Awesome 30th birthday party ideas for a big celebration

Like people often say, life gets better in your thirties, and you are nearly there. You finally have the confidence to do everything you never could in your twenties (not to mention the money to do it), and it’s time to celebrate with all your closest friends and family! Now all you need are some amazing 30th birthday party ideas to mark the special occasion.

We’ve come up with some exciting ways to celebrate your 30th birthday, not just with the ultimate party, but fun activities, themes and places to stay that will help make your milestone birthday even more memorable. It's time to start planning!

Party houses in the UK

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• Country pursuits
• Wine tasting
• Adventure weekend
• Night on the town
• A beach party
• A big family party
• The ultimate 30th birthday party

Countryside pursuits at Craiganour Lodge| Perth and Kinross

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If a weekend in the country with your closest friends sounds like the perfect 30^th birthday idea, then Craiganour Lodge offers the full package. Organise through the owner a day of clay pigeon shooting on the estate or fishing on Loch Rannoch, just 300 metres from the house. Complete the 30^th birthday celebrations with a dinner party hosted in the dining room by caterers so that you can all relax and enjoy the evening. End the day with some friendly competition in the games room! 

Prices from £39 per person, per night for a 7-night stay
 Take me to Craiganour Lodge

Wine tasting at West Hoy Oast | Smarden, Kent 

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At the heart of the UK’s wine-growing industry, Kent is the perfect destination for true wine lovers. Your twenties are likely to have taught you what you do and don’t like so book the party in for a wine-tasting and a tour at one of Kent’s most respected vineyards such as Chapel Down or Hush Heath. This beautiful former oast house also has a formal dining area where you could stage a tasting session of your own. Add an element of luxury to the 30th birthday celebrations and relax in the swimming pool and hot tub too. 

Prices from £32 per person, per night for a 7-night stay 

An adventure weekend at High Wards | Loch Lomond, Scotland

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On the shores of Loch Lomond, from this fabulous retreat, you can go kayaking, hiking or test your skills at the TreeZone Aerial Course; there’s tonnes of opportunity for adventure by Loch Lomond with a big group of mates. What better way to mark your 30th birthday than by challenging yourself with an outdoor adventure? The property itself caters exceptionally well for big groups with plenty of space for relaxing, firing up the tunes and dancing, and even outdoor space for a bit of friendly competition. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a 30th birthday, surrounded by your favourite people. 

Prices from £33 per person, per night for a 7-night stay. 

 Take me to High Wards 

Head out on the town at Woodlands House | Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

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Conveniently located, from this beautiful farmhouse you can be in your favourite restaurant in London in just 50 minutes! Woodlands House is situated so you can choose to put on your dancing shoes and take the city by storm or indulge in some quieter 30^th birthday celebrations. After a night in the capital, you can sink into the hot tub, take a gentle walk through the nearby woodland, or arrange for a private chef to continue the celebrations the following night. Combine a class night out on the town with some much-needed R&R with your closest friends. 

Prices from £31 per person, per night for a 7-night stay. 

A beach party at Globe House | West Wales

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Is the guest of honour a beach lover? If the answer is yes, then what better way to celebrate their 30th birthday than by renting somewhere that is just 300 meters from Angle Bay beach! This coastal retreat offers style, luxury, and seclusion for a truly elegant 30th birthday party. 

With this elegant house just steps from the shore, there will be no hurry to leave the beach at the end of the day. There is also a private hot tub and a roof terrace perfect for pre-dinner drinks. What better way to toast to your 30th birthday than with your closest friends and a view like that?

Prices from £19 per person, per night for a 7-night stay. 

A family party at The Country Retreat | Herefordshire

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A milestone birthday is a perfect opportunity to get the family together. As families grow, it gets harder to get everyone under one roof but at the Country Retreat, there is ample space to accommodate everyone – it really is a 30^th birthday treat. During the summer, you can throw a party in the garden with a big BBQ and games on the lawn – there’s a hot tub available to add to your booking too! During cooler months, the grand dining room, an impressive bar, cinema room and library all make fantastic entertaining spaces for the whole family. There’s even a playroom for any younger members of the family.  

Prices from £48 per person, per night for a 7-night stay. 

The ultimate 30^th birthday party at Langman Manor | Bruton, Somerset

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Does your idea of a 30th birthday party involve dancing shoes and cocktail dresses? Langman Manor is the ultimate party venue, complete with its very own casino, ballroom, and disco! There is also an array of outdoor activities which will make this party go on for days and sleeping up to 49 people you can bring all your friends and family along too! Give archery or clay pigeon shooting a go, set up a tennis tournament, go swimming, play golf or take the pedalos out on the lake or simply enjoy tea on the lawn and relax. 

