UK-based ideas that usually cost less than £100

HAVE AN OWL SWOOP ONTO YOUR ARM

A really great experience having 4 different types of owl come onto my arm. Once shown how to hold the gloved arm out far enough and getting over the first worry, these birds are striking. However, you might be able to do this for free if there's a falconry event near you and they ask for a volunteer!

EAT AT THE TREEHOUSE RESTAURANT

I ate at the Treehouse Restaurant in Alnwick (Northumberland) and it was beautiful in every way. Surrounded by wood, the roaring fire and exquisite food, this is one I'd like to return to. What restaurant have you always wanted to go to? Can you make it happen?

EAT AT THE ROLLERCOASTER RESTAURANT

Located at Alton Towers, you order the food by tablet and then see it get delivered via rollercoaster tracks starting up at the ceiling and ending at your table! Such fun. Whilst you can access it during the day if you're visiting the park, you can avoid the park admission cost if you come after hours when the park's closed.

BE SERVED LUNCH IN A PRISON

We went to The Clink Restaurant High Down, Surrey where we walked through the stark surroundings into the most plush restaurant where inmates were learning to cook, serve, etc. It was a very surreal experience but one I'd recommend. How did I get this idea? I saw it on a TV documentary and wondered if I could go there too. TV and radio can give you ideas so always be on the lookout.

ASK FOR THE MAYOR OF SCAREDY CAT TOWN

This might have since changed but the Spitalfield's branch of The Breakfast Club had a secret basement bar. If you asked staff on arrival to speak to the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town, you'd be taken through an actual SMEG fridge (yes, you'd walk THROUGH a fridge!!) and down the stairs to the basement bar which was so much quieter than the floor above! 

TRAVEL ON THE EUROSTAR TO BELGIUM

I did this day trip to Brussels in December 2019 which, whilst absolutely freezing, was fab to see the city set for Christmas. It saved all the hassle of airports and was super easy to do. Check out eating at the Atomium restaurant for stunning views. The Eurostar goes straight to Disneyland Paris too as well as several other destinations including the Netherlands.

GO THROUGH THE EUROTUNNEL TO FRANCE

Whilst I'm fine about driving abroad and on the other side of the road once I've mastered the first roundabout, I worried about how tight it would be to board the train but it was easy. You can get out of your car if you want to stretch your legs but you'll be in France in no time at all. I did this as a day trip where I went to Le Touquet Paris-Plage and Boulogne. 

VISIT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

I'm hopeless when it comes to gardening but I'm inspired by what I see on TV and I watch the coverage every year. Whilst the show gardens are far smaller than they appear on TV, it's hard not to appreciate the planning and skill involved. And there're nice eateries and plenty of things to buy too. 

STRIKE A COIN AT THE ROYAL MINT

Located in Wales, you can find out about how money's made but I also had the opportunity to strike a 50p coin that was commerating a national event. Really great for children of all ages to check out too. 

FEED BREAKFAST TO MONKEYS

This experience at Trentham Monkey Forest was great! You pay to join the keepers before the gates open to the public and help them feed monkeys their breakfast... and you can stay on to watch them roam. 

VISIT A FOOTBALL STADIUM

I finally got to do a stadium tour of Anfield, home to Liverpool FC which I've supported since I was 10. Even learning about the psychology behind the home/ away changing rooms design was fascinating as was walking through the tunnel, touching the 'This is Anfield' sign, etc.  

VISIT PORTMEIRION

I love this place in Wales! I say Wales but it'll feel as if you're in Italy as it's like a world away. Beautiful coloured architecture, pizza, gelato.... see where The Prisoner was filmed. If you're looking for quirky, you need to go here.

DO SOMETHING MUSICAL

Join a choir, get into amateur dramatics, learn a new musical instrument, try karaoke... lots of possibilities. I learnt to play the ukelele which was far trickier than expected but there're many online tutorials alongside local classes. Perhaps rent an instrument from your local music shop for 6 months.

TAKE UP A NEW SPORT/ DANCE

There're many free options like hiking, running, working out at your nearest outdoor gym...but perhaps you've always wanted to try a sprin class or go to the driving range if golf takes your fancy. How about engaging a personal trainer to really push you?!!

