By Laura Wybrow

Published: Thursday, 24 November 2022 at 12:00 am

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What do you get the loved one who has everything? A gift they’ve wanted for a while won’t do as they’ll probably buy it themselves before Christmas Day (we’re thinking of you, Dad). A token present also won’t cut it as they’re much too special for that, nor will a go-to idea like chocolate. So, how about an experience day?

One of the RadioTimes.com team always buys her dad an experience day for Christmas. After all, he already has everything he could want (a wonderful daughter). Last year it was a fast car experience, the year before it was a climb up the O2, and this year, she’s thinking a zipwire.

So, if you’ve got an adrenaline junkie in your life, why not take a leaf out of one of our writers’ books and buy a high-flying experience for them?

And for your loved ones who are a bit more chilled out, they’re not left out in Virgin Experience Days’ Black Friday sale. There are plenty of experiences like afternoon tea, spa days, cooking classes, and farmyard days out, which won’t make you break a sweat.

We’re always on the look out for the top experiences for you, that’s why we put together best lists of specific activities, like the best immersive experiences and the best VR experiences, so you can be sure you’re getting recommended the top ones available. Plus, we’re all about saving the pennies, too! So you can count on us to deliver cheap theatre tickets and cheap cinema tickets.

Let’s take a look at some of our favourite deals.

Check out the latest Black Friday offers.

Best Virgin Experience Days discounts at a glance:

• iFLY Indoor Skydiving and Assault Course for Two | £130 £50 (save £80 or 62%)
• Afternoon Tea at The Blackpool Tower Ballroom for Two | £50 £35 (save £15 or 30%)
• Luxury Lava Shell Spa Day for Two | £228 £105 (save £113 or 54%)
• Cookery Class for Two at The Jamie Oliver Cookery School | £128 £89.60 (save £38.40 or 30%)
• Alpaca Trekking and Entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation for Two | £70 £42 (save £28 or 40%)
• Tree Top Challenge for Two | £66 £52.80 (save £13.20 or 20%)

Virgin Experience Days Black Friday deals — experiences for adventurers

iFLY Indoor Skydiving and Assault Course for Two

We definitely have our eyes on this experience for a loved one this Christmas ⁠— especially as it has a huge 62 per cent off.

Located at The Bear Grylls Adventure park in Marston Green, Birmingham, this one day experience will see you and a lucky someone freefall at the indoor skydiving centre, as well as have unlimited access to the Royal Marines-inspired Assault Course throughout the day.

Buy iFLY Indoor Skydiving and Assault Course for Two for £130 £50 at Virgin Experience Days

More experience deals for adventurers:

• Four Supercar Blast plus High Speed Passenger Ride and Photo | £269 £125 (save £144 or 54%)
• Thames Rockets Speed Boat Ride for Two | £99.90 £74.93 (save £24.97 or 25%)
• 12 Mile Helicopter Flight for Two | £198 £118 (save £80 or 40%)

Virgin Experience Days Black Friday deals — experiences for a good old catch-up

Afternoon Tea at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom for Two

Blackpool Week on Strictly Come Dancing is always our favourite episode. It’s an enormous milestone for the celebrity dancers to get to, and by this week, they’ve stopped fumbling around on the dance floor and can actually move!

This Virgin Experience Day takes you to the heart of Blackpool Week as you can watch dancers take to the floor while you enjoy Afternoon Tea. We love experiences like this as it gives you the opportunity to catch up with a loved one you maybe haven’t seen in a while.

Buy Afternoon Tea at The Blackpool Tower Ballroom for Two for £50 £35 at Virgin Experience Days

More experiences for a good old catch-up:

• The Bombay Sapphire Distillery Discovery Tour with Gin Cocktail for Two | £40 £30 (save £10 or 25%)
• Unlimited Sushi for Two at inamo | £173.50 £42.50 (save £131 or 76%)
• Foraging, Cookery and Lunch for Two with Totally Wild | £140 £112 (save £38 or 20%)

Virgin Experience Days Black Friday deals — experiences for rest and relaxation

Luxury Lava Shell Spa Day for Two

Hands up if you’re in need of some rest and relaxation. Us too. Choose from over 41 locations and visit a Bannatyne Health Club where you’ll experience a Lava Shell back massage, then choose between a tailored Elemis facial or warming leg massage.

