Hen do - Staying in Canary Wharf during the weekend?

[mumofthatone]

Trying to organise a hen weekend for after lockdown but unfortunately lots of accommodation is already booked up.

We've found an apartment that fits the bill but it's in Canary Wharf. Specifically the nearest tube station (DLR) is Mudchute.

Is this going to feel like a ghost town at the weekend? Will it be a pain to get to and from Central London? Appreciate any advice as don't know London well.

[PawPawNoodle]

Mudchute isn't Canary Wharf, its Millwall. That end of the Isle of Dogs is more residential and I don't think you'll find it particularly bustling.

There's some very nice restaurants in Canary Wharf (which will be a bus or DLR ride away) but won't be that busy. You can get to Central London from CW on the Jubilee line though so if you were just using it as somewhere to sleep you shouldn't have too much trouble, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

[Piccalino3]

I love Canary Wharf but I wouldn't want to stay there for a hen for if you're going to be in Central most of the time. The tube to DLR is a bi of an extra step and it will be much quieter around there at weekends than if you were staying in Central London. Sorry OP, probably not what you want to hear. It wouldn't be terrible but it's not ideal.

[GreenWheat]

Canary Wharf is a ghost town at the weekends. You'd be much better off in the trendy bit of the East End (Shoreditch).

[Malin52]

Used to work in CW. We used to drive there from the other side of London to go to waitrose as there was no traffic and it was totally dead. Many bars and restaurants don't open at weekends.

Also Mudchute is Millwall not CW. If you wanted to go out in e.g Leicester Sq then you've a 49 minute journey involving DLR and tune changes. DLR infrequent too.

[activitythree]

It sounds inconvenient to me. Can't you find somewhere closer?

[Malin52]

Try other places you may have discounted or may not know about. The following are crazy close to central London in that there are quick easy transport links. Jump on a tube and you are central in 2 or 3 stops or 10 minutes. Plus have their own local 'cool' bars and restaurants.
Brixton
Kennington
Old street
Hoxton
Islington
Queensway
Clapham
Shoreditch
City of London

[Malin52]

Pimlico
Maida Vale
Bayswater
Notting hill
Swiss cottage
Camden
Etc

[mumofthatone]

Thanks all. It was advertised as being Canary Wharf so appreciate you telling me that's not the case!

We're really struggling for accommodation. Everything is booked up because it's the first weekend after lockdown due to be lifted.

Constraints are that the bride would like all 11 of us all in one apartment/house and we have a limited budget per person and I'm struggling.

It doesn't have to be London but we're ideally looking for somewhere within a couple of hours of Rutland so if anyone has any ideas of great hen do places they've stayed that fits the bill please do let me know!

[Malin52]

Would you be willing to share the date? Maybe some us us could do a search and do a couple of suggestions?

Also it's bloody hard to find a London property that sleeps 11! I don't think I've ever heard of a 6 bed house in London! Two places close by would probably be better/more achieveabke

[Malin52]

Oh and budget

[Slidepastthevoid]

Unless you have a lot of money or are all willing to sleep on the floor of an airb&b you might struggle to find somewhere for 11!

Also Canary Wharf area is very dead at wknds

[Malin52]

Just looked on Booking.com for weekend of 25th June. Check out Shoreditch London Apartments. Two bed apartment for 6 people. £200 per night so £35 each a night and in one of the 'cool' areas of London. With great bars and nightlife. It's a complex so there's a couple of apartments on offer. Two of those and jobs a good un

[lurker101]

Have you looked at serviced apartments? I stayed at Marlin branded ones with work - it was only 2 bedrooms, but there were several on my floor. Something like that could work, there’s ones in Aldgate East (for Shoreditch) or near Bank (quiet at weekends, but a few nice rooftop bars nearby and on the central line for rest of London access). 11 in one place will be very difficult in London unless you hire a massive very expensive AirBnB.

[Malin52]

One of many and free canx too.

[Malin52]

Agree @lurker101 I think the ones I found were serviced apartments.

[idontlikealdi]

I'd give up on London and get a big house in the country.

For 11, are enough of you prepared to share a double beds. Many set ups will be doubles so you could get potential a 5 bed house with a sofa bed. The less rooms the lower the cost.

Norfolk?

[subsea]

We went to Manchester for a hen party in 2016 and it was so so friendly. Stayed at the city warehouse Aparthotel and they were so accommodating and lovely.
We had wine tasting in the apartment by a fan guy who runs his own company then cocktails and a lovely meal out.

[Malin52]

Alternatively places I've spent excellent hen/large group weekends are: Bath, Bristol, Brighton, Bournemouth (all the Bs!) Devon

[TheDuchessOfBeddington]

What’s your budget Op? Maybe if you don’t mind sharing it we could say if it’s realistic?

[AmberRoseGold]

I lived in Millwall and it was great for walking to Greenwich as well. Not ghost town but admittedly not party central. You can also catch the Thames Clipper boat from Masthouse Terrace in Millwall to embankment/ London Eye which is lovely (tho’ it does end quite early).

[mumofthatone]

Oh thank you all so much!

Our dates are 25-27 June as some have guessed correctly.

Max budget is really £200pp for accommodation but ideally less.

@Malin52 sorry to be a pain but do you have a link? I've tried Google searching and going via Booking.com but not sure I can see these ones.

@idontlikealdi we did consider the countryside but the bride would like a big night out on the Saturday night. London is also easier to get home from via public transport - not keen on driving home on the Sunday after a big night out. Within easy train journeys of us are Birmingham, London, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield. Bristol too but is a bit more awkward.

@subsea we'd like Manchester but getting North is a PITA from where we live.

[mumofthatone]

@AmberRoseGold

I lived in Millwall and it was great for walking to Greenwich as well. Not ghost town but admittedly not party central. You can also catch the Thames Clipper boat from Masthouse Terrace in Millwall to embankment/ London Eye which is lovely (tho’ it does end quite early).

Ahhh see this is making me wonder whether to just go for the original large apartment we found. The boat would be lovely and if we can get into Central London easily enough then perhaps this one would be ok.

[peak2021]

DLR is not very frequent at weekends. If restrictions are lifted then central London will probably be very busy.

I'd suggest non-London ideas.

[TheDuchessOfBeddington]

That’s a great budget IMO as long as you are prepared to share rooms/beds. Have you looked on Airbnb?

[Malin52]

Op just do a search on booking.com for your dates for 6 people and refine to apartments.