How to Set a Group Budget for a London Hen Night

Planning a hen night in London? It’s exciting - but also easy to blow your budget if you don’t set clear limits upfront. Groups of friends often start with big ideas: luxury hotels, VIP clubs, private cocktails, photo booths, and fancy dinners. Then someone books a £150-per-person cab ride, another orders a £200 champagne tower, and suddenly everyone’s stressed about who owes what. The fix? Set a group budget before you book anything. Here’s how to do it right - without killing the vibe.

Start with a real conversation, not a poll

Don’t just send a WhatsApp poll asking, ‘How much are you happy to spend?’ That’s how you end up with three people saying £50 and two saying £300. Instead, call a quick group video call. Say something like: ‘We’re thinking of doing a London hen weekend in March. I’ve looked at flights and hotels - here’s what’s realistic. What’s your max comfortable spend?’ Be upfront about what’s non-negotiable. If you’re flying from Manchester, a £400 flight is likely. If you’re driving from Bristol, maybe £100. Don’t pretend everything’s equal. The goal isn’t fairness - it’s honesty. Most groups settle on a range between £250 and £600 for a 2-3 day trip. That includes flights, accommodation, meals, activities, and a little wiggle room for drinks and surprises. Anything over £700 starts feeling like a luxury holiday, not a hen night.

Break the budget into buckets

Once you have a total, split it into clear categories. This stops people from overspending on one thing and then complaining about the rest. Use this simple breakdown:

• Transport (flights, trains, airport transfers): 30-40%
• Accommodation (hotel or Airbnb for 2-3 nights): 30-35%
• Food and drinks (breakfast, lunch, dinner, bars): 15-20%
• Activities (clubs, cocktails, photo shoots, spa): 10-15%
• Contingency (last-minute treats, tips, lost items): 5%

For example, if your group agrees on £500 per person:

• £175 for travel
• £175 for the hotel
• £90 for meals and drinks
• £60 for activities
• £50 for surprises

Stick to these numbers. If someone wants to upgrade their hotel room, they pay the difference themselves. No group funds for personal upgrades.

Use a shared budget tool - not cash envelopes

Forget collecting cash or Venmo links that get lost. Use a free app like Splitwise or PayPal Friends & Family. Create a group pot with one person as the treasurer. Everyone pays their share upfront. Then, when you book the hotel, the treasurer pays from the pot. Same with the club entry, the taxi, the brunch. This cuts down on stress. No one’s digging through receipts at 2 a.m. asking, ‘Did you pay for that?’ You’ll also avoid the awkward moment when someone says, ‘I can’t afford it,’ after you’ve already booked everything.

Choose your London base wisely

Where you stay affects everything else. Staying in central London (Covent Garden, Soho, Camden) means you’re close to nightlife - but also pay £200+ a night for a double room. If you’re okay with a 20-minute Tube ride, consider areas like Shoreditch, Stratford, or even Canary Wharf. You’ll save £50-£80 per night, and still be within easy reach of bars and clubs. Pro tip: Book a place with a kitchen. Buy snacks, water, and wine for the room. Save £20-£30 per person on overpriced hotel minibars and late-night takeaways.

Pre-book key experiences - don’t wing it

London hen nights aren’t cheap. And if you wait until you’re there to book a cocktail masterclass or a private karaoke room, you’ll pay double. Book these ahead:

• Private cocktail bars - places like The Connaught Bar or The American Bar offer hen packages from £45 per person.
• Themed pub crawls - companies like London Hen Do Tours include entry, drinks, and a guide for £50-£70.
• Photo booths - rent one for the hotel room for £100-£150. Cheaper than hiring a photographer.
• Brunch spots - book a table at The Breakfast Club or Dishoom in advance. Walk-ins wait 90 minutes on weekends.

Don’t forget to check if your hotel offers a free breakfast. That’s £15-£25 saved per person.

Set ground rules for drinks and extras

This is where most budgets explode. Someone says, ‘Let’s do a champagne tower!’ - and suddenly £200 vanishes. Here’s how to avoid it:

• Set a drink limit per person per night - say, £25 max on cocktails or premium spirits.
• Use a cash envelope system for the night out: give everyone £30 cash for drinks. No cards allowed. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
• Agree in advance: no one pays for another person’s drinks unless it’s a pre-planned toast.
• Designate one person as the ‘budget police’ - they say ‘no’ to expensive extras without being the fun killer.

You can still have fun without spending £100 on a single bottle of prosecco. A £12 gin and tonic tastes just as good.

Plan for hidden costs

London has sneaky fees:

• Tube fares - £3.20 per journey with an Oyster card. Buy a 1-day travelcard for £8.20 if you’re hopping around.
• London congestion charge - £15 if you rent a car (don’t rent a car).
• Restaurant service charges - many places add 12.5% automatically. Check the bill.
• Tips - not required, but £1-£2 per drink at bars is polite.
• Bag storage - if you’re arriving early or leaving late, lockers at stations cost £5-£8.

Add these to your contingency fund. If you forget them, someone ends up paying out of pocket - and resentment builds.

What not to do

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Don’t let one person plan everything. That’s how you get a £400 dinner no one wanted.
• Don’t assume everyone can afford the same things. Someone might be saving for a house or paying off student loans.
• Don’t use credit cards for the group pot. Interest charges kill the vibe.
• Don’t book last-minute flights. Prices spike 72 hours before departure.
• Don’t skip the budget talk. Even if it feels awkward - do it early.

Real example: A £450 hen weekend that worked

Last March, a group of six friends from Leeds planned a 3-day London hen night. Here’s what they did:

• Flights: £120 each (booked 8 weeks early)
• Hotel: £135 each (Airbnb in Stratford, 3 bedrooms, kitchen included)
• Food: £60 each (breakfast at the flat, lunch at Pret, dinner at a pub with a set menu)
• Activities: £50 each (private cocktail class + £10 photo booth rental)
• Drinks: £40 each (cash envelope for the night out)
• Contingency: £45 (for Tube, tips, and a surprise cake)

Total: £450. No one owed anyone money. No one felt ripped off. The bride cried when they gave her a handmade scrapbook of the weekend - not because it was expensive, but because it was thoughtful.

Final tip: The best hen night isn’t the most expensive one

It’s the one where everyone feels included, respected, and relaxed. You don’t need a helicopter ride or a private yacht to make someone feel loved. You need clear plans, honest conversations, and a little bit of care.

Set the budget early. Stick to it. Let the fun happen naturally. And if someone wants to splurge on a £100 dessert? Let them - just don’t make the group pay for it.

If you’re planning a London hen night, the smartest thing you can do is talk about money before you talk about cocktails. Set the budget, stick to it, and let the memories - not the receipts - be what everyone remembers.