Best London experience gifts for a unique day out in 2025
If you only have a few days in the capital city, you want to make it memorable, right? That’s why we've rounded up the best experiences in London for 2025.
We all love London right? There's just so much to do! The only problem is, there's just so much to do...
With a city this big, it can be all too easy to fall into the routine of only doing things in your immediate area. The number of times we've suggested a picnic on the common during summer rather than actually exploring the city is diabolical – it’s important to be a tourist in your own city to shake things up.
Not to mention, if you’re travelling to London from elsewhere, you’ll certainly be looking for something exciting and unusual to do with your time but the choice is overwhelming.
Luckily, this London experience guide has something for everyone, with the best experiences to gift couples, family members, your adventurous friends, and even foodies.
Everything selected has something a bit different or special about it, which makes it perfect for any upcoming Christmas presents or gifting ideas. From stadium tours to moonlit paddleboarding, to an overnight stay on a yacht, this is your best, quirkiest guide to London experiences.
Here's how to get cheap theatre tickets, best immersive experiences and how to get cheap London Eye tickets.
Best London experience gifts at a glance:
Best food experience gifts in London
- The London Cheese Crawl, from £34
- Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise, from £55
- Comedy Night with Three Dish Dinner at inamo,
£110.70£49.95 - MyChocolate Making Workshop,
£60£48 - Central London Sweet Dessert Hunt, £59
- Graveney Gin Tasting in Tooting Market, £81
- Mamma Mia! The Party tickets, from £109
- River Thames Murder Mystery Dining Cruise,
£214£195.30
Best London experience gifts for families
- ZSL London Zoo, from £21.35
- Madame Tussauds London, from £29
- Shrek's Adventure and Paddington Experience combo tickets, £49.50
- Kia Oval Cricket Ground Tour for Two, £50
- Tour of Wembley Stadium for two, £70
- Kew Gardens with Thames River Cruise for Two, £99
Best London experience gifts for couples
- Experience a candlelight concert, from £23
- A West End show like Cabaret, from £30
- Become an Origami Master, £44
- Painting Class at The Clapham North, from £35
- London Ghost Boat Tour for Two, £39
- Sauna and Plunge, £49
- Theatrical Cocktail Experience at Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Bar, £97.99
- Escape The Power Cut at Control Room B for Two, £112
- Stay overnight on a London yacht, £399
Unique London experience gifts
- Harmonica Masterclass, £25
- Urban Photography Safari, £30
- Full Moon Paddleboard Through London, £45
- Zip World London at the ArcelorMittal Orbit Helix, £46
- The Dare Skywalk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, £80
- Up at The O2 Climb for Two, £89
- Monopoly Lifesized Immersive Experience for Two, £98
- Thames Rockets Break the Barrier River Cruise for Two, £129.20
Best London experience gifts to buy in 2025
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of attractions to visit in London, with classes, shows, and immersive experiences popping up every day.
To help you filter through the barrage of information, we've pulled together our recommendations of the best London experiences you can gift someone, then we've broken them down into categories.
Here are our favourites for 2025.
Jump to:
- Best food experience gifts in London
- Best London experience gifts for families
- Best London experience gifts for couples
- Unique London experience gifts
Best food experience gifts in London
1. River Thames Murder Mystery Dining Cruise
- Where is it: Tower Pier, Central
- How long is it: 3 hours
This next experience will see you cruise peacefully along the River Thames for an evening, but the events inside the boat will be anything but smooth: you'll have to put on your detective cap to work out who the cold-blooded murderer is who lurks on board... Alongside this game, you'll enjoy a delicious three-course meal which is sure to delight foodies and true crime fans alike.
2. Mamma Mia! The Party
- Where is it: The O2, Greenwich
- How long is it: 4 hours
Dance, jive, have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! The Party this November. At this fun-filled experience, you'll enjoy a delicious four-course Greek meal as a musical theatre show takes place around you, then dance the night away at an ABBA disco.
Buy Mamma Mia! The Party tickets from £109 at Ticketmaster
3. Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise
- Where is it: Tower Pier, Central
- How long is it: 90 minutes
What better way to experience London than with a cruise along the River Thames accompanied by a delicious afternoon tea? In this relaxing experience, you'll dig into treats like oak-smoked salmon, pastries and, of course, scones, with as many teas and coffees as you'd like.
Don't focus too much on the tasty bites in front of you, though, as you'll miss out on seeing landmarks like the Tower of London, London Eye, and Tower Bridge.
Buy Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise from £55 at Headout
4. Graveney Gin Tasting in Tooting Market for Two
- Where is it: Tooting Market
- How long is it: 90 minutes
The iconic Tooting Market hosts this fun-filled experience: gin tasting for two. Learn about the history of gin, taste three variations of Graveney Gin’s spirits, and enjoy some nibbles.
