30th birthday ideas: 30 fun ways to ring in a new decade

We stand firm here at SquareMeal that reaching your 30th birthday is a milestone occasion that deserves to be celebrated in a way that feels truly special to you. No matter whether you’re looking to host a quiet party at home with a small circle of friends, or want to go all out with something that feels totally luxurious, you deserve to feel cherished and celebrated on your special day. That’s why we’ve thought about the very best 30th birthday ideas, so that you can celebrate in style.

There are lots of things to think about when you’re planning your 30th birthday celebration, from the budget you’ve got to work with, to the very space that you choose to host in – or, maybe you don’t need a space at all, and will be hosting at home instead. From wowing your loved one with a surprise party, to taking on the planning yourself and going all out, there really is no wrong way to celebrate a 30th birthday. We’ve pulled together options to suit all tastes, including restaurant bookings, parties at bars and everything in between.

We’re pleased to say that our list has a ton of ideas to get the planning ball rolling, from outdoors activities like ziplining and camping trips, to more relaxing ways to celebrate, such as a movie night in with friends. Are you armed with a notepad and ready to get planning? Take a look at our 30th birthday celebration ideas for inspiration and get a better idea of what you want to do, whether it’s for yourself or someone you love.

You may find yourself planning this occasion a year or so ahead, or perhaps you have a short window to get things ticked off, but whatever you do for your 30th birthday, you should celebrate in a way that makes you happy. You’ve reached an incredible life milestone, and now it’s time to mark it in an equally special way.

Unique 30th birthday ideas

Want your 30th birthday to be an event that goes down in histor? Kick off your thirties in a totally unique way with these quirky ideas, from organising a scavenger hunt to grooving out at a silent disco.  

1. Book a tasting menu experience

Ayllu offers a selection of affordable tasting menus that everyone can enjoy

Indulge in a little luxury on your 30th birthday and book a tasting menu experience. These experiences are especially great for big milestone celebrations, as they come with several courses – usually anywhere from six to 10 – that make for an indulgent evening out. You'll find plenty of excellent ones in our guide to the best tasting menus in London. Or if budget is a factor, we've also scoured the capital for the best affordable tasting menus.

2. Rave at a silent disco

Perfect for those who want to dance the night away with their friends, but to their own favourite style of music, a silent disco allows you all the fun of being around friends, but the freedom to get lost in your own world. Silent discos often take place at local museums, warehouses and landmark venues, which can make your 30th birthday that bit extra special.

3. Organise a scavenger hunt

Hunt for chocolate, to win the title of the friend who knows you best, or simply just for fun, a scavenger hunt has endless options and plenty of possibilities for fun. You could set one up at work, in the garden, or even out in public. It will surely be a memorable 30th birthday!

4. Take a dance class

Have you always wanted to learn how to salsa, or watched the stars of Strictly Come Dancing with hopes that one day you’ll know your ballroom from your latin? Well then a dance class could be the perfect way to celebrate your 30th birthday.

Relaxing 30th birthday ideas

Prefer to enter your thirties without making a song and dance about it? These relaxing ideas are understated and elegant, but still guarantee you and your guests a good time. 

5. Book a spa day with your best friends

With locations in Leicestershire and Hertfordshire, Champneys spa hotels are the perfect rural retreat

Who can say no to a relaxing spa day? If you’ve been troubled with aches and pains in your back, or could do with a refreshing facial to start the next year off right, treat yourself to a spa day with your besties and celebrate the day feeling zen.

6. Enjoy a movie night with pals at home

Make it a movie night to remember and consider hiring a private screening room at Curzon - with sites in Bloomsbury, Canterbury, Colchester, Kingston upon Thames, Oxford and Victoria.

With the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime full to the brim with great series and films, both new and old, a movie night in is never boring. Pair it with a bottle of your favourite wine and some picky bits to eat, and you’ve got a recipe for a great 30th birthday.

7. Rent a cottage and snuggle by the fire

Keep it cosy on your 30th birthday and look for a charming cottage near the sea or deep in the countryside. When you’re there, snuggle down near the fire with a good book and your favourite treats. This has to be one of the best ways to relax your way into another decade.

8. Head to the West End to see your favourite shows

The West End is home to many classic favourites like Les Miserables and Wicked, and new productions pop up all the time. Whether you want to head back to a spot you’ve frequented many times, or have been waiting to see the latest big hit, London’s theatreland has something for everyone looking to mark a special occasion with a performance. You can make the moment even more memorable by treating yourself to a pre or post theatre dinner.

