Make Every Gift You Give an Experience™

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day this year than on an unforgettable experience day? With a huge number of unique days just waiting for the two of you to enjoy – you’re ideal morning, afternoon or evening of romance is never far away. What you consider romantic is of course up to you, but with everything from Puma Rally to Pamper Days on the website; this short list should help you decide… and help Cupid’s arrow find its target!

Couples Photoshoot
Price: £37
Treat you and your most special loved one to a photoshoot in a professional studio with an expert team of photographers, make-up artists and stylists making sure you look your absolute best in front of the camera. As you both get a taste of the modelling life by striking poses together, the camera will be snapping away giving you plenty of options to choose from during the photo viewing session after.

Experience Includes: Photo shoot in Professional studio, expert photographer and stylists, take some beautiful images of you both together
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle

Sunrise Champagne Balloon Flight For Two
Price: £249
This Valentine’s day why not take your partner for a romantic balloon flight as you watch the sunrise over the horizon together? You will be silently soaring over the countryside, shrouded in shadow until the magical moment when the sun starts to rise… a moment that will never be forgotten. After the peaceful hour long flight over the patchwork countryside backdrop, the balloon will be brought back to solid ground where you will be able to toast your flight with a glass of champagne.


Experience Includes: Sunrise balloon flight, toast your experience with a glass of champagne after, beautiful way to spend a morning with your loved one
Where it’s Available: More then 30 locations

Marriott Afternoon Tea For Two
Price: £56
Give a gift this Valentine’s day that will allow you and your partner sit back and relax while enjoying some tasty food served in the grand setting of a 5* hotel. Enjoy a range of expertly prepared teas, sandwiches, pastries and scones and savour the time you spend with your loved one – held in the pristine grounds of the hotel and buildings.


Experience Includes: Enjoy a slice of luxury with your loved one, exquisitely made tea, sandwiches, pastries and scones, prestigious 5* hotels
Where it’s Available: Bournemouth, Bristol, Manchester, London, Ware

Pamper The Pair
Price: £279
Indulge in a day of ultimate calm and relaxation at the famous Gina Conway Spa as you wash the stresses and strains of every day life away. You will both get to enjoy a full body exfoliation and a luxurious foot bath in a double treatment room, filled with candles and flowers allowing for the ultimate relaxing and romantic atmosphere. You will both leave the delightful settings of the spa with a with a renewed calm and have some great memories to share.

Experience Includes: Full access to the Gina Conway spa for you both, two simultaneous treatments each, relax and unwind in a romantic setting
Where it’s Available: Central London

Scuba Diving Lesson For Two Bristol
Price: £49
Enjoy exploring a whole new under water world with your loved one with this great introductory scuba lesson in Bristol. The professional PADI instructors will teach you both everything you need to know to start exploring the under water world starting with the basics such as using the equipment up to communicating under water. So whether you are looking to start a new hobby together or just to get some practice before a holiday, this introductory scuba lesson will make a great Valentine’s day gift.

Experience Includes: Explore the underwater world with your loved one, fantastic intro to the world of scuba diving, expert PADI qualified instructors
Where it’s Available: Central London

Now that the Christmas decorations are back in the loft and we’re trudging sombrely into January, those New Year resolutions could be starting to wear as thin as the nicotine patches and gym excuses you and your other half are tearing through! But fortunately – It doesn’t have to be that way, with just a little booster, you can ensure your goals and targets are adhered to – and in style. As one of the most common resolutions is circled around exercise and being more active, Experience Days could scarcely be better placed to help you realise your goals for 2012, whether that be stretching your own muscles on an active class – or cooking mussels in wine and sauce; Experience Days can give your resolution list the boost of motivation and participation!

Discover Indoor Rock Climbing
Price: £39
Indoor rock climbing is a great activity to help you get fit as it uses almost every muscle in your body to tackle the vertical wall, and being inside it can be enjoyed regardless of the weather! This great introductory experience is perfect for anyone looking to get started in the sport as it will equip you with the necessary skills to start attempting the myriad of routes up the rock face. With expert coaching from the instructors throughout the experience, you will learn the basics of this exciting sport in no time – then it’s over to you!

