3 Top things to do at a Hen Weekend in Cardiff

Planning a hen party is an honour. You’ve been trusted with organising a weekend that will be remembered for a lifetime and we know that planning a perfect Hen Weekend can be pressure inducing as well as being exciting. 

Cardiff is a fantastic destination for a hen weekend. With its amazing location by the sea and proximity to nature, you can combine a weekend by the beach with city fun and outdoor joy. 

We’ve handpicked our top three things to do in Cardiff throughout your hen weekend. We know there is plenty more but these three stood out to us. 

Salsa Buena

The perfect start to a Hen Weekend in Cardiff is a Salsa Lesson with Salsa Buena. Especially when you have a group of ladies who don’t all know each other, the lesson with Shahid is a fantastic way for people to get to familiar with each other. 

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert in all things Salsa as this class will be enjoyable for beginners and dance aficionados alike. 

Shahid is a former investment banker software analyst turned dancer, who has been teaching professionally for over 14 years and when you meet him, you can instantly tell his passion for teaching Salsa.

What they do

Salsa Buena is a Dance school that offers Hen Parties as well as Wedding dance lessons to learn your favourite wedding dance, weekly classes or dance sessions at the actual wedding (this sounds a lot of fun to me!)

The hen party sessions are held in a bar in Cardiff so you are ensured to have a good dance floor, a great sound system and drinks at hand. 

Shahid is an amazing entertainer and a very experienced dancer who has been dancing for over 20 years. 

The class will start with an introduction to Salsa and you’ll learn the basic steps, some turns and how to dance with a partner as you’ll be teaming up. Throughout the class, you’ll rotate partners so it’s great to get to know each other. Shahid will make sure to adapt the lesson so it’s enjoyable even if you already know how to dance. 

You can either book a lesson on its own or combined it with music and dance afterwards to embed all your moves and warm up your legs for a long night of dancing ahead. 

Great for

Anyone who likes the sounds of Salsa music and wants to have a great time

Price point

The lesson is 45-60 mins and costs between £80-100 depending on the venue. A lesson followed by music and dance is 90 mins in total and costs around £150-200 depending on the venue. You will pay a 25% deposit when booking and the remainder can be paid either by bank transfer in advance of the session or cash on the day. 

Additional extras

Depending on the skills of the group you also have the chance to learn a mini-performance. The bride will get to dance with the instructor but also with her friends. Shahid is also the DJ for the music and dance session and will ensure to put on some amazing tunes for you. 

Good to know

The session is accessible for all levels of dance experience as the main focus is to have a great time. The one thing that really makes Salsa Buena unique is Shahid and his personality. He has fantastic energy and the skill to put everyone in a good mood, what more can you ask for?

Taff Valley

A perfect Saturday activity to change it up and get some fresh air to soften the hangover can be brought to you by Taff Valley. 

Taff Valley is an adventure company that was set up by Hopkin and is now run by his two sons. They’ve been providing experiences to Hen and Stag Parties for over 30 years, so rest assured, you’re in good hands.

They are conveniently located, 25 mins outside of Cardiff.

What they do

Taff Valley offers a range of different experiences worth checking out such as Gorge Walking, Clay Pigeon Shooting and Archery but the one they are most famous for is their quad biking experience and their assault course. 

Most visitors tend to combine two of the shorter experiences like quad biking and archery which last about 1 hour each. The assault course takes around 2.5 hours. You can also make a day of it and start with the assault course, refuel at the cafe on site followed by quad biking. 
Taff Valley is based on an operating farm so you won’t just be greeted by their friendly staff, you also get to see sheep, donkeys and dogs. 

Great for

Any bride who enjoys the outdoors and wants to try something they haven’t done before. The assault course is perfect for any competitive bride. 

Price point

The assault course is £35pp and requires a minimum of 10 with a max of 20 people. Quad biking is £35pp for 60 mins and Archery is 15pp for 60 mins. You pay 30% as a deposit with the rest of the balance due 1 month before.

Additional extras

The Quad biking takes place on the farm which spans an amazing 350 acres. This means you’re not just going on a circuit but you’ll have a unique tour around the farm with plenty of stops to take in the scenery and take photos to capture the moment for eternity. 

Good to know

All the equipment is provided. You are going to get a safety briefing, there is a practice area where you'll practice riding the quad bikes. Once you're set and ready you will be taken around the farm on the quad bikes. 

On the assault course, you’ll have two instructors with you while you conquer obstacles, enjoy rope swings, carry items around the course and show off your best balancing. Beware, you’ll get muddy and wet so it’s advisable to bring a change of clothes. 

Taff Valley pride themselves in their staff who are super friendly and professional.

Cardiff Cabaret Club

Finally, the one thing definitely not to miss out on is an afternoon with Foo Foo Labelle who is also known as Stephanie. 

Stephanie is an amazing woman who has an irresistible charm and lived an amazingly colourful life. 

She is a professionally trained dancer and fitness instructor which amazing knowledge. She’s travelled the world performing in Japan, China and Hong Kong and worked as an elephant rider in a circus in Sweden and was a marionette puppeteer in an Italian Circus. Amazing…

Stephanie also created her own shows and performed them in Turkey where she ended up living a few years and falling in love with Belly dancing. 

Since returning to the UK she has set up a Belly Dance Wales and heads up the Cardiff Cabaret Club where is producing as well performing in Burlesque Shows. She also gives classes and hosts regular Hen Parties teaching Belly Dance or Burlesque. 

Stephanie is an absolute powerhouse and regardless of which experience you’ll choose, I’ll guarantee you’ll have a great time and a good laugh with her.

What they do

The Burlesque Hen Party will be held at a local venue or Stephanie can come to your venue of choice. 

After a warm-up to some jazzy burlesque music, you’ll learn a fun routine involving glove peeling, how to use bowers, different types of walks, posings and bumps and grinds. Stephanie will provide lots of props such as gloves, boas and large feather fans. She will also be dressed in her burlesque outfit and while there is no requirement for you to dress up you’re invited to dress the part if you want to. 

The 2-hour session allows for time for pictures at the end and you will also get to enjoy a performance by Foo Foo and the chance to ask her all the questions you want to know about the history of Burlesque and/or her amazing life. 

Great for

Outgoing and fun-loving brides who enjoy trying something new. 

Price point

The session is £150 for a group of <15 and £5 for any additional person. Venue hire or travel to your venue will be charged in addition (around £50). You can book through email enquiry - £50 deposit with the balance to be paid before the party 

Additional extras

For an additional charge of £75, a professional photographer who is an expert at taking great candid shots will join you at the end of the session. You will get at least 50 full quality photos sent to you via dropbox. 

Good to know

The 2-hour session allows for time for pictures at the end (even if you do not hire the photographer) and you will also get to enjoy a performance by Foo Foo and the chance to ask her all the questions you want to know about the history of Burlesque and/or her amazing life.  

An afternoon with Stephanie is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience and a unique experience for any hen party. What stood out to me is her passion for dance and people. She really cares and will ensure you’ll have an amazing time.

We’re super excited for you to try the amazing activities we’ve selected for you in this blog. Let us know your favourite and make sure to tag us in your adventures on Instagram. 

If you’re looking for additional inspiration, check out our blog on Ideas for Hen Parties in  Brighton, York, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Edinburgh or Liverpool. Almost all the activities in the Liverpool blog are available nationwide, so don’t let the title confuse you. For more nationwide ideas, visit this blog.

Don’t want to organise all activities by yourself and let the professionals handle it? Check out these amazing Stag and Hen weekend providers in our latest blog. 

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