WRITE A BOOK AND SELF-PUBLISH

This makes me think of Colin Firth's character in Love Actually where he takes himself off to France, hires a idyllic house, etc. to write. Few of us have that luxury but even if we're busy with daily life, perhaps we can make time. Check out NaNiWriMo and Lulu Publishing if you need help with getting started.

DO AN ESCAPE ROOM

These have emerged over the past few years providing a great time, with some specifically aimed at families and many being themed. Time to connect with your inner sleuth. It took 2 visits to crack a local escape room (that had 4 separate rooms for us to work through) but it was a real test of lateral thinking and we'll be back to do others!

WATCH A ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PRODUCTION

I saw Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon but I've also seen various performances by the RSC at The Globe and The Barbican, both in London. Do you have a favourite Shakespearean work? Perhaps one you studied at school? 

EAT AT THE DUCK AND WAFFLE IN LONDON AND WATCH THE SUNRISE

I'd highly recommend coming here. Open 24 hours a day, up on the 40th floor, the views of London are just stunning and the food's great too. I went for sunrise and I checked ahead to see when sunrise would be and if it'd be a clear day as I wanted to get the best possible photos. I arranged to arrive 30 minutes before sunrise which was perfect timing. On the online booking form where I could add notes, I asked if I could be seated on the best side for sunrise which they happily accommodated.

HAVING A PIERCING/ TATTOO

A piercing can be temporary which may suit many and I had my belly button pierced! I did have a tattoo when I was 30 and I recently explored about having it removed.... but it sounds like an extremely painful and very lengthy process. I wonder how many others regret having a tattoo!

LEARN TO DRAW, PAINT, SCULPT, ETC.

Join a class, unleash your inner creativeness and see what the result is. Of course, there're plenty of online tutorials so you can do this for free but there're lots of places offering various arts-based classes like ironmongery and pottery studios. Going to an ironmongery sounds great as they offer one day courses where you get to make 1-3 things to bring home. This has been my list for more than 10 years!

PAY FOR SOMEONE'S MEAL/DRINK

You can do this in a drive-thru or perhaps a restaurant where you make it clear to waiting staff that you want it to be kept anonymous. We didn't want a 'thank you' when we paid for a family's meal but it was great to make someone's day and to see the reaction from the corner of our eyes! We were helped out when we'd just become parents and very much believe in the concept of paying things forward.

GO ZIP-WIRING

There're various places where you can zip wire but if you really want to push your comfort zone, check out Zip World (Penrhyn Quarry) in north Wales. It's the fastest zip line in the world! It gets booked up but it's really well organised and the view once you open your eyes is spectactular. Totally loved it and would do it again.

GO ON A SEGWAY

Up to the point where I fell off, it was great fun! It took a bit of getting used to as you have to let your body influence how it moves but it was ever so liberating. I did this with Go Ape through a forest but cities offer these too for sight seeing.

ABSEIL 

I abseiled the UK's tallest sculpture: Arcelor Mittal Orbit, London, situated next to what was the 2012 Olympic Game stadium. Once I was over the ledge, I was fine and what a sense of achievement it was afterwards once my feet were soon back on solid ground.

WALK THROUGH A POISON GARDEN

Located next to The Treehouse Restaurant in Alnwick (Northumberland) is Alnwick Garden which includes the Poison Garden. You have to take a tour and of course there're strict instructions not to touch but you'll learn lots about about the fascinating yet deadly plants. 

EAT BREAKFAST AT THE CEREAL KILLER CAFE

In Camden, this cafe serves only cereal! Very small place but still a captivating name that appealed to me. And that's the thing. There're all kinds of quirky restaurants and cafes out there so it's just a question of doing some research and making it happen. 

GO TO THE THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR SHOW

Do you like Christmas? Do you like old fashioned, cheesey comedy? Do you like musical theatre? This 3 hour long show in Fakeham, Norfolk has been running since 1977 and is regularly sold out with people coming back year after year. So pretty. 