Buy Graveney Gin Tasting in Tooting Market for Two for £81 at Virgin Experience Days
5. Original Chocolate Making Workshop for Two
- Where is it: Columbia Road, Shoreditch
- How long is it: 1 hour 20 minutes
Discover the rich history of chocolate and make your own sweet treats in this chocolate-making class. You’ll taste cocoa in its purest form, and try a variation of chocolate, then you’ll try your hand at making chocolate yourself! Create and decorate a giant chocolate button, and add toppings to gooey fudge. You should have some chocolates to take home with you if you can resist eating them before…
Buy Original Chocolate Making Workshop from £60 £48 at Virgin Experience Days
6. Comedy Night with Three Dish Dinner for Two at inamo
- Where is it: Covent Garden, Central
- How long is it: 4 hours
Switch-up the usual dinner time routine: asking your significant other what to cook for tea, opening the fridge to an uninspiring selection of food, then ordering a takeaway from your local. In this experience for two, you’ll begin the night on a high with a delicious three dish meal of Pan-Asian cuisine, like sushi, sashimi, tapas, dumplings and more, at inamo in Covent Garden, before enjoying a comedy evening at inamo’s in-house Comedy Club.
7. The London Cheese Crawl
- Where is it: Green Park, Mayfair
- How long is it: 2 hours
It's time to break out your inner mouse, because this is the ultimate cheese tour in London. Starting at the iconic Fortnum & Mason store in Mayfair, this is two hours of non-stop cheese.
As well as sampling some of the finest cheese in London, you'll take part in an interactive cheese trivia quiz - and even watch some famous cheese clips from the movies. Sounds gouda? We think so too.
Buy The London Cheese Crawl from £34 at The Indytute
8. Central London Sweet Dessert Hunt
- Where is it: Covent Garden, Central
- How long is it: 2-3 hours
It's a treasure hunt of the sweetest kind, this Central London Dessert Hunt has teams of two, three or six people working together to solve riddles and clues in order to track down the tastiest desserts. You can stroll at a leisurely pace, or sprint around to try and compete for a place on the leader board, all the while sampling the best desserts London has to offer.
Buy Central London Sweet Dessert Hunt for £59 at Indytute
Best London experience gifts for families
9. Kew Gardens with Thames River Cruise for Two
- Where is it: Westminster Pier, Central – Kew Gardens, Richmond
- How long is it: 90 minutes (cruise)
This experience includes a one-and-a-half-hour sightseeing cruise along the River Thames which will drop you off a 10-minute walk away from Kew Gardens, then you’ll also get entry for two into the beautiful botanical gardens. One of the RadioTimes.com team treated their mum to this last summer, and let's just say they were favourite child for a while...
Buy Kew Gardens with Thames River Cruise for Two for £99 at Virgin Experience Days
10. Madame Tussauds
- Where is it: Marylebone Road, Marylebone
- How long is it: Approx 2 hours
Who are your parents' favourite celebrities? This Digital Writer's mum has a huge crush on George Clooney, and her dad fancies himself a bit of a footballer. At Madame Tussauds in London, you can meet and take photos with 250 lifelike figures of your favourite celebrities, from the Royal Family and Taylor Swift to Beyoncé and ET, as well as experience 14 interactive zones, and learn all about London's history from up to 400 years ago.
Buy Madame Tussauds London tickets from £29 at Madame Tussauds
11. Tour of Wembley Stadium
- Where is it: Wembley
- How long is it: 90 minutes
With the success of the Lionesses this year combined with next year's World Cup frenzy, we recommend taking a tour of the UK's best-known football ground. It's the ideal gift for a football fan in your family; the Wembley Stadium tour allows you to see the changing rooms, take a picture in the Press Conference Room and walk through the players' tunnel.
Buy Tour of Wembley Stadium for two adults for £70 at Buyagift
12. Kia Oval Cricket Ground Tour for Two
- Where is it: Oval, Kennington
- How long is it: 90 minutes
The Kia Oval Cricket Ground tour is the perfect experience to pull out of the bag when your parent comes to visit you in London. When your parents come to see you in the Big Smoke, they're probably not going to want to visit your local pub, and dishing up a microwave meal while you catch up on soaps together might not cut it, either. So, if they're fans of cricket — we've got you sorted!
Buy Kia Oval Cricket Ground Tour for Two for £50 at Buyagift
13. ZSL London Zoo
- Where is it: Regent's Park
- How long is it: 2-3 hours
Who doesn't love a trip to the zoo? With the chance to see over 750 species of animals from leafcutter ants to silverback gorillas, families will fall in love with London Zoo. It's one of London's most historic attractions, and you'll be able to experience talks and feeding sessions which take place throughout the day. London Zoo is located in London's Regent Park, so it's the ideal place to enjoy a family picnic after your day out.
