Escape the wedding planner, leave bridezilla behind you and have your hen party at the coast with the most. Bournemouth is ready and waiting to offer you a weekend of sea, sand and serious good fun with its selection of eclectic nightlife, array of unique activities and seven miles of golden beaches. Breathe in the fresh, sea air and let your hair down with your girls as you take on England’s answer to the Costa del Sol. No matter the time of year, the seaside city guarantees a weekend to remember, so grab your matching t-shirts and prepare to be the best bridal party Bournemouth has ever seen.
Here’s five great reasons to have your hen in Bournemouth.
After all the partying you’ll be doing, a morning recovering in the spa will be just what the doctor ordered. Good job the jewel of the south coast is bursting at the seams with great retreats built into hotels scattered around the city. Roll out of bed and head down stairs to the deep serenity of a hot stone massage or cleansing facial – you’ll be feeling fresh as a daisy in no time! Book into Ocean Beach Hotel and Spa for its beach front location and wide selection of spa treatments. Wake up to incredible sea views and take a morning walk along the promenade less than two minutes from your door. Finding a comfy place to get your beauty sleep is just as important as the activities themselves and this place is the perfect location to kick start one of the best weekends of your life.
While this may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning your weekend away, escape rooms are the ideal activity to get everyone involved and set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The MacGuffin Project escape rooms in the centre of town have got you covered with packages specially designed to test you and your girlfriends through a series of physical and mental challenges. Split into teams and see who manages to complete the room and escape the old-age carnival before time runs out. With its central location, keep the party going by heading to one of the many bars that line the vibrant streets close by.
As well as being big on booze, Bournemouth has a great selection of cute cafes and alternative coffee spots that’ll make for a great Instagram post and fuel your long days of fun activities. Stop by Frieda’s Tearoom for some unapologetically British tea and toast or better yet – take a tour of the city on Frieda’s afternoon tea bus. The frilly, floral traditional London bus is what little girls’ dreams are made of. Fill up on tiny cakes, finger sandwiches and take in the sights all from the comfort of the double decker – you can thank us later!
Jam packed full of quirky courses and stocked with a full bar, Mr. Mulligan’s indoor mini golf is your next stop on the ultimate Bournemouth hen weekend. Taking adventure golf to the next level, the uniquely themed space, comic book and apocalyptic holes are just as exciting to play as they are to look at. Grab a drink, choose your club and battle it out to become queen of the course. Spend the afternoon completing all 27 holes or only stay for nine, whichever you fancy you’re guaranteed to have a ball of a time.
A beachside hen-do wouldn’t be complete without a constant supply of ocean themed cocktails. With its stellar reputation as a bustling nightlife hub, Bournemouth knows just how to satisfy your thirst. Boasting a plethora of themed cocktail bars, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste in one of the locations dotted along the seafront and continuing into the town centre. Sip mojitos by the sea in Aruba, at the entrance to the iconic pier and get 2 for 1 on fruity drinks of your choice from 10pm at Turtle Bay in the midst of the town’s clubs and bars. All in all, you won’t have to travel far to find your dancefloor for the night!
Heading to the coast soon? Make sure to tag us in your photos of your hen party ideas in Bournemouth using the hashtag #ryanairstories – you might even be featured on our social media channels.
Flights to Bournemouth
- Lucy Norris