Top Spots: Best Nightlife in the UK
Planning your hen weekend is a huge deal. It’s your last blowout before the big day, so this event must be a day to remember.
When it comes to picking the destination, it’s essential that your chosen party city has the best nightlife, and is well-connected. Thankfully, the Hen Weekends team is here to free up some pages in your party planner by doing some of your hard work!
We’ve picked out some of the best UK cities for nightlife, from Instagrammable interiors to cute cocktails; read on below.
Liverpool | Lancashire, England
Liverpool is known as a party capital, so it’s an easy inclusion in our list of the best nightlife cities in the UK. It’s renowned for its friendly locals and a fantastic selection of restaurants, bars and clubs.
There’s plenty of choice on offer, with no two venues the same and a vibrant array of attractions to go with them. Although Concert Square is ideal for day drinks, good food and laidback vibes, you’ll find trendy haunts down by Albert Docks, and the Cavern Quarter will cater for all of your clubbing needs.
• Cocktail bar of choice: Be At One | 📷 www.instagram.com/beatone.liverpool
Fantastic cocktails, great tunes and the right vibe to get your party started.
Brighton | East Sussex, England
If it’s sea and pebbles you’re searching for,
Brighton is a must-visit hen weekend destination. It’s famed for its laidback, liberal attitude and modern culture, and such attributes have led to Brighton’s title as the LGBTQ capital of the UK.
You’ll find plenty of sass, shows and sequins to secure the most fabulous weekend away! Brighton is packed full of cabaret, clubs, cocktail bars and karaoke joints, so if putting on your stilettos and belting out your best Miley Cyrus is on the cards, this South Coast hot spot is the one.
• Cocktail bar of choice: GungHo! | 📷 www.instagram.com/gunghobar
Creative cocktails right on the seafront using sustainable, British produce.
London | Greater London, England
Although it’s on the pricey side,
London simply can’t be ignored on our list of hen weekend options. The world is your oyster in England’s capital city; think of an activity or the most obscure events, and you’ll undoubtedly find it here.
Take in a show in the famous West End, unwind with some retail therapy on one of London’s many famous streets or let loose in one of the many clubs in London. There’s a selection of things that’ll appeal to all tastes, plus plenty of hotels and apartments depending on your desired area.
• Cocktail bar of choice: Fitz's | 📷 www.instagram.com/fitzsbar
Relive the Great Gatsby in this glamorous, Grade II-listed drinking den.
Blackpool | Lancashire, England
At the opposite end of the expenditure scale to London is the Lancashire seaside resort of
Blackpool. This cheap and cheerful town knows how to throw a party, and it’s home to the famous Pleasure Beach where you’ll find theme park rides, amusements and bars galore along the beach.
Blackpool is a place where your hen party can let their hair down, and as it’s one of the camp capitals of the UK, you can catch a drag show or spot of ballroom dancing (Strictly style) all before hitting the clubs.
• Cocktail bar of choice: Revolution | 📷 www.instagram.com/revolution.blackpool
Tasty food, crazy cocktails, bottomless brunches, sequins, sparklers, and shows capture the Blackpool vibe.
Edinburgh | Lothian, Scotland
Edinburgh is a city steeped in culture and history, and it also makes a cracking place for a fun-filled hen weekend. Famed for its Fringe Festival, it’s no surprise that you’ll find plenty of comedy clubs and shows to keep the group entertained. There are also a whopping three male strip clubs (if that’s your kind of thing!).
Along with the wealth of entertainment on offer, you’ll also find 20 cocktail bars and 12 nightclubs dotted around the city, many of them located in the famous Queen Street area at the city's heart.
• Cocktail bar of choice: Bramble Bar | 📷 www.instagram.com/bramble_bar
Super cool cocktails, cosy corners, open fires and chilled hip hop beats.
Manchester | Lancashire, England
Famous for its music scene,
Manchester has produced many successful acts inspired by the city. This destination has also inspired many bars and pubs, and you’ll undoubtedly find some of the best nightlife in the UK on offer here.
From the laidback, multi-cultural eateries and cocktails bars of the Northern Quarter and Deansgate to fabulous shows and more by Canal Street, there’s something to match whatever the energy of your hen do before hitting the clubs in Manchester!
• Cocktail bar of choice: Dusk til Pawn | 📷 www.instagram.com/dusktilpawnnq
Deliciously creative cocktails in a quirky pawnshop setting.
Newcastle | Tyne & Wear, England
Newcastle is the epitome of a party city, packed with pubs and clubs that appeal to all tastes; plus plenty of activities and events in the city centre to keep the whole party entertained.
Everything in the northeast city is very accessible, making it ideal for larger parties wandering around a little worse for wear! However, when it comes to bars in Newcastle, there’s an overwhelming selection to choose from, so we recommend picking out what will appeal most to your hen party and planning a route from there!
Jesmond and Osbourne Street are among the most popular areas to start at, while the buzzing Bigg Market area and Diamond Strip will let you live your best Geordie Shore life!
• Cocktail bar of choice: Above Rooftop | 📷 www.instagram.com/abovencl
Insta-ready rooftop bar serving up panoramic views and classy cocktails.
Glasgow | Western Lowlands of Scotland
Glasgow should be a go-to if you’re looking for a big hen weekend and the ultimate send-off. The proximity of bars in Glasgow, plus plenty of pubs and clubs, means it’s ideal for getting around on foot and barhopping to your heart’s content.
The city’s Sub Club is among the world’s most famous nightclubs, providing you with a massive party atmosphere to remember your hen weekend. However, before going all out, there are plenty of Glasgow areas worth checking out, notably Bath Street, Sauchiehall Street, Union Street, and West Regent Street.
You’ll find 18 cocktail bars and 19 nightclubs (and counting) around the Scottish city, giving Glasgow its well-earned reputation as Scotland’s party capital.
• Cocktail bar of choice: Tiki Bar & Kitsch Inn | 📷 www.instagram.com/tikibarglasgow
Tropical cocktails, delicious Thai food, fantastic music and group games.
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