We all know a diehard animal lover – and it's highly likely you'll make their year with this adorably unique gift experience. Located in Wells-next-the-Sea in North Norfolk, Alpaca Trekking is a company that organises guided walks along scenic bridleways and coastal paths with groups of friendly alpacas. Walks are tailored to suit and last between one and three-and-a-half hours. The company recommends bringing a picnic along for longer trips, as well as some apple slices for your new furry friends.
Channel your inner Tracey Emin with a bespoke neon artwork class under the tuition of award-winning artist Richard William Wheater. This beginner's day course takes place in the oh-so trendy Greenhouse co-working space in Stoke Newington and explores the basics of working with neon. You (or rather, your lucky recipient) will design and create (with assistance) a bespoke neon artwork to take home and display with pride. The workshop runs four times a year with only six people per class – so book a place sharpish.
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Creating a bespoke perfume was once an experience reserved only for those in-the-know with limitless bank accounts. Today, a surge in DIY and micro-perfumeries has made creating your own fragrance both accessible and affordable – and you needn't travel further than Zone 2 to give it a go. The Experimental Perfume Club – a Hackney-based bespoke perfume lab critically lauded by the likes of Vogue and Tatler – operates a half-day Apprentice Workshop in which a small group is taught the foundations of fragrance in order to create a personalised scent to take home.
There's only so much posh chutney and fancy chocolates your foodie friend can stomach this Christmas. Why not go one step further with a foraging gift experience in the beautiful Brecon Beacons run by wild-food enthusiast and writer Adele Nozedar. The Foraging Day experience includes a guided walk rummaging through wild hedgerows and learning about South Wales' edible landscape, punctuated by a three-course lunch and afternoon tea. Guests will go home with a rustic goody bag and a wealth of newfound knowledge.
Once maligned as Mother's Ruin and a staple of your granny's drinks cabinet, gin has seen a massive renaissance across the UK in recent years. As such, pop-up bars and micro distilleries specialising in Dutch courage have sprouted all across the country. Rather than cherrypicking just one bar to visit, why not treat your loved one to a fully chauffeured booze cruise to discover the best in town. Gin Journey is a company that specialises in guided tours across major UK cities (London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds) to give a fun and informal insight into the world of gin with pit stops at five bars and distilleries – including gin-based cocktails and samples at each one. A full, stomach-lining breakfast before you set off is highly recommended.
