Our top unique Ideas for hen/stag parties in Edinburgh and beyond!

The Scottish capital Edinburgh is an extraordinary city that encapsulates the rich history of Scotland. I’ve had the privilege to travel to many places but I have to say, Edinburgh is one of my all-time favourites. 

A perfect destination for a Hen and Stag Weekend, if you want to combine culture, scenery, history with amazing places to eat and a great nightlife. 

There are endless amounts of things to do, ranging from a free walking tour, hiking up Arthur's seat, visiting the castle, the lost streets of Mary King’s close, a whiskey tasting and many more. No doubt you’ll find it easy to fill a weekend with fun and entertainment. One thing you definitely need to explore more during a weekend is Scotland's amazing nature. 

We’ve sourced you some activities truly unique to Edinburgh and the beautiful nature surrounding it and want to share with you how you can make any Hen/Stag weekend an unforgettable event. 

First up, I want to introduce you to Art Club Edinburgh. 

Art Club Edinburgh

Founded 25 years ago by Jennifer, the private art studio progressed from a gallery space with art classes into a full-time art school. Having lived in France and Morocco, Jenny’s Paint and Wine Events and classes are inspired by her colourful life. Jenny and her team of tutors and helpers teach people at all levels, from absolute beginners to experienced art students. Many of their students have been a part of the Art Club for several years.        

You’ll be painting in a breathtakingly beautiful space in the heart of Edinburgh, modelled on a Parisian Art Studio, with a great view. That in itself is worth the experience.

What they do

Next to a range of art classes ranging from portraiture, landscape to sculpting the Art Club Edinburgh also hosts weekly paint and wine classes on Saturdays which are super popular and often booked out weeks in advance. As part of their hen/stag offering, they have a 2-hour painting session with Prosecco and popcorn. 

Before the day you choose a theme and painting. This can be either a famous painting, a painting by Jennifer, or anything else, that you decide on. On the day, Jenny and her team will tell you about the background of the picture and the artist, before sharing lots of practical tips and insights on how to paint. 

Great for

Anyone who wants to try something different and learn something new. 

Price point

The session is £35 per person with a minimum group size of 8. You book via email enquiry to check for available dates. 

Additional extras

The sessions are very personalised so make sure to let Jenny and her team know what is important to you and they will make it happen. 

You’ll learn about the composition of the painting and techniques such as how to mix colours, how to create texture in a painting and why texture is relevant. Jenny explained it is really important to her to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere that gives you the chance to express yourself and to learn how the artist created the painting without holding back information. 

Everyone will have their own workstation with an easel and a colour palette. You have 

option to have your picture framed at the end and you can either take the painting straight away or collect it the next day if you are going out straight after.

Jenny and her team also offer feedback throughout the session, to anyone who wants to improve their skills.

Good to know

The sessions create a very calm and relaxing atmosphere through a mindful and engaging activity. A great way for a group of people to get to know each other as you can talk, laugh listen to music while painting.

You can choose to follow the instructions from Jennifer and the team to recreate the painting as close to the original as possible, but you can also let your creativity reign free and decide on your interpretation of the painting. 

Channel your inner Frieda Khalo and go wild on colours and texture. 

Jenny and her team are not just artists but experts in creating a wonderful atmosphere. They share fun anecdotes, keep you entertained and create a positive environment that will have you amazed at your ability to paint.

What we love about a painting session is that you’ll see everyone’s character shine through in their painting which guarantees to put a smile on your bride’s face. Memory factor 100!

Another unique experience we’ve come across in our quest of sourcing great activities for you in Edinburgh is a cooking experience with Krua Thai. 

Krua Thai

Krua Thai is a traditional Thai Cookery School set up and run by the amazing Ru Herd. Originating from Thailand, she has since worked in an upmarket Thai Restaurant in Edinburgh for many years, studied Culinary Arts Management, worked in the Hilton and cooked alongside the renowned chef Albert Roux before setting up her own cookery school. 

People from all over the world visit the cookery school and Ru also provides food consultancy across the globe, so this is truly a unique experience.

What they do

Krua Thai offers a Thai cooking hen/stag party where you will be taught the correct techniques to make amazing Thai food. 

You’ll learn all about the four keys to making the best Thai food: successful ingredients used, appearance, flavour and consistency,

As part of the activity, you have a welcome drink, fruit canape followed by a demo and hands-on cooking. You’ll then have lunch which will be rounded off with a fruit carving demo. The sessions will last between 2-3 hours. 

Great for

People who are serious about food and really want to delve into the techniques of cooking Thai food. 

Price point

Due to the highly personalised service, the cooking classes are based on your budget and there is no set maximum price. A minimum combined budget for the afternoon should be £600 for a group of 10.  It’s best to speak to Ru directly to agree on a price. There is a £100 deposit with the remaining balance to be paid 21 days before the event.

