Alternative hen getaways

Oxford - Cambridge Boat Race - London, UK
This legendary boat race takes place every April on the River Thames as Oxford and Cambridge battle it out year after year. Quite apart from the excitement of cheering on the rowers (and appreciating their fine muscular form) the route of the race is perfect for a pub-crawl along the river, which is particularly good if the sun is shining. Check out the website below so you can decide which pub to sit outside while you watch the race and then plan your route for descending into drunkenness throughout the afternoon.

For more information, visit www.theboatrace.org

Queen's Day - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
If your hen night falls in April and you thought Amsterdam was a party city on any other day of the year, you should combine your celebrations with Queen's Day. Usually around the last weekend of April, the festival is laid on for the Queen's official birthday, and it keeps her very popular indeed. The canals are jammed with boats cruising the waterways, albeit very slowly, and the streets are packed with a real carnival atmosphere. The city's squares and parks play host to stages for free music concerts, and beer and food is sold at the kerbside. Everyone gets completely slaughtered (the Dutch being one of the few nationalities to rival the Brits in terms of drinking) and, amazingly, there's rarely any trouble - although this could be down to the other produce on offer. To top it all off, the Dutch show their true colours by all dressing in orange fancy dress for the day, so choose your theme and join the party.

For more information, visit www.visitamsterdam.nl