When it comes to the perfect hen weekend, the Cotswolds is an excellent choice. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has a chic reputation, renowned for its abundant gastropubs, tearooms and wine bars, great shopping and huge scope for adventure in the great outdoors. Plus, it’s easily accessible and well connected, just under 2 hours from London and Birmingham by car or train.
Our hen party houses in the Cotswolds are conveniently located to be able to make the most of this ultimate weekend break destination. So, if the mighty responsibility of organising a hen party has fallen upon you – panic not!
With such a vast range of things to see and do, we have chosen some of the top hen party activities in the Cotswolds for a pre-wedding getaway the bride won’t forget. Featuring everything from relaxing spa treatments to thrill-seeking days out, you’ll soon see why the Cotswolds is the perfect destination for hen weekends.
The Foodie Hen Party
The Cotswolds is renowned as a premier foodie destination, packed with a variety of food and drink locations fit for any bride to be. So, what better way for a group of hens to indulge their inner foodie and learn some new skills, than with a fun cookery class in the Cotswolds? Some of our favourite hen party Cotswolds cookery classes include:
A wide range of full-day, half-day and evening courses are available, all making the most out of organic and delicious seasonal ingredients from the super-luxe farm estate. A maximum of 12 hens can create a menu based on the things they’d like to cook or an area of interest such as seafood, bread making, desserts and summer BBQs.
Daylesford Cookery School | Instagram credit: @daylesfordfarm
Classes here often start in the kitchen garden, where the bridal party can see how the produce is grown before harvesting for their menu and cooking a selection of dishes under the guidance of Thyme’s expert chefs. Course topics include Perfect Patisserie, Seasonal Dinner Parties, Persian Cookery, Rustic Italian and Simple Suppers for Five Days.
Overlooking stunning Gloucestershire countryside, your hens can cook, create, party and dine with a seemingly endless array of exciting themes to choose from. There are cocktail classes, chocolate and sweet making, a Ready Steady Cook Challenge, and cheese and wine tasting. Plus, hens can even combine cooking with a craft such as decorating a bra, painting a pot and making a fascinator!
The Pamper Hen Party
For some pre-wedding pampering, the Cotswolds is home to a plethora of luxury spas with all manner of relaxing treatments to kick-start the hen do. It’s the perfect opportunity for friends to bond and recharge those batteries before the big day. Here are some of the top spas in the Cotswolds for a hen party:
This indulgent Cotswolds spa offers a fine selection of hen party packages where brides-to-be can spend quality time with their girlfriends in peace and tranquillity. Sip a glass of prosecco, apply a rejuvenating hair or face mask and unwind in the hydrotherapy pool with candle-lit relaxation area. Spa sessions can also be followed by an afternoon tea in the private gallery area.
Thermae Bath Spa | Instagram credit: @thermae_bath_spa
Wedding planning can be stressful, so treat the gang to this luxurious spa, with a rooftop pool boasting incredible views of the historic city of Bath. Britain’s only natural thermal spa, hens can look forward to traditional and state-of-the-art spa facilities including a Roman Steam Room, Ice Chamber, Celestial Relaxation Room and Experience Showers.
For hens who want to push the boat out and really spoil themselves, then a spa day at Dormy House is sure to leave the whole party feeling chilled, nourished and soothed. The Diamond Indulgence package features a Natura Bissé treatment, massage, Champagne lunch and full access to the thermal suite, pool and hot tub.
The Active Hen Party
If you’re looking for a great all-girl get-together before the big day, then this outdoor paradise offers an abundance of exhilarating activities for thrill-seekers, adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. From relaxing hacks across the rolling hills by horseback to high-speed water sports, here are some of the top hen party activities in the Cotswolds that the whole team will appreciate:
Encompassing 40 square miles and more than 150 interconnecting lakes, the Cotswold Water Park ensures all outdoor needs are satisfied. Activities range from gentle walking, cycling, fishing and birdwatching to the adrenaline-fuelled rally driving, paintballing, clay pigeon shooting and high ropes adventures. And of course, with so many lakes, there is a wealth of water sports on offer including sailing, water skiing, kayaking and windsurfing.
Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre | Instagram credit: @bourtonvale
One of the most novel ways to celebrate a forthcoming marriage is by taking part in a Hen Hack at Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre. Adorned in hen party sashes, helmet veils and a pair of pink ruffled trousers for the bride-to-be, the party will set off on a memorable journey around Lower and Upper Slaughter, two of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. The stables can also organise games on horseback in the school afterwards.
