Your accommodation is not just where you sleep — it is the base for the entire weekend. It is where everyone gathers when they arrive, where you get ready, where you host activities like a life drawing session, and where the night begins and ends. Getting it right makes everything else easier.

This is a guide to choosing hen party accommodation that works for your group and your plans.

Why venue matters more than people think

Most hen party planning energy goes into activities and restaurants. Accommodation is often an afterthought — a box ticked once the fun things are booked. This is usually a mistake.

The accommodation shapes the entire dynamic of the weekend. A house that feels cramped creates friction. A house with not enough bathrooms creates morning tension. A house that is too far from everything means every activity involves a logistics conversation.

A well-chosen property, on the other hand, is somewhere the group gravitates back to between activities, somewhere the pre-drinks genuinely rival any bar, and somewhere the life drawing session feels intimate and private rather than cramped and awkward.

Spend as much thought on where you stay as on what you do.

Self-catering properties

For most hen weekends, a self-catering property — an Airbnb, Vrbo rental, or a dedicated hen party house — is the best option.

The practical advantages are significant: a shared kitchen for brunch and snacks, a communal living room for the life drawing session and pre-drinks, and enough private space that the group does not need to manage their behaviour in a public hotel lobby.

Self-catering properties also tend to be better value than a block of hotel rooms once you divide the cost across a larger group. Eight people in a four-bedroom house will almost always pay less per head than eight people in individual hotel rooms, and get a much better shared experience.

Look for properties that have been reviewed by previous groups — hosts who have welcomed hen parties before tend to be better prepared for the reality of a weekend group booking.

Hotels

Hotels make sense for smaller hen groups (four to six people) or for weekends where the accommodation is genuinely just for sleeping and the activity schedule is external.

The challenge with hotels for larger groups is fragmentation. Rooms on different floors, no communal space, and a lobby that makes private moments difficult all work against the kind of group cohesion that makes a hen weekend feel like a hen weekend.

If you do go for a hotel, look for one with a private dining room or suite that the whole group can use. Some boutique hotels in popular hen party cities offer exclusive-use spaces that bridge the gap between hotel convenience and self-catering flexibility.

Hotels with spa facilities can be a genuine advantage if relaxation is part of the plan. A hotel with a rooftop bar or a memorable location can also be worth the trade-offs for the right group.

Countryside and coastal stays

For groups who want to get out of the city, a countryside or coastal property offers something different. More space per pound, often better kitchens, genuine outdoor space, and the kind of unhurried pace that a city break does not always allow.

Popular choices include Airbnbs in the Cotswolds, coastal properties in Cornwall or Northumberland, farmhouses in Yorkshire, and larger rural houses in the Scottish Borders or South Downs.

The main consideration is logistics. A countryside property requires everyone to travel to it, and unless there is reliable local transport, you need cars or a minibus for any activity that involves leaving the property. Factor this into the budget and plan accordingly.

Butlers in the Buff cover rural locations across the UK — the butler travels to you wherever you are. If you are hosting a life drawing session at a countryside property, the only requirement is that the property is accessible by car.

What to look for in any property

Regardless of type, these are the factors that most determine whether accommodation works for a hen weekend:

  • Bathrooms. At least one bathroom per four guests if everyone needs to get ready simultaneously. This is the most commonly underestimated factor in hen party accommodation.
  • Living room size. Can the whole group sit together comfortably? For a life drawing session, you need enough space for everyone to sit in a loose circle around the model.
  • Kitchen access. Brunch on Sunday morning is significantly better with a proper kitchen. A kettle and a toaster in a kitchenette does not count.
  • Location. How far from restaurants, bars and transport? Walking distance to a night out removes the taxi problem entirely.
  • Noise tolerance. How do the neighbours feel about a lively group on a Saturday evening? Properties in residential side streets are higher risk than those on commercial streets or in purpose-built party accommodation.
  • Parking. If people are driving, is there parking? Is it free? Is it close?

Requirements for a life drawing session

If you are planning a hen party life drawing session at your accommodation — which is the most popular format — there are a few specific things to check when booking:

  • Ground-floor access or a lift. The butler needs to be able to enter the property without issues. No narrow spiral staircases in converted Georgian townhouses.
  • A room large enough for the whole group. Everyone needs to sit with space to hold a drawing board or rest paper on a surface. A dining table works if it is large enough. Living room floor seating is fine.
  • Reasonable ceiling height. Standard ceiling height is fine. Very low beamed ceilings in some rural properties can make standing poses awkward.
  • Good enough lighting. Lamps and overhead lighting are fine. Very dark properties make drawing difficult.

If you are unsure whether your property works, describe it to Butlers in the Buff when requesting your quote. They can advise.

Red flags to avoid

Things that cause problems after booking, most of which could have been spotted beforehand:

  • A property with no reviews, or with reviews that are suspiciously brief
  • A listing that says "quiet residential area" — this usually means noise complaints are likely
  • A host with slow response times to questions — this usually means slow responses to problems
  • Bunk bed configurations in rooms listed as sleeping four — these work fine for ski trips, less so for getting ready on a hen night
  • No photos of the living room, or living room photos that clearly show a three-seater sofa and nothing else
  • A strict check-in time of 4pm or later on a Friday — this limits afternoon plans significantly

For inspiration on where to base your weekend, explore our location guides for cities across the UK — each one includes accommodation advice specific to that city.

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Your questions answered

Enough space for everyone to sit in a loose circle with a drawing surface — so roughly 20–30 square metres for groups of 6–10. The butler can work in smaller spaces but the experience is better when there is room to move.

Some hotels allow it if you have a private suite or meeting room. Standard hotel rooms are too small. Always check with the hotel before booking, as some venues have policies around external visitors.

Yes, and often the best option for larger groups. Countryside properties tend to have bigger living rooms, more bathrooms, and more parking. The only trade-off is that you need to arrange your own transport for any off-site activity.

These work well for smaller hen groups who want a pre-agreed venue without the responsibility of managing a whole house. Most private dining rooms hold 10–20 people and can accommodate a life drawing session with some furniture rearrangement.

You do not need to disclose the specific event, but you should check the property's rules about additional visitors and events. Book a property with a review history that suggests the host is relaxed about groups.

More questions? Visit the full FAQs page.