London Hen Do Guide 2026
No flights, no faff — the capital does everything. Bottomless brunch, West End shows, Soho cabaret, Shoreditch cocktails, Camden markets and Thames boat parties, all linked by the Tube. Where to base, where to drink, what to do and what to wear. Plus the squad-tee playbook for a London hen do.
The Hen With
Every Option
A London hen do is the one weekend where the problem is too much choice, not too little. No flights, no transfers, no passport panic — everyone hops a train into one of the London termini and you are dropped straight into the middle of it. Bottomless brunch on every corner, West End shows, Soho cabaret and drag, Shoreditch cocktail bars, Camden markets and Thames boat parties, all stitched together by the Tube and the weekend Night Tube. It is the most expensive UK hen city — accommodation and drinks cost more than Newcastle or Liverpool — but nothing touches it for variety, and it is huge for both hen and stag. This guide covers where to base, what to book, what to wear for unpredictable weather, and how to keep a big group moving across a city that never sits still. Set a realistic kitty: London runs higher per head than anywhere else in the UK.
The Bride
White personalised tee + sash + veil for brunch and the bars. A lightweight tee beats a costume for a day that runs brunch to a West End show to a Soho night — and still photographs hard everywhere you go.
The MOH
Pre-book everything: bottomless brunch, show tickets, the boat party and dinner. Book advance train tickets for cheaper fares and base the group within a few minutes of a Tube line. Set up one group WhatsApp before the weekend.
The Squad
Matching tees as the day-to-night layer over jeans or a skirt. Comfy shoes for cobbles and Tube stairs, contactless or an Oyster card, and a light jacket for the weather. It is pricey — agree a kitty up front.
The Five London
Hen Zones
London splits into neighbourhoods with wildly different energy, and the good news is the Tube links all of them. Base central for the nightlife and theatres, or go a little further out for a cheaper bed and a local bar strip. These are the five zones every London hen gravitates to.
Soho
The beating heart of a London hen night. Soho and Old Compton Street are wall-to-wall bars, drag brunches, cabaret, karaoke and dive bars, famously fun and welcoming, and walkable to the West End and Covent Garden. This is where the sash gets cheered, the group photo happens under the neon, and the night rolls on until the small hours. Loud, central, and endlessly re-drinkable.
Shop Hen Outfits →The West End
Theatreland — the big musicals and plays around Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue, with pre-show dinner and cocktails on tap. A matinee suits a mixed-age hen and leaves the evening free for Soho. Book group tickets ahead for the popular shows.
Shop Hen Night Looks →Shoreditch
East London and the home of the London cocktail scene — rooftop bars, hidden speakeasies, Brick Lane and Boxpark all within a few streets. The pick for a cocktail masterclass and a stylish night that is a notch cooler and a little less chaotic than Soho.
Shop Beach-Day Tees →Camden
North London with an alternative streak — Camden Market for daytime browsing and street food, live music venues, indie and rock bars, and a stroll along Regent's Canal. Great for a squad that wants a night out with more edge than glitz.
Shop Hen Outfits →Clapham
South of the river and easier on the wallet — Clapham High Street is a proper bar-and-brunch strip with a young crowd, and Clapham Common for a daytime picnic. A smart base if you want a lively local scene without paying central-London hotel rates.
Shop Hen Do Collection →Personalised London Hen Squad Tees
Bride + squad tees with names, roles and “London Hen Do 2026” front prints. Lightweight, UK-printed and shipped to your door before the weekend. Order 2 weeks ahead.
The London
Hen Itinerary
A reliable London hen runs Friday evening to Sunday, stacking a big brunch into an afternoon activity into a Soho or Shoreditch night. These are the most-booked hen activities — lock them in early, because the best brunch slots and shows sell out.
Arrive by Train
No flights needed. Travel in to a London terminus — King's Cross, Euston, Paddington, Liverpool Street, Waterloo or Victoria — and switch to the Tube. Book advance tickets weeks ahead for the cheapest fares and travel together.
Bottomless Brunch
The London hen staple — 90 minutes of unlimited fizz with food and often a drag or live host, all over Soho, Shoreditch and Clapham. It gathers the group in one place, feeds everyone and sets the tone. Reserve well ahead.
Thames Boat Party
A daytime disco cruise on the Thames past the landmarks — Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the South Bank. Book a shared party boat, or charter the whole thing for a bigger group. Photographs unbelievably well.
West End Show
A matinee or evening performance of one of the big musicals — the easy “classy” slot that suits every age in the group. Book a block of group seats early; the headline shows sell out weekends in advance.
Cocktail Masterclass
Learn to shake and pour your own cocktails at a Soho or Shoreditch bar — the ideal icebreaker for a group that does not all know each other yet. Usually 90 minutes, drinks included, ending with everyone a little merry.
Afternoon Tea
A very London hen — finger sandwiches, cakes and free-flowing fizz at a grand hotel or a themed tea, with an afternoon-tea bus tour if you want the sights thrown in. Perfect for mums, aunties and a gentler daytime.
Soho Bar Crawl & Cabaret
The classic London hen night — Soho bars, a drag or cabaret show, karaoke and a late club. Bride in white tee + sash, squad in colour. Expect to be pulled into the act, and end with a group photo under the neon.
What to Wear
in London
London is relaxed about a hen in full kit but tough on your feet and unpredictable with the weather. Plan light, matching and layerable — an outfit that runs brunch to boat to bar without a hotel run.
The Bride's Look
White personalised tee + sash + veil for brunch and the bars; swap to a going-out dress for the West End or a smarter dinner. The tee carries the daytime, the veil is for the photos, the dress is for one glam night.