HAVE A TARANTULA PLACED ON YOUR HAND

I really like spiders and I'm the one who's called upon at home to gently relocate them to the garden though a tarrantula might be a bit different! Would you allow one to sit in your hand? This is probably easiest to do as a zoo/animal centre paid experience.

HAVE A SNAKE PLACED AROUND YOUR NECK

I got to do this recently in Japan. The thought of seeing snakes doesn't scare me but my heart beat definitely picked up when asked if I'd like to hold one. And then I was asked if I'd like to have one around my neck! What I wasn't expecting was for the snake to twist and turn as if doing up a necktie. If you fancy this, check out to see if there're reptiles centres nearby.

SEE A PLAY AT THE MINACK THEATRE

I've wanted to go to this open-air theatre for years as it's perched on the Cornwall cliffs with sunsets providing a stunning backdrop. They put on all kinds of shows such as opera, musicals and folk music during the summer months, both in the afternoon and evening. I've got tickets booked for summer 2024.

SEE SPORT AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

I loved seeing the Lionesses play on TV so getting to see them in the flesh got me buzzing. This was the first football match I'd ever gone to. I'd like to see England's netball team too but I like almost every sport, from darts to triathlon, cricket to Formula 1. What sport do you like to watch on TV? How about seeing it live?

PLAY THE BAGPIPES IN SCOTLAND

I did this at the National Bagpipe Centre in Glasgow which was fun though incredibly tricky! Even holding it was confusing but even cooler was the cafe just around the corner that I stumbled upon called The Bucket List Cafe!!! Would be rude not to go in...

EAT AT DANS LE NOIR?

This translates to eating in the dark and, yes, you get to be blinded at this London restaurant and not know what you're eating though there're different menus to cater for fish lovers, vegetarians, etc. Not sure if I'm brave enough but it'd be a huge accomplishment if I did go along.

GO ON A DISTILLERY/ VINEYARD TOUR

Perhaps a bit of a weird one for me as I don't drink (and they all understandably offer tasting) but I'm sure nonetheless great to see how it all works and, for me, it's always about the photos. One for summer 2024.

TRY 10 FOODS YOU'VE NEVER TRIED BEFORE

Olives, mango, sushi, beetroot, courgette, etc. formed part of my list as I'm really not very adventurous when it comes to food. What would be on yours? You could literally tick off this challenge in the next few days.

ATTEND A COOKERY CLASS

As a non-cook, I did a one-day course with just 6 of us attending. It really highlighted how I'm not good in the kitchen whatsoever! However, I brought the food home with me with recipes and my challenge was to replicate the meal a week later for friends. 

EXPERIENCE INDOOR SKYDIVING

I have to say that I'd love to think I'd have the courage to hurl myself out of a plane, strapped to an instructor. I think doing an indoor skydiving experience is something to perhaps start with. Many places over the UK offer this. 

CREATE A MAN/SHE-SHED

This was great fun to do. I set myself the challenge of converting our shed into a lovely space to spend time in. Not factoring in paint and some carpet tiles, my budget was £50 (which was fun in itself). There're many places where you get FREE items (like Olio, Freecycle and Facebook groups) and I managed to get a free Laura Ashley chair, coffee table, art, decorations, etc.

COMPLETE A HOME/ CAR CARE WORSHOP

I have to admit that I could really do with something like this! Basic plumbing, basic electrics, basic car maintenance, etc. are great courses to do that not only save money and time rather than call a professional but just good for confidence. 

RIDE 'THE BIG ONE' IN BLACKPOOL

Like heights? Like speed? 'The Big One' is a spectacular rollercoaster located in Blackpool's Pleasure Beach towering 235 feet and giving stunning views if you're brave enough to open your eyes! It's included in the theme park day pass and cheaper to book in advance. 

WATCH A FILM AT THE BACKYARD CINEMA

This is just stunning. Located in Wandsworth, London, it provides visitors with an immersive themed experience with different film offerings for the summer and Christmas...and seats in comfy beanbag chairs. I saw Bridget Jones' Diary a few years ago which involved walking through a quirky set, then through ball pits...all before I got to my seat!

