London Stag Do Ideas City Guide

London is a great place for a stag do but you need to know where you’re going or you can get caught up in an overpriced tourist bubble and miss out on the best London stag do ideas. The optimal strategy, in our view is to pick an area or district to base yourselves and go out there. If not, you run the risk of traipsing from one end of the city to the other which is not pleasant with a stag party in tow.

Like lots of big cities London has different areas or districts that each has its own personality. In this article we’ve pulled out some of the most popular and noteworthy so you can pick the one that you think is most appropriate for your party.

Okay, so here’s a brief overview and then we’ll go into more detail for Shoreditch and Clapham. Of course if you prefer to take the hassle out of the planning then we have already pre-selected London stag do ideas that are already bundled in to packages and allow you to compare the price easily across different providers. The benefit of using a stag agency or company by the way, is their local knowledge, discounts (on account of supplier deals) and ability to process individual payments for each member of the party. If you’re looking for particular suppliers, both Freedom Ltd and Maximise are based near the capital and have very good knowledge about where to go and what to do. Okay, so without further ado, let’s get on and have a look at some London stag do ideas.

Shoreditch

London Stag Do Ideas: Stay in One Area to Avoid the Travel

Based in the East of the city (not far from the financial district) this area is the hippest, coolest and most creative of all of them. Urban, edgy, gritty – on this side of town you’ll find independent shops, lots of exposed brick work and ramshackle bars. The locals are dressed accordingly, so expect to see an array of skinny jeans, black rimmed specs, tashes and the like with great regularity. It was here that the All Saints brand was born and where Jack the Ripper ran amok so you get the picture. There are lots of clubs around these parts which are relaxed, but can take themselves a bit seriously at times, so don’t go there expecting to hear ‘A-ga-do’!

Clapham

Clapham tends to be the destination to live for those who have recently graduated or moved to the city. You’re unlikely to see an ad for a house share here without the words ‘young professional’ being used and is hence heavily populated with twenty and early thirty somethings. In a recent survey of black cab drivers, Clapham High Street was cited as the place they’d be most likely to pick up a passenger who vomits, so take from that what you will! There’s a load of pubs, bars and restaurants that make up a very active nightlife including a rather cheesy club popular at weekends – there are lots of London stag do ideas in this part of town.

Islington

A bit like Clapham in that it has one long road at its heart – Upper Street – populated with bars and restaurants that also comes alive at night. Not quite as raucous as Clapham though and a little older in its demographic so this a good option for a London stag do ideas if the boys are little older these days and prefer a wine to a beer.

Soho

Once known for its seedy reputation and undercurrent of vice Soho has still got an edge but has become more mainstream since the media types moved in ten to twenty years ago. Being Zone 1, Soho offers the most central of London stag do ideas which include West End shows, comedy stores and of course Paul Raymonds legacy – strip joints!It also well as some of the best eateries in the Capital.

Camden

London’s music capital, Camden is a good option for those who like something a bit more alternative. Populated by lots of small tribes – goths, punks, rockers and everything in between, Camden has energy and vibrancy evident from the moment you get off the tube. The best London stag do ideas around this part of town revolve around live music – going to a gig at the Roundhouse or one of the many other venues that have witnessed an array of a respected artistic talent on their way up.

Okay, so hopefully that overview helps to determine the area that’s right for you. Now we’re going to look at some specific London stag do ideas in the four districts outlined above.

Shoreditch

A lot of the main areas in Shoreditch are based around three streets that form the ‘Shoreditch Triangle’ – these are Shoreditch High Street, Great Eastern Street and Old Street.

London Stag Do Ideas to Do During the day

In and around Shoreditch

One of the more innovative London stag do ideas has to be Urban Golf. You needn’t pay all those green fees or worry about having to wear spikes as part of this activity! Use one of the simulators or putting greens and make use of the club house without having to walk the fairways! For prices, opening times and bookings, call 0207 938 1838 or go to their the how to book part of the Urban Golf website.

Only one stop from nearby Liverpool Street (15mins) or two from Fenchurch Street (35mins) is a place called Barking where you’ll find Capital Karts. With 1050m of professionally designed race track these chaps proudly boast the longest go karting track in London and indeed the UK, and is supposedly three times the length of a standard track. They do grand prixs, qualifying and all sorts. What’s good about these guys is that if there’s enough in your group then you can take advantage of the benefits enjoyed by their corporate events packages. That includes onsite catering, exclusive lounge access and even transportation to and from your event available. Get your Go Pro at the ready for this place.

All Star Bowling is another option. All Star have done to bowling what Byron have done to burgers – premiumised it.  To put it another way, it’s posh bowling because the environment is better quality, the food is better and generally prices out the kind of chavs you often encounter in the out of town sheds.
For one of the more unusual London stag do ideas there is always the Jack the Ripper Tour. It might not be alcohol infused but is genuinely interesting as you walk round the sites of Britain’s most infamous serial killer.

