My Cambridge Hen Weekend: Real Stories & Reviews

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

When planning a hen do, sometimes the best inspiration comes from seeing exactly what other groups have done. We love hearing back from our hens after they return home!

Below, we’ve compiled two real diaries from recent Cambridge hen weekends. From sophisticated punting trips down the River Cam to rowdy nights on the dancefloor at Vinyl, here is exactly what happens on a Cambridge hen do.

Review 1: Katie's Classy (But Wild) Surprise

The Vibe: Sophisticated, Surprise, Activity-Packed.

Friday: Flamenco & Cocktails

My friend Katie enjoys the finer things in life, so when she announced she was getting married, we knew we needed a destination that oozed class but still allowed for some ridiculousness. Cambridge was the perfect choice—sophisticated, clever, but with a student nightlife scene that promised fun without being "tacky."

We kept it a total surprise. Her mum drove her, and she didn’t know where she was until she met us at our central hotel. After checking in and freshening up, we headed straight to our first activity: Afternoon Tea with Unlimited Prosecco. We were hungry and thirsty, and the quality of food (fresh scones, delicate sandwiches) combined with the endless flow of prosecco set a brilliant tone for the weekend.

Next up was a curveball: Flamenco Dancing. It’s Katie’s favourite style, but she’d never tried it. The instructor was lovely and managed to get all of us dancing, even those of us with two left feet! It was high-energy, hilarious, and the perfect icebreaker.

For the evening, we hit a popular cocktail bar for dinner and drinks, trying almost everything on the menu. We then moved on to a Tiki Bar (think bamboo, fire, and strong rum). We found ourselves sharing tables with another hen group, dancing until 2 am.

Saturday: Pampering, Punting & Pop Music

I woke up with a surprisingly manageable hangover (thank you, water!). After breakfast, we headed to our Pamper Day. We booked a high-quality local spa with a pool and sauna. Katie got a massage and facial, while the rest of us chilled by the pool. It was the perfect recovery session.

In the afternoon, we did the absolute must-do Cambridge activity: Punting. We opted for a chauffeured punt so we could relax with wine and snacks while our guide punted us down the River Cam. He gave us a tour of the local history, pointing out the famous colleges, and it was honestly the highlight of the weekend—relaxing, scenic, and very "Cambridge."

Dinner was an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet (essential carb-loading for a big night!), followed by one last surprise for Katie: a private room in a bar with a Stripper. No matter how classy you aim for, seeing a gorgeous man dance for the bride is a hen tradition! We finished the weekend at a club hosting an 80s, 90s, and 00s party night, dancing to cheesy classics until the early hours.

Verdict: 10/10. Cambridge was friendly, walkable, and packed with variety.

Review 2: Cocktails & Clubbing

The Vibe: Cocktails, Clubbing, and Seamless Planning.

The Plan

I was initially worried about my Maid of Honour, Abi, organizing the weekend as she can be a bit scatty! Fortunately, she used The Stag and Hen Experience to handle the logistics. She booked a package including a two-night stay, cocktail making, punting, and nightlife entry.

Friday: Shaking It Up

We checked into the Cambridge Central Travelodge—clean, up-to-date, and excellent value. It was located near the leisure park, making it easy to get around. The first activity was a Cocktail Making Class at Las Iguanas.

Our host, Alan, was amazing. We started with a Caipirinha on arrival (delicious), made two cocktails ourselves with plenty of games and competitions, and finished with Mojitos. The package included a two-course meal, which soaked up the alcohol perfectly!

After dinner, we headed to Revolution for "pre-drinks" before clubbing... but we had so much fun there we stayed until closing! It was a short stumble back to the hotel, making for a perfect start.

Saturday: The Backs & The Dancefloor

After a much-needed cooked breakfast, we walked to our Punting Tour. The weather was gorgeous. Our guide took us past the "Backs" of the colleges, showing us the famous Bridge of Sighs and King's College Chapel. We brought strawberries and bubbles on board—I 100% recommend this! It felt incredibly luxurious floating down the river with a drink in hand.

We followed this with a sophisticated Afternoon Tea at the Graduate Hotel overlooking the river—stunning views and great cakes. For the final night out, we started at All Bar One (more cocktails!) before heading to Vinyl Nightclub.

Vinyl was fantastic—pure cheesy pop, a light-up dancefloor, and