Planning a hen do in London in 2026 is a two-step problem: pick something the bride actually wants to do, and pick something that works for a mixed group of 8-to-30 people. Cocktail-making classes are fine. Life-drawing is a coin flip. The good hen dos are the ones that stack food, drinks and an activity into one place — no herding the group between three postcodes. This is a working shortlist of the best hen do ideas in London 2026, ranked with that in mind.
DWTN runs sip and paint hen dos out of BrewDog Chancery Lane most weekends, so we've seen what actually works and what turns into a 45-minute queue at a bar. If you want to skip the list and just book a London hen do sip and paint night from £34 per head, that's fair. Otherwise, read on.
What makes a good London hen do in 2026
Four things separate a hen do people talk about from one they endure:
- One venue, one bill. Splitting a group across a restaurant, an activity and a bar is where the day dies.
- An activity that works sober. Half the group won't be drinking — pregnancy, driving, dry January, personal choice. Make sure the activity carries the day on its own.
- Food built in. Nothing kills momentum like a scramble to find dinner at 8pm on a Saturday.
- A dancefloor after, if the bride wants one. Optional but easy if the venue is already set up for it.
The ranking
1. Sip and paint (DWTN, central London)
Two hours on a canvas painting a hip-hop, RnB or movie icon, brunch on the table, DJ after. Guided by an artist so nobody has to know what they're doing. Aprons provided. Works for 6-to-30 easily; groups of 30+ we sort a private setup — get in touch. Ticket tiers: Sip & Paint Class £34, Full Brunch £55, Party Ticket £20. This is our pick; obviously.
2. Bottomless brunch + party (day party)
If the bride wants a proper dancefloor and doesn't care about the activity part, a DWTN day party in London covers it: Afrobeats, RnB and hip-hop from mid-afternoon into the evening, food and drink included, done by 10pm so you're not writing off the next day.
3. Cocktail-making class
Fun for 8–12, awkward at 20+. Costs stack quickly (£45–£75 pp before food). Best for small hens who love a bar. Book somewhere in Shoreditch or Soho with food, not the venues that make you leave for dinner after.
4. Afternoon tea + rooftop bar
Low-effort, photogenic, easy to book. The trap: it's two hours of sitting. Pair it with something afterwards (a paint and sip, ironically, works) or the day ends at 5pm.
5. Spa day
Great for a chilled bride. Only works if the whole group is chilled. £80–£150 pp. Not a talking-and-drinking activity.
6. Life drawing
Divides the room. If the bride has requested it, do it. If she hasn't, don't guess.
7. Escape room + dinner
Escape rooms cap at 6–8, so anything bigger means splitting into teams and losing the group vibe. Fine as a warm-up, not as the main event.
8. Karaoke booth + bar crawl
Cheap and fun for 6–10. Bar crawls with 20 people in London in 2026 are a logistical nightmare — most venues won't let big groups in without a booking.
Cost, group size and vibe at a glance
- Sip and paint (DWTN): £34–£55 pp · 6–30 easily · activity + food + party
- Day party (DWTN): ~£20–£40 pp · 4–40 · dancefloor + drinks
- Cocktail class: £45–£75 pp · 8–12 · activity + drinks
- Afternoon tea: £45–£65 pp · 6–20 · food only
- Spa: £80–£150 pp · 4–10 · chilled
- Life drawing: £30–£50 pp · 6–20 · activity only
- Escape room + dinner: £30 + food · 6–8 per room · activity + food
- Karaoke + bar: £15 + drinks · 6–10 · drinks + singing
How to book a DWTN hen do
Pick an upcoming date on the London events page, book everyone onto the same event, then email us via contact with your group size and the bride's name. We'll seat you together, save wall space for a hen sign, and brief the DJ. Full details on how ticketing, dress code and timings work are on the DWTN FAQ.