Edinburgh is made for a hen party. The centre is small enough to walk from a cocktail class to a whisky bar to a late club, and the castle on its rock does a lot of the work for your photos.
We’ve pulled together 55 hen do ideas for 2026, from daytime fun and dining to private rooms and nightlife, and checked each one against the venue’s own website. Where a price isn’t published, we say so, so you can confirm it when you reserve.
Use the table below to shortlist, then jump to the activities, food, private rooms and nightlife sections. Most hen groups mix one daytime activity, a long dinner and a late bar, and that rhythm works well in a city this size. It’s also more fun when nobody has to rush.
Updated 2 November 2026: every venue re-checked, closed businesses removed and prices refreshed from official sites.
Edinburgh Hen Party Ideas at a Glance
| # | Idea | Area | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Alchemist class | St James Quarter | From £40 | A hands-on start |
| 2 | Holyrood Distillery tour | Southside | From £25 | Gin and whisky fans |
| 3 | Johnnie Walker Princes Street | Princes Street | From £25 | Rooftop views |
| 4 | Boom Battle Bar | Omni Centre | Confirm when booking | Competitive hens |
| 5 | Supercube | Two central sites | Confirm when booking | Singing in your own room |
| 6 | The Real Mary King’s Close | High Street | From £25 | An underground tour |
| 7 | Manahatta | Central Edinburgh | £39.95 | Daytime fizz |
| 8 | Signet Library tea | Parliament Square | £75 | A bride who likes things classy |
| 9 | Edinburgh Dance Centre class | Edinburgh | From £140 per party | Learning a routine together |
| 10 | Club Tropicana | Lothian Road | Confirm when booking | A 70s and 80s night |
Prices are the lowest published on each venue’s site in November 2026 and can change, so always check before you pay.
What’s Changed in 2026
- Ninja Warrior UK Edinburgh has closed, so the obstacle park is gone from this list.
- The Summerhall Drinks Lab gin boat cruise no longer trades, and ESFW (Edinburgh School of Food and Wine) has stopped running classes.
- Portobello Turkish Baths are closed for repairs, so we point you to One Spa instead.
- We couldn’t confirm Fore Play is still open; Fayre Play now trades from the same address on Picardy Place.
- New for 2026: Boom Battle Bar, Fayre Play, Edinburgh Gin, The Real Mary King’s Close, two stand-up clubs and three new daytime deals.
Cocktail Classes, Gin Tours and Whisky Tasting
A drinks class is the classic way to break the ice on the first afternoon of an Edinburgh hen do, and the city has more distilleries and cocktail bars than you could fit into one weekend.
1. Cocktail Masterclass at The Voodoo Rooms
The Voodoo Rooms is an ornate bar just behind Princes Street. Its class lets you shake cocktails with a bartender and takes up to 12 guests, so it suits a smaller hen party. Voodoo Rooms details.
Where & when: 19a West Register Street, by Waverley; times on request.
2. Cocktail Making at The Alchemist
The Alchemist runs classes lasting 60 to 90 minutes, depending on numbers. There are three packages from £40 a head, so making cocktails here is a fun opener. See The Alchemist packages.
Where & when: St James Quarter, east end of Princes Street.
3. Revolution Cocktail Class
Revolution’s 90-minute class is a great-value pick for a bigger hen group. It’s for six or more, everyone shakes at least four cocktails, and prices start from £25 (they vary by venue). Check Revolution class dates.
Where & when: Revolution Edinburgh; confirm the slot when booking.
4. Holyrood Distillery Tour
Holyrood Distillery makes both gin and whisky. The signature guided tour walks you through production in about an hour, from £25 each plus a fee, with tours every day. You can also reserve a Holyrood gin tour here.
Where & when: 19 St Leonard’s Lane, Southside; daily tours.
5. Pickering’s Gin at Summerhall Distillery
Pickering’s describes its Summerhall site as the first exclusive gin distillery in Edinburgh in over 150 years. Tours with gin tasting are listed from £10 a head excluding VAT, with space for large groups. Reserve a Pickering’s tour or see the distillery’s options.
Where & when: Summerhall, 1 Summerhall Place; confirm times when booking.