Experience Includes: Expert instruction, learn to climb, all equipment provided
Where it’s Available: Gloucester, London, Kinlochleven, Swansea

Thames River Kayaking – Hampton Court Palace
Price: £59
Take to the water and enjoy the River Thames like never before, as you paddle along the world famous waters on board you own kayak (provided). The tours take place at either sunrise or sunset, so you will be able to marvel at the beauty of the surrounding buildings and landscapes, including Hampton Court Palace and its grounds – as you get a great work out for your upper body! The knowledgeable instructors provide insights to the surrounding areas, coaching advice and all equipment – making this great experience suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced paddlers.

Experience Includes: All equipment and coaching, Hampton Court Palace tour by kayak, sun rise or sun set journey.
Where it’s Available: London

Discover Windsurfing
Price: £60
Windsurfing is the most fun you can have in a wetsuit, or so they say! With this great introductory lesson you will be shown all the skills and techniques required to start harnessing the power of the wind and skim across the surface of the water. You will be 1:1 with the instructor ensuring you can absorb as much information as possible from the expert. As well as being great fun, windsurfing also builds up your core strength as you balance the board, hold on to the large sail and try and make the whole thing go in the direction you want it to!

Experience Includes: Expert 1:1 instruction, all equipment provided,
Where it’s Available: Brighton

Play Golf Like a Pro With Marriott
Price: £98
Learning to play golf is a great way to keep fit and active as it requires you to walk around the 18 holes, unless you get a buggy of course (which is not very New Year Resolution-esque! This great experience will allow you entry to any of the nine Marriott Golf clubs around the country, and a 45 minute lesson from the course’s PGA professional, before tackling an 18 hole championship course. A light lunch is included, and then it’s time to hit the driving range to practice the new skills and swings. So whether you are looking to dust of your old clubs and get a refresher lesson, or to start an exciting new hobby, learning to play golf at a Marriott hotel is a step in the right direction.

Experience Includes: Entry to the Marriott club, 45 minute lesson from a PGA Professional, play all 18 holes, Light lunch
Where it’s Available: Coventry, Chepstow, Derby, Kirknewton, Maidstone, Manchester, Norwich, Shipley and Southampton

Climb Ben Nevis
Price £139
This fantastic experience could be a great challenge to set yourself to make sure you keep on target of your goals, as an expert mountaineering instructor will guide you up one of the classic routes on the UK’s tallest mountain to the peak of Ben Nevis. You will encounter steep rock faces, narrow mountain trails and large ice fields on your giant ascent – requiring a decent level of fitness, so why not make it the ultimate target of your year to be able to take on this mountain sized challenge?! The spectacular views at the summit will make the year of hard work so very worth it!

Experience Includes: Expert mountain guide, all equipment provided, climb the UK’s highest peak!
Where it’s Available: Fort William

So there we have it, our top 5 experiences to help boost the waning New Year’s Resolutions lists – and get you actively enjoying the great outdoors. So whether you are looking to set yourself a new challenge or just want to try a new and exciting activity to get the heart racing, there is something on Experience Days for everyone.

With Christmas just around the corner, and the postage deadline fast approaching, now is the time to get some last minute Christmas gifts for the man in your life. If you have been struggling to find a Christmas presents and are running out of time, look no further than our current top 5 Christmas special offers for him below still available by email vouchers.

Forster Racing – Taster Special
Was £99 now £79
Let them get behind the wheel of the awesome Rage Buggy and experience the thrill of rally driving with this great special offer. You will start in the Ford RST practising basic manoeuvres such as the Scandinavian flick, over steer and power slides before moving on to driving the Rage Buggy. This experience is perfect for any petrol head as they will get a real hands on experience behind the wheel and be taught by professional drivers. To top off the experience, an expert driver will take them for a high speed passenger ride in the fastest Rage Buggy available.

