A Woolacombe hen do is fast becoming a top choice for brides and hens alike as it's one of the UK's best beach party destinations. From sublime activities to fun nights out, you'll be able to celebrate in style. Forget the usual hen planning hassle and let GoHen take care of it all for you! Check out our full guide to Woolacombe.

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Woolacombe Hen Do Guide

Woolacombe destination specialist

GoHen's Woolacombe Destination Specialist

Meet Jamie, GoHen's Woolacombe Destination Specialist.

If you want to pick my brains about all things Woolacombe, give me a ring on 01225 474200 (Mon-Fri 08:30 - 17:30) and I'd be more than happy to advise.

8 Best Woolacombe Hen Do Ideas

  1. Surfing - Surfs up, ladies! Grab your boards and carve up the coast.
  2. Archery - Brilliantly fun, competitive hen action. Find the group's ultimate markswoman.
  3. Quad Biking - Tear up the off-road terrain in these high-powered machines!
  4. Coasteering - Extreme, chaotic and hilarious hen action! Can you conquer the coast?
  5. Bubble Mayhen - Let the chaos commence! Bounce your way to victory in a number of great games.
  6. School Sports Day - Relive the bride's glory years with a hilarious retro sports day!
  7. 4x4 Driving - Take these beasts back to their natural habitat for a spot of off-roading.
  8. Yoga Class - Channel some inner zen as you and the bride well and truly chill out.

Where to Drink in Woolacombe

You've got all your hens and all the best places to get a post-surf drink in one place on a hen party in Woolacombe. Time to wash the seawater out of your hair and get ready for a night out on the . . . village?! It might not sound like a destination brimming with bars - but you are hugely mistaken!

There are bars with a delightful sea view and pubs where you can catch a sports game. You can relax with a refreshing drink to take away any ocean residue from the day's water sport action whilst overlooking the picturesque beach! In summer the atmosphere is friendly with fun at the forefront. You won't struggle to find a characterful place to post up!

Sights & Sounds

Sights - Woolacombe's golden sands are the obvious attraction, but a walk along the cliffs is extremely relaxing and can be the perfect way to soothe any sore heads on a morning before taking to the water for some seaside fun. Plus it's a great way to get a little exercise with the girls on your big weekend.

Sounds - When it comes to clubbing in Woolacombe, you'd be right to think that your options are pretty limited. There's only one venue in Woola, and that's Marisco. Fortunately, this club is actually a right laugh and it's astoundingly funky with pop and rock heroes of old stencilled on the walls and there's colourful florescent art around the bar. It's a ultra-violet wonderland that's sure to provide more than enough late night entertainment on your big weekend!

Best Shopping Spots

You won't get any bonus points in Woolacombe for dressing to the nines in your favourite designer gear. The folk in North Devonshire are an uncomplicated bunch, and their minimal tastes when it comes to fashion are a breath of fresh air. For one, it's way less effort, and secondly, who knew that wearing shorts and a t-shirt all year round could be so comfortable?

Hunter  - This is the perfect place to buy all your board wear as well as any other bits and bobs you might have forgotten to pack, 'has anybody got a spare towel?!'
Where? 4-5 West Road, Woolacoombe

The Bay Surf Shop - Surf-chic hens rejoice, this bijou boutique is full of funky t-shirts and beachwear as well as the coastal novelty 'sex-wax'. Yeah, yeah, the names funny, but this surfboard wax smells so nice, they've actually turned it into an air-freshener!
Where? Barton Road, Woolacombe

Getting Around Woolacombe

The bay itself is a compact area that's easy to get around on foot, but if you're staying further inland, there are a few buses that'll take you to the bay area and back. If you're planning on travelling further afield, there are buses to Barnstaple and Croyde, but if the hens don't mind doing their best Eurythmics impressions then 'sisters...doing it for themselves' could be the best option when it comes to travelling to the nearby areas.

Hen Days

There's only one thing to do in Woolacombe when it's hot and sunny, and that's to hit the beach, pop open the sun tan lotion and hit the water for all kind of seaside fun and games. Kayaking, Surfing, Coasteering, Parasailing and more await you on the gold coast, but there are big thrills to be had on the land too. Go Karting, Honda Pilots and Mud Buggies provide wheely good fun and for hens in search of a Dulux makeover, Paintballing is the perfect choice.

