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Southampton Hen Party Ideas

Organising an unforgettable hen weekend? Southampton is a brilliant destination. Located on the beautiful south coast of England, and known as the cruise capital of Northern Europe, Southampton welcomes over four million visitors per year, so you’ll be in good company if you’re planning a hen party! Southampton is a cosmopolitan and cultured city with a great range of attractions, bars and shopping so you’re bound to find something to suit you.

The city centre is easy to explore on foot, being relatively compact. Southampton Tourist Guides Association arrange walking tours, or you might like to follow the QE2 Mile, a walking route which will take you to the Cenotaph, Holy Rood church, the Titanic memorial, the Bargate, and links parks, the cultural quarter, the high street, the Old Town and the Waterfront too!

Southampton is closely connected to the sea, so a boat trip is a must. Blue Funnel Ferries offer harbour and river cruises with full bar facilities, or you can take a short round-trip on the Hythe Ferry which lets you get up close to the cruise liners. To get your heart pumping, take a trip with Seadogz, who offer exhilarating white-knuckle rides on the Solent in rigid inflatable boats – but be prepared to get wet!

The Old Town, with the 800 year old medieval Bargate standing at its entrance, has many hidden treasures and makes for a fascinating walk. You’ll feel you’ve stepped back in time as you tour the medieval vaults and sip a tankard of ale (or a girlier alternative if that’s not your tipple!) at the twelfth century Duke of Wellington pub. History fans will enjoy the 15th century Tudor House Museum and Garden which has recently been lovingly restored.

Of course, Southampton is synonymous with all things maritime, so a trip to the SeaCity Museum may be in order; the museum has exhibitions on the city’s connection with the sea, and the Titanic (the ship set sail from Southampton’s waterfront). If you want to know more about the Titanic, you can follow the Titanic Trail, a walking tour which takes you to sights related to the ill-fated liner. Southampton’s cultural quarter lies in the north of the city – the elegant art deco City Art Gallery houses a collection of over 3500 works of international repute, spanning six centuries. Meanwhile, the work of up and coming artists and designers can be found in the nearby Millais Gallery.

Further out of town, Manor Farm Country Park is a working Victorian farm complete with costumed characters, where you can take a look at life in a bygone era, enjoy the spectacular views as you stroll along the River Hamble, or take a picnic and chill out on the grass. In addition, Southampton is the closest city to the beautiful New Forest; great for cycling, walking, horse-riding or just getting back to nature.

With over 500 retail outlets in Southampton, shoppers will be spoilt for choice. The main shopping district of the city is centred around Above Bar Street, London Road, High Street and East Street. WestQuay Mall and Marlands Mall offer high street names, and the area around Bedford Place is a hive of activity, with many bars and restaurants as well as a wide selection of independent and upmarket shops, while the historic Bargate area has regular markets.

After dark, the nightlife in Southampton has lots to offer to your hen party – try the Orange Rooms, an independent cocktail lounge with a selection of themed rooms, the stylish Ninety Degrees, Firehouse, a late-night rock and metal pub, or the Hobbit, a traditional English pub with a huge beer garden and theme nights.