What's the best experience gift for someone who has everything?

Go for something they'd never book themselves: an abandoned Tube station tour, a night in a fake prison-themed cocktail bar, or a cold-water sauna and dip session. The story is the gift.

Are there experience gifts in London under £50?

Plenty. Life drawing drop-ins, a street-art bike tour, a chocolate-making workshop and most pottery tasters all sit comfortably under £50 a head.

Can you buy an experience gift as a voucher?

Yes — most London experiences can be bought as an open-dated voucher, so you give the experience now and they choose when to go. Look for the voucher option at checkout.

What's a good experience gift for a couple?

A pottery date night, a wine or cheese tasting, an immersive theatre show, or a day hiring a canal boat — anything they'll do together and talk about afterwards.

Give a memory

Experience gifts in London: give a memory, not more stuff

The best gifts aren't things — they're stories. We've rounded up London experiences worth gifting, whether it's a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a thank-you that needs to mean something.

From hands-on classes to unforgettable days out, here are our favourite experience gifts in London, with something at every budget. Most can be bought as a voucher, so they pick their own date.

Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Pottery wheel taster – Turning EarthHoxton E2 · 2–4 hrs · £££

27 quests · fresh picks added weekly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Cocktail-making masterclassLearn 2-3 classics then drink them; widely available - search by area on DesignMyNight. Typically ~£35-50pp, 18+. Book ahead.Citywide·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs££–£££Afternoon tea (classic or themed)From budget to bottomless to bonkers themesCitywide·Group-friendly

WC1One-off·2–4 hrs£££Sandbox VR / immersive VRShared full-body VR adventures for small groups (~30-45 min). ~£35-45pp. Age 13+. Book ahead. The Post Building, High Holborn WC1 is the listed London venue; a second Sandbox bay sits inside Toca Social at Westfield W12.Holborn WC1·Group-friendly

E1One-off·2–4 hrs£££Alcotraz prison cocktail experienceImmersive prison-themed cocktail experience - smuggle in your own spirit, they mix the rest in character. ~£50pp for ~2 hrs. 18+. Book well ahead. Alcotraz London is on Brick Lane E1; other branches in Manchester and Brighton.Shoreditch E1·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Chocolate-making workshopTemper & mould your own bars/truffles; various studios. Day workshops, book ahead.Various·Pairs/small

Drop-in·1–2 hrs££Cold-water sauna + dip clubWood-fired sauna then cold dipRiverside/coast pop-ups·Group-friendly

NW1One-off·2–4 hrs£££Cheese & wine tastingGuided tasting flights; The Cheese Bar in Camden (Stables Market) does all-cheese menus & flights - walk-in or book. Open daily, later Wed-Sat.Camden NW1·Group-friendly

EN4One-off·2–4 hrs£££Go Ape Trent Park (high ropes)Treetop course + zip lines; near youCockfosters EN4·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Immersive theatre (Punchdrunk etc.)Walk-through theatrical experiencesVarious·Group-friendly

Drop-in·1–2 hrs£Life drawing drop-inCheap untutored sessions at pubs & studios citywide (~£8-15); just turn up and draw. Materials sometimes provided.Citywide·Solo-friendly

E1One-off·2–4 hrs££Alternative London street-art bike tourHidden gems, Ripper tales, Tower Bridge. Walking tours meet at the 'I Goat' statue, Brushfield Street E1; the studio on Hessel Street E1 is not a meeting point.Spitalfields E1·Group-friendly

E2Drop-in£Carry home an armful of flowersA Sunday-only flower and plant street market with cafes and small shops down its length.Bethnal Green E2 7RG

W1One-off·2–4 hrs££Whistle Punks Urban Axe ThrowingDomain whistlepunks.com expired and now redirects to an unrelated adult site — needs the real URL before this goes back up.Soho W1·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Canal boat day-hireSelf-drive electric boats; no licenceVarious basins·Group-friendly

SE15Drop-in££Drink on a floor of a Peckham car parkFood and drink floors in a converted multi-storey car park above Peckham's Rye Lane.Peckham SE15 4ST

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Hidden London abandoned tube tourLTM guided tours of disused Tube stations, secret tunnels & wartime shelters (e.g. Aldwych). Age 10+. Tickets sell fast - released in batches (currently to Sept 2026). New family tour of Aldwych.Disused stations·Group-friendly

Class·Multi-week£££WSET wine courseGlobally recognised wine qualification, Levels 1-3, run by schools citywide. Level 1 is a one-day intro (~£200+). 18+. Book a course date ahead.Citywide·Solo-friendly

W1One-off·2–4 hrs££Karaoke box (Lucky Voice etc.)Lucky Voice - private karaoke rooms (4-12 people) from ~£8pp; sites in Soho, Islington, Holborn, Liverpool St & Waterloo. 9,000+ songs, drinks service. Book ahead. Flagship karaoke bar in Soho W1; second site in Islington N1.Soho W1·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Leatherwork workshopMake a wallet, belt or small bag in a day; workshops via ClassBento & studios. Materials included; book ahead.Various·Solo-friendly

NW3One-off·2–4 hrs££Foraging walk – Hampstead HeathCity foraging on the Heath with a guideHampstead NW3·Solo-friendly

Class·Multi-week££Fencing tasterBritish Fencing Club Zone — find a local club running beginner sessions.Various clubs·Solo-friendly

E14Class·Multi-week££Parkour / freerunning classLearn to move; all levels. Fixed academy at the Import Building, Clove Crescent E14; outdoor classes run at various sites and an affiliate operates in Kingston KT.Poplar E14·Any (solo to group)

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Supper club – Grub Club / independent hostsThemed one-off dinners by chefs & home cooksCitywide·Group-friendly

E1One-off·2–4 hrs££AxeperienceBasement axe-throwing booths near Aldgate; coached games & challenges. Group-friendly; book ahead. 18+.Aldgate E1·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Bottomless brunchSociable group stapleCitywide·Group-friendly

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Foraged cocktail / botanical classMake drinks with foraged botanicalsVarious·Pairs/small

One-off·2–4 hrs£££Alpaca walking (day trip)Lead an alpaca on a country walkSurrey/Kent (train)·Pairs/small

Questions people ask

What's the best experience gift for someone who has everything?: Go for something they'd never book themselves: an abandoned Tube station tour, a night in a fake prison-themed cocktail bar, or a cold-water sauna and dip session. The story is the gift.
Are there experience gifts in London under £50?: Plenty. Life drawing drop-ins, a street-art bike tour, a chocolate-making workshop and most pottery tasters all sit comfortably under £50 a head.
Can you buy an experience gift as a voucher?: Yes — most London experiences can be bought as an open-dated voucher, so you give the experience now and they choose when to go. Look for the voucher option at checkout.
What's a good experience gift for a couple?: A pottery date night, a wine or cheese tasting, an immersive theatre show, or a day hiring a canal boat — anything they'll do together and talk about afterwards.

Every Monday

This week's side quests

Five things worth doing in London, in your inbox each Monday morning. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.

Keep exploring

Date ideas in London Unusual things to do in London Things to do with kids in London Accessible things to do in London Where to eat in London Things to do in London this autumn All guides