17 best experience gifts for everyone on your list
So, you've left it a little (lot) late to settle on Christmas gifts, meaning the best experience gifts are your only option if you don't want to show up empty-handed. I'm not shaming — in fact, I'll be the first to agree that it's a hard task trying to find a unique gift for everyone on your list that also falls within your budget. And let's not even go into the challenge of wrapping…
But a day out together — the chance to be off your phone and away from mundane stressors — may actually be the best gift of all, especially if hangouts are often few and far between.
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Next question: what gift cards, e-vouchers and experiences are actually worth your money and your time? Thankfully, I've spent the last year asking PRs for recommendations and personally testing out as many of the experiences below to see which make suitable gifts for her, gifts for men and gifts for mums.
Keen for some spoilers? Think off-grid getaways to help your giftee recharge and reset, as well as London spa days, supercar driving experiences and cooking classes to reignite their spark in the kitchen. Or, for those embracing Grannycore activities, how about the chance to make their own beaded phone bracelet? Of course, I've also tracked down luxury dining experiences, opportunities to get up close with animals and even the chance to party with Paddington Bear, which all double as the perfect gift.
So, read on for the best experience gift ideas for 2025, whether shopping for a thrill-seeker, TV fanatic or hard-to-please teen, all approved by Glamour's gifting editor.
How I choose the best experience gifts & why you can trust me:
Having been a commerce writer for the last three years, and a gift guide writer for just over two, it's fair to say that I'm in the know about the best gifts for anyone (and everyone) on your list. In fact, I was recently asked to share my tips live on on Radio 4, where I suggested we collectively skip novelty socks in exchange for a DIY gift hamper or, you guessed it, a well-considered experience gift.
I've also spent the last six months attending countless press days and have personally chatted with various experts about 2025 shopping trends to ensure I'm clued up on the best Christmas gifts for 2025.
But also, because I wouldn't recommend anything to you that I wouldn't to a pal, I aim to personally review as many products as possible. Once they arrive in my hands, I consider the following:
| Design | Is it practical, fit for purpose and aesthetic? |
| Price point | Would I be willing to spend that much? Is it good quality? |
| Delivery | How quickly did it arrive, and what were the associated costs? |
| Giftability | Would this make a suitable birthday or Christmas gift? Is it something the recipient actually wants, needs and would enjoy? |
Ahead, the best experience gifts for 2025, approved by Glamour's gifting editor:
I've been sending my boyfriend TikToks of hot air balloon rides across Cappadocia in Turkey for months. And while that's not on our bingo card for 2026 at the moment, he could buy me this gift voucher instead, which allows me to choose a one-hour ride across England, Scotland or Wales. Some might say it's a suitable spot for an engagement too…
Race Across the World: The Experience in London for Four
While I'm super keen to reenact Roman and Harleymoon Kemp's travels across Central America, I don't yet have the funds or the annual leave to do so. Thankfully, this gift voucher gives me the chance to experience a similar adrenaline rush right now. We'll race across the city in teams, navigating iconic landmarks and hidden gems to reach checkpoints where escape room-style puzzles and memorable surprises await.
Best experience gift for four-year-olds
The Paddington Bear Experience for Two Adults and One Child
I treated my marmalade-obsessed niece to this experience for her recent birthday, and it's safe to say I have now secured the title of ‘fun aunt’. Unfolding across 26,000 square feet, the immersive adventure throws them right into the world of Paddington, taking them to some of its most iconic locations — think the Brown’s house at No.32 Windsor Gardens, and the magical jungle of Peru. They'll encounter video, live performances and interactive games involving the entire family — as well as the chance for multiple orange-flavoured snacks!
Best experience gift for dads
Tickets for Two to Elvis Evolution with After Party Access
My dad loved ABBA Voyage, so I couldn't miss the chance for him to experience the music of Elvis almost live, too. This voucher can be redeemed for two tickets to the Elvis Evolution immersive experience at ImmerseLDN, ExCel Waterfront in London, where he'll walk in Elvis Presley’s blue suede shoes and relive the most iconic moments on his journey via three themed bars.
Best experience gift under £50
Puppy Therapy, Cuddles and Social Play Experience
I don't really need to sell this to you, but this voucher gives your giftee the chance to spend an hour helping socialise playful puppies before they head off to their forever homes. But it could also double as a form of fluffy stress relief, too. FYI, this one's available for ages 8 and up!
Best experience gift for couples
Film Club at The Soho Hotel with Three Course Meal for Two
I love our monthly date nights at the cinema — even if it often involves stepping in discarded popcorn and listening to teens flirt on the back row. But, as one of my boyfriend's Christmas presents, I've decided to upgrade one of our 2026 trips. This gift voucher entitles us to a three-course lunch at The Soho Hotel's Refuel restaurant, before a screening of our choosing in its luxe cinema.