9. Reflect on the last year with an evening of journaling

Celebrating your 30th birthday doesn’t have to be about a big evening out, or splashing the cash on a fancy meal. If you are full of gratitude from the last year, or perhaps even the last decade, why not take some time to journal in a pretty new book.

Outdoor 30th birthday ideas

Are you a summer baby? Make the most of the British sunshine (rare thing that it is!) with an outdoorsy activity. Beach trips, picnics and ziplining for the thrill-seekers all fall under this category.

10. Head to the beach for the weekend

If you're headed to Cornwall, Brasserie on the Bay in Falmouth has stunning waterside views.

Plenty of UK beaches, especially those in West Wales and Cornwall, could have been plucked from Mediterranean waters. For your 30th birthday celebration, why not celebrate with a relaxing trip to your favourite beach or seaside resort and soak up the Vitamin D.

11. Book a walking tour to learn more about local history

There are walking tours for almost everything, so whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find something exciting that will make your 30th birthday a little educational. Crime, local history, art, food are just some of the options for walking tours in the UK, offering niches suited to everyone’s taste.

12. Enjoy a picnic in the local botanical gardens

Pack up your favourite sausage rolls, big portions of birthday cake and a bottle of fizz and head to your nearby botanical gardens to enjoy your 30th birthday with the beauty of technicolour flowers, grand trees and woodland wildlife.

13. Go on a big camping trip

Celebrate your 30th birthday in the great outdoors and load up your car ready for a big camping trip. Chances are, there are plenty of spots to enjoy near to your home, but if you’re hoping to go a little further afield, consider some of the UK's areas of outstanding natural beauty, from the Peak District to the Welsh mountains.

14. Go ziplining

Imagine the thrill you will feel on your 30th birthday as you speed across the country's beautiful terrain, with the wind in your hair and a smile on your face. There are many ziplining centres across the country, which provide a perfect opportunity for thrillseekers to enjoy a breathtaking birthday.

Memorable 30th birthday ideas

No one wants a birthday that isn't memorable, but these ideas will ensure that your 30th is one for the books. What's that saying? Go big or go home!

15. Plan a private dining experience

KOL's private dining room is one of the most Instagrammable spaces in London, and serves sensational, Michelin-starred Mexican food 

Our directory of private dining options know no bounds – we’ve got options for all budgets, group sizes, and a wide range of cuisines to choose from. If you’re a bit of a foodie and are looking for a memorable way to celebrate turning the big 3-0, consider booking a private dining room for the big 3-0. Need help picking the perfect space? We've got guides to the best private dining rooms with a view for a jaw-dropping affair, or the best luxury and Michelin star private dining rooms in London if a gastronomic experience is what you're after.

16. Book an afternoon tea at a luxury hotel

Afternoon tea at The Rose Lounge is a lesson in luxury

The UK is filled with luxury hotels and many of them lie on London soil. For your 30th birthday, why not head into the city and book one of London's best luxurious afternoon teas for an afternoon of dainty patisseries, free-flowing tea and maybe a glass of Champagne or two. 

17. Hire a house in the countryside

We’re lucky here in the UK, with an abundance of great manor houses, castles, cottages and more, scattered throughout the British countryside. If you’re feeling bougie, why not celebrate your 30th birthday by renting a house in the countryside, with all your loved ones around you.

18. Book your dream trip

The Bull in Charlbury would certainly be on our dream trip list, combining cosy interiors, open fire cooking and an English wine list

If you’ve always wanted to take a trip to the Maldives, or see the snow fall around Rockefeller Center, your 30th birthday is the perfect excuse to book that trip you’ve been dreaming of. Of course, your ideal trip might be closer to home. Perhaps a holiday in the Cotswolds or hiking in the peak district? Check out the best pubs with rooms in the UK for staycationing in style if you want to add a gastronomic twist, too.

19. Return to the town where you grew up and do all your favourite childhood activities

If you live somewhere different to the place you were raised, why not return to your childhood village to celebrate your 30th birthday with your friends and family. Make a day of exploring your favourite haunts, enjoying food in local cafes, and soaking up the memories you made years ago.

20. Enjoy a photoshoot to capture the moment

Make the memories of your 30th birthday last forever with a photoshoot. Pull in your partner, friends, children or pets and capture special memories with the help of a local photographer, and then hang them on your wall for years to come.