6. 56 North Gin Distillery
56 North calls itself Scotland’s original gin bar, kitchen and working distillery, home to South Loch gin. Daily tastings run for 60 to 90 minutes and cost £15 to £50 each excluding VAT, depending on the package. Reserve a 56 North tasting, or read our 56 North guide.
Where & when: 2 West Crosscauseway; open 11am–9pm daily.
7. Edinburgh Gin at The Arches
The Classic Tour & Tasting lasts around 65 minutes, costs £28 each plus a fee and takes a maximum of 12 guests, so two back-to-back slots can cover a bigger hen group. Edinburgh Gin tours. For more see our gin tours guide.
Where & when: The Arches, East Market Street, EH8 8FS.
8. Johnnie Walker Princes Street
The Journey of Flavour tour runs about 1.5 hours from £25, and there’s a five-hour party package (8pm to 1am) at £115 a head for a hen night with a difference.
Finish at the 1820 rooftop bar for castle views. Johnnie Walker tickets.
Where & when: 145 Princes Street; daily.
9. Scotch Whisky Experience
Beside the castle, the Silver Tour costs £25 for 50 minutes, while the Gold Tour (£39.75, 75 minutes) pours five whiskies and is 18+ only. Prefer to walk? Try this whisky tasting tour or our whisky tours guide.
Where & when: Castlehill, top of the Royal Mile; daily.
Daytime Hen Party Activities
If your crew would rather laugh than drink before dinner, these hen activities keep everyone busy without needing a bar.
10. Life Drawing with Hens with Pens
Hens with Pens runs life drawing across the UK, including Edinburgh. Sessions last 60 or 90 minutes with a male or female model, and there’s a non-nude option if the bride to be prefers it. It’s silly, giggly fun. Book Hens with Pens.
Where & when: At your accommodation or a venue you hire.
11. Burlesque with Sassy Von Sparkle
The Sassy School of Burlesque teaches a showgirl routine at its own studio, with bubbles on arrival, and the hen goes free. Sassy Von Sparkle dates.
Where & when: In-house studio in Edinburgh; confirm the address when booking.
12. Themed Dance Class
Edinburgh Dance Centre runs themed hen dance classes such as The Greatest Showman. One hour costs £140 for the party, or £160 for 90 minutes, plus venue hire, with £50 payable up front to secure the date. Edinburgh Dance Centre packages.
Where & when: Edinburgh Dance Centre; confirm venue hire when booking.
13. Highland Games
Gohen splits your hen group into clans for caber tossing and haggis hurling, with medals and whisky for the winners. Good fun for competitive types. Gohen Highland Games.
Where & when: Location confirmed on booking.
14. Bootcamp Fitness Session
Essential Adventure runs a personalised hen bootcamp with tyre flips, log carries, kettlebells, battle ropes and sandbags. It’s a good shake-out on the morning after. See the bootcamp.
Where & when: Outdoors in Edinburgh; confirm when booking.
15. Indoor Climbing
Alien Rock opened in 1994 as Scotland’s first dedicated indoor climbing centre and runs group sessions. For bigger walls, EICA Ratho runs climbs at a 1:6 instructor ratio, and Eden Rock, just south of the city, has Scotland’s biggest indoor bouldering wall.
Where & when: Newhaven, Ratho and south Edinburgh; reserve sessions in advance.
16. Aerial Hoop and Pole
Freedom of Flight Aerial takes hen bookings for aerial classes at its Aerial Haven studio. A fun way to try something new. Freedom of Flight.
Where & when: Aerial Haven, 60 Newhaven Road, EH6 5QB.
17. Foxlake Adventures in Dunbar
Foxlake has wakeboarding, an aqua park and FoxFall, the UK’s first ropes course over water. Warm up afterwards in the Hot Fox sauna. Foxlake activities, and see things to do in Dunbar.
Where & when: Dunbar, on the East Lothian coast; check seasonal opening.
18. Forth Bridges Cruise
Maid of the Forth sails from Hawes Pier on a 90-minute cruise under all three Forth bridges, from £18 per adult. Reserve the cruise, then grab lunch in South Queensferry.
Where & when: Hawes Pier, South Queensferry; check sailing dates.
19. Outlander Day Tour
Fans of the series can join a full-day Outlander filming locations tour from Edinburgh, a relaxed day out before an evening in town.
