Perfect Galentine’s Day Ideas for Every Vibe

Fancy swapping your usual girls’ night out for something with a bit more sparkle? Galentine’s Day—that’s February 13th, the day before Valentine’s—celebrates female friendships instead of romantic ones. Think Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope but with a British twist and less waffles obsession. 

Whether you’re plotting Galentine’s Day ideas for the group chat, a low-key night in, or an activity-packed afternoon, this guide sorts you with DIY options, weather-proof planning, and budget-friendly flourishes.

Think brunch venues for the civilised crowd, cosy lounges for the snuggle brigade, and creative workshop spaces for the crafty lot. Time to celebrate your favourite girls properly.

Table of contents

1. Galentine’s Day brunch ideas
   
2. Galentine’s party ideas for a cosy night in
   
3. Galentine’s Day activities you’ll actually do
   
4. Budget-friendly Galentine’s ideas
   
5. Galentine’s Day gift ideas
   
6. Galentine’s Day ideas in London
   
7. FAQs: Galentine’s Day ideas

1. Galentine’s Day brunch ideas

Brunch is the unofficial sport of Galentine’s Day. It’s easy to style, forgiving on timing, and photographs like a dream.

DIY grazing table and a fizz-free spritz bar

Lay butcher paper over a long table and sketch cheeky label arrows. “Berries here”, “cheese there”, “don’t touch the good stuff yet”. Build clusters of pastries, fruit, savoury boards, and a mini hot-station for breakfast sliders or waffles. For step-by-step platter inspo, try BBC Good Food’s grazing platter guide. Set up a spritz bar with sodas, juices, and fresh herbs. Private dining rooms work brilliantly for sit-down spreads, while daylit studio spaces give you that clean, bright Instagram look.

Pro tip: Pre-plate one “hero” tray and stash backup supplies in the kitchen. The table looks abundant without you playing waiter all morning.

Pancake portrait station

Stack mini pancakes on skewers, lay out toppings, then add a ring light and simple backdrop for playful portraits with your “pancake bouquet”. Creative workshop spaces or kitchen venues with proper prep areas make this dead easy without the stress of turning your own kitchen into a disaster zone. A basic phone-friendly ring light keeps shots flattering.

2. Galentine’s party ideas for a cosy night in

If February weather’s having one of its moments, keep it indoors and lean into proper cosy vibes.

Candle-lit tasting and card game night

Pick your theme: chocolate flights, British cheeses, or a proper tea and biscuits spread. Pair with conversation cards or your favourite game set. For easy laughs, try party titles from Big Potato Games. Cosy lounges with squishy sofas are perfect for intimate groups, while bigger party spaces handle the extended crew without everyone perched on dining chairs like they’re at a job interview.

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Pro tip: Build a simple three-step tasting sheet and prep your girls with a simple cheese tasting guide. Look, smell, taste. Even your shyest mate joins in without feeling like they’re auditioning for MasterChef.

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Movie club with dress code

Pick a comfort classic or rom-com double bill. Ask everyone for “soft textures only”—knits, slippers, the works. Serve hot-chocolate boards with marshmallows, fruit, and proper biscuits. Don’t have the right setup at home? Screening rooms or loft-style lounges with projectors already sorted save you wrestling with technology when you’d rather be gossiping. If your crew’s remote, Teleparty syncs the stream and chat.

3. Galentine’s Day activities you’ll actually do

Trend-led, hands-on, and satisfying. No hassle, just fun.

Paint-and-sip, but make it snappy

Forget four-hour masterpieces. Do a 45-minute “mini canvas challenge” with a simple prompt like “paint your happy place”, then a group show-and-tell. Creative workshop spaces or gallery-style rooms provide the setup without you clearing your dining table for a week.

Press-on manicure bar and photo corner

Set out press-ons, nail stickers, cuticle oil, and quick-dry topcoat. Need a quick refresher on how to make press-on nails last? Watch an easy step-by-step video together first. Create a photo corner with a plain backdrop, one prop box, and flattering lighting. Salon-style studios or daylit spaces work perfectly, plus you get proper lighting without squinting under kitchen spotlights.

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Pro tip: Stick to a tight colour palette—nudes, reds, one wildcard. Fewer choices mean faster decisions and more time for proper catch-ups.

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Beginner dance class, DJ after

Start with joyful beginner moves—Latin, Afrobeats, commercial—then switch to your playlist and let the room breathe. Dance studios for hire with mirrors handle the class perfectly, then you can roll straight into party mode without relocating the entire gang.

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Pro tip: Cap the class at 50 minutes with a proper water break. Keep smiles high and nobody pulls a muscle trying to impress their mates.

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4. Budget-friendly Galentine’s ideas

Keep spending sensible and energy soaring, because celebrating with your girlfriends doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

Potluck poetry & playlists

Everyone brings a dish and one short poem or favourite lyric. Readings between courses, then build a shared playlist to close the evening. Community centre rooms or home-style venues keep costs down while providing proper space for everyone’s contributions. Set up a collaborative Spotify playlist so everyone can add tracks in real time.