21. Look through old photos with those closest to you

Dig around in your parents ottoman and bring out all the printed memories of your childhood and early adulthood. Share them with your friends, spouse, children, and reflect on the last three decades of your wonderful life.

Affordable 30th birthday ideas

Not everyone wants to do the dream trip or boujie meal out for their birthday, and that's totally fine! These budget-friendly ideas prove that a great birthday doesn't have to cost the earth. 

22. Do an escape room with your friends

An escape room is fun for all, and a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday. There are themed escape rooms around almost everything – the jungle, Jack The Ripper, Disney movies, classic novels, and so much more. Take a look at the best escape rooms in London for tons of mind-boggling fun!

23. Go out for a delicious breakfast or brunch

Stylish and classy, Mortimer House's art deco interiors will make your birthday feel extra special - and its Italian-inspired brunch menu is delicious, too.

It's much more affordable to go out for breakfast rather than dinner, and we'd argue it can be just as special! Whether you fancy a lazy birthday brunch with a loved one, or want to gather a group for a blow-out mid-morning meal, eating breakie out can be a properly indulgent treat. Try out one of these brilliant breakfast spots if you tend to rise early on your birthday, or opt for London's best brunches if you'd prefer a lie-in first. 

24. Have a wine and cheese night

If you fancy heading out for your a night of great wine, Humble Grape offer wine tastings and events, locations include Battersea, Canary Wharf, Fleet Street and Islington.

Put together a selection of your favourite wines and cheeses, and get them set up for your guests’ arrival. Print off scoring cards and ask those in attendance to score what they taste, making a real event of it.

25. Bring a plate and a crate night

Ask your guests to bring a plate of themed food – whether it be a board of sweet treats, chopped fruit, meats, chicken in various forms, or crisps – the lists are endless. Then, if you plan on drinking at your 30th birthday party, ask them to bring along a crate.

Surprise 30th birthday ideas

Hosting a 30th birthday for someone else? Give them the surprise of a lifetime with one of these thoughtful ideas. Treat them to a special meal out, throw them a house party, or create a video montage filled with shared moments together.

26. Create a video montage

If you’re planning a surprise birthday party for a loved one, a great way to mark their 30th birthday party is by creating a montage of videos – whether you film their family and friends sharing birthday messages, or look back on old times – this is a sure fire way to tug on the heart strings.

27. Make a chef's table booking

Counter 71 is one of the best chef's table experiences money can buy in the capital

Treat your loved one to a 30th birthday get-together at their favourite restaurant, seated at the chef’s table, and see a new decade in, in style. There are so many incredible restaurants across the country offering intimate dining experiences, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Start your search with London's best chef's tables.

28. Whisk them away for a dream weekend

Whoever’s 30th birthday you’re celebrating, they will no doubt be delighted by a surprise weekend away somewhere they’ve always dreamed of visiting. With so many fantastic options right here in the UK, you won’t even need a passport.

29. Throw them a house party

Little Orange Door is a bar in Clapham styled on a real-life flat share - the ultimate house party, surely? 

Throwing things back to your youth, reflect on the fun times you had as teens and plan a surprise birthday party for the soon-to-be 30 year old. A house party is always fun, just make sure you stock up on the beer kegs.

30. Hire an area in a bar

Rooftop spot PocketSquare Skyline Bar & Terrace is available for private hire and boasts stunning views of East London

Hire out a space in a local bar that your friend loves and decorate it with balloons in their favourite colour. There are some really impressive bars in London available for private hire, from rooftop spots with epic views to cosy underground speakeasies. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do people celebrate turning 30?

Turning 30 is often marked with a big celebration, like a party with friends and family. But, some people will choose to celebrate at home with loved ones, spend the day alone reflecting on the year that has passed. However you celebrate your 30th birthday, all that matters is that it’s a special day for you.

What is the best theme for a 30th birthday party?

There are many different themes suitable for a 30th birthday, and really, none of them are wrong. You could celebrate the end of your 20s with a ‘Roaring 20s’ themed party, plan a 1930s Art Deco themed bash, or flash back to the 90s, and the decade in which you were born.

What type of venue should I book for a 30th birthday celebration?

Any venue can be transformed into a suitable space for your 30th birthday celebration, but a lot of people look to restaurants, private dining rooms, bars and designated event spaces to make the planning process more seamless.

Got a friend turning 40? We've also come up with a wealth of 40th birthday party ideas to help you plan the ultimate bash!