Experience Includes: Practice in a Ford RST, timed laps in the Rage Buggy, white knuckle passenger ride
Where it’s Available: Chichester

GBX4 Rally Taster
Was £100 now £89
If you know a man who loves anything with an engine, this great GBX4 rally day could be the perfect Christmas gift. They will get to take the Polaris PzR out on the track for some serious off road fun as they tackle the jumps, sharp hair pins and deep ruts! These off road vehicles are built to take a real pounding so out on the track they can really let loose and discover the full capabilities of these awesome machines. Expert Instructors will be on hand to make sure they got the most out of this exhilarating experience.

Experience Includes: Practice laps with an expert instructor, personal driving session on challenging off road track
Where it’s Available: Birmingham

2for1 Discover Indoor Skydiving
Was £98 now £49
Skydiving is an experience almost everyone dreams about trying but often the price becomes a barrier, but with our great 2for1 indoor skydiving offer you can make their dream come true without breaking the bank. Each participant will get two x 1 minute flights, which is the equivalent free-fall time as three normal skydives giving them plenty of time to hone their skills! The specially designed wind tunnel creates winds of up to 200mph and with expert instructors they will be floating effortlessly in mid-air in no time!

Experience Includes: Price is for two participants, two x 1 minute flights each, DVD of your flights
Where it’s Available: Manchester and Milton Keynes

Introductory Flying Lesson – Special
Was £198 now £99
If you know someone who dreams of becoming a pilot, this great introductory lesson will give them a taste of what is to come! As well as a great ‘hands on’ 20 minute lesson from an expert CAA instructor, they will gain a valuable insight into the life of a pilot as they take part in a pre flight planing and briefing session prior to their flight. They will also get a guided our around the aircraft hangers and receive a talk on the different careers for professional pilots. This great special offer will allow them to see what being a pilot is like and if it is something they want to pursue.

Experience Includes: 20 minute ‘hands on’ flying lesson, tour and discussion of other aircraft, talks on pilot career options
Where it’s Available: Blackpool, Marlow, Brackley, Wolverhampton, Beverley

Special – Honda F4 Powerboat Experience
Was £99 now £49
If maritime thrills are more your man’s thing, then they don’t get much faster than this! They will get to experience a boat built purely for racing in the world’s biggest powerboat championship. The boats are built for pure power and agility and the expert instructors, who are usually current or ex racers, will take them to the limit! If the sea conditions permit, they will even let them take the controls and experience driving the powerboat themselves. The beautiful coast line around the Solent will be a mere blur as they power through the waves.

Experience Includes: Two hours out on the water, 20 minutes personal driving tuition
Where it’s Available: Southampton

So there they are, our top 5 last minute Christmas gifts for him. Don’t forget, email vouchers can be bought right up until the first cracker is pulled just before you tuck into your turkey!

Experience Days just sometimes aren’t enough for those looking to fully submerge themselves in something new, with an in-depth course often proving much more satisfying than the more accessible experience gifts. With this awesome top 5 list, you can see what other Christmas-shopping gift hunters have opted for this festive period, from Massage Workshops to Kitesurfing water sports; there is a course to tickle everybody’s fancy and spark a new love of hobbies!

Indian Super Food Cookery Course
Price £129
Learn to cook some of the healthiest and tastiest dishes the curry world has to offer! From hangover curing dishes to cold & flu busting curries; you can learn the authentic cooking methods from renowned chef Gurpareet Bains. You’ll be learning some of the tips and tricks that really make a difference in the kitchen – changing your cooking qualities for the new year. You will also receive a signed copy of his cookery book, so you’d best hope the family like curry, because that’s what they’re getting for the foreseeable!

Experience Includes: Cooking The Healthiest Meal In The World, World Famous Chef, Signed Copy of His Book.
Where it’s Available: London

Bar Flairing Experience
Price £115
Impress your friends and fellow dinner-party’ers with some seriously cool moves. Don’t just be great at drinking cocktails and spirits, be great at making them too! From catching it behind your back to balancing on your fingers, there isn’t a guest in the land who wouldn’t put down their knife and fork in awe of some serious bar flairing skills – but with this great lesson you can perfect what goes into the shaker as well as how it is shaken!


