If you’re planning a hen do and the bride lives anywhere near Preston, the answer is almost always the same: Blackpool. It’s practically on the doorstep just 16 miles and a 22-minute train ride away, and it delivers the kind of night out that generates stories people are still telling years later. Sequins, drag queens, rollercoasters, bottomless cocktails, and karaoke that goes on way too long. That’s Blackpool.
But not all Blackpool nights are equal. If you want to do it properly, you need to know where to go, in what order, and how to avoid wasting a perfectly good hen party on a pub that’s dead by 9pm. Here’s a proper guide to where Preston hen parties actually go for a big night out.
Why Preston Hen Parties Choose Blackpool Every Time
Blackpool has been the go-to party destination for groups from across the North West for decades, and it’s easy to understand why. Preston sits right next to it Northern Trains runs a direct service from Preston station to Blackpool North every 20 minutes, and the ticket costs around £4. You can leave on a Friday evening and be in the thick of it before the first round’s been poured. No flights, no faff, no one missing the coach.
Beyond the logistics, Blackpool just works for hen parties. It’s one of those rare places where dressing up in matching outfits and having an enormous time is completely normal. Nobody bats an eye at matching sashes or an L-plate on the bride. The atmosphere is built for celebration, and the sheer density of bars, shows, clubs, and restaurants in the town centre means you can put together an entire evening without walking more than a few streets.
That said, Preston hen parties that really nail it don’t just wander in and hope for the best. They book ahead, and they usually start the same place.
Start the Night at Funny Girls — Blackpool’s Most Famous Cabaret Show
Ask anyone who’s done a hen do in Blackpool what the highlight was, and there’s a good chance they’ll say Funny Girls. Located on Dickson Road, Funny Girls has been running since 1994 and has grown into one of the most recognisable drag and cabaret shows in the UK. It’s been voted the number one night out in Blackpool five years running, and it sits in the top 10% of attractions worldwide on TripAdvisor, with more than 35,000 reviews.
The show runs from 8pm to around 11:30pm in a stunning 1930s-style art deco theatre. What you get is a mix of high-energy dancing, drag performances, comedy, and audience interaction all in one building. The performers are genuinely talented athletes; the choreography, costumes, and staging are the kind of thing you’d expect at a proper theatre in Manchester or Leeds. Reviews regularly describe it as “West End worthy.” The intervals are kept lively by DJ hostesses who’ve clearly done this enough times to know exactly how to wind up a hen party table in the best possible way.
The Dinner and Show Package
If you want to make the most of it, book the three-course pre-show dinner at Garbo’s, the in-house restaurant, which opens at 6:30pm. Dinner is £29.85 per person and needs to be booked at least 48 hours in advance. The food is consistently well-reviewed, and eating at the venue means you’re settled in well before the show kicks off, rather than rushing from somewhere else.
For the show itself, doors open at 7pm. There are seated and standing ticket options, and groups tend to find that a seated booking keeps everyone together comfortably, even on busy Saturdays. Booking well in advance is worth it hen parties often reserve 5 to 6 months ahead for popular dates.
You can find full show dates, pricing, and packages at funny girls website.
What Makes It Work for Hen Parties
The short answer is that it’s genuinely entertaining for everyone — not just people who love drag. Reviews from first-timers regularly note that they “weren’t sure what to expect” and came out completely won over. The show is confident, high-energy, and funny without being mean-spirited. There’s audience interaction, but it’s the kind that gets a laugh rather than making anyone want to leave.
For a hen party specifically, the atmosphere is ideal. You’re seated together, the drinks service comes to you at the table, and the entertainment is good enough that you don’t need to entertain yourselves. It’s one of those evenings that gets the group buzzing before the proper night out even starts.
How to Build a Full Preston Hen Party Night Out in Blackpool
Getting the itinerary right matters. Here’s how most Preston hen parties structure their evening for maximum impact:
Step 1: Arrive in Blackpool by 6pm. Train from Preston takes 22 minutes. Get there with enough time to check in, freshen up, and be at the venue without rushing.
Step 2: Dinner at Garbo’s from 6:30pm. Three courses, attentive table service, and a proper start to the evening before the show begins.
Step 3: Funny Girls show from 8pm to 11:30pm. This is the anchor of the evening. Everything else builds around it.
Step 4: Queen Street bar crawl after the show. By 11:30pm, you’re on Dickson Road, which puts you close to Blackpool’s main nightlife strip. The Flying Handbag, Flamingo, and various bars on and around Queen Street keep things going well past midnight.
