10 Reasons to Give Experience Vouchers This Year

2025 is all about soaking in joy and excitement with our amazing experience gift cards! Say goodbye to typical gifts and hello to immersive experiences like cooking up a storm or crafting to your heart's content. Who wouldn't love the thrill of exploring their artistic side or whipping up some culinary magic? Whether it's a birthday treat, a gesture of love, or just because, giving an experience as a gift is a fresh and special option that's all about sparking creativity, learning, and creating memories. And our range is so vast, you'll be spoilt for choice! So put your feet up and join us as we uncover the wonders of giving experiences instead of objects – there's a whole world of discovery and learning waiting for you! After all, happiness blooms from shared experiences and memories made together, so let's kick off this delightful adventure today!

Here are our top 10 reasons why you should dive into experience vouchers this year: 

1.The gift experience is great for home – or away!

So, you know those days when you're just chilling at home and not sure what to do next? Maybe the weather's not playing nice or you're just in full-on cosy mode in your PJs: whatever the reason, we all have those moments when we just want to stay indoors. If your special someone is all about that homebody life, why not turn staying in into a fun adventure by surprising them with a virtual craft class or a cool DIY craft kit? They can stay comfy, unleash their creativity, and pick up some awesome new skills — it's a triple win situation!

Our activity gifts give your friends and family indoor activities they can experience from the comfort of their own four walls! From an art class online or a virtual cooking class (learn to make ravioli at home, anyone?) to a wreath making kit, there are so many ways to make staying in way more fun than going out.

2. Experience gifts are more ethical, eco-friendly and sustainable

Want to make a positive impact this gift-giving season? Skip the excess wrapping and unwanted gifts and consider giving experience vouchers instead! Not only are they one-of-a-kind and enjoyable, but they also help reduce waste; from sustainable experiences like a floristry class to a scented soy candle making workshop, they're both eco-friendly and fun! Your planet-loving friend would definitely appreciate this thoughtful and environmentally conscious choice.

If you book your experience gifts with us, you’ll be supporting local artists, teachers and craftspeople, and a donation is made to Mental Health UK with every paid booking. So whether it's Christmas gifts, birthday ideas, or an anniversary experience day for you and your partner, it'll also be a positive contribution to society as well! 

3. An experience gift can reduce stress

Are you looking for fun gifts for him to help blow off some steam, a festive gift for them, or meaningful gifts for her to unwind and soothe her mind? Consider giving experience vouchers for fun activities that will whisk them away from the day-to-day!

Engaging in creative experiences such as pottery or cooking classes is a perfect way to relax; creativity and hands-on learning have been shown to improve mental health and well-being, even if it's just for a short session. A pottery making taster workshop can help lower stress levels and improve your mood, while a cooking class can be both therapeutic and deliciously rewarding – especially with the taste testing!

So, if you have a stressed-out uncle or an overworked mum, give them the opportunity to switch off and learn new skills. And for those particularly tough days, a cocktail-making class might be just what they need to unwind and have fun!

4. Workshop experiences are not materialistic

If you have a friend or family member who prefers experiences over material possessions, a workshop gift card could be just the thing. Instead of cluttering their space with more items, these classes offer opportunities to create memorable experiences and cherished creations. Imagine them coming away with a handmade candle, a piece of macramé art, or a stunning artwork – it’s a gift that fills hearts and minds with joy and lasting memories.

5. Learn some DIY crafts or discover a new hobby

So many of us are looking for creative outlets, which is why giving the gift of a potential hobby is a way to keep your loved one entertained for months, maybe even years to come. Not only will they get to spend a happy few hours cooking or crafting up a storm, but they'll also take away the skills they need to carry on their creative adventure in the future – so, whether they're whipping up handmade fresh pasta or creating homemade soy candles, you'll be giving them a gift that enriches their life forever. Plus, you’ll always be known as the person who introduced them to their love of lettering art from a calligraphy class or their obsession with crochet!

ClassBento crafter Jakub Hudak headed off to a Kintsugi pottery class for beginners with Brandon Le, and said:

We went to this class as a birthday gift. The workshop leader, Brandon, was very friendly, knowledgable and had a great sense of humour, and the venue itself is a beautiful open space with good facilities. The materials provided were of high quality, the bowls themselves were beautiful, and Brandon taught us how to break the ceramics in a safe and predictable way. Kintsugi requires fairly precise timing of different actions (when to mix the epoxy compounds, when they set, when to press the pieces of pottery together, how long to wait before brushing them with gold, etc.), and Brandon took us through each step very skilfully, telling us about the cultural background of the craft whenever time permitted. The class was very good value for money.

Find inspiration to help plan experience days for him.

6. Gift experience days are fun and enriching

Trying something that you’ve never done before, like learning how to sew or making your own DIY terrarium, is quite simply, fun! Not only are you picking up some new skills and becoming more well rounded but putting some time aside to play and have fun which, even as an adult, has a multitude of benefits. From improved mental health to curing boredom and restlessness, a DIY experience is a great way to let your hair down and have some good old-fashioned fun! 

7. Make memories with experience presents

When you’re looking back on your wonderful life — what do you think you’ll remember? That new game console or the time you and your family got together and did a workshop experience, laughed and discovered a lifelong interest?

While a new game console can be awesome, we're all about creating magical memories through experiences. Not everyone can splurge on a Nintendo Switch, right? So why not bond over making gnocchi, dumplings, or even trying a wreath making class? These moments of joy and laughter could become those cherished memories you'll look back on with a heartwarming smile. Just something to consider for a memorable gift-giving experience!

Newlywed Ilinca and her partner went along to Ella Moore's bottle garden terrarium workshop, and told us:

We were gifted a ClassBento voucher as a wedding present, and chose the terrarium bottle workshop because we thought it would be a nice long-lasting memento. The class was really good, Emma explained everything really well. There was a nice mix of plants and decorations available. Would recommend!

8. There's experience gift ideas for everyone!

Stuck looking for unique gifts that really show someone you care? A gift experience can be the perfect treat for anyone — no matter their skill level, interests or hobbies.

A DIY pottery workshop, homemade chocolate session or a cooking class online is perfect for men, women, children, and everyone in between. There are so many experiences to choose from — you could even gift experience days such as full-day floristry courses, baking masterclasses or a weekend of learning fabric upholstery.

9. Even your little ones can enjoy learning a new skill!

Want some awesome experience gift ideas for your kiddos? How about surprising them with one of our cool, child-friendly workshops? We've got everything from cake decorating classes and terrarium workshops to watercolour painting sessions. You can even get in on the action and learn to make delicious Italian pizza together or get your hands dirty with some homemade clay for a super fun afternoon. It's a great way to bond with your child over a new shared hobby!

10. Experience vouchers could be life-changing

Some gifts have the power to transform lives, and we believe that experiences can be truly life-changing; they can inspire, uplift, and offer a fresh perspective. Choosing an experience as a gift might help someone discover a new passion, hobby, or even a new career, so if you want to treat your favourite person to something unforgettable this year – you know what to do! If that doesn’t convince you, then we don’t know what will!