Fun things to do
If you’re wondering where to go on your birthday, look no further. From theme parks to botanical gardens, there’s a whole host of places you can go to create amazing memories to make this year’s the best one yet.
Go to an amusement park
Just because you’re a year older doesn’t mean you have to start acting it. Relive the happy and carefree days of your childhood and head to your nearest theme park. Offering an awesome day of birthday fun, thrill yourself on a hair-raising rollercoaster and immerse yourself in a park’s numerous exciting attractions and events. If you’re an animal lover, many amusement parks also have zoos for you to go make some new furry friends and snap some great pictures.
Take a hike
Head for the hills and channel your inner explorer. Pack a bag full of tasty snacks, not forgetting that all important slice of birthday cake, and celebrate your special day being at one with nature. You could even go one up and start your new age with a bucket-list adventure climbing a mountain.
Host a picnic
Keep things simple and grab a blanket, some plates and fill a hamper to the brim with all your favourite sweet and savoury treats. Make a beeline for your favourite spot in your city, countryside or even host it in your own garden for a more low-key affair.
Visit a museum
How about spending the day at a museum and stepping into a whole new world? Go it alone or bring your curious minded friend along. With a variety of themes from science to history to art galleries, there’s guaranteed to be a museum to pique your interest and bring an element of class and education to your birthday.
Spend the day in a botanical garden
From trips to the Eden Project in Cornwall to a visit to Kew Gardens in London, spending time in nature can be incredibly tranquil and will start your new year on a good note. With over 100 registered National Trust parks and gardens in the UK, there’s a huge collection of historic gardens for you to explore.
Go to the beach
England has a pretty impressive coastline and there’s no better birthday companion than the waves. If you’re something of a foodie, a trip to the beach is incomplete without some of the finest British fare in the form of fish and chips and ice cream. If you’re the active type, there’s a whole host of watersports for you to discover - from surfing to coasteering to sailing.
Have a movie night
Make it a night to remember by heading to your favourite restaurant for a little pre-film meal, before immersing yourself in the cinema's surround sound and big screen. If you’re feeling creative, you can even host your own movie night at home. Invite all your friends and family, hire a projector and make sure to have every type of cinema snack, from pizza and hot dogs to popcorn and sweets.
Plan an escape room
An escape room is an adventure game designed for small groups. You and your team have to work together to decipher clues, overcome challenges and find your way out of a locked room in less than 60 minutes. A budget-friendly alternative to expensive birthday outings, escape rooms not only see you work with your loved ones but it'll give you another thing to celebrate when you are successful.
Go on a sports tour of your favourite stadium
Whether you're a football, cricket or rugby fan, there's no better birthday than one spent touring an iconic stadium. Offering exclusive access to areas normally off-limits to the public, these stadium tours can feel like a very unique experience - ideal for birthdays.
Add some speed to your day with a track day
If you’re something of a petrol-head, it wouldn’t feel right if your birthday didn’t somehow feature cars. From supercars and classic cars, to drifting and rally, there’s guaranteed to be a driving day to delight every type of motor enthusiast on their special day.
Relax with a spa day
For many, birthdays can be a stressful time but why should they be? Make an appointment for a spa day to freshen yourself up, starting the new birth year with a refreshing facial or massage. If you’re more of the home type, you could invite a trusted aesthetician into your home and have a spa day in the comfort of your living room.
Have a treetop adventure
For a guaranteed unforgettable birthday bash, Go Ape is the place to be. With a host of exhilarating activities for all ages, from canopy exploring to trail blazing, Go Ape in the forest is full of thrills and excitement. Not to mention, there's over 30 locations across the UK, meaning you won't have to travel far for your adventure.
Take a leap of faith with skydiving
We can’t think of a bigger and more adventurous way to celebrate a birthday than skydiving. Tell your pals your birthday itinerary and you may even get a sidekick to join you on your adventure. If you can’t quite face the reality of throwing yourself out of a plane, indoor skydiving is a perfect alternative with a more controlled environment.
Go to a show
Whatever month your birthday falls, there’s always hundreds of events and live shows to get involved in. Whether you see your favourite artist in concert, a theatre performance you've always wanted to watch, or a comedy show to keep you in fits of laughter, it's a classic way to spend a birthday for a reason.
Host a Game Night
Invite your friends and family and have everyone come in their favourite pyjamas, bringing their go-to board game or any game from way back when. For an extra dose of nostalgia, make sure there’s plenty of treat bags for the winners.
Food and drink things to do
If you’re something of a foodie, then inevitably you’ll want your day to involve only the best food. To help you satisfy all your cravings, we’ve come up with a wide array of food outings to make your day delicious.