Also included in this spa day is full access to Bannatyne’s facilities: the swimming pool, gym, sauna, and steam room.

Buy Luxury Lava Shell Spa Day for Two for £228 £105 at Virgin Experience Days

More experiences for rest and relaxation:

• Visit to The View from The Shard and Three Course Meal at Marco Pierre White’s London Steakhouse Co for Two | £192 £99 (save £93 or 48%)
• Fortnum & Mason Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon | £172.50 £120 (save £52.50 or 30%)
• Luxury One Night Break in a Suite with Dinner and Champagne for Two at The Crazy Bear Hotel | £649 £455 (save £194 or 30%)

Virgin Experience Days Black Friday deals — experiences for foodies

Cookery Class for Two at The Jamie Oliver Cookery School

If you haven’t eaten your lunch yet, look away now. Grab a budding cook and head down to The Jamie Oliver Cookery School, where you’ll learn the skills needed to create great meals again and again. There’s a lot to choose from at the school, from North Indian Thali and Vietnamese Street Food to Pasta Master and Quick & Easy Dinnertime classes, so there’s something for every palate.

Buy Cookery Class for Two at The Jamie Oliver Cookery School for £128 £89.60 at Virgin Experience Days

More experiences for foodies:

• Five Course Gourmet Dinner with Cocktail for Two at Marco Pierre White’s London Steakhouse Co | £149 £55 (save £94 or 63%)
• Three Course Meal for Two with Sparkling Cocktail at London’s Shaka Zulu | £118 £59 (save £59 or 50%)
• Original Chocolate Making Workshop for Two with My Chocolate | £100 £58.80 (save £42.20 or 41%)

Virgin Experience Days Black Friday deals — experiences for friends

Alpaca Trekking and Entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation for Two

If we had to rank our favourite farmyard animals, alpacas would win – with goats coming in a close second.

As part of this experience, you’ll take in views of the Darent Valley with your new alpaca friends, then head to the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation where you’ll meet lots more animals, like rescued birds, meerkats, servals and reptiles.

Buy Alpaca Trekking and Entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation for Two for £70 £42 at Virgin Experience Days

More experiences for friends:

• Dim Sum Making Class for Two at Ann’s Smart School of Cookery | £258 £80 (save £178 or 69%)
• Axe Throwing for Two at Go Ape | £30 £24 (save £6 or 20%)
• Comedy Night for Two | £39.50 £25 (save £14.50 or 37%)

Virgin Experience Days Black Friday deals — experiences for the family

Tree Top Challenge for Two

This is an activity the whole family can get involved in. Pick from one of 31 Go Ape locations across the UK, and bag a 20 per cent off discount on this treetop experience.

Set in vast, beautiful forests, you’ll scale the treetops and take on tree-to-tree crossings, free-fall on Tarzan swings, and whiz down zip lines.

Buy Tree Top Challenge for Two for £66 £52.80 at Virgin Experience Days

More experiences for the family:

• Visit to ZSL London Zoo for Two Adults and Two Children | £130.90 £95 (save £35.90 or 27%)
• The Silverstone Interactive Museum – An Immersive History of British Motor Racing for Two | £50 £37.50 (save £12.50 or 25%)
• Meerkat, Lemur and Serval Animal Encounters with Feeding for Two at Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom | £150 £45 (save £105 or 70%)

Still looking for Christmas present inspiration? Then check out the best West End shows (here are the ones which have discounted Black Friday theatre tickets) and the best tech gifts. Or why not book a holiday for your loved ones, with our Black Friday holiday deals. 

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