Where & when: Departs central Edinburgh; check the meeting point when booking.
20. Spa Day at One Spa
One Spa at the Sheraton Grand has a rooftop hydropool, a thermal suite and a 19-metre pool, making it the easiest central spa for a recovery session. One Spa.
Where & when: 8 Conference Square.
Karaoke, Axe Throwing and Games Bars
Competitive socialising has taken off in Edinburgh. Most of these games venues take hen bookings with drinks packages, so you can pre-pay and relax.
21. Private Karaoke at Supercube
Supercube has private rooms at two sites, so your party gets its own room, and the bride to be can pick the first song. Book Supercube.
Where & when: 58a George Street and 237 Cowgate.
22. Boom Battle Bar
Boom Battle Bar’s activities include axe throwing, AR darts, beer and prosecco pong, crazier golf, shuffleboard, American pool and a private singing pod. Boom Battle Bar.
Where & when: Units 3 & 4, Omni Centre, EH1 3AU.
23. Lane7
Lane7 packs eight activities into one St James Quarter venue: bowling, mini golf, darts, pool, shuffleboard, shooting pods, arcade games and beer pong. Book Lane7.
Where & when: St James Quarter.
24. Roxy Lanes
Roxy Lanes’ activities include bowling, shuffleboard, curling, pool, karaoke and beer pong under one roof. Book Roxy Lanes.
Where & when: 26 Rose Street.
25. Fayre Play
Fayre Play bills itself as Scotland’s first funfair games experience for adults, with nine fairground-style games, cocktails and street food. It’s a fun alternative to crazy golf for a party with mixed tastes. Book Fayre Play.
Where & when: 14 Picardy Place, EH1 3JT.
26. Escape Rooms at Locked In Edinburgh
Locked In Edinburgh has four escape rooms for 2 to 29 players, each 60 minutes, so a big hen group can split into teams and race. Locked In rooms.
Where & when: Summerhall, 1 Summerhall Place.
27. Silent Disco Walking Tour
Silent Adventures runs a one-hour guided dance walk around the city, with everyone in headphones. Expect plenty of stares. Reserve the silent disco tour.
Where & when: Starts in the city centre; check the meeting point.
Ghost Tours and Old Town Experiences
Edinburgh’s medieval closes and vaults are full of stories. These tours suit hens who want a laugh and a scare between bars.
28. Underground Vaults Tour
Mercat Tours takes you into the Blair Street Underground Vaults below the streets. Reserve a vaults ghost tour or read our vaults tour guide.
Where & when: Mercat Cross, Royal Mile; check tour times.
29. Ghost Bus Tours
This 75-minute theatrical tour runs on a 1960s bus, with actors telling darker stories of the city. Reserve the Ghost Bus, and see more Edinburgh ghost tours.
Where & when: Check the departure point and times when booking.
30. The Edinburgh Dungeon
Actors, sets and dark humour bring history to life at the Dungeon. Tickets start from £19 when bought in advance; the Drop Ride is closed until further notice. It’s a good wet-weather hen option. Edinburgh Dungeon tickets.
Where & when: 31 Market Street, EH1 1DF.
31. The Real Mary King’s Close
This one-hour guided tour heads underground into hidden 17th-century closes. In 2026 adult tickets cost £25 or £28.50, and private tours for up to 20 guests start from £475. Mary King’s Close tickets.
Where & when: High Street, Royal Mile; daily.
32. Witches Walking Tour
A witches walking tour tells the story of Scotland’s witch trials. Pair it with our guide to spooky Edinburgh legends.
Where & when: Old Town; check the meeting point when booking.
33. Harry Potter Walking Tour
Join a Harry Potter walking tour of spots linked to the books, or follow our Harry Potter sites map at your own pace.
Where & when: Old Town; check the meeting point when booking.
34. Sherlock Holmes Challenge
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, and this self-guided Sherlock challenge sends your team around town solving clues.
Where & when: Self-guided on your phone; any time.
35. Mythical Creature Treasure Hunt
Teams follow clues on this mythical creature treasure hunt. Look out for the unicorn, Scotland’s national animal, on the Mercat Cross.
Where & when: Self-guided around the Old Town.
