Having a hen party is a fun way to bid your single life farewell before getting hitched. There is no better way to celebrate it than being with your best friends, reliving the unforgettable memories you have created together throughout the years.
Edinburgh is one of the most appealing destinations for hen parties in the world. The scenic location is famous for many things, including food, fashion, culture, outdoor adventures, and a robust nightlife. Hen parties are not just about getting drunk in a pub any more! Brides-to-be now have many exciting choices. If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate your hen party, we have a great list of Edinburgh hen party ideas. Read on for our top 11 picks.
1. Edinburgh Gin Tasting
First on our list of hen ideas Edinburgh is visiting the Edinburgh Gin Distillery, located in one of the coolest settings in the city, taking you underground to explore an atmospheric and functioning distillery. You'll get to explore Edinburgh's gin heritage and of course, you'll get the chance to taste five gins & gin liqueurs from their award-winning range.
The experience will take place in the distillery bar in view of their custom-made copper stills 'Flora' & 'Caledonia'.
2. Join Tasting Events at the Summerhall Drinks Lab
If you and your gal pals enjoy wining and dining, this hen activity is ideal for you!
Jamie Shields is the brain behind Summerhall Drinks Lab. He created the company after working in bars, events, and bartender training. He came up with a brilliant idea — to design fun, interactive, and small-scale tasting experiences that focus on Scottish products.
They accept bookings for small groups and usually hold intimate events at the Drinks Lab or the Union Canal, but they can entertain inquiries for external venues.
The creative group is cooking up these exciting classes:
Science of the Sesh
Rum & Doughnuts
Anything But Neat
Tartan Tiki
Gin & Tea Blending
Create Your Own Mixer
Great British New Makeoff
We highly recommend the Gin & Chocolate session. Their classes are fun, educational, and interactive. Their teaching style and mixing technique can easily convert non-gin drinkers. The best part is — you’ll get to craft cocktails at the end of the class.
3. Visit the Edinburgh Dungeons
The third item on our list of fun Edinburgh hen activities is not for the faint of heart! We know this isn’t a glamorous way to celebrate the end of your single life, but hear us out.
The Edinburgh Dungeons attraction will take you on an epic journey throughout Edinburgh’s darkest history. It is a unique, award-winning attraction that combines talented actors, special effects, 360-degree sets, hair-raising rides, and an immersive walk-through experience to give audiences a memorable educational experience. Any ticket purchase includes all rides and shows.
To give you a better idea of what to expect, here are some of the shows:
The Courtroom
The Torture Chamber
Cannibal’s Cave
Burke and Hare
Drop Dead
Real events inspired these attractions, making rides and walk-throughs more riveting. Some shows even require volunteers. Go ahead and offer your services — if you are brave enough.
We love how the experience is family-friendly but still offers spine-chilling jump scares. Learn, laugh, and scream with your best gal pals at the Edinburgh Dungeon.
4. Get Sporty at Fox Lake Adventures
Our next unique hen idea is perfect for athletic and outdoorsy brides-to-be. Fox Lake Adventures is ideal for groups looking for an escape from the usual city setting. You can experience adrenaline-inducing activities, such as Foxfall Ropes, Ringo Rides, Segway tours, wakeboarding, and zip trails in one convenient location.
The award-winning destination is the country’s first cable wakeboarding park and offers the UK’s only ropes course built over water. It stands in a majestic area on the edge of John Muir Way, right in the heart of East Lothian. No matter what your skill level or appetite for adventure is, they have activities for you. You can enjoy several extreme sports or hang around at the lakeside with your mates.
If you only have one day to get together with your friends, we recommended afternoon wakeboarding sessions and Segway tours. You can order lunch in advance through their in-house café, which provides a wide range of food options.
Make Fox Lake Adventures part of your hen party. They have fun outdoor activities, breathtaking views, and friendly employees. This adventure will be one for the books, the kind you will talk about for many years to come!
5. Holistic Healing with Jade Like The Stone
Jade Like The Stone is a holistic healer and intuitive guide who will completely open your mind and bring a sense of peace to your group
Her focus is on lunar healing, tarot readings, reiki, and guided meditation. Jade will come to your accommodation and plan the session in advance. All you need to do is relax and let her take you on a spell-binding journey.
6. Champagne Breakfast at the Lookout
Give the team behind Gardener’s Cottage credit for The Lookout’s remarkable dining experience. The Lookout offers the best dining experience Scotland can offer, with its mouth-watering food, ample champagne selection, and stunning views on all sides. We highly recommend The Lookout for epicurean brides-to-be.
The chefs create changing menus, depending on the product availability of their preferred suppliers. They use earthy and fresh ingredients that showcase the best natural flavours with every dish. Each visit is a unique and memorable experience.