Additional extras

You can bring your own drinks to the cooking session, so if you are a better chef with wine, make sure to bring along your favourite bubbles. 

There is a large choice of dishes to choose from (over 100!) and you get to take home the recipes to recreate the experience. 

Good to know

The entire lesson is built around hands-on learning and you will be coached by a professional Thai chef. The focus is on teaching you the techniques so you won’t waste time on unnecessary preparation or washing up as this will be taken care of for you. 

Krua Thai is all about high standards. Ru is a perfectionist and she cares about delivering the service to her customers, that she expects to receive if she were the student. She wants you to cook the most amazing dishes and makes it her mission to teach you everything you need to know to recreate your favourite Thai food at home. 

Her superpower is to turn complex tasks into easy ones so you can enjoy the experience of creating exceptional Thai food.

Latest when you meet Ru you’ll know what I mean when I tell you that she’s a people person and a teacher at heart. Her passion for Thai Food is contagious and you’re guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime when joining her cookery school. This is a must for any bride or groom with a passion for Thai cuisine.

An outdoor experience is another fantastic way to experience Scotland’s beautiful nature so we’ve decided to share two amazing companies with you that offer just that. 

Splash White Water Rafting offer a range of activities such as rafting and canyoning.

Splash White Water Rafting

The business is run by Peter who took it over many years ago and brought Rafting into the 21st century, ensuring you are having a great time and everything works smoothly for you from booking the experience to showing up and having the best day of your life.

What they do

Splash White Water Rafting offer single activities, such as Rafting, Canyoning, Stand up Paddleboarding, Kayaking and many more. You can book either one activity for an afternoon, a whole day of activities or let them take charge of the whole weekend. 

Great for

Any adventure prone Bride or Groom who enjoy a bit of action on a weekend away

Price point

The prices range a lot based on how many activities you want, whether you want accommodation and so on. 

For two nights accommodation and a half-day White Water Rafting, it starts from £100pp staying in Edinburgh, including transport to the rafting. 

Additional extras

The white water rafting includes a free photographer so you’ll get fun pictures to commemorate your weekend. The pictures will be sent to you 24 hours after the rafting at no additional cost. How awesome is that?

Good to know

Peter and his team really care about making your experience unforgettable. This starts with the service you get when booking and remains throughout the whole experience. They don’t want you to just book a package online but discuss with you what the best options are for you. Peter prides himself in the technology they use to make the experience with Splash White Water Rafting smooth and friction-free. We love technology that removes barriers and totally support this approach. Sign me up!

Another expert in organising a weekend full of fun outdoor adventures is Karen from Activity Scotland. 

Activity Scotland

Karen previously worked for an outdoor company herself and decided to set up her own company 10 years ago. She has a lot of great relationships with amazing providers of outdoor activities and organises the whole wrap-around weekend. No hassle for you!

What they do

Activity Scotland is the perfect destination for groups who want to venture a bit further out and experience the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Karen offers a weekend in the Highlands with fun daytime activities and wonderful evening entertainment, at a great Scottish highland hotel. Great whiskies and wines, sensational AA rosette award-winning cuisine, and evening entertainment till late are on offer.

The activities to choose from are vast and range from water activities, wheels activities such as quad biking or mountain biking, foot activities like clay pigeon shooting and archery to adrenalin activities such as bungee jumping or ziplining. 

This is just a small selection of the many activities to choose from. Make sure to check out their website to see all the experiences on offer. 

Great for

Due to the wide range of experiences to choose from Activity Scotland suits every bride or groom who enjoys the outdoors and wants to experience the Highlands.

Price point

The prices range as the offering starts from day activities ranging to having a whole weekend organised for you. 

A day of rafting and quad biking for example costs around £90-100 per person. 

A deposit is taken at the booking with the remainder of the balance to be paid two weeks before the event. 

Additional extras

You can bolt on additional stuff to your daytime activities and weekends such as BBQs and transport. The weekends will be tailored to your needs. For hen parties, Karen can also arrange for pampering sessions or similar. Just speak to her and let her know what it is that you are looking for and she will organise it. 

Karen is a one-woman, show. One amazing woman to be exact. This means you always get to speak to her directly and she’s available to help and support 24/7. You’re guaranteed to have an amazing weekend and excellent service and support. 

Good to know

Karen is local to the area so outside of organising a cracking weekend for you, she is also able to give you the best recommendations. Whether it’s an outstanding curry house or telling you about a fantastic bar that isn’t frequented by tourists, Karen can help! She totally sounds like a true organiser and a person that you want to have in charge of planning an unforgettable weekend.

By now you should be as convinced as us, that Edinburgh is breath taking and a perfect destination for any Hen or Stag weekend. 

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, Bournemouth, York, Newcastle, Cardiff 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 this blog. 

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