Shop Bride Outfits →Personalised Squad Tees
The base layer for the whole weekend. Names + roles + “London 2026” print. Light cotton over jeans or a skirt by day, the group ID for the bars by night. A different colour for the bride so she is findable in a crowd.
Shop Personalised Tees →Weather Kit
The London hen hack — a light jacket or packable mac, because the weather turns without warning. A small bag for the day, a portable charger, and contactless or an Oyster on your phone so nobody is stuck at a barrier.
Shop Hen Looks →Day-to-Night Layers
A skirt or jeans under the squad tee by day, then a quick swap to a dress for the evening means one outfit takes you from brunch to bar. Pack one going-out outfit for the show or the big Soho night.
Shop Hen Looks →Sensible Shoes
You will walk miles and take a lot of Tube stairs, and heels die on London cobbles. Live in comfy flats or trainers for the day, and keep one dressy pair for the West End or the evening out.
Shop Hen Looks →Matching Robes
Personalised robes for the getting-ready photos at the hotel or Airbnb before the first big night. The most-shared Instagram of any hen — and a cosy layer for the morning after.
Shop Hen Robes →💡 The London Hen Hack
Order the tees to arrive before the weekend and get everyone changed at the first brunch. In a city this big and this busy, matching tees make the group instantly identifiable — easy to spot on a packed Tube platform, easy to head-count outside a venue, and they land in every single photo from the first fizz to the last club. One order, every name and role, delivered to the door in time to pack.
What a London
Hen Costs
Real per-person budget for a 2-night London hen — no flights, but be honest, London runs higher per head than any other UK city, mostly on beds and drinks. Book accommodation and advance train tickets early for the best price.
| Tier | What's Included | Budget pp |
|---|---|---|
|
Budget Shared Airbnb / hostel, zone 2–3 |
Advance return train, 2 nights sharing a little out of the centre, Tube travel, 1 bottomless brunch and a self-planned night out. | £150–£250 |
|
Standard Central 3★ hotel |
Train, 2 nights central, brunch + West End show or boat party + cocktails and a night out. The typical London hen. | £300–£475 |
|
Premium 4★ central + extras |
Train, 4★ central hotel, private boat charter, VIP tables, afternoon tea at a name hotel and a spa morning. | £550–£850+ |
|
Squad Tees Add-on |
Personalised tees from SQUAD SOCIETY, named + roles. UK-printed, ships before the weekend. | £20–£35 |
London MOH
Packing List
Pre-weekend admin plus city essentials. A London hen lives and dies on the bookings and on keeping a big group moving — get the reservations and the travel sorted and the rest looks after itself.
Before the Weekend
- Personalised tees ordered 2+ weeks ahead & delivered
- Advance return train tickets booked for everyone
- Bottomless brunch, show & boat party pre-booked
- Base booked within a few minutes of a Tube line
- Dinner reservations made for the group
- Group WhatsApp + shared itinerary + address pinned
- Kitty agreed up front — London runs pricey
Outfit Kit
- Squad tees (named, sized, packed by person)
- Sash + veil for the bride
- One smarter outfit for the West End or dinner
- Comfy flats or trainers + one dressy pair
- Light jacket or packable mac for the weather
- Robes for getting-ready photos
- Backup tee for the bride
City Survival
- Contactless or Oyster set up for the Tube & buses
- Portable phone charger for the day
- Painkillers + plasters for tired feet
- Some cash for taxis and smaller bars
- Umbrella or light layers, just in case
- Blister plasters (all that walking)
- Hotel address saved (the bride loses her phone)
Packed & Printed
Before the Weekend.
UK-based, UK-printed personalised tees with fast turnaround — ordered to your door in time to pack, so there is no last-minute panic before the train. Group ordering: one order, every name + role, one delivery. Lightweight cotton that survives brunch, the boat party and a full London night out.
Shop the Hen Do CollectionLondon Hen
Questions Answered
Where should we base for a London hen do?
Soho and the West End put you in the middle of the nightlife and theatres, but they cost the most. Shoreditch is the pick for cocktail bars, Camden for markets and live music, and Clapham for a cheaper south-London base with its own bar strip. Wherever you stay, choose somewhere within a few minutes of a Tube station so the group can move fast and get home late.
How do we get to London and get around?
No flights needed — everyone travels in by train to one of the London termini such as King's Cross, Euston, Paddington, Liverpool Street, Waterloo or Victoria, then switches to the Tube. Book advance train tickets weeks ahead for the cheapest fares. Around town, use contactless or an Oyster card on the Tube and buses, and the weekend Night Tube gets you home on the main lines.
Is London good for a mixed-age hen?
Perfectly. A West End matinee, afternoon tea and a Thames cruise suit mums and aunties, while Soho cabaret, Shoreditch cocktail bars and a Camden night out suit the younger squad. You can pack a classy daytime and a full-on night into the same weekend without anyone feeling out of place.
When should we go and what does a London hen do cost?
London works year-round, so pick the weekend that suits the bride. Be honest about budget — it is the priciest UK hen city, with beds and drinks costing more than most other cities, so most groups land around £300–£475 per person for a standard weekend. Book brunch, show tickets and any boat party well ahead, and order personalised tees two to three weeks before.
Should we get the squad tees printed in London?
No need — order them online ahead of time and have them delivered before the weekend. They are UK-printed and shipped to your door, so you can get everyone changed at the first brunch and the group is instantly identifiable across a busy city.
How early should we order squad tees?
Two weeks before the weekend, ideally three, as every tee is made to order. Last-minute orders are often possible — message us before you pay and we will confirm the turnaround.
Now Plan the
London Hen
Personalised tees, hen squad outfits and accessories — everything for a London hen do, UK-printed and shipped to your door in time to pack.
Shop the Hen Do Collection