All the ideas for an amazing hen or stag weekend in this guest article for West Country Games by Anthony Page
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is no place to get bored! In fact, it would be impossible to be bored in this activity mad city. Despite the reputation for being wet, Cardiff is a year-round destination and there are heaps of mad things to do in all weathers, without the requirement of webbed feet.
The city is easily accessible from all over the UK and makes for a great city-break weekend. There is something for everyone, so even if you are looking for Cardiff activities, travelling with your family or just coming here with your partner, then you’ll be literally spoilt for choice!
So to prove we are not wrong, here are 7 slightly alternative activities around Cardiff.
1. Cocktail Making Experience
Cardiff is home to many different sports and drinking copious amounts of booze is certainly one of them. Tom Cruise might not be around to show you the way, but fear not, there are a number of locations in the city centre that will have you making sexy cocktails in no time. Sex on the beach anyone?
Many Cocktail making course providers even offer a free drink, way to go guys! Let’s be honest, it’s probably not something to take the family along to, but it’s a great idea if you are planning a stag, hen or sten weekend.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
2. Drawing Nude Life
Here’s something a little different if you can bare it. Let’s not beat around the bush here, it’s not one for the kids but would make a great hen party activity.
For your hard earned salami you’ll get a professional nude model and enthusiastic instruction from a qualified artist. You never know, there might be a Picasso hiding in you or more likely you’ll just make an indescribable mess, all in the name of modern art.
3. Pizza Making Course
Show me someone who doesn’t like pizza and I’ll show you a Welsh man who doesn’t like rugby!?
Anyway, you don’t have to pay Michael Ryan to fly you all the way to Naples to learn how to make good pizza these days. These two hour courses will guarantee smiles, education and eating, all folded and wrapped in a calzone of fun!
It’s a great way to spend your dough.
4. Welsh Games
The Welsh weather is finally brightening up so lets move outdoors now and a little way out of the city itself. Welsh Games is pretty much what it says on the tin. Nine crazy mad games with a Welsh theme, offering some seriously silly fun with gaggles of giggles guaranteed.
So if you are planning a hen or stag weekend or travelling to Cardiff with a group, then check them out and you could be king (or queen) of the sheep rodeo. Yee-arghhh!
If you’re in the mood for more craziness, then why not heard over to their sister activity, West Country Games, which is one of the most popular Bristol activities you’ll find!
5. Coasteering
So you want a really mad hen / stag do activity? Something a little dangerous and very pointless? Welcome to the wacky world of coasteering. An activity that involves jumping off cliffs, swimming along the pounding surf and then climbing back up a rock face, to do it all again.
I think you’ll agree, it’s a pretty crazy way to spend your weekend. Surprisingly popular, coasteering is perhaps not as dangerous or mad as we are making out, with safety very much coming first.
6. Stag and hen weekend School Sports Day (again!)
Remember your school sports day? Usually held under the sun-burn inducing May sun, these events were probably the highlight of your PE teacher’s entire year.
They provided a unique opportunity for overly competitive Dads (and mums!) to cheer on their precious little darlings, as they scamper across the school fields, like a herd of terrified antelope, being chased hard by a big cat, all in the name of competitive fun.
Well you’ll either be secretly pleased or slightly horrified to know that the whole school sports day experience is now available for adult groups. There are a couple of outfits in Cardiff that will have you turning your ankle in the sand pit and then hobbling in three legged races with your friends. And you are ready, get set….go!
7. Chicago Experience
What’s that all about then? I hear you cry. No it’s nothing to do with standing in wind tunnels or listening to jazz music. You’re not about to embark on Route 66 either. The Chicago experience is all about dance and you never know, Broadway or the West End may even beckon (don’t count on it. Seriously, don’t get your hopes up, it ain’t ever going to happen).
So with the experience you’ll be guided by a professional dance instructor who will have you moving like you’ve never moved before. Next time you’re strutting your stuff down at the Roxy discotheque, you’ll have the resident drunks in awe of your moves, as you bring a little bit of Chicago into their small town lives.
At the end of the experience, you and your friends then have the opportunity to put on a show stopping performance! What an amazing finale for your stag or hen weekend!
by West Country Games. Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash
A traditional Hen Party has seen huge growth over the last ten years. Flocks of ‘hens’ flood the streets of many British cities up and down the land, and can often be distinguished by their pink t-shirt attire, learner driver plates and an eye-watering variety of props in hand.
