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From stargazing to duck curing: 'Teach me something new' gifts are the best way to bring the personal touch this Christmas

Published: Tuesday, 9 December 2025 at 5:42 pm

Forget buying them another pair of gardening gloves – these 13 online masterclasses and in-person workshops will add the ultra-personal touch this Christmas.

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We all have that someone in our lives who's impossible to buy for. Whether they're ultra fussy, or they tell you not to buy anything at all, Christmas shopping can quickly sink into the depths of a nightmare when you're wildly searching your local shopping centre for something new.

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For those who need a bit of last-minute inspiration, a new masterclass or workshop is a great way of gifting something that feels unique and personal. Whether it's stargazing, cooking, or arts and craft-based, experience gifts like these can help your loved one learn a brand-new skill, or just have an exciting day out.

Here are 13 'teach me something new' gifts that will help shake you out of a Christmas shopping funk.

Teach me something new gifts to buy this Christmas

1. Watercolour in the Woods: A Beginner's Guide to Painting the Natural World

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This step-by-step watercolour painting course will help you build a new skill and get you out into nature as you search for wildlife inspiration. Ahead of the class, you'll need to gather your own reference photos of various fungi, plants and wildlife before being shown how to build colour and texture by natural history illustrator Rosalie Haizlett. At the end, you'll come away with a vibrant painting and a new hobby to take forward.

2. Floristry Academy Diploma Online Course

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Learn the history, principles and basics of floristry (Premium) with this 15-hour online course. From flower and plant biology to the traditions of weddings and funerals, you'll come away with a fresh perspective on how floristry works and a shiny diploma if you decide to start a new career.

3. Snowdonia National Park Photography Experience

Snowdonia mountain range

Virgin Experience Days

Explore the majesty of Wales' Snowdonia National Park with this one-day photography experience. Under the guidance of a photographer with over 30 years' experience, you'll learn everything from shooting in RAW and JPEG to composition, lighting, and exposure control, all while taking in the beauty of your surroundings.

4. Duck Curing Experience

someone slicing cured meats as part of a duck curing experience

Indytute

This culinary workshop, found in Bray, Berkshire, will teach you how to joint, cure and smoke a duck for your own personal charcuterie board. For those who want to learn a unique party trick, this is a good choice as you'll go through the entire process with the help of experienced chefs before sitting down to try your samples.

5. Create Your Own Harris Tweed Handbag

tweed bags on a table in a make your own handbag experience

Virgin Experience Days

In the heart of Edinburgh, you can really get into the city's spirit by designing your own tweed handbag. You'll be able to select the colour, choose your tweed pattern and decorate with a range of straps and accessories.

6. Reach for the Stars Stargazing Science Workshop

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This full-day stargazing workshop dives deep into the science of astronomy, with the help of one of the UK's most experienced planetarium presenters, Mike Culley. Throughout the experience, you'll explore the Moon and planets of our Solar System and the ways you can successfully see them through telescopes. You'll learn about supernovae and black holes, examine real meteorites, take a look at distant constellations, and discover when you might be able to see them from your own back garden.

7. Vintage China Upcycling Workshop

two china plates for a vintage china upcycling workshop

Indytute

This crafting workshop will show you exactly how to turn a piece of vintage china into a modern decoration. To start, you'll select a piece of genuine old china from the workshop's collection, before being taught how to paint and alter the object into a piece of artwork, which you can then take home.

8. Introduction to Glassmaking Masterclass for two

someone taking part in a glassmaking workshop

Virgin Experience Days

In this hands-on masterclass, you and a guest will be working with hot molten glass, straight from the furnace. With the help of professional glassmakers and proper equipment, you'll learn how to create your own piece of glasswork, from vases to artistic bowls. You'll then need to leave your piece to harden overnight, after which it will be sent to you, and you can display it forever more.

9. Gordon Ramsay Academy courses

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Buy now from: Gordon Ramsay Academy

The Gordon Ramsay Academy runs several workshops for cooking enthusiasts, each dedicated to a specific dish or cuisine. They are: pasta, Pad Thai, eclairs, Bao, steak and Beef Wellington. All of these take place at the London Academy Kitchen and are the perfect gift for cooks who want to master a specific skill.

10. Terrarium Workshop

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Terrariums are a very fashionable addition to your indoor plant collection, and now you can make them yourself. This terrarium workshop will show you how to layer and build a terrarium, as well as show you which plants thrive best, and how to maintain it after you leave.

11. Online Vegan and Plant-Based Cookery Course

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Learn how to cook plant-based cuisine with this online cooking course. Over four lessons, which you can take with an online classroom of up to 20 peers, you'll be shown how to cook vegetables and enhance their flavour to the maximum. You'll also take four course assignments, which include making a spring risotto and a seasonal soup.

12. Moyses Stevens Classic Hand-Tied Bouquet Workshop

A woman holding a bouquet at a bouquet making workshop

Virgin Experience Days

This bouquet workshop focuses specifically on the art of flower arranging (Premium). Across a two-hour session, you'll discover how to gather and tie the perfect bouquet with the help of expert instructors.

13. Cider-Making Workshop

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Learn to make cider in this hands-on workshop, from prepping apples to pressing juice. The day includes cider tasting, fermentation tips, and a take-home demijohn to ferment your own cider at home.

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