Buy ZSL London Zoo tickets from £21.35 at Fever
14. Shrek's Adventure and the Paddington Experience
- Where is it: London County Hall, Southbank
- How long is it: 1 hour (per experience)
London's County Hall is home to not one, but two beloved character experiences. Shrek's Adventure – an immersive journey through the fairy-tale world of everyone's favourite Ogre – is right next door to the Paddington Experience – where you can discover the real world of Windsor Gardens and dine out on marmalade sandwiches. Best of all, you can buy a combo ticket to both, making your visit that much more exciting for young ones. Or or course, visit them separately and spread out the fun.
- Buy Shrek's Adventure and Paddington Experience combo tickets for £49.50 at Headout
- Buy Shrek's Adventure tickets from £21
- Buy Paddington Experience tickets from £34
Best London experience gifts for couples
15. Sauna and Plunge
- Where is it: Shoreditch
- How long is it: 90 minutes
Are you looking for a relaxing activity away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Smoke? Then head on over to Shoreditch in East London for a sauna oasis. Complete with designer saunas, energising plunge pods, wellness classes which focus on controlled breathing, and there's even a café for a post-sauna tea and nibble.
Buy Sauna and Plunge for £50 at The Indytute
16. A West End show like Cabaret
- Where is it: Playhouse Theatre, West End
- How long is it: 2 hours 45 minutes
Now booking until March next year, what better way to spend an evening in London than with a night at the theatre? Cabaret is currently showing at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse in London's West End. You and your partner's night at Cabaret promises to be an experience as well as a night out — guests are invited to immerse themselves in the club experience, and can drink and dine before entering into the world of inhibition-free Berlin.
Make sure you also check out the full list of best West End shows or check out the RadioTimes Theatre Pass.
Buy Cabaret tickets from £30 at LOVETheatre
17. Become an Origami Master
- Where is it: The Snooty Fox, Canonbury
- How long is it: 90 minutes
Located at The Snooty Fox in London, this Become an Origami Master is for you and a plus one. In the class, you'll learn how to fold and mould paper into beautiful sculptures to take home, and with numerous designs to learn, we're certain you'll feel like a professional by the end of the session! Plus, it's been shown that paper folding aids relaxation, concentration, hand eye co-ordination and memory.
Buy Become an Origami Master for £44 at The Indytute
18. London Ghost Boat Tour for Two
- Where is it: Green Park, Mayfair
- How long is it: 2 hours
If you and your other half are fans of all things spooky then, boy, do we have an experience for you! Unlike your typical ghost walking tour, this creepy experience will see you explore London by boat, taking you to Green Park, St James's Palace, Mayfair, Westminster, and the Tower of London — places which are rich with horrifying stories of murder, plague and torture.
Buy London Ghost Boat Tour for Two for £39 at Find Me A Gift
Looking for a ghost tour in other UK cities? Then take a look at the best Edinburgh ghost tours and the best York ghost tours.
19. Painting Class with Artistique Paint Club
- Where is it: Trafalgar Arms, Tooting Broadway
- How long is it: 2 hours
This painting class is a great way to finish off a day exploring the city. Depending on which day you pick, you can either paint Three Sunflowers In a Vase or The Starry Night by Van Gogh, or paintings by Steinlen, Kandinsky, Hopper and Monet. No matter which painting you choose, you’ll enjoy your time in a relaxed environment and have a piece of art to take home with you at the end of the day.
Buy Painting Class from £25 at Fever
20. Escape The Power Cut at Control Room B for Two
- Where is it: Battersea Power Station, Battersea
- How long is it: 90 minutes
Nothing says testing your relationship like an escape room! The clock is ticking, and you have 90 minutes to solve puzzles and decipher cryptic clues with the aim of fixing the power cut before the time runs out. What makes this escape room different to a lot of others is that you'll step behind the Battersea Power Station Control Room's original control desks. Oh, and you'll also enjoy two cocktails each.
Buy Escape The Power Cut at Control Room B for Two for £112 at Virgin Experience Days
21. Theatrical Cocktail Experience for Two at Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Bar
- Where is it: Tower Hamlets
- How long is it: 1 hour 45 minutes
An immersive cocktail evening is a great way to take date night to the next level. Come to Alcotraz and you'll be given an orange jumpsuit and told to smuggle in alcohol, all while avoiding the eye of the Warden.
Your smuggled spirits will then be used by the guards to create bespoke cocktails which you can enjoy throughout the rest of the immersive experience.
