Activities to Try During Dry January

2022 has finally made its grand entrance. You’ve written down your new year resolutions. So, what’s right at the top of the list? Dry January. We all love to embark on the classic ‘new year, new me’ quest at the start of January and an alcohol-free month after all the joyful celebrations of Christmas is a welcome and refreshing way to get back into our normal routines.

So, with the pub off the menu for the foreseeable, it’s time to fill your calendar with a host of fun and exciting activities to spur you on through to February! From rejuvenating spa days to thrilling theatre trips, high-octane driving blasts and indoor skydives, creative cooking classes and bougie afternoon teas, you’re sure to find the perfect activities to try during Dry January with our hand-picked list of adventure experiences to celebrate the new year.

What is Dry January?

An annual tradition for many across the UK, Europe, the United States and beyond, Dry January is a public health campaign that sees millions of participants give up alcohol for the first month of the new year. In fact, January 2021 saw the biggest Dry January in the UK ever, with 6.5 million people taking on the alcohol-free challenge! While some take part as a personal resolution following the decadent indulgence of the festive season, many also set up sponsorship pages for charity to spur them on through their Dry January challenge, starting the year with a big health kick and a strong dose of goodwill. With benefits that include saving some well-earned money, boosting energy levels and promoting better sleep, the big question is – will you take on the Dry January challenge in 2022?

Go to the Spa

A spa day is the perfect Dry January activity. Choosing to cut out alcohol for the first month of the year is a great way to boost your energy, so why not double down on the wellness factor with a soothing day of blissful relaxation in the calming oasis of a luxury spa?

Grab a friend who loves a good pamper and make your way over to one of our stunning spas, including world-famous brands such as Bannatyne Spa, Marriott and Champneys. There, you’ll both leave your everyday stresses in the foyer, slip into a fluffy robe and prepare for a full day of soaking up the facilities and your choice of relaxing treatments. For an added splash of decadence, why not book in for a spa day with lunch or afternoon tea, too?

Blissful Spa Day with 25 Minute Treatment for Two

20 Locations

(1852)

Swap a night out on the town for a tranquil afternoon unwinding in pure bliss at your choice of sumptuous spa location, with brands including Virgin Active and Marriott. An indulgent treat for two, you’ll both make the most of full access to your chosen spa’s incredible facilities – from the swimming pool to the sauna and steam room – before enjoying a 25-minute pampering treatment each. Luxuriate with a rejuvenating facial, a moisturising manicure, a relaxing Swedish back, neck and shoulder massage or a stress-busting Indian head massage, all delivered by the expert hands of a qualified therapist. Who needs a pint when you could get pampered on a luxurious spa day instead?

Was £113

£55

Head to the Theatre

Not drinking doesn’t mean you can’t have just as much fun. Catching a West End theatre show that everyone’s talking about is sure to keep you entertained! Now London’s beautiful theatres have reopened in the wake of the pandemic, it’s time to top up on the live entertainment and joy we’ve all missed out on during lockdown. Our incredible collection of theatre packages are perfect for all ages, tastes and budgets, with foot-tapping musicals and powerful dramas aplenty! Immerse your senses in a kaleidoscope of colour, unbelievable costumes and unforgettable performances with a trip to the theatre in London’s dazzling West End.

Theatre Tickets to a West End Show for Two

21 Locations - UK Wide

Kick 2022 off with a bang in London’s extraordinary West End! This enchanting experience includes theatre tickets for two, meaning you can treat yourself and a theatre-loving special someone to an unforgettable trip to one of the Capital’s most revered and breathtaking theatres, from The Apollo Victoria Theatre to the Savoy Theatre. Soak up one of London’s magnificent award-winning productions, choosing from a spectacular line-up of shows, including The Lion King, Matilda The Musical, Wicked, Jersey Boys, MAMMA MIA! and more. All you have to do is select your seats, grab some snacks, sit back and immerse yourself in the magic of entertainment. Jazz hands at the ready, maestro!

£69

Book a Cooking Class

You’ve no doubt amassed several of the latest cookery books over Christmas, so Dry January is as good a time as any to polish up your culinary skills! After all, we all need a signature dish or three in our locker to impress at the next dinner party, don’t we? Explore our delicious range of cookery classes and practice the art of sushi making, learn about all things spice with an Indian cuisine masterclass or embrace the sweeter things in life with a chocolate-making workshop for two! Whatever your foodie preference, we’re sure to have a scrumptious cooking class to tickle your tastebuds this January.

Two Hour Pasta and Italian Dishes Masterclass for Two at Ann's Smart School of Cookery

3 Locations

With a new year comes the opportunity to master new skills, so why not don your best apron and head down to Ann’s Smart School of Cookery to try your hand at making pasta? During this two-hour Italian cooking masterclass, you’ll learn how to make bubble-laden focaccia bread, fresh spinach and ricotta cannelloni in an unctuous tomato sauce and a fresh, zesty asparagus risotto. Bellissimo! Guided by an expert chef, you and a fellow foodie will discover the delicious secrets of Italian cuisine, passed down through the ages by nonnas from Puglia to Sicily. With locations available in Buckinghamshire, Essex and London, it’s time to acquaint yourself with some fresh, new ingredients and get creative in the kitchen!