36. The Chocolatarium
The Chocolatarium tour lasts about 90 minutes. You make your own bar and finish in a tasting room with more than 40 chocolates. Chocolatarium tickets.
Where & when: Just off the Royal Mile; daily.
Boozy Brunch, Afternoon Tea and Food
Food is half the fun of a hen weekend. Scottish licensing law bans unlimited alcohol for a fixed price, so a bottomless brunch here comes with a set number of drinks.
37. Boozy Brunch Deals
Manahatta serves brunch until 2pm for £39.95, with prosecco on arrival and up to five drinks, and its Boozy Party runs from 2pm at £44.95. Tigerlily starts from £39.95, and Slug and Lettuce on the same street runs its deal seven days a week from £35.45.
Copper Blossom also does a brunch deal; see our brunch in Edinburgh guide for more.
Where & when: Tigerlily, Slug and Lettuce and Copper Blossom are on George Street; check Manahatta’s address when booking.
38. Afternoon Tea
Palm Court at The Balmoral serves its award-winning tea from 12pm to 5pm; confirm the price when you reserve. The Colonnades at the Signet Library costs £75 each, and Le Monde’s published menu lists tea with prosecco at £30 (confirm when booking). More in our guide to the best teas in town.
Where & when: The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street; Signet Library, Parliament Square; Le Monde, 16 George Street.
39. Food Tour
A guided tasting walk is a tasty way to try haggis, cheese and whisky in one afternoon as a group. Compare options in our guide to tasting tours.
Where & when: Old Town and Stockbridge routes.
40. Private Chef or Caterer
Staying in a big house? Paella Chef caters for 20 to 200 people across Edinburgh and the Lothians, and The Party Duck offers barbecues, buffets and canapés, ideal for a house party.
Where & when: Delivered to your accommodation.
Private Dining Rooms and Hen Packages
Your own room keeps the group together and means you pick the music. All of these venues take hen parties.
41. Devil’s Cut at Angel’s Share Hotel
The private bar beneath the Angel’s Share Hotel holds 30 to 150 guests, one of the few options for really large hen groups. Devil’s Cut enquiries.
Where & when: Beneath the Angel’s Share Hotel; confirm the address when booking.
42. Angels with Bagpipes
This kitchen and wine bar has a private dining room with free room hire, good for a sit-down hen dinner. Angels with Bagpipes event space.
Where & when: 343 High Street, Royal Mile.
43. Badger & Co
Toad Hall, the room under Badger & Co, seats up to 16 with a minimum of 10, a good size for a smaller hen. Toad Hall details.
Where & when: Castle Street, New Town.
44. Chaophraya
Chaophraya’s Castle View room seats 16, and the whole restaurant can be hired for a party of up to 150. Chaophraya private dining, or try our Thai restaurants guide.
Where & when: Central Edinburgh, with castle views.
45. The Mad Hatter
The basement White Room holds a party of up to 50, has its own bar and lets you play your own music. It’s free to hire with a deposit. White Room hire.
Where & when: Mad Hatter bar, central Edinburgh.
46. Three Sisters Hen Package
The Three Sisters package costs £35 each with a welcome drink on arrival, and there’s dinner and a party atmosphere on site. Three Sisters packages.
Where & when: 139 Cowgate.
47. Private Cinema Screening
The Dominion’s Gold Two screen seats a party of up to 61 guests, from £590 plus VAT, and the Scotsman Picturehouse also takes private hire. Hire the Dominion.
Where & when: Dominion, Morningside; Scotsman Picturehouse, North Bridge.
Edinburgh Nightlife: Bars, Clubs and Comedy
Edinburgh bars stay open late, and some clubs run until 3am. These are the best streets and venues for a hen night.
48. George Street Bars
The Dome is a bar, restaurant and nightclub open seven days, and Le Monde next door is a bar and hotel. Add Copper Blossom and Tigerlily for an easy bar crawl, or let a guide plan it on this pub crawl.
Where & when: The Dome, 14 George Street; Le Monde, 16 George Street.
49. Rose Street Pubs
Pedestrianised Rose Street is lined with pubs. Try the Black Cat for whisky and live folk music and Fierce Beer for craft beer; Rose Street Garden serves street food and cocktails in season. See our beer gardens guide.
Where & when: Black Cat, 168 Rose Street; Fierce Beer, 167 Rose Street.