Apart from the delicious food and breathtaking views, you will also be impressed with how accommodating and knowledgeable the staff is. You can call ahead and inform the staff about food preferences and allergies, like if anyone in your group observes a vegetarian, keto, or paleo diet. Whatever your food preferences are, you can enjoy a different champagne selection with every course.
Pro-tip: for special requests, we recommend speaking directly with Chef Dyland Pinder. He’ll create personalized courses just for you.
Eat, drink, and reminisce about the good ol’ days at The Lookout.
7. Visit the Edinburgh Castle
The iconic fortress is ideal for history buffs. This historical site stands on top of The Royal Mile on an extinct volcano. It provides some of the best views in the country.
The castle was constructed in 1109 and is now home to the Scottish National War Memorial. Our ancestors used this tower as a royal residence and a military base for a long time. Believe it or not, some of the original structures are still intact today!
This ancient building is open year-round from 9:30 AM until 5:00 PM in the winter and 6:00 PM in the summer. Every August, the castle holds the Edinburgh Military Tattoo during the Edinburgh International Festival. During the celebration, international pipe bands and entertainers perform on the esplanade. If you want to witness the festivities, you have to book your tickets months in advance. They sell out rather quickly.
The castle does not offer board and lodging, but you can carry on with your hen party in nearby pubs and hotels.
8. Join a Silent Disco Tour
One of the most energetic activities on our list of hen activities Edinburgh edition is perfect for impulsive music lovers. If you often find yourself singing and dancing along to your favourite songs, you will enjoy a Silent Disco Tour by Silent Adventures. They offer 60-minute tours, which you can incorporate on a fun-filled day with your entourage.
The company behind these tours promises a roaming, rhythmic riot across Edinburgh. It means joining a sight-singing group across the streets, flash mob-style. With their services, you get to enjoy a song-and-dance journey while learning new things about Edinburgh.
The musically instructed adventure allows participants to show off their dance moves and stunning voices to unsuspecting spectators. Your hi-tech headsets will provide you with hits from different decades to power you through the song-and-dance adventure through the famous streets of Edinburgh.
The 60-minute tour will feed your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages fun and energetic content for weeks. Join a Silent Disco Tour to let loose with your friends and give the Spice Girls a run for their money!
9. Create a Foodie Spread with Crunch Platters
This idea is perfect for foodie brides-to-be. Check out Crunch Platters — they offer a wide range of colourful boxes filled with cheese, charcuterie, and treats. As much as possible, they use top-quality local Scottish produce.
Charcuterie boards bring together craft and food cultures, making them a welcome sight to any table. There’s also something for everyone in such platters, ideal for a group of friends with different food preferences. Talk, laugh, eat, and drink the night away.
Additionally, the innovative team at Crunch Platters does bespoke grazing tables. You can let them know if you want them to prepare your table instead of creating a DIY one. They also have some wines that will go well with their charcuterie boxes or grazing tables. Step up your food game with Crunch Platters.
10. Get Your Nails Done at The Nail Gal
The Nail Gal is the perfect way to end a full day of self-care hen party activities. The Loft offers group bookings ideal for you and your girls. The staff at The Nail Gal are experts at nail art, flawless manicures, and self-care. They provide modern nail art services in a wide array of colour palettes and styles, each design customized for the client.
On a side note, they also offer free repair for the first seven days if you chip a nail. How cool is that?
We love Jen’s classic but glittery work, such as the Houndstooth with a Twist. The pop of gold on each nail would look great on your big day!
11. Enjoy the Night Life at Tiger Lily
Reminisce epic party nights with Tiger Lily, an all-around hen party destination. The popular tourist spot has a restaurant, bar, club, and hotel — everything you and your friends need for a legendary night or weekend.
The ambience is luxurious and stylish. Every inch of the place is picturesque, from the detailed interiors to the colourful motifs. We also love the food; everything is mouth-watering and picture-perfect.
We love their extensive wine and cocktail list and bar staff that are happy to concoct off-menu creations if you’re looking for something different. Tourists and locals relish weekends at Tiger Lily, the most talked-about restaurant, bar, club, and hotel in Edinburgh.
If you and your friends are up for a night or weekend of dressing up, glam cocktails, and drinks, there’s no place more highly recommended than Tiger Lily. Remember to book rooms, events, and tables ahead of time. They reach their full capacity quite fast.
Choose Your Hen Party
We hope you found our guide helpful. Whether you or your gal pals are planning your hen party, it should be all about what you want. Show them this list to inspire them to arrange a party that you will enjoy and remember.
If you're looking for a more bespoke plan, then get in touch with our Hen Do Party Planner.
Congratulations on your wedding! Before you say hello to married life, bid your single life farewell with an epic celebration of your friendships, passions, and successes.