London Stag do Ideas Outside of Shoreditch

Nearby, Liverpool Street Station is a mainline and so you and the boys can get an overland train further afield if you fancy a spot of clay pigeon shooting. To help you out we’ve compared the prices of a bunch of them which you can view by clicking the link – London stag do ideas price comparison.

London stag do ideas: get the guys together for a good old sing song

A stag do activity that’s always a good craic is karaoke, particularly after a few jars. One place that seems to have this market sewn up is a  place called Lucky Voice. What’s good about these guys is that have their own purpose built ‘karaoke bars’ which have one important feature – you get your own private room. That means you don’t have to contend with an X-Factor wannabe getting up and murdering some soppy love anthem or feel the glare of the spotlight in a room full of strangers. Instead its just you and the boys belting out your favourite tunes with rounds of beer just a phone call away.

It’s also worth mentioning that this place is a go-to destination for hen dos should you wish to challenge the fairer sex to a sing off. Lucky Voice have got two bars in London, one in Islington and one in Soho which are both open late. You probably need to book in advance for weekends which you can do online or if you prefer to call them then their number is 020 7439 3660

Eating

Shoreditch has so many good places to eat. It’s famed for its array of Vietnamese restaurants which tend to be cheap and cheerful so would be good for larger parties. Head to Kingsland Road for the ‘Pho Mile’ and take your pick, but we think Song Que is the best of the bunch. The staff are rude to the point of amusement but can be overlooked on account of the food which is superb and big space which is great for larger parties.

London Stag Do Ideas: The Red Dog Saloon Burger Challenge

If ‘Nam ain’t your thing then Hoxton Square is another option for you. Whilst there are plenty of decent options for you and the boys on this pleasant and leafy square, one of our favourite London Stag do ideas is taking on one of the eating challenges at the Red Dog Saloon! Within its repertoire are two challenges, one relating to the volume of food you can put down, the other with the strength of flavour! The 8 inch burger challenge (featured in the Daily Mail no less!) requires the punter to consume a burger containing three beef patties, six rashers of bacon, six slices of cheese and pulled pork in just 10 minutes. Oh and did we mention you have to wash it down with a milk shake! For something a bit hotter than consider the Naga Viper chilli challenge – as featured in our Facebook eating challenge! Its sauce so potent it needs to be handled with gloves because it’s so damned hot! 1.3m on the Scoville scale for chilli heat to be exact which is 700K away from US Grade Pepper spray!!! By way of context Tabasco sauce is around 5,000 so you get the picture! The success rate is less than 10%. Can your man beat the odds?

Finally, if you fancy the staple of any self-respecting night out – a curry – then head to the famous Brick Lane where an entire street of curry houses awaits you and your party. This is one of the more affordable London stag do ideas as the plethora of competition means there is a deal to be had at pretty much every establishment, particularly if you have a large number. What’s more, most of them are BYO meaning you can to one of the local off licences’, buy a bunch of cans at retail prices to consume on the premise! A very good and affordable idea when you consume a fair bit of the amber nectar.

It’s probably worth noting that if you fancy taking in a strip join then both the Vietnamese and Hoxton Square options are close to Browns. If there is such a thing Brown’s is an affordable gentlemans club by which we mean each punter is required to a pound in a pot for the privilege of viewing each lady’s dance. The drinks are normal price and if you want to treat the man of the moment to his own private dance, then £20 does the job. Another one of the affordable London stag do ideas that makes the capital so appealing.

Drinking

There are a tonne of decent boozers in Shoreditch. Some recommendations include The Commercial Tavern,The Old Blue Last, The Princess of Shoreditch. If bars are more your thing then try the Boundary Rooftop.

When it comes to London stag do ideas that relate to drinking we are always fans of the Vibe Bar for three reasons – it’s surrounded by curry houses, it’s got a huge space which is particularly good for outdoor drinking in the Summer and it turns a bit clubby later on. It’s also very conveniently placed for 93 Feet East which is a well-known and decent club over the road. Other places to consider going on to are Cargo or The Book Club

Nighttime London Stag Do Ideas 

Comedy

London stag do ideas: The Piccadilly Comedy Club – pretty phenomenal value

A classic activity to do for any stag do is a comedy club, primarily because they tick just about every box – sociable beers, good honest fodder, a proper laugh (frequently at the stags expense) and a club afterwards. London has a lorry load of comedy places so which one to go to? One of our preferred options based on location, quirkiness, quality of entertainment and damn right amazing value is the Piccadilly Comedy Club.

Slap bang in the middle of town, this cheery Victorian venue has made a shrewd move by teaming up with famed hen hangout Tiger Tiger, where you go for food, a comedy show and nightclub deal costing just £20. Bearing in mind you get very little change out twenty quid for a burger and a beer in our nation’s capital that’s a pretty awesome deal. The hidden benefit here is that you can watch the comedy and after the event, trot over the road to Tiger Tiger club without any entry issues. The comedy venue itself has a pub downstairs so you can warm up with a few pre performance beers in anticipation of acts that include a blend of contemporary TV comedians with comedy legends. The owner, Mike, is pretty legendary himself and one of the most affable chaps in London. He’s happy to take bookings directly on 07568 352828.

