The Shell House is the one for smaller groups with taste. Beautifully decorated with beach-house interiors, a hot tub, and BBQ in the enclosed garden, plus a 5-minute stroll to bars and cafes. It genuinely looks as good in person as it does online.
Where to go out: The Westbourne area is the spot for cocktail making classes and relaxed evening drinks - perfect if you've got the bride's mum in tow. The Triangle near the university is louder, clubbier, and better suited to groups who want to dance until 2 AM.
Also worth knowing: Cleveland House in Westbourne sleeps 18 and sits in that cocktail-bar zone, handy if your group's split between a chilled dinner crowd and a late-night crew.
For groups who'd prefer the harbour over the beach, there's a quirky retreat in Poole with a cinema room across three floors. Worth a look if your group's more movie-night than nightclub, and Poole Harbour itself is gorgeous for a daytime wander.
Weymouth, Swanage & The Jurassic Coast - Sea Views Without the Crowds
Weymouth has a completely different energy. It's quieter, more characterful, and the harbour is genuinely lovely - independent restaurants, proper fish and chips on the seafront, and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site right on your doorstep.
The New Forest is also where you'll find some of Dorset's best glamping sites and glamping pods for groups who want something different from a standard house rental. Meadow View Country Park near Wimborne offers glamping-style accommodation on the Dorset side of the forest boundary - a good middle ground between a traditional holiday let and full-on camping.
Minibus hire makes sense for groups of 10 or more travelling from further afield:
| Vehicle Type | Capacity | Approx. Cost (London to Dorset Coast, one-way) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard minibus | 8 seats | £268 |
| Large minibus | 16 seats | £380 |
| Mini-coach | 19 seats | £515 |
Same-day return trips cost significantly more due to driver wait times - expect £500+ for the 8-seater. Operators include Book A Minibus With Driver covering the wider county, and Riverside Travel based in Blandford Forum for groups staying inland.
Party bus option: The average Dorset party bus hire runs around £417 per event. A smart budget move is booking a party bus for the outbound journey to set the mood, then a standard minibus for the return when everyone's exhausted. The Vegas VIP Minibus (16 seats, carbon fibre tables, Bluetooth, onboard fridge) is the standout vehicle in the local fleet.
Once you're there: If you've booked a coastal town house, you genuinely don't need transport - everything is walkable. Countryside estates need a pre-booked minibus for any night out. Corfe Castle and Wimborne make excellent day-trip villages by car or minibus from most Dorset bases, and Swanage is worth the trip for fish and chips on the beachfront.
2026 dates to avoid:
- July 11-12 - Bourne Free (Pride) fills every central hotel and house
- July 30-Aug 2 - Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle gridlocks the A31 and saturates every property within 15 miles
- Sept 5-6 - Dorset County Show at Dorchester Showground draws 100,000+ visitors with major traffic
- Late August - The Bournemouth Air Festival is officially cancelled for 2026 (BCP Council pulled funding), so this window is actually less congested than previous years. Good news if you're eyeing a Devon-and-Dorset combo weekend.
Match Your House to Your Group: A Quick Decision Guide
After all that detail, here's the simplified version. Match your group type to the house that fits and you're 80% of the way to a brilliant hen weekend.
| Group Type | Best House | Location | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25+ wild weekend | Boho Beachside Retreat | Bournemouth | Walk to bars, huge capacity, firepit |
| 12 friends, classy coastal | The Shell House or stylish Weymouth hen house | Coast | Hot tub, beautiful interiors, sea views |
| Mixed-age or family celebrations | Georgian manor | Blandford Forum | Pool, space for everyone, countryside quiet |
| Small group, big budget | Castle on the Coast or Dove House | Portland / Dorchester | Jaw-dropping drama, private pool |
| Dog friendly priority | The Beach House or Stylish Weymouth house | Coast | Pet friendly, walk to beach |
| New Forest lovers | Beck Cottage | Woodgreen | Forest + Dorset coast combo |
| Lyme Regis & fossil fans | Lym House or Springfield House | Lyme Regis | Harbour charm, fossil hunting, vineyard trips |
A mixed-age group - where you've got the bride's 26-year-old uni friends and her 58-year-old mum at the same table - almost always works better in a countryside property with space. The pool and the games room give everyone something to do without forcing anyone into activities that aren't their speed.
Picking the right house is genuinely the hardest part of planning a Dorset hen party. Once that's locked in, the activities, the food, and the itinerary all follow from where you're based.
Browse all Dorset hen party houses to compare availability and prices. And when you're ready to build the weekend around your base, our Dorset hen party ideas page has activities and inspiration sorted by location. Galtons Cottage and other hidden gems update regularly, so it's worth checking back if you don't see the perfect fit straight away.