Was £198

£79

Go for a Drive

Take advantage of your alcohol-free start to the year with a rip-roaring driving experience at one of the UK’s best racing tracks! From Brands Hatch to Silverstone, it’s time to make the engines of your favourite supercars roar and unleash your inner Lewis Hamilton with a ride in a Lamborghini Gallardo, an Aston Martin Vantage or even a Porsche 911. With supercar blasts, rally thrills and off-roading adventures on offer, you really can’t go wrong with our hand-picked selection of daredevil driving experiences. Get ready to master skills such as handbrake turns and riveting drifting techniques and prep yourself to take pole position this Dry January.

Triple Supercar Driving Blast with High Speed Passenger Ride

19 Locations

Put the pedal to the metal with this high-octane driving experience, where you’ll jump behind the wheel of some of the world’s most famous supercars! An unforgettable day out for any petrolhead, you’ll receive a full introduction and safety briefing from an expert driving instructor, before choosing three mean machines from a fearsome line-up of motoring models, including Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and Aston Martin. Speed demons selected, get ready to rip around the track for three once-in-a-lifetime miles in each, improving your driving skills at each tight turn and tricky bend. And, as if that wasn’t enough, once your stint in the hot seat is over, you’ll hop into the passenger seat and experience what it really means to burn some rubber on a high-speed circuit lap with an instructor!

Was £237

£99

Try Skydiving

Free fall into the new year with an exciting indoor skydiving experience – without any of the stresses of jumping from a plane. The ideal activity for Dry January participants who love an action-packed adventure, indoor skydiving will have you floating on air, performing zero-gravity barrel rolls and jumping the equivalent height of The Shard in London – 23 times over! Available for kids and grown-ups alike across the UK, indoor skydiving is an exhilarating day out for the whole family and is sure to create some seriously cherished memories. So, brave navigator of the skies, are you ready to take the leap?

iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience for Two People

3 Locations

Do you want to tick skydiving off your bucket list but get shaky knees just at the thought of jumping from the open doors of a plane? Well, fear no more – we’ve got the perfect adrenaline-fuelled compromise! With iFLY, you can still pluck up the courage to take the plunge and enjoy all the thrills of free falling with their incredible indoor skydiving experience. After a safety briefing, you and your partner will be kitted out in a flight suit, helmet and goggles, before pumping yourselves up to go zero gravity. Motivational speeches done, it’s time to be swept off your feet with two heart-pumping flights each in iFLY’s unforgettable vertical wind tunnel – the equivalent free fall time of three 12,000ft skydives!

Was £129.98

£73.99

Take Afternoon Tea

Delicious and decadent, afternoon tea is a great excuse to get dressed up to the nines and share the finest of brews with your nearest and dearest. From traditional afternoon teas with clotted cream and jam, to luxury afternoon teas in Harrods and themed afternoon teas aboard a vintage 1960s Routemaster Bus, we’re sure to have the quaintest or quirkiest afternoon tea experience to suit you. Hungry for more? Find out everything you need to know in our Afternoon Tea Guide.

Afternoon Tea for Two at Patisserie Valerie

40 Locations

(2327)

Yes, a glass of wine might be a lovely way to relax in style, but have you ever taken afternoon tea with a friend? It’s as fancy, fabulous and flavoursome as it sounds! This Dry January, treat yourself and a loved one to a delightfully delicious afternoon tea experience at your local Patisserie Valerie. After all, there’s nothing more quintessentially British or heart-warming than a good natter over a steaming hot cuppa and some tasty pastries. Take your comfy seats in the beautiful surroundings of Patisserie Valerie and tuck into some classic afternoon treats, from finger fancies to stunning cakes, freshly brewed tea and of course, fluffy scones with jam and clotted cream!

£25

Thirsty for More Dry January Activity Experiences? From afternoon teas to cookery lessons, thrilling driving experiences, sumptuous luxury spa days, adrenaline-fuelled adventure activities, unforgettable days out for families and more, we’re sure to have the perfect experience to help embrace Dry January at the start to the new year.

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Prices and experience details are subject to change.
Buyagift is the UK's leading provider of experience days and gift experiences including beauty treatments and spa days, driving and flying thrills, short breaks and gourmet dining experiences. By purchasing a gift experience for a loved one, you’re not just giving them a thoughtful present, but a wealth of memories to enjoy for years to come. With over 9,000 experiences to choose from, Buyagift has everything you could possibly need to make someone's special occasion, unforgettable. To find out more visit www.buyagift.co.uk.