Step 5: Optional late finish at a club. Blackpool has late-licensed venues if the group wants to keep going. Some hen parties call it a night after the show; others go until 3am. Both are entirely reasonable.
Daytime Activities Before the Big Night Out
If the hen party is a full weekend rather than just a night out, Preston groups often arrive on Saturday morning and fill the afternoon before heading to the show.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the obvious choice for daytime. It’s the UK’s most visited amusement park, sits right on the seafront, and has enough rides and attractions to fill a few hours easily. Booking tickets online in advance is cheaper than paying on the door.
Cocktail-making classes are popular for getting the group warmed up. Several venues in Blackpool offer 90-minute sessions where you learn to make a few drinks, keep what you make, and get into the spirit of the evening ahead.
Life drawing classes remain a hen party staple. You get a tutor, an art class, and a model it’s genuinely funny and works well as an afternoon activity before a show.
Pedi buses (pedal-powered party bikes) are a Blackpool fixture. A group can rent one, bring drinks, and cycle along the promenade with music playing. It’s the sort of thing that sounds ridiculous in theory and is genuinely brilliant in practice.
Staying Over: Making It a Full Weekend
Preston is close enough to Blackpool that some groups treat it as a night trip and get the train back. Others prefer to stay and make a proper weekend of it. Blackpool has a huge range of accommodation from budget guest houses to self-catering houses that sleep large groups, which are ideal for keeping everyone under one roof.
If you’re staying, Saturday night typically centres on the main evening out (Funny Girls plus the bar crawl), with Sunday morning dedicated to a slow breakfast, a walk on the prom, and getting the train home before midday.
The average cost of a Blackpool hen weekend is around £187 to £191 per person before travel, according to hen party specialists which compares well to other popular UK destinations.
Practical Tips for Preston Hen Parties Heading to Blackpool
- Book Funny Girls well in advance. Popular show dates, especially Saturdays, fill up months ahead. Check availability at funny girls website and secure seats as soon as the group is confirmed.
- Get the train. Driving means a designated driver, which is a waste of a good night. Northern Trains runs every 20 minutes from Preston to Blackpool North. Tickets are cheap, and you can book on the day.
- Book a pre-show dinner. Walking into Garbo’s as a group with a table reserved sets the tone for the whole evening. Do it.
- Tell the venue it’s a hen party. Funny Girls is very experienced with group bookings and can seat large parties together.
- Use a split-payment app. Splitwise or similar apps make it easy to handle shared costs for accommodation, activities, and dinner without arguments later.
FAQs: Preston Hen Parties in Blackpool
How far is Preston from Blackpool for a hen party?
Preston and Blackpool are about 16 miles apart. By train, the journey from Preston station to Blackpool North takes around 22 minutes on Northern Trains, which runs services every 20 minutes. By car, it’s roughly a 25-minute drive. The train is the better option for a hen night no one needs to stay sober.
Is Funny Girls in Blackpool suitable for a hen party?
Absolutely. Funny Girls is one of the most popular hen party venues in Blackpool and has been for years. The drag cabaret show includes audience interaction, high-energy dancing, comedy, and spectacular costumes. The venue has table service, a pre-show dining option, and enough energy to get any group into the spirit of the evening. It works for groups of all sizes.
What time does Funny Girls start and finish?
The main venue opens at 7pm. The DJ and hostess entertainment begins at 8pm, and the cabaret show starts from around 8:30pm. The evening wraps up at approximately 11:30pm. Garbo’s restaurant opens at 6:30pm for groups who have booked the pre-show dinner package.
How much does a Blackpool hen party cost from Preston?
The average cost of a Blackpool hen weekend is roughly £187 to £191 per person, excluding travel. Individual elements vary Funny Girls tickets start at around £10 for standing, the three-course dinner is £29.85 per person, and accommodation ranges widely depending on the type and size of group. Train tickets from Preston are around £4 each way.
What else can you do in Blackpool on a hen weekend apart from Funny Girls?
There’s a lot. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, cocktail-making classes, life drawing sessions, pedi bus rides along the promenade, escape rooms, and themed dance classes are all popular daytime activities. In the evening, the Queen Street area has plenty of bars, and venues like the Flying Handbag offer late-night options after the cabaret show ends. Most hen party specialists offer pre-packaged itineraries that combine two or three activities with the evening show.