A great all-weather activity for hen parties in the Cotswolds is a fun group climbing session at Far Peak Climbing and Outdoor Centre. Those with a head for heights can scale Gloucestershire’s largest artificial outdoor climbing tower standing at over 14 metres tall or head inside to the indoor climbing and bouldering centre. There’s also an outdoor ropes course, archery range and bushcraft area in the surrounding woodlands, with specific packages for hen parties.
The Creative Hen Party
Brides and their dearest friends who fancy a more creative way to spend their hen weekend in the Cotswolds will be spoilt for choice with the number of artistic activities on offer – many of which can be used to create unique décor for the wedding itself. Here are a few of our favourite Cotswold hen party activities:
Imagine creating your very own signature wedding perfume. This family-run perfumery in Bourton-on-the-Water offers fascinating tours as well as two-day perfume-making workshops for hen parties. These courses are run by chief perfumer John Stephen who has acquired an enviable reputation for creating high-end, bespoke fragrances for a portfolio of customers including Her Majesty the Queen.
New Brewery Arts Centre | Instagram credit: @newbreweryarts
The perfect finishing touch to an elegant wedding outfit is a fascinator, and at milliner Louise Pocock’s studio in Chipping Campden, hens can create bespoke pieces to be worn on the big day. Refreshments, bubbles and cream teas can also be arranged to make the experience even more special.
Give the bride-to-be a helping hand with the wedding decorations by choosing one of the hen party workshops at the New Brewery Arts Centre. There are plenty of courses to try, with the chance to create one-of-a-kind items that can be displayed at the ceremony. Print some stationary, make vintage origami decorations, design fabric or paper bunting to match the theme and even have a go at creating romantic willow lanterns.
The Refined Hen Party
Cheltenham Racecourse | Instagram credit: @thejockeyclub
When only the very best will do, the Cotswolds can pull out all the stops for a hen party full of glitz and glamour. For a sophisticated girls’ day out in the Cotswolds that is sure to leave the stags green with envy, try out one of these fabulous ideas:
Ladies who are looking for a refined afternoon should head to the Cotswolds Distillery. Led by an expert guide, hens will be escorted on an informative gin and whisky journey around the Cotswolds’ first full-scale distillery – ending with a very enjoyable tasting session! Sample the likes of ginger gin, cream liqueur and espresso martini, as well as a unique take on absinthe.
Cotswolds Distillery | Instagram credit: @cotswolds_distillery
There’s always fun to be had at the races. Hens can place their bets and hope for a winner during a day of thrilling racing at Cheltenham Racecourse. It’s the perfect opportunity to get dressed up, drink some fizz and take part in some great Cotswolds culture. There’s even the bonus of going home with a little extra money towards that all-important honeymoon!
What could be a more magnificent Cotswolds hen party venue than a palace? The birthplace of Winston Churchill, hens can book a private tour of the staterooms with their priceless collections of artwork, tapestries and furniture, then delight in a relaxed wander around the pleasure and formal gardens. After working up an appetite in the Marlborough Maze and its 2 miles of yew trees, sit down to an elegant afternoon tea accompanied by a glass of Champagne in The Orangery Restaurant.
Cotswold Hen Party Houses
For a special occasion to remember, our hen party cottages in the Cotswolds provide the perfect weekend retreat for your group. You’ll find large social spaces to spend quality time together and enjoy a celebratory dinner or a round of cocktails. Some even come with the added luxury of spa facilities, swimming pools, home cinemas and catering.
Hicks Farm | Nr Bristol - Sleeps 16
Sleeping 16 guests in 8 rooms, this charming farmhouse is found in the village of Winterbourne, just 6-miles outside of Bristol city centre, and within easy reach of vibrant Bath and all that the Cotswolds has to offer. This excellent location makes it perfect for hen parties who are looking for somewhere they can relax and socialise, but head out on the town easily! On summer days you can soak up the sun on the terrace and enjoy balmy evenings dining alfresco. With plenty of space for the whole party to relax, it’s the perfect place to rejuvenate after a night of cocktails and dancing in Bristol ready for a day of outdoor activities or exciting workshops as part of your hen itinerary!
Other properties in the Cotswolds:
23 Pickwick | Sleeps 12 | Chipping Sodbury
Estuary View | Sleeps 26 | Minsterworth
Grange Ford | Sleeps 10 | Bicester
For more inspiration, browse our full collection of luxury hen party houses in the UK or have a read of our guide to 5 beautiful UK hen party houses with on-site spa facilities.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.