Home to two of the nation’s most outstanding football clubs, as well as Take That, the Stone Rose and Oasis, some might say that Manchester is the greatest city on earth. It’s made even greater by the diverse selection of experience gifts in Manchester available!
So if you’re planning to visit this amazing place, or are lucky enough to live there, then you’ll be spoiled for choice for things to do. So let us lend you a helping hand in finding the perfect selection of experience gifts in Manchester for your nearest and dearest (or as a treat for yourself).
Food & Drink Experience Gifts in Manchester
The Five Course Tasting Menu and Bottle of Prosecco for Two at Hotel Gotham Manchester – Buy a Gift
Now this is a luxury treat! The Five Course Tasting Menu and Bottle of Prosecco for Two at Hotel Gotham Manchester, £149, is a really opulent experience. The Hotel Gotham is a haven of 1920’s glamour, and the 2 AA Rosette awarded Honey Restaurant has amazing views of the city to enjoy. The special menu boasts an array of inventive and locally sourced ingredients, blending culinary classics with a contemporary twist. Delicious!
Manchester Microbrewery Experience For Two – Not on the High Street
Looking for experience gifts in Manchester for a craft beer fan? They will love this guided tour down the Piccadilly Beer Mile where they’ll meet the brewers at Beer Nouveau, have a tasting and tour at Alphabet Brewery, and finish with a farewell drink at Track. Manchester Microbrewery Experience For Two, £120.
BrewDog Beers & Cheeseboard for Two – TravelZoo
Looking for a beer-related birthday gift? Head over to BrewDog Manchester to enjoy this Beers & Cheeseboard for Two, £13.50. The experience includes a flight of headliner beers each – you can choose from Lost Lager, Dead Pony Club, Zombie Cake, Punk IPA, Jet Black Heart, Clockwork, Indie, and BD Pale – and a delicious luxe cheeseboard, including at least five cheeses, crackers, and chutney.
Original Chocolate-Making Workshop for Two – TravelZoo
Calling all chocoholics (so everyone, right?), check out the Original Chocolate-Making Workshop for Two, from £60. The gift experience begins with a history of chocolate, followed by a demo from the master chocolatiers. And then the fun really starts…. you get to make and decorate your own giant button and at least 15 handmade chocolates each, all of which you can take home with you. And devour. Alone.
Lancashire Afternoon Cream Tea Cruise for Two – WH Smith
The Leeds-Liverpool canal is set in the idyllic Lancashire countryside on the outskirts of the city. Here you can take a canal boat cruise from the pretty Riley Green Marina, which is set against the stunning backdrop of the historic Hoghton Tower. The Lancashire Afternoon Cream Tea Cruise for Two experience, £49, will take you through the gorgeous countryside while you relax and enjoy freshly made sandwiches, Lancashire crisps, homemade scones served with butter, jam and cream, a miniature cake selection and a pot of tea or coffee.
Italian Food and Red Wine Pairings for Two at Veeno – Virgin Experience Days
Looking for foodie experience gifts in Manchester? This one is Bellissimo! Enjoy a tasting journey with this Italian Food and Red Wine Pairings for Two at Veeno, £39. You’ll taste four red wines accompanied with a self-guided tasting sheet, as well as a sharing board of Bruschette, brimming with delicious meats and cheeses.
Gin Masterclass for Two at The Liquor Store – Buy a Gift
Gin is undeniably the spirit of the moment, but how did it go from ‘mother’s ruin’ to the delish G&T that we know and love? The Gin Masterclass for Two at The Liquor Store, £50, will tell you everything you need to know about this spirit and – more importantly – the best ways to drink it. You’ll even learn how to mix the tastiest gin cocktails possible.
Whisky Masterclass and Tasting for Two – Buy a Gift
Looking for whisky experience gifts in Manchester? This tasting at Peter Street Kitchen’s Rikyu Bar, part of the Radisson, might be one of the best of its kind. At the Whisky Masterclass and Tasting for Two, £100, you’ll sample four Japanese whiskies and tuck into a selection of mouth-watering canapès.
Activity Experience Gifts in Manchester
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience for Two – Red Letter Days
We can’t put in to words the brilliance of this experience… Jump into The Crystal Maze Live, £109, where you’ll take on all sorts of tricky tasks and games. Work together as a team as the Maze Master takes you around four adventure zones and then get ready for the grand finale of The Crystal Dome!!!
iFLY Indoor Skydiving – Red Letter Days
Want to have the experience of free-falling without, you know, actually having to jump from a plane? Check out iFLY in Trafford, an indoor free flight wind tunnel with speeds of up to 120 mph! iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience, £49.99.
Deluxe Helicopter Flight – Getting Personal
Looking for another way to take flight? Experience gifts in Manchester don’t come much fancier than this Deluxe Helicopter Flight, £119.99 – taking off from Eccles, Greater Manchester. You’ll be whisked up in the air for a 12 mile flight, taking in local landmarks and enjoying the sky-high life. When you land, you’ll be provided with a glass of bubbly and some yummy chocolates – exhilarating and delicious!
Rage Room Experience for Two – Virgin Experience Days
Know someone that needs to get out some pent up aggression? The Rage Room Experience at Destroy’d Manchester, £45, as the name suggests, lets you bash the heck out of a variety things including old TV’s and monitors, glass bottles and crockery, printers, keyboards and more. Sounds bonkers, but also smashing.
