The Best Experiences you Can Buy Your Loved Ones This Christmas
I always rate buying your loved ones experiences over gifts- whatever the occasion may be. The first reason is obvious - buying an experience (as long as you get yourself in on it too) usually means you've bought the gift of quality time and amazing memories with one another. Assuming you like them, this is a good thing! Secondly, and depending on the experience, buying your loved ones experiences over material gifts usually means a lot less waste. Just thinking about the huge amount of wrapping paper, bubble wrap and cardboard from all our online shops, the discarded food and unwanted gifts (which usually end up in a cupboard or the loft by the following year) makes me shudder. The amount we waste at Christmas time is phenomenal! Buying experiences over material gifts can help us minimise this huge amount we are so accustomed to wasting at Christmas.
So without further adieu, I've scoured the internet (and tried some myself) for the best experiences you can buy your loved ones this Christmas. Enjoy!
1. tea blending with bluebird tea co.
LOCATION: Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, Bristol, London
Cost: from £40
INFO: You'll be taught the art of tea blending, exploring different types of tea, how they are made and best enjoyed as well as the benefits of different blending herbs and ingredients by Bluebird's Tea Mixologists
Go see!
2. POttery class with Homethrown Studios
Location: Bournemouth, DORSET
Cost: £15 - £100
info: whether you are a beginner and want to explore the art of pottery from scratch, know the basics and want to go further, or want to host a party with Homethrown - Gemma has got you covered from her beautiful bournemouth studio!
Go see!
3. urban beekeeping & craft beer tasting with hiver the honeybeer
Location: london
cost: £34
info: After a session learning the basics of urban beekeeping with hiver's beekeeper, you'll get to chill out over a beer and learn the ins and outs of pairing your beer with your food. Bonus: the gift voucher is made from seeded paper and can be planted and grown into wildflowers to entice those bees you'll have learned all about!
Go see!
4. creative workshops by Bezalel
Location: London
Cost: Around £65
Info: Bezalel team with young creatives to produce inspiring creative workshops that culture community. From calligraphy to weaving, making your own beauty products or 'embracing winter', you can guarantee that Bezalel will put on an intimate workshop that will leave any creative buzzing. Just keep your eye out for future events and ticket sales over on their instagram
Go see!
5. A FORAGING WORKSHOP WITH WILDFOOD UK
LOCATION: ALL AROUND THE UK
COST: £45
INFO: WILDFOOD UK FORAGE ALL YEAR AROUND AND COUNTRYWIDE SO YOU WONT BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A COURSE NEAR YOU AT SOME POINT. IF YOU CAN, BOOK YOURSELF ON AN AUTUMNAL TRIP SO YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM THE MOST FRUITFUL FORAGING SEASON
GO SEE!
6. Build a clay oven & bake your own bread at River Cottage
Location: near axminster, Devon
Cost: £195
Info: this one comes with a steep price tag but the excellent reputation river cottage has means you are guaranteed you'll get your monies worth (I've enjoyed an amazing evening at river cottage hq myself). on this course you'll do exactly what it says on the tin, building a clay oven (getting nice and muddy while you're at it) before baking your own bread. aLL OF THIS FROM THE SECOND TO NONE RIVER COTTAGE HQ SETTING
Go see!
7. A day with Ben Law the woodsman
Location: Prickly Nut Wood, West Sussex
Cost: £60
Info: Ben Law is a coppicer (manages woodlands), an eco-building genius and the author of many books on both traditional and modern woodland craft. If you dream to manage your own land and maybe even build a house on it than an open day at Ben's woodland home is a good investment to kick start your inspiration and knowledge
Go see!
8. Candle making workshop with MILKWOOD
Location: various London locations + Faversham
Cost: £45-£50
Info: In a guaranteed beautiful setting Milkwood candles will take you through a process of using essential oils to create natural scents before you craft your own bespoke blend and pour your own candle to take home
Go see!