DARE TO GO TO SHOCKTOBERFEST

I'm very lucky living in Sussex as I'm a 10 minute drive from Tulleys Farm that excels in events, like around sunflowers, tulips, Easter, Christmas, escape rooms and an outdoor cinema but it also hosts Europe's biggest scarefest every autumn. Street food, attractions, actors bringing some fright. Just awesome with visitors coming from all over Europe.  

GO TO ADULT NIGHT AT PLAYZONE, PORTSMOUTH

The fun of ball pits, wobbly slides, death slides, rope bridges, etc. shouldn't be reserved for only children! Every Friday night, this Hampshire-based PlayZone runs its adult nights where there's a bar too. I went with friends and we went in pjs, hair tied up in bunches, etc.... and we weren't the only ones to dress up! Really great to be a child for a night.

HAVE AFTERNOON TEA

A rather quintessentially British thing to do with scones, dainty sandwiches, cakes and copious amounts of tea (or even champagne).  My 2 favourite experiences were Highclere Castle in Berkshire (which features as Downton Abbey) and The Winter Garden Restaurant at The Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, London. Jam then cream...or cream then jam?!

GO TO AN OUTDOOR / DRIVE-IN CINEMA

We've done this a couple of times. The first time was in Kent but we went during the winter and whilst we were wrapped up, we didn't think how the misty the windows would become and we had to keep wiping them to see the screen! The second summer visit was far better! Some places give you speakers for inside the car; some ask you to tune into a radio frequency to pick up the sound. 

GO TO THE BALLET

The ballet, the opera, etc. really aren't my scene whatsoever. However, my husband and I went a few years ago really just for the experience and saw the Russian State Ballet at the local theatre. But it just confirmed that ballet really isn't for us, we snuck out at the interval and we spent what would've been the second act at a decadent dessert restaurant! I know...shameful...but it rescued our night out! 

EAT A BAKEWELL TART IN BAKEWELL

Yes, you can visit the original Derbyshire town bakery where the famous tart originates. But you can set yourself a whole series of challenges around place names... eat a Yorkshire pudding in Yorkshire, swim in Bath, visit the largest library in Reading, eat a sandwich in Sandwich, eat cheese in Cheddar Gorge, drink in Guzzle Down or Beer and have a cooked breakfast in Fryup!

TURN MONEY INTO MORE MONEY!

There's a TV series about to finish which totally appeals to me and it's actually already something I'd thought about doing. Double Your Money asks contestants to do exactly that but having to find new methods each time. For example, could you turn £20 into £200 within a month? Perhaps looking out for gems in car boot sales, selling things you've made, etc.? 

REPURPOSE A RECLAMATION YARD FIND

I was talking to someone recently about bucket listing (one of my favourite types of conversation!) and she mentioned about how she'd bought something from a reclamation yard as it was the perfect place to find something a little bit 'different' for her house. I love this idea as many shops close to me are pretty much 'run of the mill' but perhaps I can find a really quirky item for the house or garden. 

GO TO THE EDINBURGH FRINGE

This 3-week long festival of the arts hit this Scottish city every August. Whether you're into comedy, dance, exhibitions, theatre or anything arty, there really is something for everyone... especially when the 2024 Fringe will have more than 1,300 shows to choose from!  

GO TO A DRAG SHOW

Whether you're a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race UK or not, drag shows really look to be such a fun night out... really quite raucous! Living in the south east of England, I'm lucky to have the city of Brighton not too far away and as one of the most inclusive LGBTQ+ cities, there're plenty of clubs to choose from.

PLAY THE HARP

Listening to others talking about what they're doing for milestone birthdays really inspires me and I heard someone mention on the radio how she'd had a harp lesson as one of her '50 things to do before she turns 50' experiences. What an amazing idea! What a beautiful instrument. Yes, I could have ongoing lessons but I'm hoping to find someone who's happy for me to do a one-off lesson.

PICK YOUR OWN

It's all about picking the right time of the year to do this but how about finding a local farm where you can pick fruit or veg like strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, pumpkins, corn, etc.?