Introduction
The UK has so many cities to choose from when looking to book a stag do in 2022. We’ve decided to concentrate on five fun cities in England for this edition and give you some great activities and ways to spend your last nights of freedom with the lads.
1. Liverpool
Liverpool is one of the major cities in the Northwest of England and has long had a reputation as a fun city to spend some time in. As a destination for a stag do in 2022, it has much to offer in terms of culture, sports, festivals, gigs, and a whole city full of bars and clubs.
Things that are stereotypically Liverpudlian are The Beatles, the Mersey Ferry, the Liver Building, and Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs. Luckily, if you’re considering the city as a destination, you can visit them all over the course of a single weekend.
Obviously, with football, during the season, you’ll generally find either Liverpool or their city rivals, Everton, playing at home on any given weekend. If you fancy lending your support to the Reds or the Blues, you can buy tickets on the respective websites. If there’s no football, or your heart lies with another club, you can still tour either ground.
The legacy of The Beatles created still lives large in Liverpool, with a tour that takes you around some of the most famous landmarks, like Penny Lane, childhood homes, and the world-famous Cavern Club.
If you’re up for a trip across the water, the Mersey Ferry is an iconic ride from Liverpool Dock to The Wirral. The Wirral side allows you a great view across the city skyline and the trip is short enough to not eat into your drinking time.
If the lads are up for something to get your heart thumping a bit quicker, a couple of hours playing paintball with your mates is enough to bring out everyone’s competitive edge before you head out for a night on the city streets to mix with the locals.
2. Manchester
Manchester is one of the Northern Powerhouses, famous for its world-class football teams, its music, and for being the location of the UK’s first-ever canal! Manchester was the first industrialised city in the world, so it’s no stranger to moving with the times and it’s continually at the forefront of new trends.
Its restaurant, bar and club scene are second only to London and this University town has the full range of cheap and cheerful student happy hours, to ultra-chic and very pricey skyline bars and exclusive restaurants.
For a stag do in 2022, if you’re lucky enough to grab some footie tickets, the atmosphere at either Old Trafford or the Etihad is something special. If you can’t get access to tickets, a tour of either facility is well worth an hour or so of your time. As well as the two premiership stadiums, complete with their own historical exhibits, Manchester is also home to the national football museum.
In terms of gigs, Manchester is known throughout the world for its music. However, along with the talent, it also has some impressive venues. Clearly, the football stadia are the largest in the city but, if you’re after something a little more intimate and indie, check out the listings for Manchester Academy or the legendary Bridgewater Hall.
After football tours or gigs, why not invest in a club pass for you and your squad to sort out the evening’s festivities in one quick move? The pass gives you free entry on the night to a range of clubs and entry to a strip club. All venues are in the city centre and are all well-known, popular venues.
The morning after the night before offers the opportunity to indulge in some seriously good full English breakfasts, and the city centre is full of great brunch spots to set you up for another day and night in the North.
3. Newcastle
Newcastle is famous for many things, including its popular brown ale, its amazing accents, and the famous Great Northern Run, which is the world’s biggest half marathon. It also won’t come as a surprise to anyone that Newcastle has a reputation as a great place to party. So, if you’re on the lookout for a stag do in 2022, Newcastle makes a great destination.
Geordies love their football, so an afternoon shouting ‘Howay the lads’ down at St James’s Park is guaranteed to be fun. The football might not be entertaining from the home side, given current form, but the banter is always up to scratch.
If you want to experience the bracing fresh air of the Northeast, a game of footgolf will challenge the lads to accurately ‘score’ as many holes in one as you can on a tailor-made course. If the weather isn’t up to scratch, why not stay inside and book a session of Turbo Cricket instead?
For evening entertainment, the Quayside area by the impressive Millennium Bridge on the banks of the River Tyne offers some great bars on both sides of the water. A local favourite is The River Brew Co, which offers great drinks and great views.
Clubbers will appreciate the plethora of late-night entertainment venues on the city’s famous Diamond Strip. The area is famous for its swanky bars and clubs and is a regular haunt for local footballers and celebrities visiting the city. Venues, such as Perdu, Madame Koo, and Bijoux are hugely popular with city dwellers and visitors, so make a night of it and dance away until the wee small hours.
4. Bristol
Famous for Banksy, Wallace and Gromit, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, among many other things, there’s a great deal to see and do on a stag do in 2022 in the southern city of Bristol.
Although it’s not widely known for its pizzas, you can indulge in a 2-hour pizza making class in the city in a bid to show off your creativity. Just think of finally being able to put on all the toppings that the server at Domino’s rolls his eyes at when you ask. Just because pineapple and pepperoni don’t belong on anyone else’s pizza doesn’t necessarily mean the combination is wrong, right? Indeed. During a pizza-making class, there’s also unlimited beer on offer, so there’s no doubt it could get messy.
If your group’s art is more geared towards drawing than food prep, then why not try your hand at being the next Picasso with a nude drawing class? For this, you need nothing other than your raw talent as all equipment and the model will be provided. If you ever envied Leo DiCaprio in Titanic when he painted Kate, now’s your chance to relive the scene (or part of it, at least…).
If the lads like to get out and about, there are plenty of guided and self-tours of Bristol’s finest graffiti spots to indulge in. Banksy isn’t the only exceptional artist in the city, as many colourful murals attest. To make the most of the water in the city, Bristol Ferry Boat operate throughout the year and lets you hop on and off the boat at a range of stops, including Spike Island, and the trendy Underfall Yard.
5. Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a coastal resort in southeast England, famous for its beaches, water sports, and the gravesite of Frankenstein author, Mary Shelley. It’s also the perfect spot for an English stag do in 2022 if you’re keen on a bit of sun, sand and outdoor adventures.
Bournemouth is a haven for adventure enthusiasts, with its easy access to the sea and plethora of diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, and powerboating available through its many outdoor activity centres and instructors.
If you don’t fancy getting out on the water, you can stay on dry land and enjoy the miles of white sandy beaches in the town. If you’re around in the summer, you can hire out a local beach hut and enjoy a relaxing day catching some rays before hitting up the local pubs and clubs at night.
However, if your group likes a dry-land challenge and are genuinely worried about the chances of a Walking Dead scenario in your lifetime (because anything’s possible now, right?), why not prepare yourself in style with the Zombie Apocalypse Challenge? This day out involves axe throwing, archery, using assault rifles, and an all-important Daryl Dixon-style crossbow training session. You can never have too many ways to despatch zombies, as far as we’re concerned.
After you’re all suitably trained in the art of defeating herds of blood-thirsty zombies, head out on the town for a few beers. Popular venues in the town are Be at One, Smokin’ Aces, and Bar So. For the morning after the night before, head out to The Prom Diner or The Key West Bar and Grill for a full English breakfast to sort you out for the rest of the day.
Conclusion
If you’re planning a stag do in 2022 and you’d rather stay closer to home in England or jump across the pond from Ireland, then one of these destinations is sure to suit your lads. All of them offer unique stag party activities, proper nightlife and heaps to keep you occupied and merry for the whole stag weekend.
Check out our stag do UK and stag party Ireland pages for more destination inspiration.
