Looking for a gift that feels a little more thoughtful? This year, skip the stuff and give them something they'll actually remember.
From making their own gin and crafting silver jewellery to eating their way around a city's best independent food spots, Yuup is packed with unique experience gifts hosted by talented local makers, chefs, creatives and small businesses.
Choosing an experience from an independent host means your gift goes further, too. You're giving someone a brilliant day out while supporting the people and businesses that make our cities interesting.
Whether you're searching for Christmas gifts from small businesses, a thoughtful birthday present or simply something different, here are some brilliant independent experience gifts to give.
1. Make a handmade mug at a local pottery studio in Bristol
For the person whose kitchen cupboards can apparently always accommodate one more mug.
A pottery workshop makes a brilliant experience gift for creative types. At Wild Clay Studios in Bristol, complete beginners can get hands-on with clay and create their own ceramic piece. If mugs aren't your thing, you can choose from all sorts of ceramic pieces.
It's relaxed, creative and comes with something much better than a standard souvenir: something they've actually made themselves.
Perfect for: creative friends, couples and pottery lovers.
2. Eat your way around Cardiff's independent food scene
Know someone who plans a city break around where they're going to eat?
Gift them a foodie adventure through the Welsh capital with the City of Arcades Food Experience in Cardiff. Led by a local guide, they'll explore Cardiff's historic arcades while stopping at seven different independent venues for seven small courses along the way.
Think Keralan street food, Welsh cakes, cheese toasties, wine and plenty of stories about Cardiff's food, culture and history.
It's also a small business gift that goes that little bit further – supporting a whole collection of Cardiff independents in one delicious afternoon.
Perfect for: foodies, couples, parents and Cardiff explorers.
3. Make your own gin at a Birmingham distillery
A bottle of gin is a good gift. Making your own bottle from scratch is considerably better.
At The Distillery in Birmingham, they'll get behind their own miniature copper pot still and discover the process of making gin from the experts.
After choosing their botanicals and developing a completely bespoke recipe, they'll distil, bottle and label their very own 35cl gin to take home.
There's a gin and tonic on arrival and freshly baked sourdough pizza included too, making this a full afternoon out rather than your average drinks gift.
Perfect for: gin lovers, couples, parents and foodie gifts.
4. Make your own silver ring in Brighton
For a gift they'll still have years from now, send them to the jewellery bench.
A silver ring-making workshop in Brighton gives them the chance to discover traditional jewellery-making techniques and create a completely individual piece to take home.
There's something particularly special about gifting an experience where the end result becomes a keepsake. Every time they wear it, they'll be reminded of the day they made it.
Perfect for: partners, milestone birthdays, best friends and creative types.
5. Learn to make gyoza with Bristol independent Eatchu
For the friend who is always trying to recreate their favourite restaurant dish at home.
Bristol independent Eatchu shares the secrets behind its much-loved Japanese dumplings in a hands-on gyoza masterclass.
They'll learn how to prepare, fold and cook their own dumplings, picking up skills they can take back to their own kitchen – before getting to eat the results, of course.
A particularly good gift for someone who'd choose dinner over another scented candle every time.
Perfect for: food lovers, aspiring cooks and couples.
6. Go wild on a foraging experience in Bristol or Brighton
For the person who'd rather spend their weekend outdoors.
Yuup's independent foragers offer the chance to slow down, explore the landscape and discover just how much food and flavour is hiding in plain sight.
They could learn how to identify edible plants, herbs and seasonal ingredients in Bristol, or discover foraging techniques along the Brighton coastline and turn their finds into something delicious.
It's a brilliant way to gift some proper time outside while learning a skill they can use again and again.
Perfect for: nature lovers, curious cooks and outdoorsy friends.
7. Learn the art of chocolate making in Birmingham & Bristol
Chocolate is already a pretty reliable present. Learning how to make it yourself? Even better.
Yuup's independent chocolate makers turn a classic gift into something much more memorable, with hands-on workshops where guests can discover the techniques behind making their favourite treats.
Instead of handing over another box of chocolates, you're giving them the chance to make – and eat – their own.
Chocolate making masterclass in Bristol
Chocolate Truffle making in Birmingham
Perfect for: foodies, couples and anyone with a serious sweet tooth.
8. Discover a city with a local independent guide
Sometimes the best way to rediscover somewhere you think you know is through someone else's eyes.
Yuup's independent guides run walking tours across cities including Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Brighton and Cardiff, uncovering everything from local food and street art to hidden history, architecture and unusual neighbourhood stories.
For someone who values doing things over owning things, a few hours exploring somewhere new makes a brilliant alternative gift.
Perfect for: parents, history buffs, city-break lovers and curious locals.
9. Make fresh Italian pasta from scratch in Bath
For the person who'd choose a bowl of fresh pasta over almost any other present.
At The Pasta Laboratory in Bath, guests can roll up their sleeves and learn the art of authentic Italian pasta making. They'll mix and knead their own dough before learning how to make three classic shapes: Tagliatelle, Tagliolini and filled Tortelli.
Once the hard work is done, they can sit down and tuck into their handmade pasta with freshly prepared sauces – or package it up to enjoy at home. There's even a welcome glass of prosecco to get things started.
It's the kind of gift that keeps giving too, with recipes and techniques to recreate in their own kitchen long after the experience is over.
Perfect for: pasta obsessives, foodies, couples and keen home cooks.
10. Give them flowers – but let them arrange them
Flowers don't have to come ready-arranged. Why not let them learn how to arrange them?
Bristol's independent florist The Bristol Flower Pot Girl hosts creative flower-arranging experiences where guests can learn the tricks behind creating a beautiful arrangement themselves.
It's a social, creative alternative to simply sending a bouquet – and they'll come away with new skills as well as something beautiful.
Perfect for: mums, best friends, date nights and flower lovers.