Here’s a round-up of the very best that Britain has to offer for Hen (or Bachelorette) Parties.
- Bristol
With one of the UK’s largest bar per square metre ratios, Bristol is definitely a city that should be near the top of the list for any hen party. With its cool street art and underground music scene, beautiful harbour side and some of the UK’s best bars and clubs, it’s no surprise that a Bristol hen weekend is extremely popular. There’s some great bars to grab a cocktail in, including the Milk Thistle and Bar Humbug and top pubs and restaurants such as the stylish steak house The Ox and famous world banquet and bar Za Za Bazaar. There’s also some fun packed activities to get involved in. Within the city, why not take a trip to Bristol zoo, a stroll along the Harbourside before your night out, or hit the shops at the City’s newest shopping mall Cabot Circus and quirky vintage clothing markets at the Tobacco Factory. If you’re looking for something a bit different to try your also in luck as the city is host to the West Country Games full of crazy inflatable assault course madness!
- Edinburgh
The Capital City of Scotland is one of the top destinations for hen groups. With its unique mixture of old and new the city is a perfect host for a hen weekend away. From taking in the amazing architecture of Edinburgh castle, strolling down the royal mile, or taking a hike to the peak of Arthurs Seat, to the busy centre of the Old Town, and drinks in Bow Bar and the freaky Frankenstein pub the city has something for everyone. If you’re planning your hen do for August there’s also the renowned Edinburgh Festival featuring a variety of music, theatre and comedy shows and a range of activities and events so you and your hens will never get bored! The city’s amazing mixture or beautiful architecture and scenic views, and chic, trendy atmosphere and night life will guarantee a fun packed hen do.
3.) Cardiff
A Cardiff hen weekend is right up there with the best of them. With 90 bars, clubs, and restaurants within walking distance of the town centre, Cardiff provides an amazing night out on the town. With music concerts at The Motorpoint Arena, sporting events at The Principality Stadium, and theatre performances at The Wales Millennium Centre, there is always something to keep you entertained. By day you can take advantage of the city’s culture from the inspiring architecture of the historical Cardiff Castle to great art and archaeology at The National Museum Cardiff. Cardiff also provides a great shopping experience with trendy modern shopping centres and quirky vintage markets to visit. By night you’ll find that the city is host to some great bars and clubs to keep you fuelled on your big night out. From chilled out cocktail bars such as Mocka lounge, Revolution de cuba, and Face11, to bustling night clubs including, Glam, Live Lounge and 10 Mill Lane.
4.) Leeds
Recently named best night out in the UK, Leeds is rightly one of the best hen do cities. With trendy shops and hotels, fine dining and a vibrant nightlife Leeds will provide a wild weekend up North for your hen do! There are great attractions such as Tropical World and a good shopping scene to get involved in at Clarence Dock and County Arcades. The city also hosts a range of top quality bars and clubs such as Revolution, PRYZM, and the Smokestack; promising an epic night out on the town for you and your hens.
5.) London
Where better to host your hen do than England’s capital city and one of the worlds top tourist locations. This metropolitan city is oozing with culture, style and open to party 24 hours a day providing you with a one in a kind hen do! With hundreds of activities to choose from including visiting the city’s many art galleries, theatres and museums, to taking a ride on the London eye, visiting the tower of London, houses of parliament and big ben, or taking a trip to the quirky markets in Camden you’ll definitely never be bored. When it comes to partying there’s so much to choose from including the electric atmosphere of Piccadilly Circus, chilled out pubs in Covent Garden to quirky bars and curry houses in Brick Lane and trendy cocktail bars in Shoreditch guaranteeing you a hen party above the rest.
6.) Liverpool
Liverpool ticks all the boxes when it comes to planning a hen do. There’s great shopping centres with big named shops, top bars and clubs and loads of things to see and do. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the city’s night life so you won’t be disappointed! Bars not to be missed on your hen do travels include the renowned speak easy ‘Berry and Rye’ cocktail bar featuring regular live music nights, the three storied high energy club the ‘Brooklyn Mixer’, and one of the city’s biggest clubs ‘Level’ with unbeatable drink offers across 7 bars and six rooms filled with music and dancing. One thing is for sure…..Liverpool will certainly not disappoint!