How to celebrate your last night of freedom with our stag party ideas

Stag and hen parties are a celebration and a chance to really let your hair down and enjoy that last night of freedom.

Over the years, this has evolved from a simple trip to the pub, to become something much more memorable, with so many options of what to do during the day and into the evening. A good stag party comes down to two things – the location and the activities you do.

With that in mind, we’ve put together some suggestions of places and activities to help inspire you to create your own amazing stag party.

Location, location, location

Stag parties don’t need to just be a single day or night. In recent years, cheaper flights and accommodation have led to weekends away and short breaks. This allows the stag celebrations to run across multiple days, meaning there’s more time for different activities.

Some popular stag destinations include Amsterdam, Prague, Las Vegas, Hamburg and Riga. They’re all famed for their nightlife and boast plenty of affordable accommodation and activities to enjoy. This isn’t limited to drinking either. Each city has plenty of attractions, sightseeing and local history to keep you occupied while you’re there.

While overseas destinations are growing popular, don’t discount the UK. From city breaks to country retreats, there’s loads of options if you want to stay closer to home.

Talk to the stag and discuss options on where you’d like to go. Keep in mind, the further afield you travel, the more expensive the whole stag party starts to get. So it might be worth setting a budget beforehand and planning within that.

You also need to take into account travel, the amount of time guests will need to book off work, and any other costs such as fees for different activities. Be mindful of costs creeping up, as this can cause people to drop out or not be able to attend. Remember, you need to balance what the stag would enjoy with what’s going to work best for the other guests.

What to do

You might be going to a specific stag destination to take part in particular activities. For example, visiting the Lake District to go shooting, mountain biking or going out on a boat during the day, before you and your mates retreat to a lakeside pub for the evening.

When it comes to what to do during your stag party, there are plenty of different activities to choose from.

Driving– You could spend a morning on a track, like go-karting or going for a spin in a sports car. This is a great adrenaline-fuelled way to kick off any stag party.

Axe throwing– Think darts, but with axes. This is a great way to get more competitive and have fun. It can include tournaments and mini-games with prizes. Much like a track day, this is a brilliant way to kick off your stag party.

Arcades– Gaming is a massive billion-dollar industry, and a popular pastime. This has led to the rise of the ‘barcade’ – an arcade, crossed with a bar. From classic games to VR experiences, this can be a great way to have fun as a group.

Whatever you think about doing, talk to the stag first. Find out what they’d like to do and try to find a way to incorporate it into the day. Keep in mind that some activities like axe throwing and track days, you can’t do if you’ve been drinking, so try to organise your day to squeeze in as much in as possible.

Depending on what activities you have in mind, it might be worth looking at where the stag party sits in relation to the wedding. For instance, if you’re planning a potentially dangerous outdoor pursuits weekend, think about having this well in advance of the wedding to reduce the chance of any potential injuries ruining the wedding.