Hen Nights

As the sun sets, Woolacombe comes to life with a kind of quiet seaside bohemian atmosphere as the sounds of crashing waves disappear into the distance - and the sound of hen party revelry fills the air! Start your evening with a delicious meal at the Restaurant of your choice, or why not enjoy a seaside Limousine ride?

It's time for a hen party in Woolacombe!

Surf's up! Woolacombe is a beautiful seaside resort in North Devon which will suit relaxed hen groups who want to kick back, relax and take it easy. With a selection of charming shops, a wonderful spa, friendly bars and pubs, gorgeous views and a beautiful, clean beach, this stunning holiday hotspot could hardly fail to please every one of your friends. Enjoy sun, sea and surf and some of the best watersports activities around on your Woolacombe hen do!

Why: reasons to celebrate a Woolacombe hen weekend

Take a deep breath of salty sea air and get ready for an action packed weekend in Woolacombe. From coasteering to surfing and quad biking to paintball, a Woolacombe hen party is just perfect if you can't get enough of the great outdoors. When everybody's all surfed out, there's plenty to promote rest and relaxation too - a session in the local spa will get all of your guests chilled out, glowing for the upcoming wedding celebrations and refreshed and ready for a big night out. Perfect!

Part of the North Devon coast area of outstanding natural beauty, Woolacombe rarely fails to impress. Take the stress out of your special weekend and let us do the leg work - all you need to worry about is which sun hat and swimming costume to pack! Get your enquiry in motion today and you'll be hitting the surf in no time at all.

Shop: Woolacombe shopping areas & recommendations

Woolacombe high street has got some wonderful retail options on offer and the main culprits are trendy beachside gift and surf shops. All the girls will love taking a wander around the village and picking up a souvenir or two and indulging in a holiday ice-cream or traditional Cornish cream tea. Along West Road, you'll be able to find various shops selling a huge range of charming and pretty clothing, books, gifts and beach supplies. If you need a serious retail fix, your best bet is to head over to the Green Lanes Shopping Centre in busy and bustling Barnstaple, to which we can arrange transfers, for high-street stores and more well known names.

Stay: choosing your Woolacombe accommodation

It's really important to sort out your hen accommodation as far in advance as possible and we're well placed with a huge range of ideas to suit your every requirement. Our Woolacombe hostels are a simple, purse-friendly way to stay overnight and our 2 and 3 star hotels are comfortable, popular choices too if you're not keen on roughing it. Alternatively our B&Bs are in excellent locations and perfect for giving the girls a central base, or how about one of our surf lodges for some incredible beach-side views? Whatever you fancy, have a look at our Woolacombe accommodation page and get in touch to find out more.

Party: where Woolacombe hen parties head after dark

The fun certainly doesn't stop once the sun sets and daytime activities are over on your weekend. In the evenings here, restaurants and bars fill with a vibrant mix of locals, surfers, backpackers and happy holiday makers, giving Woolacombe hen weekends a vibrant party atmosphere to rival even local party hotspot Newquay! Make sure to set yourselves up for a successful night by pre-planning some group-pleasing entertainment options before you go. How about glamming up and getting a limo from your hotel to a tasty restaurant or friendly bar?

Okay, so Woolacombe might not be a clubber's paradise but it's the ideal place to spend your evenings if you and your friends have done big nights over and again and simply want to kick back, chill out and appreciate spending time with your best girlfriends. Kiss goodbye to packed bars, rowdy students and endless jagerbombs - if you're looking for a relaxed night time vibe with plenty of good wine, quality restaurants and pubs which put friendly service, rough and ready surf chic and good conversation ahead of ankle-breakingly high heels and crazy fake tan!

When: the best times to Woolacombe

Woolacombe's attraction as a holiday destination makes it popular with thousands of tourists every single year and the beach is beautiful for a walk whenever you visit - even winter surfing for the very brave! However, we'd recommend booking your Woolacombe hen weekend for the summer for the sunniest weather conditions, the best watersports and a thriving nightlife packed full with friendly surfers and visitors.

If you're interested in events and festivals then you're in luck, as Woolacombe has plenty going on. A little further afield from the village, check out the Celebration of Local Ales and Cider in pretty Clovelly in May, the Barnstaple Fringefest in June or even BetaFest, the independent music festival in May too. If you all love to surf, uber-trendy Oceanfest in Croyde is an absolute must-see, with live bands, food, music and a whole lot of beachside action going on in warm, sunny June.

Tom Probert
Written by Tom Probert Marketing & Content Executive
Updated: 26/11/2024

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