Paintball Combat Experience Day For 8 – Getting Personal
Now this is a total classic! Everyone loves paintball and this is the perfect experience for a group of high octane pals. The Paintball Combat Experience Day For 8, £79.99, is based around a purpose-built battlefield – get ready for an amazing day of paint-filled fun!
50 Lap Karting Race for Two – Getting Personal
On your marks, get set… RACE! Experience Gifts in Manchester just got even more fun-filled thanks to 50 Lap Karting Race for Two, £99.99. You’ll get the adrenaline pumping with this day of fun where you can embrace your competitive side as you speed along the track in a 200cc go kart.
60 Minute Golf Lesson for Two with a PGA Professional – Virgin Experience Days
This cool gift will let you embrace your inner Tiger Woods; a 60 Minute Golf Lesson for Two with a PGA Professional, from £69. You’ll get to go through each aspect of your game from putting to driving, with plenty of tips and advice to become the envy of the fairway.
Manchester United Old Trafford Stadium Tour for Two Adults – Buy a Gift
Got a football fanatic to shop for? If they are a fan the Red Devils, they’ll love this Manchester United Old Trafford Stadium Tour for Two Adults, £50. Walk in the footsteps of Manchester U’s greatest legends, and see the club’s history brought to life. Sit in the North Stand and enjoy a fantastic view of Old Trafford and take your place in the manager’s dugout. This gift will score the winning goal!
Manchester City Etihad Stadium Tour for Two Adults – Buy A Gift
Looking for something for a True Blue instead? Then check out this Manchester City Etihad Stadium Tour for Two Adults, from £30. The City of Manchester Stadium, or the Etihad as it’s more popularly known, is a world class venue, and this guided tour will take you behind the scenes. You’ll see the dressing rooms and the players’ tunnel. You’ll do the Walk of Pride, stand pitch-side and see the dugouts where the manager shouts his instructions.
Creative and Relaxing Experience Gifts in Manchester
Manchester Spa: Treatment, Access & Bubbly Experience – TravelZoo
The Spa at Manchester’s Midland hotel is lauded for being one of the best looking spas in the country – it’s impressive in its luxurious serenity. This Manchester Spa: Treatment, Access & Bubbly Experience, from £79, comprises half a day at the gorgeous spa, a 50 minute treatment, lunch or afternoon tea and a glass of Champagne. Divine!
Family Two Night Yurt Stay With BBQ Pack – Not On The High Street
This amazing gift of relaxation for a family is just outside of the city in the utterly picturesque Ramsbottom, Lancashire. The Family Two Night Yurt Stay With BBQ Pack, £295, is a cool twist on luxe glamping – the furnished yurt has a double bed, a double fold out bed, log burner, covered kitchen and more. Also included is a BBQ with plenty of food, plus there’s a private fire pit on hand for you to sit back and relax whilst having a toasted marshmallow or two!
One Night Luxury Stay with Breakfast for Two at Hotel Brooklyn – Buy A Gift
Looking to treat someone to an overnight break in the heart of the city? Hotel Brooklyn offers city chic at its very best – the hotel pays homage to the golden age of New York City, with sophisticated décor, friendly service and a delicious restaurant. The gift of a One Night Luxury Stay with Breakfast for Two at Hotel Brooklyn, £89, gives you a great base to explore Manchester from in comfortable, stylish surroundings.
Scatter Cushion Masterclass Half Day Workshop – Not On The High Street
Shopping for a craft lover? Experience gifts in Manchester don’t get more unique than this cool class where you’ll learn some handy upholstery skills. The Scatter Cushion Masterclass Half Day Workshop, £59, will teach you how to sew cushions with expert Simion Hawtin-Smith, from the BBC’s ‘Money For Nothing.’
Bespoke Fragrance Design Experience – Not On The Highstreet
All the greats have a perfume named after them – Coco Chanel, Rihanna, JLo… and now you can bestow this honour to your bestie, too. At the Bespoke Fragrance Design Experience, £49, a perfume stylist will help you to blend your own signature fragrance. You get to take your scent home, and even better, your blend will be saved in the professional fragrance library so you can re-order it with ease!
Introductory Recording Studio Experience in Manchester – Red Letter Days
Looking for experience gifts in Manchester for a karaoke king or queen? This gift will take things to the next level for them – they get to cut a track at a professional recording studio! At the Introductory Recording Studio Experience in Manchester, £99, they’ll receive tips and advice from a seasoned producer and record a rehearsed song or musical arrangement. Plus they can even bring some guests along as an audience / hardcore groupies.
Evening Photography City Tour – Virgin Experience Days
It’s time to get snap happy! We love this Evening Photography City Tour, £35, where the lucky recipient will be taught how to capture fantastic images of Manchester’s cityscape by taking control of their camera’s aperture, shutter speed, lighting and composition. If they become the next Annie Leibovitz or Ansel Adams they’ll have you to thank!
Spa Day with Afternoon Tea – Getting Personal
Looking for something relaxing and indulgent, try this Spa Day with Afternoon Tea, £99.99. Once you’ve had some time to kick back, relax, and soak up the zen vibes, you can enjoy a quintessentially British afternoon tea! You’ll be treated to a sandwich, delicious scones with clotted cream, a cake and of course, a wonderful pot of tea. Ideal if you are looking for experience gifts in Manchester for someone who loves pampering!