A London hen do costs between £60 and £200 per person for a one-day event, depending on what’s included. The range is wide because the choices are wide — from a single activity and dinner at the budget end, to a full day of premium experiences at the top. This guide breaks down the real costs for every element of a London hen do so you can plan a realistic budget before you start asking the group to Venmo you.
The Cost Breakdown — Every Element
Main Activity
| Axe throwing (Axeperience) | £30pp off-peak (Sun–Wed) / £35pp peak (Thu–Sat). Exclusive lane hire available — contact for pricing. |
| Escape room | £25-£40pp for 60 minutes. Private booking for groups. |
| Cocktail making class | £45-£65pp for 90 minutes. 3-4 cocktails included. |
| Spa day (half-day) | £65-£120pp. Includes pool access and basic treatments. |
| Dance/burlesque class | £30-£55pp for 60-90 minutes. |
| Painting class with prosecco | £35-£55pp for 2 hours. |
| Comedy night | £12-£22pp. Group block booking for reserved seating. |
| Our recommendation Axe throwing is consistently the best value activity at £30-£35pp. It delivers a 60-minute structured experience with a defined tournament outcome — more competitive energy per pound than any alternative at the same price point. |
Full hen do session packages, exclusive lane hire, and VIP options — our hen do packages page.
Bottomless Brunch or Lunch
| Standard bottomless brunch | £35-£50pp. 90-120 minutes, unlimited prosecco/cocktails. |
| Premium bottomless brunch | £55-£75pp. Better venue, higher quality food, more variety. |
| Group lunch (set menu) | £25-£45pp. Less alcohol-focused, better for early afternoon start. |
Dinner
| Casual group dinner | £25-£40pp. Chains and mid-range restaurants. Set menu option. |
| Mid-range restaurant (set menu) | £40-£65pp. Quality food, wine included, private table for the group. |
| Private dining room hire | £65-£100pp. Full private room, dedicated service, premium menu. |
| Upscale private dining | £100-£160pp. Fine dining, sommelier, full occasion feel. |
Drinks
| Pre-activity drinks | £10-£20pp. One round at a nearby pub or bar. |
| Post-activity debrief drinks | £15-£30pp. 2-3 rounds at a bar before dinner. |
| Evening drinks/cocktail bar | £20-£50pp. Cocktail bar or upscale pub, 2-3 hours. |
| VIP club/bar hire (shared entry) | £20-£40pp. Group entry to a club or private bar event. |
Accommodation (per person, if staying overnight)
| Budget hotel (shared rooms) | £25-£40pp. Central London Ibis, Premier Inn, or similar. |
| Mid-range hotel (own rooms) | £60-£100pp. City centre hotel, breakfast included. |
| Boutique or lifestyle hotel | £100-£180pp. Shoreditch House, The Hoxton, etc. |
| Airbnb (shared house) | £30-£60pp. Depends entirely on property and location. |
Extras to Budget For
Decorations and sashes: £5-£15pp. Usually covered by the group fund rather than per-person charge.
Transport between venues: £10-£20pp. Uber splits or minibus hire for 10+ people.
Gift for the bride: £10-£25pp for group contribution. Bought separately from the event budget.
Photography: £0-£150 flat. Most groups use phones; some book a photographer for 1-2 hours.
Activity personalisation (sash, banner etc.): £0-£20 flat. Venues usually accommodate for free — check in advance.
Total Budget Scenarios — Real London Hen Do Costs
| Format | Activity | Dinner | Drinks | Total pp |
| Budget day out | £30 | £30 | £20 | ~£80pp |
| Standard London hen | £35 | £50 | £30 | ~£115pp |
| Full day + brunch | £35 | £55 | £40 | ~£165pp |
| Premium overnight | £35 | £80 | £50 | ~£240pp |
How to Manage Group Contributions Without the Awkwardness
Collecting money from a hen group is one of the most stressful parts of organising the day. Three things that help:
Set a headline number early: Tell the group ‘£120 per person covers everything’ rather than sending multiple separate requests. A single number is easier to commit to than a series of smaller amounts that add up to more.
Use a payment platform: Splitwise, Monzo group payment, or PayPal.me links remove the awkwardness of individual chasing. Set a deadline (two weeks before the event) and stick to it.
Separate the bride’s cost: It’s standard for the group to cover the bride’s share. Factor this in when calculating per-person costs — if 10 people are going and the bride’s share is covered by the group, divide by 9, not 10.
Money-Saving Tips Without Compromising the Day
- Book axe throwing off-peak (Sunday-Wednesday) — saves £5pp vs peak, identical experience
- Lunch instead of dinner for the main meal — same quality restaurants, significantly lower bills and wine consumption
- Book Airbnb rather than hotel if staying overnight — usually 30-50% cheaper per person for a whole property
- Limit the number of venues in the evening — moving between multiple bars adds cost and friction; one good bar beats three average ones
- Set a drink-per-round budget rather than open bar — open bar formats almost always cost more than pre-sold
- Choose one splurge and budget the rest — either premium activity OR premium dinner, not both. The activity is usually the better splurge.
For full session options and VIP package pricing, our hen do packages page has everything you need to book. For a broader list of London hen party activity options, our hen party ideas London guide ranks 14 activities honestly. And if you’re also sorting a gift for the bride, our gift vouchers page covers both digital and physical voucher options.
Frequently Asked Questions — Hen Do Costs
What is a reasonable budget for a London hen do?
£100-£150pp covers a standard London hen day with activity, dinner, and drinks. £80pp is achievable if you’re flexible on day (off-peak rates) and keep the meal casual. £200pp is the premium tier that includes brunch, premium activity, private dining, and a cocktail bar.
Is £30pp for axe throwing good value?
Yes. At £30pp off-peak, axe throwing is at the competitive value end of London group activities for the quality tier it delivers — 60 minutes of structured experience with a certified instructor and a tournament finale. Comparable activities (escape rooms, cocktail classes) run £35-£65pp for similar or shorter session formats.
Should the bride pay on her hen do?
Standard practice: the group covers the bride’s activity cost. Dinner and drinks can go either way depending on group convention and what was agreed at the outset. Be clear at the start — ‘we’re covering your activity but splitting dinner’ is fine as long as it’s stated before people commit to the budget.
How do I handle a group with different budgets?
Set one clear number early and give people the opportunity to opt out before committing. Tiering the day (activity is mandatory, dinner is optional for those who can’t stay) works better than asking for different contributions — it avoids the uncomfortable dynamic of two-tier participation.
Axeperience Tower Hill, London EC3. Hen party sessions from £30pp. Book your London hen do session now — live availability, instant confirmation.