Best experience gift for mums
5* Athenaeum Hotel Midweek Luxury Restore Spa Day with Treatment and Prosecco for Two
There's a type of relaxation only achievable from an afternoon at a spa. This gift voucher entitles her (and hopefully you) to an hour’s access to the Athenaeum Hotel facilities — a bubbling hot tub, sauna, steam room and a relaxation space — as well as two 30-minute treatments and prosecco. And with the option of instant delivery, this is an ideal last-minute gift for those cutting it fine.
Save when you shop for the best experience gifts with these Virgin Experience Days discount codes.
Best experience gift for boyfriends
Full Day Competition Prepared Rally Experience
…AKA a chance for my boy racer to live up to his nickname. Your giftee, guided by a rally instructor and co-driver, will take the wheel of a competition-prepared rally car on a purpose-built gravel rally track. After a few practice sessions, they'll race for real, the live leaderboard declaring the winner.
Best experience wedding gift
Design Your Own Perfume Gold Experience for Two
There are so many things to consider in the run-up to a wedding — including what scent you plan to wear. Because do you stick with your usual so you feel the most ‘you’, or something new that'll remind you of the day every time you smell it?
If opting for the latter, this voucher allows you to blend one of your own, with the help of a perfume expert, rather than having to sort through hundreds of off-the-shelf scents. You'll even take home an e-certificate detailing its formula!
Best experience gift for teens
We know teenage girls and teenage boys are glued to their phones. So, the chance to customise a phone case with charms, or DIY a phone bracelet to keep it safe from snatchers and scratches? One they'll like jump at, and available in both UK DRM-LND stores (Covent Garden and Bluewater).
I regularly rave about Bread Ahead's doughnuts, the brand putting a premium spin on the classic custard or jam-stuffed treat. So if any of my family are wondering what to buy me for Christmas 2025, it's this: in a half-day workshop, one of Bread Ahead’s Expert Bakers will show you how to turn a few basic ingredients into delicious desserts. And you get to leave with a box of ‘custard grenades’ you’ve created yourself!
Best experience gift under £100
Bird and Blend Tea Co. Tea Blending Workshop for Two
For any avid tea drinker, this is likely the second-best gift they'll receive come Christmas morning (the first being luxury tea bags from Fortnum & Mason's). Led by the UK’s leading tea mixologist, they'll learn everything about tea: how it’s made, how it’s best enjoyed, the various types, and its health benefits. They'll also sample an array before blending three of their own.
Best experience gift for sisters
The Traitors: Live Experience for Two
During those weeks when we waited to see who would win Celebrity Traitors, my sister and I would talk about little else. So, this Christmas, I'm gifting her the opportunity to play the game for herself. We'll gather at the iconic Round Table, take on missions to earn gold, and, most importantly, try to unearth the Traitors during the two-hour game of wit and deception.
Name one person on your list who doesn't want a Christmas gift that'll leave them looking more lifted and dewier than ever? This gift card, valid for 12 months, can be used towards a treatment at any freestanding FACEGYM studio. My personal recommendation? The Signature Hands workout focuses on tension release, detoxification and lymphatic drainage — all desperately needed post-festivities.
Theatre Tickets to MAGIC MIKE LIVE for Two
Arguably, the only way to send off your bride-to-be. Trust me, as this is exactly what the Glamour team did for two of our very own earlier this summer. One editor's review? “Yes, there are very oily, very shirtless men swinging from the rooftops. Yes, there is Prosecco. Yes, you might get a lap dance if you're lucky. But the laughter, joy, empowerment and cheer I felt during the 90-minute Magic Mike Live show? Like nothing else I have ever experienced.”
Best experience gift for tweens
Millets Wildside Private Otter Feeding Experience
It's an ongoing struggle, trying to keep up with what's hot and what's not in the eyes of Gen Alpha. So, rather than gifting them something destined to be listed on Vinted, why not offer them a 'gram-worthy experience? Specifically, a rare opportunity to feed and train two playful Asian short-clawed otters, better known as Chico and Tina.
At least once a week, I declare, ‘I just need to get offline’. Unplugged makes that easy by asking you to lock your phone inside a lockbox for the duration of your three-night stay. To keep you occupied, it supplies you with a replacement Nokia (yes, it has Snake), an instant camera, books and games to help you truly switch off. But each cabin is surrounded by nature, giving you the option to touch grass, too. A great gift for couples to reconnect — or people who have everything.
