My Oxford Stag Weekend: A Real Groom's Review

Editor's Note (December 2025): While this legendary stag do took place a few years ago, we have updated this post to ensure all venues, activities, and prices are accurate for the 2026 season.

As we piled into the car to head to Oxford, I was filled with excitement. Off on a stag do to one of my favourite places in the country, what could I expect? Well, as it turned out, we were off on an adventure I’d remember for the rest of my life.

While planning the weekend, we’d had no shortage of stag do ideas available in Oxford. I knew we were heading for an action-packed time, but I didn’t realise how quickly we’d be thrown into the deep end.

Friday: Arrival & Electric Shocks

My best man had decided that before we even checked into our accommodation, we should up the ante. That is how I found myself playing Electric Shock Football at three o’clock on a Friday afternoon!

Now, I’m not really a footballer (I’d much rather sit and eat the pies than play the game), but even for a marginally unfit non-player, it was hilarious. If you don’t know what it is, you are basically playing a game of indoor football, but two members of your stag group are on the sidelines with zappers. They can electrify anyone on the pitch at any time—it really ups the stakes!

After surviving this shocking experience, we checked into our accommodation. It was a Central Hostel, which was an absolute bargain. It was cheap, very clean, friendly, and pretty comfortable. We found the lounge, which had a bar and pool table, and took up residence there for a few warm-up beers.

Friday Night: The Bar Crawl Babes

To show us around (since some of us didn't know the city), we’d secured the services of the brilliant Bar Crawl Babes. These ladies took us from pub to pub, showing us the best places to drink and telling us which ones to avoid.

They encouraged games and kept the energy high. I would definitely recommend them for an Oxford stag do, as it helps you acclimatise to the city immediately. From this point, my memory gets a bit hazy. I know there were a lot of shots consumed, and at least one member of the party opened a door straight into a bouncer (sorry!).

Saturday: Motors & Mayhem

I woke up hungover, hungry, but happy. We headed to a nearby pub for a great value pick-me-up breakfast before heading to our next activity: Rage Buggies.

These off-road buggies were one of the absolute highlights of the weekend. Zooming around on a dusty track, tackling bumps and turns, and seeing just how fast you can go compared to the rest of the lads was brilliant. But the competition didn’t stop there.

Activity: Archery Tag

Next up was Archery Tag. This battle is one of the best stag ideas Oxford has to offer. You split into teams and play capture the flag or "eliminate the enemy." Because you are using foam-tipped arrows, there’s no cost for ammo—you just rescue your arrows and fire again!

Saturday Night: Gentlemen & Gangnam Style

We popped back to the accommodation for a change of clothes before the final surprise: Beer Tasting. It was a wonderful treat to try a selection of excellent craft beers before the big night out.

Suitably lubricated, we dressed up in our theme: English Country Gentlemen (tweed jackets and all). We’d taken advice from the Bar Crawl Babes on which venues would let us in with fancy dress, so we marched into the centre determined to make an impact.

Only on a stag do in Oxford would you see an English Country Gentleman dancing the Charleston to Gangnam Style while a group of Cowgirls (from a different hen party) looked on in amazement! We found every type of venue we wanted—cheap pubs, dancefloor bars, and a basement nightclub with an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.

The Verdict

If you like the idea of an Oxford stag do, don’t worry about a thing. This city has been entertaining drinkers for hundreds of years. I had an amazing time and would go again in a heartbeat.

The Stag and Hen Experience has been creating the best stag weekends away since 2009. If you're looking to plan a package in the UK or abroad, get in touch on 01202 566100, email [email protected], or browse our full range of Oxford stag packages to start planning.