Cheltenham hen do

8 Best Cheltenham Hen Do Ideas

1. Cocktail Making - Learn how to make classic cocktails. Cheers!
2. Afternoon Tea - Tea, sandwiches and cakes, perfect for an afternoon of elegance.
3. Life Drawing - This fantastic art class is like going back to school.
4. Recording Studio - Hit up a recording studio to finally make your hit single!
5. Bubble Mayhen - Crank up the chaos as you bounce way through loads of hilarious games.
6. School Sports Day - Relive those glorious school years.
7. Wine Tasting - Learn the noble art of wine tasting from a pro!
8. Charleston - Channel your inner flapper girl in this 20s themed dance class!

Where to Drink in Cheltenham

Wine is on the menu when you're partying hen-style in Cheltenham. Get the drinks in at one of the many wine bars across the town.
You won't be short for class in a glass, as cocktail bars are also easy to find in the Montpellier area if you fancy a tipple of the fruit or botanical variety.
High Street is the go-to for traditional pubs; you'll find regency-style buildings with pub signs swinging outside to tempt you in for a cosy evening. And once you're in the mood, you'll never be far from a more upbeat venue for a drink and a dance!

Sights & Sounds

Sights

Pittville Park is the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by on a sunny day or take a stroll to give any tender heads a touch of fresh air.
Cheltenham Racecourse is one of the UK's most famous sporting venues and the place to be seen on Ladies Day. If you've never had a day at the races it is the ultimate day out for sophisticated ladies which we highly recommend.
The Wishing Clock is quite simply the strangest thing you'll see in Cheltenham. But, nevertheless, take the bride-to-be along to Regent Arcade and every half hour she'll get to make a wish in a really fun fashion.

Sounds

When the clock marks the cocktail hour and your feet start itching to hit the dance, floor Thirteen Degrees is a fantastically chic place for ladies to enjoy great music, do a bit of dancing and sip something suitably sparkling.

Best Shopping Spots

Browsers Vintage - Retro queens will love the style of Browsers Vintage. One of our favourite places to visit in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham Market - There's more vintage fashion to peruse at Cheltenham Market. You can also stop for a quick cuppa and healthy treat.
Regent Arcade - You'll find high street names here, but what makes it worth the trip is the bonkers bubble-blowing clock which chimes every half hour.
Beechwood - Further up the High Street a larger shopping centre houses all the big brands you know and love.

Getting Around Cheltenham

There's no need for trams, bikes or tube stations. Pretty much everything you need in Cheltenham is in easy walking distance. However, buses are easy and frequent around the centre of town if you do need to take the weight off you heels.

Hen Days

No matter what kind of weekend you have in mind: all action High Ropes, high-octane Mud Buggies or funky Dance Classes, we have loads of fantastic activities on offer. Alternatively, you can let the bride-to-be take it easy ahead of her big day with a Mobile Pamper Party, Cocktail Mixing or Afternoon Tea. See all Cheltenham hen do activities to create your perfect weekend.

Hen Nights

Cheltenham has to be one of the UK's best kept party secrets, but if you want to line up a few extra treats (and seeing as it is the guest of honour's big weekend why not push the boat out?), we have over a decade of experience in lining up the best Cheltenham hen nights. Fine dining, limousines, murder mysteries or get your names on the guest list of the best club in town... your wish is our command.

Quickfire Cheltenham FAQs

When is the best time to visit Cheltenham?

The town is known as "The Festival Town" with fests occurring throughout the whole year in celebration of literature, music, food, drinks and just about anything else you can think of, so if you're not chasing the sun in particular, then you can chase the fun! If you want to really immerse yourself in the festival feel, be sure to check out Hen-Fest - a mini festival exclusively for hens.

Is alcohol expensive in Cheltenham?

Around each festival period, the prices see a rise, however, they don't always affect all the local club venues, so running a little research around the time of your hen weekend will help you avoid depressing your budget!

How to get to Cheltenham?

Cheltenham Spa is the main station and is serviced by several popular direct train lines connecting to London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads and Swindon. The station is approximately a 10-minute drive away from the town centre or a 30-minute through the picturesque streets.

Does Cheltenham have a good nightlife?

Cheltenham is a great night out, with a range of contemporary locally owned cocktail bars, bouncing nightclubs, beer houses, piano bars and nostalgic old-school pubs that won't disappoint.

Where can you go during the day in Cheltenham?

Your weekend itinerary should include a walk down the Promenade - Cheltenham's main shopping street lined with elegant Georgian buildings - and then a visit to Montpellier and the Imperial Gardens in the south of the town. Surround those walks with delicious brunch and some amazing activities, and you've got most of the day sorted in time for the big night out.

How many days should I spend in Cheltenham?

