With ‘hobby holidays’ on the rise, here’s how you can have a fulfilling and relaxing holiday from the comfort of your own city
You no longer need a boarding pass to feel transformed by travel. According to new research from GetYourGuide and YouGov, nearly half of British tourists want to learn a new skill on holiday. From cooking and wine tasting to breathwork and yoga, the classic fly-and-flop trip is being swapped for something more hands-on and fulfilling.
Nicknamed ‘hobby holidays’, this new wave of tourism appeals especially to 25 to 34-year-olds, with over a quarter having already given up sunbathing time to try something new. And bookings for workshops and classes have risen 126 per cent in the last year, with Dutch waffle-making, pasta-crafting workshops and tea ceremonies topping the global list.
So, do hobby holidays actually make us happier? Experts say yes. “You might think that lying on a sun lounger in the Indian Ocean is the best way to relax,” clinical psychologist Dr Oliver James told The Times, “but the reality is that, if you’re seriously stressed out, you’re better off doing something absorbing: learning to scuba dive, rock-climbing, painting in Umbria.”
But what if you don’t need a passport – or the budget for flights to Florence – to join the trend? Good news: London is full of experiences that mirror these international workshops, many for under £50. Whether you want to meet new people, try something new, or just reset your brain, these 10 experiences offer a bite-sized escape close to home.
- Bev’s Waffle Making – Bath £65
Like: Dutch Waffle Making – Amsterdam, Netherlands
A sweet, sticky way to channel the Netherlands. While this one is outside of London, coach journeys start from just £4 each way.
- Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy with Unlimited Prosecco – various locations in London £50
Like: Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine – Florence, Italy
Twirl tagliatelle like a true Italian at this hands-on pasta class – complete with bottomless prosecco to keep the good vibes (and carbs) flowing.
- Bread Ahead Bakery Pizza and Tiramisu Workshop – Borough Market or Wembley £40pp
Like: Pasta and Tiramisu Class with Fine Wine – Rome, Italy
Get your hands doughy with this carb-filled class. You’ll leave with a full belly and a new dinner party skill.
- Thai Favourites Cooking Class – Staines £59
Like: Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Can’t get to Chiang Mai? Make curry pastes from scratch and learn about Thai herbs in this immersive, flavoursome session.
- Vietnamese Cupping Café Tasting and Discovery – Liverpool Street FREE
Like: Vietnamese Coffee Culture and Coffee Making – Hội An, Vietnam
Sip your way through Vietnam’s rich coffee traditions with this free cupping session – taste, learn, and discover what makes Vietnamese brews so bold and unique.
- Perfume Making Workshop – Peckham £50
Like: Mini Perfume Workshop – Paris, France
Mix, match and bottle your own signature scent in this creative workshop that brings a little Parisian flair to Peckham.
- Vietnamese Street Food Class – Jamie Oliver’s Cookery School £69
Like: Basket Boat with Lantern-Making & Cooking Class Tour – Hội An, Vietnam
There may not be lantern-making in London yet, but this vibrant Vietnamese street food class brings the spirit of Hội An to life – because if anything can transport you, it’s taste.
- Premium Cocktail Making Masterclass – Haggerston £45
Like: Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience – Dublin, Ireland
If it’s the cocktails that caught your eye, this fun and hands-on class in Haggerston delivers – but if it’s the distillery experience you’re really after, keep reading.
- Irish Whiskey Tasting – The Umbrella Project £65
Like: Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience – Dublin, Ireland
For those after the full Irish whiskey experience, this tasting session from The Umbrella Project offers rich pours, expert insight, and serious Dublin vibes – no passport needed.
10. Japanese Tea Ceremony Demonstration – British Museum FREE
Like: Tea Ceremony in a Traditional Tea House – Kyoto, Japan
Step into the calm ritual of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the British Museum – an authentic, peaceful pause in the middle of London, and completely free.
Pics: Pexels
