When you’re thinking about going away for a stag weekend it’s easy to assume that travelling overseas somewhere like Europe is going to be better than staying at home.
However, there are plenty of reasons to explore cities of the UK, from seeing a change of scenery to being able to have a unique experience that you can’t get anywhere else.
To help you narrow down your list of potential cities to go, I have put together this article with suggestions for places in the north, central and also south of England.
Here are the best places to go which offer an amazing mix of activities and nightlife.
1. Newcastle
The northern city of Newcastle upon Tyne has in recent years grown both culturally and architecturally whilst remaining famously down to earth. Anyone who’s been to Newcastle will tell you that the Geordies are a friendly and enthusiastic bunch who like to party which is what makes a Newcastle stag do one of the best.
Things to Do and See
St James Park Football Stadium – This is the sixth largest stadium in the UK so even if you don’t manage to catch a game, the stadium itself is still worth looking round.
Sage Gateshead – An international centre for music, this venue houses two main stages, music educational rooms, four bars, a cafe and a brasserie, and puts on all kinds of gigs from jazz and classical to folk and rock. It’s free to pop in so aside from the opportunity to catch some live music, the building is stunning and has great views of the Quayside.
Nightlife
With legendry nightlife, Newcastle is one of the top destinations to visit if only for this. The Geordies love to party and it’s not surprising considering Newcastle has the most concentrated number of bars and clubs in the country.
Quayside – If you fancy a more sophisticated evening then an assortment of restaurants and bars line the Quayside, plus you also get fantastic views of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
Bigg Market – This area is what put Newcastle on the map as one of the top cities to party so be sure to check this area out for the hippest bars and clubs.
Check out my guide to the best bars in Jesmond, another popular neighbourhood to visit.
Top Festival
One of the best times to visit Newcastle is for the Evolution festival, a multi-venue music festival that takes place on the spring bank holiday each year and some of which takes place in Gateshead. Previous acts to have graced the stage are the likes of Moloko and Eric Morillo.
2. London
England’s magnificent capital – there’s a reason why London is one of the top destinations to visit. The city is bursting with life, with hundreds of concerts, live music gigs, club nights, exhibitions, bars and award winning restaurants to choose from.
Although the price of having a stag do in London can put a lot of people off, there are lots of ways to keep costs down. View my tips for saving money on hotels in London.
Things to Do and See
Piccadilly Circus – Known for its huge neon signs, this area is busy from dusk till dawn with an array of pubs, clubs, cinemas and restaurants, and is ideal for navigating your way to other top areas of London such as Oxford Circus.
Camden – On Saturdays Camden market is buzzing and is a great place to grab a pint and some decent international cuisine, from Indian and Chinese to Mexican and Mediterranean.
Nightlife
When it comes to partying in London the city is musically rewarding for everyone, whether you’re in to rock and roll, dance or alternative, the musical diversity on offer is quite simply staggering.
Leicester Square – Situated in the West End, this area is great for nightlife as the Square comes alive on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s a great selection of restaurants, bars and clubs within easy reach.
Soho – Despite its former seedy reputation, Soho has undergone major changes in recent years and is now one of the most fashionable areas of London where you’ll find more upmarket restaurants, bars and clubs.
Top Festival
London is home to hundreds of events and festivals every month so it’s always worth checking what’s on when you’re looking to go, potentially even combining your London stag weekend with a one day ticket to a festival.
Wireless Festival – This popular three day festival takes place in Hyde Park, where previous acts have been Chemical Brothers, Chase and Status and Aphex Twin.
View more recommendations on my London travel guide.
3. Bournemouth
The seaside city of Bournemouth is a top destination to visit in the summer season whereby the city comes alive and there’s an endless choice of bars and clubs all within walking distance of the beach.
Things to Do and See
Bournemouth Beach – Seven miles long, Bournemouth’s sandy beach is ideal for a summer day chilling out or instead being a bit more active and getting involved in some surfing or other water sports.
Jurassic Coast – With the Jurassic Coast just on your doorstep, it’s worth getting out for an adventure like a bike ride or yacht trip, there’s fewer places in the UK that have such stunning landscape.
Nightlife
The great thing about Bournemouth is that everything is within easy reach, so you can wander through town sampling the local pubs, cocktail bars and clubs without ever having to worry about taxis or getting lost!
Old Christchurch – For the best party atmosphere, this is where you’ll find the best bars, clubs and DJs. Be sure to check out one of Bournemouth’s oldest and top clubs Dusk Till Dawn.
Poole – Get down to Poole Quay and have a mini bar crawl in the many pubs there down by the waterfront. Make sure you try a Dorset brew such as Tanglefoot or local ale such as Hopping Hare.
Top Festival
Bournemouth Sevens Festival – Known as the “Sporting Glastonbury”, this is an action packed festival of sports, music and entertainment over a weekend including 6 music arenas, 10 bands, 10 DJs and a Carling beer tent. If you’re a fan of rugby and music then this is certainly the perfect idea for a stag party in Bournemouth.
View more suggestions on my Bournemouth travel guide.
Other
There are so many other places to visit in the UK, more cities to consider include:
· Liverpool
· Nottingham
· Manchester
· Edinburgh
· Bristol
· Blackpool
· Cardiff
