Or other options - cocktail making? Chocolate making?

Walking tour of London? Funzing do good ones, we just did a Harry potter one. Only two hours and not at all fast paced.

Comedy store?

Cocktail making sounds good as does chocolate making!

Walking tour out as other bridesmaid will be 8 months pregnant-she might be fine if might be nearly immobile like I am currently so best not take any risks...

And remember pregnant friend can make non alcoholic cocktails

How many roughly is a 'smallish groups'....

I did a treasure hunt round edinburgh zoo for my cousin, got discounted tickets through my work for us all, and I went with a friend the week prior to make up the quiz (like facts from the signs in cages, names of animals, colour of swing in cage X etc. basically things that couldn’t be googled!) and then printed answer sheets off, split then into small groups and gave them a time limit to meet back at a central point. Prizes were bought and everyone seemed to love it (although would bring spare answer sheets as one of the girls dropped her answer sheet from a viewing gantry and a zebra promptly ate it!). We also had some animal headbands on.

There’s some good “crafty” type places where you can go and make a fascinator or pair of knickers or chocolate making. Could do something like that.

Snowysky - About 8-10 of us, 3 are older (MIL and grooms aunts - mid 50s I think).

Bride is 33, the rest of us range from 26 to 40.

Lynz- that sounds fab!!

Sunshine - definitely looking up some of those things!

Just thinking as you are a 'group' If you did do a show you could get reduced tickets

Oooh! I didn't think of that Snowy! Thank you!

When me and the other bridesmaid organised my sisters we went to Splashdown. (water park) it was awesome

I did a cookery class followed by comedy club. Was brilliant

Canal cruise in london - did this last year... took loads of wine and nibbles on with us... was great. Followed by cocktail making then a karaoke booth then onto a club.

My hen do was a spa day followed by the comedy club then drinks in brighton.

These are all such great ideas! Thank you all so so much for replying

It is possible to keep hens low cost, but it does mean bit more legwork for the organiser(s) usually!

My sister (amongst many other fab things she organised) for my hen took us to a local pottery and we all decorated a bowl or a mug. Now all have a lovely keepsake from the weekend too and the bride (me) got a plate where everyone did a little thumbprint ‘hen’ and wrote their name on it for me to keep.

Escape rooms are also quite popular as someone said above, heard good things about them.

I’ve been to karaoke rooms, cupcake decorating classes, cocktail classes, rifle shooting, pottery classes, surfing (it was freezing!), a dress-up Britney tribute night, choc making class, spa (not so good for pregnant!), ghost bus tour to name but a few.

Do have to say though it’s the people on the hen that make the experience, not what you do. Good luck with everything, sure the bride will appreciate whatever you end up doing

Naked still life drawing

Crystal maze would be awesome but not sure what late pregnancy would allow.