The majority of GoHen's hens (56%) book their big Cheltenham weekend for 3+ days. Whether they're enjoying their own Hen Festival or enjoying the town itself, there's plenty of fun to be had in this fab destination.

It's time for a hen party in Cheltenham!

Cheltenham is a striking regency town situated in the very heart of the Cotsworlds, making it a stunning destination for any quality hen weekend. With a student population keeping things lively at night and a regal, classic ambiance to the town during the day, Cheltenham combines the best of both worlds! It's also very conveniently located in west central England, making it very easy for all the girls to get to from around the country. Enquire now to get your Cheltenham hen do started.

Why: Reasons to celebrate a Cheltenham hen do

Cheltenham has long had a nightlife which is perfect for a hen weekend but in the recent past, Cheltenham has really raised the bar on its catering and hospitality facilities and that's no bad thing for your hen weekend in the city! The growth of the town has seen the emergence of more bars, restaurants and clubs than ever before and has featured in Which Magazine's Good Food Guide of the UK's leading towns as ranked by restaurant quality, so rest assured that you ladies will enjoy some very tasty evenings out. It's a gorgeous place to relax and get away from big city stress, and busy enough that small-town girls will have plenty to entertain them, making a Cheltenham hen do a good, solid, group pleasing choice which everyone is sure to love!

What: Planning your hen party in Cheltenham?

Placed in the picturesque Cotswolds, the whole town is in the perfect area to enjoy some of the prettiest scenery in the country, so even if you opt to just take it easy and enjoy the landscape, you'll still feel a little spoilt. For you hen weekenders though, we think that a Cheltenham hen party is ideal for a combination of country sports and classic indulgence. For example, enjoy an energetic outdoor session of quad biking, horse riding or clay shooting to clear the cobwebs, followed by an extravagant session of posh hen weekend pampering to refresh and revitalise. This city is a superb, high quality location and a stunning setting for a top quality Cheltenham hen do.

Shop: Cheltenham shopping areas & recommendations

Cheltenham's shopping scene is relaxed and friendly, with a multitude of independent boutiques, quaint and cosy bookstores, and stylish fashion houses for everyone to enjoy on your Cheltenham hen do. Head to the Promenade, Cheltenham's most stylish shopping area, where you'll find high end, well known fashion stores like Jack Wills, Laura Ashley and Gap. For even more great shops head to the High Street, where you'll find the Regent Arcade Shopping Centre housing BHS, the Body Shop, River Island, and others. Montpellier is home to high class luxury items, with antique dealers, cheese companies, stylish furniture, and independent fashion lines.

How: Getting to Cheltenham

Cheltenham is in the upper south west of England, making it easy to get to from any region of the UK. There's a railway station just outside the city centre which has frequent links to other major stations in the country, including London, Bristol, Birmingham and the North. It's also an easy drive, very close to the M5 if you're coming from the north or south, or the A40 from the east. Buses from local villages are hourly, as well as National Express coaches to London.

Stay: Choosing your Cheltenham accommodation

When choosing where to stay on your Cheltenham hen do, you'll definitely want to be central - around the city centre is where you'll find the best activities, shopping and nightlife. Being near to the centre also means that your accommodation will be easier for the girls to find, with better transport links than most areas outside of the town. We offer a range of great options to suit most groups, from budget-friendly 2 star hotels to the more popular 3 stars and luxurious 4 stars. Alternatively, our self-catering properties are excellent for relaxing in your own space and enjoying a glass of vino or two in the garden! Our dedicated team will ensure you find the perfect hen do accomodation in Cheltenham.

Party: Where to head after dark

From the great value pubs on Clarence Street to Bath Road's taverns and Queens Circus's bars your Cheltenham hen do is sure to be a success - the spa town really comes alive after dark. How about taking the girls on a whodunit trail with a murder mystery night, or dive right in with a pub and bar crawl around Cheltenham's best choices? Top either off with guestlist nightclubbing and the girls will love it. See all our Cheltenham hen night ideas.

When: The best times to visit Cheltenham

You girls are in for a treat - Cheltenham is the 'Festival Town of England', hosting more major festivals than any other town in the whole of England. Whenever you choose to head west for your Cheltenham hen do, there's bound to be something on for your group to enjoy. In February, there's the Cheltenham Folk festival and in May, Cheltenham hosts the Jazz Festival. In June, both the Wychwood Music Festival and the Food & Drink Festival occur, as well as the Science Festival. Over summer there's a Fringe Festival, a Midsummer Fiesta and Cheltenham Fashion Week as well as October's Cheltenham Literature Festival and yet another music festival brings the town to life. The year finishes off with the Cheltenham Comedy Festival in November and fantastic Christmas light displays through December. Add some poetry, ballroom and latin festivals to the mix and whenever you head to Cheltenham, the weekend is bound to be a winner!