Brunch
Because nothing says “Happy Birthday” like mouth-watering breakfast foods and of course plenty of mimosas. Rapidly becoming the cornerstone of British dining, join the brunch trend by gathering your pals together to celebrate your bday with a plethora of food in a relaxed environment. Whether you go for bottomless cocktails, free-flowing fizz or a more sophisticated high-class brunch, you’ll have free reign to choose as the member of birthday royalty.
Cookery Class
Face your new age with style by learning a new skill to become a kitchen master. Whether it’s cooking alongside a celebrity chef, online in the familiarity of your own kitchen, or satisfying that sweet tooth and making your own cake, there’s plenty of cookery courses for you to revel in.
Vineyard, Distillery and Brewery Tours
Whether your calling in life is gin, whisky, wine or beer, there’s no better way to spend the day than with a vineyard, distillery or brewery tour. You can dress up fancy and turn it into a real occasion or if you’re looking to keep things simple, just buy some bottles of your favourite and host your own tasting in the comfort of your home.
Cocktail Making Classes
If knocking back a few fruity numbers is your thing, plan a birthday outing to your favourite cocktail bar. While you could of course have a talented mixologist craft your favourite cocktail, why not start the year with a bang and make your own bespoke creation? By the end of the cocktail making class, you’ll have a selection of fantastic cocktails to sample and a new-found party trick to tap into.
Food tours
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t LOVE food? Embark on a solo adventure or bring your expedition partners and head out on a food tour in your local city. Plan stops at all your favourite places, visit one of the famous markets like Borough Market and sample the multitude of delectable food on offer. Along the way, you may even discover some hidden gems you didn’t know existed.
Make your own ice cream night
Remember when you were a kid and there was nothing more exciting than an ice cream bar with the full works? Your birthday is the perfect time to spoil yourself! We’re talking about colourful sprinkles, every flavour of ice cream under the sun and plenty of fun toppings to put you into a sugar coma…you know you love it.
Dining Cruises
Great food, a glass of Champagne or two, and epic views - dining cruises tick all our boxes for a birthday to remember for life. Mark the day with a delicious spread of whatever meal you’d prefer and take in sights of your chosen city from a unique vantage point.
The Secret London Walking Tour for Two
Take the Secret Tour of London and gain a fresh look at the city through the eyes of an intrepid explorer. You and a friend will head off the beaten track and journey through little known alleyways and hidden parts of the city. This tour will take you deeper than the average tour to explore the secrets of a city with 2000 years of history to tell. Travel along gas lit alleyways, past old pubs and bookshops as you visit the world’s only remaining Benjamin Franklin home, the place where Mozart composed his first symphony and much more.
Find out more
Rooftop bars
Whether you’re after a charming terrace, a quirky beer garden or a rooftop bar boasting breath-taking views of a city, there’s plenty of venue choices for you to celebrate on the big day. Invite your nearest and dearest for an amazing outdoor celebration.
Hit a hole-in-one of a birthday
Offering far more than just a game of mini-golf, venues like Swingers and Junkyard Golf Club also offer street food and stellar drinks. Make your way around the course as you tuck into a selection of delectable treats, from pizzas and tacos to buns.
Host an outrageously fun birthday BBQ
If your birthday happens to fall on a summer month, nothing beats a traditional barbecue and casual get-together with friends to celebrate in style. Make your garden BBQ one to remember with themed décor, unforgettable food, and you could even make your own fruit punch. Just don’t forget the cake!
Afternoon Tea
We’re strong believers in the phrase ‘any excuse for a tea party’. And really celebrating a birthday is the perfect occasion. It doesn’t have to be a milestone one either! Vintage, vegan, cream or classic - whatever your preferred afternoon tea, it’s a great way to mark the day. You could even host one at home and get your friends and family together for some tea, cake and homemade goods.
Master the art of sushi making
Get the gang together for a fun and interactive sushi making workshop. Learn from talented chefs the correct techniques to master and prepare authentically Japanese sushi. Alternatively, get everyone together in one place and host an at-home sushi night, complete with a platter full of your favourite rolls.
Murder Mystery
A murder mystery is the perfect birthday activity for someone who fancies themselves as something of a detective. Whether you head to a venue and let a company do all their hard work, or you host your own, it is a fun party theme to work out 'whodunnit'. If you're hosting your own party, you can even ensure there's a delectable and themed spread of treats.
Chocolate Workshop
We believe chocolate was solely invented for birthdays and there’s no way to make the day sweeter than with a hands-on chocolate tasting workshop. With chocolatiers running workshops up and down the country, including those offering private sessions, there’s plenty of choice for you to add a real chocolatey surprise to your birthday.
Summary
If you’ve got this far, you should have plenty of birthday inspiration to help make this the best one yet. And the great thing about birthdays is you can make them whatever you want - so whether you’re wanting a big bash or prefer something a little more low-key, there’s a celebratory experience with your name on it. Take a look at some of our favourite birthday experiences to help you get planning!
