Top stag and hen weekends in the UK

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How do you know it's summer and you're over 30? It feels like you're attending a wedding every other weekend, that's how. Weddings themselves can sometimes be a bit of a chore, but for every wedding there's the unashamedly over-the-top same-sex bonding ritual that makes all the speeches and photos worth well. Here are some of our favourite stag and hen do ideas...



zorbing

Zorbing
When else would it be appropriate to climb inside a giant inflatable hamster ball (possibly filled with water) and be hurtled down a hill than at a stag or hen do? Silly and absurd fun is what they're all about in the end. And it doesn’t get more silly and absurd than zorbing. For zorbing in the South West see Zorb South, but there are places to Zorb all over Britain, so check online for other locations.

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Burlesque shows
Strip clubs are so two-thousand-and-lame. For something elegant, erotic and laced with sophisticated humour rather than laced with, well, lace, try a modern burlesque show. Great for stags and hens, you can enjoy artistic striptease, flamboyant costumes, unapologetic bawdy humour, cabaret and more. Check out theatre and cabaret club listings for current shows.

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clay pigeon shooting

Spa hotel and clay pigeon shooting
Treat your hen or stag to a relaxing massage and sumptuous spa treatments at one of Britain's elegant country house spa hotels. And what better way to follow up this heavenly indulgence than by smashing flying discs of clay to smithereens with a double-barrel shot gun? You'll find a host of countryside sports offered, or nearby, most rural spa hotels providing the perfect combination of relaxation and shooting things.

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Blackpool weekender
You can't mention stag and hen dos without acknowledging Blackpool as the hen and stag do capital of Britain. Chic it ain't, but that's all part of the shamelessly kitsch, larger-than-life character that makes it so appealing to your mischievous side. Expect lots of 'L'-plates and devil horns with the backdrop of Britain's most popular seaside attraction and plenty of low-brow cheekiness as groups of stags and hens cross paths.

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zorbing

A day at the races
There are around 60 racecourses in Britain with meets every week, so a day at the races is a sure fire way to liven up your stag or hen do wherever you are. And to potentially win a bit of beer money too! Although that might not last too long as most racecourses come equipped with superb bars where you can enjoy the thrill of the race with a drink in one hand and your next dare card in the other.

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Hire a canal boat
There are hundreds of miles of navigable canals in Britain... with hundreds of pubs to stop off at on the way and scare a few locals, sorry we mean mingle with a few locals. Don't worry if you haven't got a skipper in your group, most narrowboat hire places can also provide an able captain if need be, which considering the number of potential pub stops is probably a good idea all round!

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casino

Night at the casino
You might have to leave the nuns outfits and fireman uniforms at home for this one, but hey, what better stag or hen theme is there than James Bond? Get all dressed up in tuxes or evening dresses and head to one of the 130 casinos in Britain. Not only can you enjoy the thrill of a flutter on the tables, but many of the larger casinos also offer world-class restaurants, cocktail bars, along with show-stopping entertainment.

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Rock band day
Forget Guitar Hero, unleash your inner rock god with a full-on rock band day where you and your gang perform your favourite, and no doubt cheesiest, songs in a recording studio with a professional producer. Don't worry if you're tone deaf and can't feel a beat, that's all part of the fun. Besides, that's where the producer and synthesisers come in. And at the end of the day you'll get your own recording of the session to show off... or hide in a drawer somewhere.

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a tent with a view

Camping and watersports
Getting wet 'n' wild and rolling around on the ground might sound like the average stag or hen do to you, but this is something a whole lot more entertaining than what you're thinking of. And you'll remember it in the morning. Camping is ideal for a bit of tribal bonding. Mix this with surfing, wakeboarding and a beach partying and you have an unbeatable hen or stag experience. See Cornwall for great camping and surf spots.

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Indoor skydiving and paintballing
Go commando with this adrenaline-fuelled hen or stag do experience. Imagine a wind tunnel capable of creating an airstream of up to 150mph. Turn it upright and step into the airflow. Suddenly, you're flying. This is the Airkix experience in Milton Keynes. And while Milton Keynes isn't one of Britain's most famous tourist destinations, it's great for stag and hen dos. The city boasts indoor skydiving, real-snow skiing and snowboarding, water-skiing, sailing and, of course, paintballing to finish off your killer trip.

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More wedding essentials:
- Top stag and hen weekends outside the UK
- Best wedding and honeymoon destinations
- Avoid these wedding cons

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