Lapdancing

Lapdancing is always a popular London stag do idea and one venue that will need no introduction to serve this purpose is Spearmint Rhino. Made famous by a string of high profile celebrity fans including George Clooney, Simon Cowell and none other than Beckham himself, this place brings a bit of Las Vegas glamour to London. If you want to do a gentleman’s club at its very best then it’s difficult to look past the capitals flagship lapdancing venue.

London Stag Do Ideas: Spearmint Rhino – not as expensive as you’d think

Comprising of four different stages there are topless stage  dancers and podium performances throughout the night. Getting the stag a private dance is affordable at £20, beers are around £6 and spirits with mixers around £10, but you are probably better off buying a bottle if there are a few of you as they throw in complimentary mixers if you go down this route. They also offer stag packages (gold, silver, bronze) where you get a set bar tab, VIP seating, a photo of the stag on stage(!) and ‘Rhino Chips’ – internal currency for dances! Form an orderly queue chaps! If you want further info on the packages, then just drop me an email at oliver@iamthebestman.co.uk or give me a call on 0845 018 0718 and I can talk you through.

London Stag Do Ideas in Clapham

Clapham’s a big place but the nightlife is most active near Clapham Common so you might want to base yourselves around there.

Stuff to do in the day

In and around Clapham

During the Summer months you may want to take advantage of the Common. Don’t let Ron Davies’s sordid experience on this piece of greenry put you off, the Common is a popular hangout when the sun shines and a good place to have a ‘jumpers for goal posts’ game of footie. If you happen to be looking for festival based London stag do ideas then you might want to consider the annual SW4 Music Festival on Clapham Common that takes place every August and always produces an A-List lineup.

If you fancy something a bit more action packed then not too far away is a place called Streatham where there is a decent go-karting track. This converted Bus Station offers the usual thrills and spills that come with Grand Prix racing and they welcome stag parties. Be warned though, we’ve whizzed round this track and it gets pretty hot in the racing gear so we recommend shower time before heading out.

London Stag do Ideas Outside Clapham

If none of the above tickles your fancy then you may want to head out of town for additional London stag do ideas. Clapham Junction is apparently the busiest railway station in the country and therefore pretty well connected. If you fancy a bit of paintballing, clay pigeon shooting or golf, you can get to places from here.

Eating

You won’t be short of choice in Clapham and there are plenty of good value options that are as good as anywhere in the city. Next door to The Alex (good pub for sports or all dayers) is a Thai eatery called The Pepper Tree. This place offers flavorsome and affordable food that comes pretty quick and you don’t have to book.  Hache offers decent bbq meat and burgers at a good price but has a little bit of continental charm about it. Finally, if you fancy a pizza then Eco would be our choice but you may need to book on a weekend as this place can get busy.

Drinking

If you’re looking for a venue for an all dayer then we recommend The Alex, particularly if there is sport on offer as they have multiple screens going on.

Clapham High Street is where the action ends up in the evening but there are a few places to take in on the way. You could start in Clapham Old Town at The Calf which is decent boozer to kick off not least because it also does seem decent pub grub. From there move on to The Frog which is worth a look if its sunny as it has a roof terrace overlooking the Common. The Sun, just up the road is another favourite of ours in Summer because it has a big outdoor space that becomes a hub of sociability.

There’s a pretty big Revolution on Clapham High Street and this of course means one thing – chilli vodka! Order a ‘stick’ of different flavoured vodkas and play Russian roulette to see who gets that most horrific of drinks.

If you cats are looking for a decent bar then The Loft is probably a decent bet as it’s big enough for a typical sized bucks party. This place is one of the more sophisticated in the area and is based on the first floor so you need to know where you’re going. They specialise in cocktails here so could be a good place to get the groom a particularly potent one here. Be warned, these guys employ bouncers so you may need to go early to get in.

London Stag Do Ideas: The One and Only Infernos

Our final drinking recommendation is Venn Street Records. This is probably the most active pre-club destination and part of a pedestrianised street of Clapham that also houses other bars and restaurants.

Finally, we could not possibly write a London stag do ideas city guide without mentioning the most famous cheesy club of them all….Infernos! Think, semi sticky carpets, soiled tropical fish tanks and the Baywatch Theme tune (guaranteed) and you’re getting somewhere close the experience that is Infernos. This boogie wonderland – their words not ours – was made famous by the lads from Inbetweeners believe it or not. The scene in the movie where they try and impress the chicks by dancing up to them? Infernos! So…glitter balls? Check. Mirrored ceilings? Check. Kebab shop right next door? CHECK! Winner!