Buy Theatrical Cocktail Experience for Two at Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Bar for £93.99 at Buyagift
22. Experience a candlelight concert
- Where is it: Various locations
- How long is it: 1 hour
These concerts are a great way to experience you favourite music in, well, a different light. Not only does the candlelight allow you to focus on the sound away from any distractions, but it also lets you appreciate the atmosphere only the early evenings can provide. Many of these concerts also take place in unique settings, adding to the ambiance. Whether it's in a church, cathedral or something more unusual like outside in some gardens (wrap up warm for that one), these concerts are a way to experience your music away from the formality of concert halls.
Buy Candlelight Concert tickets from £23 at Fever
23. Stay overnight on a London yacht
- Where is it: Royal Victoria Dock, Canary Wharf
- How long is it: Overnight
Book an overnight stay on the impossibly luxurious Sunborn Yacht, complete with wine and dinner at The Land's End onboard restaurant.
Book Executive Yacht Overnight Stay with Dinner and Wine for £399 at Indytute
Unique London experience gifts
24. Harmonica Masterclass
- Where is it: Shoreditch
- How long is it: 90 minutes
During the 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn all about the three Bs: breath, bars and blues, and learn the correct way to hold the harmonica. You'll come away from the class knowing how to play a single note and ‘harmonica train’, master chords and a three-bar blues riff, plus a blues jam improv.
Buy Harmonica Masterclass for £20 at The Indytute
25. Up at The O2 Climb for Two
- Where is it: The O2, Greenwich
- How long is it: 90 minutes
View London from dizzying new heights with this experience. You and a fellow adventurer will climb 365m to the top of The O2, take the opportunity to snap some incredible photos with the whole of London stretched out behind you, before heading back down to earth.
Buy Up at The O2 Climb for Two for £89 at Virgin Experience Days
26. Thames Rockets Break the Barrier River Cruise for Two
- Where is it: London Eye, Southbank
- How long is it: 50 minutes
We all have that mate who’s a huge thrill-seeker; so if you’re planning a day out for them, you know afternoon tea isn’t going to cut it. Treat your daredevil friend to a speedboat ride across the River Thames. Take twists and turns along the river at high-speed and catch glimpses of landmarks like The O2, all while listening to tunes across the ages. Just remember to hold on tight!
Buy Thames Rockets Break the Barrier River Cruise for Two for £129.20 at Buyagift
27. The Dare Skywalk for Two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Where is it: Tottenham Stadium, Tottenham
- How long is it: 90 minutes
Do you live life on the edge? How about the edge of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? Take in views of the capital city as you journey 46.8 metres above the football pitch and onto a glass walkway to scale the outside of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Buy The Dare Skywalk for Two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for £80 at Virgin Experience Days
28. Monopoly Lifesized Choice of All Boards Immersive Experience for Two
- Where is it: Goodge Street, Fitzrovia
- How long is it: 70 minutes
Take one of the most beloved (and arguably the most competitive) games to the next level with a life-sized version of Monopoly. Spend 80-minutes – any longer and we're sure arguments would begin! – building houses, taking rent, avoiding jail, and completing escape room challenges as you make your way across the Monopoly board. Afterwards, be sure to recharge in the on-site bar and restaurant, The Top Hat.
29. Full Moon Paddleboard Through London
- Where is it: Camden Market/Hackney
- How long is it: 90 minutes
As far as unique experiences go, this is about as unique as it gets! What could be more special than floating through the city under the light of the full moon? It feels like something straight out of a romantic movie.
This event occurs monthly in line with the full moon, and it's worth noting that it's suitable for fairly experienced paddleboarders — The Indytute recommends having paddle boarded at least three times before going on this experience.
Buy Full Moon Paddleboard Through London from £45 at The Indytute
30. Urban Photography Safari
- Where is it: Brick Lane, Shoreditch
- How long is it: 90 minutes
On this tour, you’ll head into the artsy streets of east London in search of hidden gems, be it small pieces of graffiti or huge murals. While walking through the likes of Shoreditch, Hoxton and Brick Lane, you’ll get to appreciate and memorialise all of the unique art that gives the area its character, while learning about shot composition and depth.
Buy Urban Photography Safari for £30 at Indytute
31. Zip World London at the ArcelorMittal Orbit Helix
- Where is it: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford
- How long is it: 34 seconds!
Get ready for your heart to race with Zip World London Helix – The World’s Longest and Tallest Tunnel Slide.. Hop aboard the lift and ascend 76 metres to the lower viewing platform, then it’s showtime! You’ll reach speeds of 15 mph as you descend the 178 metre Helix tunnel slide, looping around the ArcelorMittal Orbit 12 times. On your way down, catch glimpses of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which you can explore further after your adventure.
Buy Zip World London at the ArcelorMittal Orbit Helix for £46 at Virgin Experience Days
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