Craft and swap session

Hour of upcycling—beaded phone straps, tote bag glittering—followed by a gentle swap table for books, scarves, and beauty minis. Don’t have the space at home? Creative workshop spaces with big tables make this work without everyone hunched over coffee tables like they’re doing homework.

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Pro tip: Pick one craft with five steps maximum. Complexity kills conversation, and chat’s the real point.

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Night-time city stroll + dessert stop

If skies are behaving, wrap up warm and walk your prettiest local route. End somewhere toasty for puddings. Late-night cafés or restaurant private rooms guarantee seating so you’re not hovering hopefully by occupied tables. In London, this roundup of late-night ice cream places makes choosing easy.

5. Galentine’s Day gift ideas

Gifts needn’t be grand gestures. Personal and useful wins every time.

Memory zine

Print favourite photos, add mini captions, song lyrics, inside jokes. Staple into a tiny zine that’s postable, heartfelt, and won’t gather dust. Daylit studio spaces work brilliantly if you’re crafting together first, turning gift-making into part of the fun. Get going with a free Canva-style zine template that shows you how to bring your ideas to life.

Group experience IOU

Plan one shared spring activity—flower-arranging, pottery taster, picnic shoot. Pop the invitation into a card. Creative workshop spaces and outdoor party venues become brilliant once the weather improves, giving everyone something lovely to anticipate.

Care kits that aren’t clutter

Bundle sheet masks, good tea, chocolate, and handwritten notes. Add a QR code to a shared playlist you’ll all update through the year—Spotify Codes make it dead easy to scan-and-play.. Proper thoughtfulness without requiring storage solutions.

6. Galentine’s Day ideas in London

Capital options for gathering the gang, or stealing ideas for your own town.

East-end craft crawl

Pick two creative stops—printmaking then pottery—with coffee and cake between. ‘Why crafts?’, you might ask. The Crafts Council sums up why it feels so good: craft “helps to improve mood and lower stress,” thanks to the focus and small wins built into making. Perfect for Galentine’s!Creative workshop venues that are clustered together work perfectly, finishing in one of London’s hip restaurants for lingering late lunches and wholesome girl talk.

Skyline at sunset

Book rooftop party spaces with heaters, bring blankets, pour hot toddies or zero-proof mulled drinks. Keep playlists soft so conversation wins over Instagram moments.

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Pro tip: Always ask about wind plans. February rooftops need screens or pergolas unless you fancy recreating a weather report.

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Neon karaoke & noodles

Start with a proper noodle bar, then head to a karaoke bar in a nearby London district for two hours of singing. It’s chaotic, cathartic, and famously bonding. Plus nobody remembers who couldn’t hold a tune by the end.

Ready for a grand time with the gals?

Whether you’re planning cosy flat nights or hunting activities that feel a bit different, start with your vibe. Slow brunch, crafty afternoon, dance-then-DJ. If you’re not hosting at yours, pick event spaces on Peerspace that make setup easy. The result? A celebration that feels exactly like your friendship—warm, slightly indulgent, and full of good stories for the journey home.

7. FAQs: Galentines Day ideas

What should I do for Galentine’s Day?

Start with your group’s vibe. Foodies love brunch with grazing tables and fizz-free spritz bars. Evening crowds prefer candle-lit tastings or movie nights with dress codes. Activity lovers go for paint-and-sip sessions or beginner dance classes. Match the energy to your mates and pick small party venues that handle the setup—daylit studios for crafty afternoons, cosy lounges for intimate gatherings.

Is Galentine’s only for single girls?

Absolutely not. Galentine’s celebrates female friendship, full stop. Married, single, complicated—everyone’s welcome. It’s about your mates, not your relationship status. The best Galentine’s groups mix everyone together for proper bonding without the awkward “how’s dating going?” conversations. 

How do people celebrate Galentine’s Day?

Brunch remains the classic—easy timing, great photos, forgiving if someone’s running late. Others go for cosy nights with themed tastings and card games, crafty afternoons with press-on manicures and photo corners, or active sessions like dance classes followed by DJ time. The key is picking something everyone can join without feeling pressured to perform.

What to gift your Galentine?

Think small but meaningful. Memory zines with inside jokes and favourite photos, care packages with tea and chocolate, or IOUs for shared experiences like pottery classes or picnic shoots. The best gifts reference your specific friendship—shared playlists, joke cards, or something that makes them smile when they find it weeks later.

How to host a Galentine’s?

Pick one main activity, keep setup simple, and choose venues for hire that handle the heavy lifting. Community centre rooms work for potlucks, creative workshop spaces suit crafty sessions, private dining rooms handle brunches without kitchen stress. If you’re preparing food, consider food safety, allergies and hygiene. Plan 2-3 hours maximum, have backup entertainment, and remember—the point is catching up, not impressing anyone.