Stag Weekend or Hen Weekend in Bristol

Bristol is a great place for your Stag or Hen weekend. To find out about our parties and events click the events button - to see the Hen and Stag events click on the photographs.

Human settlement in the Bristol area is thought to date back to the paleolithic area, and the actual city of Bristol was chartered in 1155. Today, Bristol is the sixth largest city in England, recognized as one of the eight core cities, and was a finalist for the 2008 European Capital of Culture.

Bristol came to prominence as a major sea port as early as the 12th century, and remained a centre of shipping, commerce and shipbuilding. During the 18th century, Bristol and Liverpool shared the dubious honor of being major centers of the slave trade between Africa and the United States.

With the rise of the industrial revolution in the late 1700s, and the abolition of the slave trade at the beginning of the 19th century, Bristol saw its maritime economy falter. However, Bristol managed to weather the changing economic tides and became known as a center of engineering, and today is a premier centre of the aeronautics industry. Beyond its economic and industrial history, Bristol also boasts a strong cultural history. The Bristol Old Vic theatre company operates the 1766 Theatre Royal, the oldest continuously operating theatre in England. The larger Bristol Hippodrome regularly hosts major national touring productions, while numerous museums and historical centres allow visitors to enjoy the region's rich and varied history.

For outdoor entertainment, the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta draws hot-air ballooning enthusiasts from all over the world to the grounds of Ashton Court, which also hosts the annual outdoor music extravaganza, the Ashton Court Festival. Pop culture fans will also find plenty of interest in Bristol as the home of such popular 'trip hop' artists as Portishead and Massive Attack, as well as birthplace of the much beloved Wallace and Grommit of Aardman Animations. The Bristol Zoo is also a popular attraction for children and families.

Bristol boasts a wide variety of accommodation for holidays of any budget. Especially interesting to cultural visitors might be the revitalized city-centre docks, while travelers looking for a quieter holiday might look for a bed and breakfast away from the busy shopping and theatre districts. Naturally, if you wish to experience one of Bristol's summer festivals, you'd be well advised to book your holiday well in advance. But even if festivals are not your idea of a great holiday, you're sure to find plenty of interest and entertainment in Bristol no matter what time of year you visit!