My Southampton Hen Do: A Real Maid of Honour's Review

Editor's Note (December 2025): This real story from a past bride has been updated to ensure all travel tips and activity details are current for the 2025 season.

Southampton is one of the places that I am most fond of. I lived there as a teenager, so from the moment my fiancé Rob proposed, I knew exactly where I wanted to go for my hen do. Luckily my Maid of Honour (my sister Karen) agreed that a **Southampton Hen Do** would be perfect.

I was shut out of all the planning (except the guest list!), so I got into Karen’s car with no idea what was going on. Southampton is a couple of hours' drive away, so we whiled away the journey with vodka jellies and laughter.

Friday: Apartments & A Surprise Visitor

We pulled up at some gorgeous **Self-Catering Apartments**, which Karen told me was where we were staying all weekend. They were high-quality accommodations with comfortable beds and a great lounge area for us all to share a bottle of bubbly.

Once we had unpacked, the doorbell rang. “Who is that?” I asked. Karen answered the door, and a very fit-looking gentleman walked in. Yep, the first activity was a **Stripper**! That’s all I’m going to tell you, except that it was a lot of fun (and he was very fit!).

Friday Night: Bar Crawl & Clubbing

After the stripper, we headed out to grab a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant to soak up the alcohol. Feeling more sober, we hit the town.

Karen had arranged **Guest List Entry** everywhere. The range of bars and pubs we visited meant we were on a full-on bar crawl. We made it to the end, where we got into Southampton's biggest nightclub and danced until the early hours.

Saturday: Pampering & Cocktails

I woke up groggy and hungover, but Karen had populated the apartment with excellent breakfast snacks. We chilled out until 2 pm, when the doorbell rang again.

This time it was a **Mobile Pamper** team! We all had shoulder and neck massages, and the girls treated me to a facial. It was much needed after the hard drinking the night before!

But Karen wasn't done. After the pampering, another knock at the door revealed a **Mobile Cocktail Making** team! They set up a private class right in our lounge. We played games, made every cocktail you can think of, and drank lots of them. Having everything brought to us was amazing—no walking in heels required!

Saturday Night: Cheesy Tunes

For our second night, we ordered food in while getting ready. We decided to go for quality over quantity with the bars, having a few drinks in each place. We found ourselves in a **Cheesy 80s/90s Club** which was more relaxed than the night before. It was the perfect place for the single ladies to get chatted up!

The Verdict

This Southampton hen do was the best I have ever been on, even though it was mine! If you are looking for somewhere that can host the perfect hen do, Southampton is definitely the place to be.

The Stag and Hen Experience has been creating bespoke weekends since 2009. If you want to replicate this itinerary, get in touch on 01202 566100 or browse our Plan the ultimate Southampton hen do. Discover city centre hotels, cocktail masterclasses, and the best nightlife on Oxford Street.Guide to start planning.