The Perfect Hen Party Weekend Itinerary (Hour by Hour)

The difference between a hen party that flows brilliantly and one that spends three hours waiting for everyone to get ready is usually planning. You don't need to schedule every minute, but having anchor points (arrival time, activity time, dinner time) that everyone knows in advance makes everything else much smoother.

Here's a complete 2-night hen party weekend itinerary built around a Friday–Sunday stay. Adapt it to your group, your city and your priorities.

2:00pm – Check in to accommodation Most Airbnbs and hired houses allow check-in from 3–4pm. If you can get in earlier, use the time to set up decorations and get drinks in the fridge before guests arrive.

3:00–5:00pm – Guests arrive Build in a buffer. Someone will always be late. Have prosecco or soft drinks ready on arrival so there's no awkward waiting period, just walk in, get handed a glass, and find a seat.

5:00–6:30pm – House drinks and getting ready together This is often the most genuinely enjoyable part of the weekend. Drinks, music, everyone getting changed in the same space, pre-activity excitement. Don't rush it.

7:00–9:00pm – Private cocktail masterclass This is the anchor activity for Friday evening. The mixologist arrives at 6:45pm to set up, runs the 2-hour session, and the group makes three cocktails each. Competitive rounds, games, everyone in one space. By 9pm, the group is energised, a bit tipsy, and has a shared experience to talk about for the rest of the weekend.

9:30pm onwards – Dinner out or takeaway at the house After the class, either head out to a pre-booked restaurant or order in, whichever suits the group's energy. If you're in a city, a 10pm dinner booking works well after a 7pm cocktail class. If you're in the countryside, a takeaway or something from the shops is often better.

Late – Drinks, games, dancing at the house Some groups go out. Many don't, especially after a full cocktail class. Either works. Have games, music and more drinks available at the house so nobody feels like they've missed out if they don't want to go to a bar.

9:00–10:30am – Leisurely breakfast Nobody is rushing on Saturday morning. A big brunch at the house, bacon sandwiches, pastries, fruit, sets the tone perfectly. Budget around £5–8 per person and make it a group activity.

11:00am–1:00pm – Morning activity or explore the city This is optional but recommended. Options depending on your location: - A walk along the seafront (Brighton, Bournemouth, Whitby) - Exploring the old town on foot (Edinburgh, York, Bath, Chester) - A country walk if you're in a rural location (Cotswolds, Lake District, Cornwall) - Spa morning at a local venue

1:30–3:00pm – Lunch Either at the house or at a local restaurant. Saturday lunch is a good moment to do something slightly special, afternoon tea works brilliantly here if you haven't done it on Friday.

3:00–5:00pm – Free time / getting ready for the evening Give the group a couple of hours of unstructured time. Some will nap. Some will want to explore. Let it breathe, a hen party weekend with too much scheduled activity can be exhausting.

6:00pm – Pre-drinks at the house The second evening starts at the house, with drinks and music.

7:30pm – Main dinner out Saturday dinner is usually the big restaurant booking. Pre-book well in advance for large groups, most city restaurants want your order 24–48 hours ahead for parties of 10+.

10:00pm onwards – Evening out For groups that want a night out, Saturday is the evening to do it. Book a table at a bar or club, or just explore on foot. Having a pre-agreed place to head to avoids the chaotic "where are we going?" conversation.

9:00–10:30am – Late breakfast or brunch Sunday morning is relaxed. A proper brunch at the house, or if the city has a good brunch spot, head out for one final meal together before the journey home.

11:00am–12:00pm – Tidy up, pack, group photos Most properties need to be vacated by 10am–12pm. Build time into the morning schedule for tidying and getting everyone's stuff together. Do the official group photo before anyone leaves.

Midday – Travel home Say your goodbyes, get everyone on their trains, and go home happy.

Share it in advance. Send the itinerary to the whole group at least two weeks before. People feel more comfortable when they know what's planned and what's expected of them.

Build in buffer time — Every transition takes longer than expected with a large group. If you want everyone at the restaurant by 7:30pm, tell them to meet at 7:15pm.

Don't over-schedule — Two anchor activities per day maximum. A morning activity and the cocktail class in the evening is plenty. More than that and people get tired and resentful.

Have a backup for bad weather — If your Saturday morning activity is a walk and it pours, have an alternative ready. This is especially important for outdoor locations like Cornwall, the Lake District and Brighton.

Keep the group informed about costs at each stage — Nobody wants to find out on Saturday afternoon that dinner is going to be £60 per person when they thought it was £30.