Experience Includes: Learning How to Spin, Throw, Balance & Catch Bottles, Make Cocktails and All the Tricks!
Where it’s Available: London

Digital Photography Full Day Course
Price £129
See the world in a different light as you take your photography on to the next level (whatever level you’re at now) through the expert advice of a professional. There are photos, and then there is photography; and for those hankering toward the latter – a new angle, effect or style can make all the difference. So, for those wanting to get started, or for those wanting to improve at a faster rate – a day spent training with the professionals will work wonders for your portfolio.


Experience Includes: Expert Tuition from Professional, Theory & Practical Demos.
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Leeds Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham

Couple’s Massage Workshop
Price £235
Treat your loved one to a massage, and get one in return! This sumptuous class will put some spice into your relaxation rituals, as you are shown the pressure points and massage manoeuvres by a professional – allowing you to hit the spot every time you fire up those magic massage mits! Soothe the stresses of your most loved one…and then await your turn as you will both be clued up and ready to get to work on those killer knots – equipped with the knowledge to really do the trick.


Experience Includes: Massage Technique Skills, Informative Demonstrations, ‘Hands-on’ Tuition.
Where it’s Available: London

Kitesurfing 1 Day Course
Price £119
For those with a hankering for the extreme, the bustling sport of Kitesurfing has been thriving for the last few years with hordes of people hitting the seas each weekend to practice & perfect those skills. With this great 1 day lesson, you can learn the theory behind the sport, kite handling and an awful lot more. Then, once you’ve mastered the basics – you’ll be ready to get out on the board; riding the waves at great speed and with great adrenaline!


Experience Includes: Practical & Theory Demonstrations, Expert Instructor, Equipment for the Day.
Where it’s Available: Cumbria, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Merseyside, Northumberland, Swansea

And there we have it, a Top 5 list from an endless array of choice to begin a new hobby and spark something new within your lucky gift recipients. Treat them to something special that won’t be shelved straight away – and remember, a hobby is for life and not just for Christmas!

Wildlife lovers in The UK were delighted this week to welcome two new furry friends onto Blighty shores – and into Edinburgh’s Zoo; as Tian Tian and Yang Guang became the first Giant Pandas to live here for over 17 years.

The 9 hour “FedEx Panda Express” journey from China was a 777 aircraft carrying two perspex containers with a couple of very special passengers, both of whom were both spoilt to a travel menu most people would be delighted with – including mineral water, bamboo sticks, specially made Panda cake and other organic vegetables!

Tian Tian (meaning Sweetie) and Yang Guang (meaning Sunshine) arrived in Scotland’s Capital City to some chilly conditions, with a drop in temperature from the 10 degrees they’d been used to at Chengdu Airport, dipping down to a brisk 3 degrees in their new home. BBC Correspondent Colin Blane claims this won’t be a problem however, as both of the giant creatures are “very fond of a roll around in the snow” also stating “the conditions should be to their liking”.

If expert opinions are to be believed, they will soon come to love their new surroundings. The relaxed character and nature of the Pandas are anything but aggressive, and where Tian Tian is a little shy and coy, Yang Guang is more confident and outgoing – yet neither have ever shown any inkling of of aggression or disdain.

“They spend their time eating and sleeping, they really are very easy going.”

As well as providing a fantastic tourist attraction (which has drawn criticism from some corners), there is great anticipation and hope that the pair will mate when Tian Tian comes into season in March. Both have already produced off spring, but not together…yet.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I know we’re all keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the arrival of a little Mac panda sometime before too long.”

Interestingly, and perhaps excitingly for those broody bear lovers; Chinese Charge d’Affaires Qin Gang added:

“The father of Yang Guang keeps the world record of fathering 107 Panda cubs, and the mother of Tian Tian, known as Panda Mum, has also given birth to many baby Pandas… I hope that this pair will carry the gene of their parents!”

Their new £250,000 home at the Zoo includes two separate enclosures – keeping the pair and apart allowing them to settle in before going on display in around two weeks. The eight year old Panda pair are expected to live here for at least ten years, drawing criticism in the form of “publicity stunt” and “money-making” jibes – however, any contribution to maintaining the species and encouraging them to breed is well received here!

If you’d like to see the Pandas or any other wildlife experiences, check Experience Days for a really wild day out to get up close and personal nature’s finest creatures!