30th birthday IDEAS FOR HER: (or him)

1. Tropical – think hula skirts, Hawaiian punch and perhaps a venue by the beach.
2. Favourite film – use their favourite film as inspiration for décor and fancy dress!
3. A spa day – soak or steam at one of our large houses with spa facilities.
4. Monochrome – black and white is always sleek and stylish.
5. Wine not? – have a tasting or just open a couple of bottles of red.
6. Brunch – a civilised way to celebrate.
7. A casino night – for an easy take, make it a poker night.
8. Mixology party – a cocktail making party! Make them yourself or hire a mixologist for the evening.
9. Margarita and margarita party – pizza and cocktails, what’s not to love?
10. Royal for a day – spoil the guest of honour with a party in a castle.
11. A karaoke night – sing your heart out.
12. A massive picnic – get everyone to bring snacks and you can soak up the sun with a big group get-together.
13. 80s/90s – celebrate with music from the year you were born.
14. Host the Olympics – great for competitive friendship groups.
15. Swan float party – a pool party with additional swan floats.

30th birthday IDEAS FOR HIM: (or her)

1. Beer tasting – for true beer connoisseurs.
2. Sports fanatic – get outside for footie or watch a game in the cinema room. 
3. Winter sports – stay in the highlands of Scotland
4. Whiskey and cigars – a chance to sit and chat with the group.
5. Prime cut – a BBQ party is always easy and crowd-pleasing.
6. 007 – prepare the vodka martinis, shaken not stirred.
7. Surfer dude – board shorts and flip flops, done.
8. Party like Gatsby – a chance for a dapper get-together.
9. Daredevil – get out and about on an adventure holiday with the guys.
10. Scuba party – take everyone scuba diving!
11. Retro games party – gamers will love a competition with classic throwbacks.
12. Bringing home the bacon – a chance for a lot of bacon-flavoured food to be eaten; ever tried bacon popcorn or bacon and beer cupcakes?
13. Grumpy old men – do nothing but sit and complain with your mates.
14. Moustache themed – may need a month or two’s prep while the ‘tache gets in shape.

30th Birthday FANCY DRESS IDEAS:

1. Wild West party – everyone can dust off their cowboy hats and don those spurs.
2. We’re in Wonderland – Alice provides great costume inspiration.
3. Circus party – a great chance to go all-out on the decoration!
4. Movie stars and musicians – Marilyn Monroe and Slash may attend.
5. Undead party – the toilet roll bill could get expensive with the amount of mummification required.
6. Glitter party – bring a little (or a lot) of sparkle to your event.
7. Superhero – Batman and Superman will be among your guests.
8. Pensioner party – a walking stick and grey wig could provide a glimpse into the future…
9. Your initials – get guests to go as something beginning with your initials e.g. if you’re Maria Smith, feed your ego by getting your friends to dress as something beginning with M or S.
10. How well do you know me? – another option for those with a vanity complex; get your friends to dress up as your favourite things and find out how well they know you.
11. Disney – a nice twist on the heroes and villains theme as you could include princesses, thieves and talking lions.
12. Wig it out – a celebration of wigs everywhere.
13. Icons – Michelle Obama, Van Gogh and Cleopatra: guests have the freedom to dress up as anyone they like!
14. Rubik’s Cube party – a classic.

30th BIRTHDAY PARTY CAKE IDEAS:

1. Tux cake – bow tie optional.
2. Ice cream cake – great for cooling down guests on a hot sunny holiday.
3. A cupcake mountain – dribble chocolate and toffee then add glitter for an impressive pull-apart cake.
4. Irish coffee cupcake – make individual cupcakes and coffees for each guest.
5. Giant donut cake – doh!
6. Giant scone cake – perfect for those civilised parties in the UK countryside.
7. Themed cake – simply decorate to match your party theme whether you pick ‘wine not?’, 007 or the Wild West party, you can make a cake to match.
8. Ultimate chocolate cake – make the biggest, baddest chocolate cake you can.
9. Boozy margarita lime cake – your ideal poolside birthday cake.
10. Pimm’s layer cake – ready for Pimm’s o’clock.
11. The big breakfast – not a cake person? Opt for the breakfast cake instead, or try this pizza cake or sushi cake.
12. Beer-thday cake – forget the cake altogether.
13. Tiered cheese cake – not cheesecake, a cheese cake.
14. Fresh watermelon cake – another option for those who don’t like cake but love lounging on a beach.
15. Giant pop-out cake – is it even a party if someone doesn’t jump out of a cake?

We hope these 30th birthday party ideas have provided a little inspiration for your upcoming celebration, all that's left to do is to book your party venue! You may also find these dinner party ideas for a crowd useful. 

Planning another big birthday? Check out the ultimate guide to milestone birthdays, for ideas on every big celebration! 

Start planning!