50. Grassmarket Pubs
This old square sits under the castle. The Last Drop is a traditional pub, and Cold Town House has three floors and a rooftop with a retractable roof. More in our Old Town pubs guide and rooftop bars guide.
Where & when: Grassmarket, EH1 2JU.
51. Live Music Bars
Stramash has live bands every day and stays open until 3am, and Bannerman’s is a rock and whisky bar with live music.
Where & when: Stramash, 207 Cowgate; Bannerman’s, 212 Cowgate, EH1 1NQ.
52. The Shack
The Shack plays 60s to 00s hits at weekends, so it’s ideal for party singalongs. The Shack on Facebook.
Where & when: 119 Rose Street; weekends.
53. Club Tropicana
Club Tropicana is a 70s and 80s retro club that welcomes hen parties and also runs daytime discos, which are great fun. Club Tropicana.
Where & when: 23 Lothian Road.
54. Brewhemia
Brewhemia is a bar and kitchen beside Waverley station with plenty of room for a hen party. Brewhemia.
Where & when: 1A Market Street, EH1 1DE.
55. Comedy Clubs
Monkey Barrel has shows every night, and The Stand, which opened in 1995, has shows seven nights a week. Either makes a good start to a night.
Where & when: Monkey Barrel, Blair Street; The Stand, 5 York Place, EH1 3EB.
Planning Your Edinburgh Hen Weekend
When to Go
August is the busiest month because of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, when prices rise. Outside August, rooms are usually easier to find.
Where to Stay
For a big party, a self-catered flat is often cheaper than hotel rooms. Search Airbnb in Edinburgh or read our central Airbnbs guide. Prefer a hotel? See where to stay in Edinburgh and Old Town hotels.
Getting Around
The tram from Edinburgh Airport reaches the centre in about 30 to 35 minutes; see airport transfers. Most venues here are walkable within the city centre.
Budget and Deposits
Most venues want money up front to hold a date, so collect money early. Our Edinburgh prices guide helps you plan spending, and our packing list covers the weather.
Hen Party Organising Tips
- Book the main activity first, then plan meals and bars around it. Popular group slots at weekends go weeks ahead.
- Ask each venue what counts as a group: some cap numbers at 10 or 12, others need six or more.
- Collect money from the party early so one organiser isn’t left out of pocket.
- Keep the bride in the loop on the big picture, even if a few surprises stay secret.
- Mix paid activities with free fun: a walk up Calton Hill costs nothing and the city views are great.
- Stay in the city centre so the hen group can walk between activities and bars.
- Check whether a venue allows fancy dress before you buy matching outfits for the whole party.
- Book tables in advance for a large hen, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Hen Party in Edinburgh FAQs
Is Edinburgh good for a hen do?
Yes. The centre is compact, there are dozens of bars, distilleries and clubs within walking distance, and plenty of venues offer packages.
How much does a hen weekend in Edinburgh cost?
Classes and tours start from about £25 a head and daytime fizz deals from about £35. Accommodation is the biggest cost, especially in August.
Can you get bottomless brunch in Edinburgh?
Not in the English sense. Scottish licensing law bans unlimited alcohol for a fixed price, so venues include a set number of drinks, such as up to five at Manahatta.
What are the best things to do?
Popular picks are mixology classes, gin tours, axe throwing, life drawing, a dance class and a ghost tour. Most groups combine one daytime activity, a long dinner and a late bar, and the venues in this guide are close enough together to do all three in one go.
Where do hens go out at night?
The New Town has cocktail bars and Rose Street pubs, the old square below the castle has traditional pubs, and the Cowgate stays open late with live music. Stramash stays open until 3am if you want one more dance.
When should we book?
Reserve weekend slots and private rooms as early as you can, and earlier still for August.
Final Words
That’s our pick of things to do for a hen party in Edinburgh in 2026. Want the weekend captured on camera? Let’s Do It Creative can create photos and videos of your celebration.
Hi, I am just enquiring about your bottomless brunch options- prices/times etc. And also somewhere you could recommend for dinner (nothing fancy/ nice pub grub? for a hen party of about 24 people the end of January.
Thanks in advance
Hey! You can contact the huge list of bottomless brunch bars featured in the guide and restaurants mentioned.