Theatre and experience gifts that beat another candle
The best answer to another candle is an evening or a day out: a musical like Six, Wicked or The Lion King if you know their diary, or a Red Letter Days experience if you do not. Tickets cannot be refunded, and vouchers last 12 months.
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Everyone has a drawer of candles. Almost nobody has a drawer of good evenings.
There are two kinds of experience gift below, and the difference matters more than the show. Theatre tickets are fixed to a date and cannot be refunded. Red Letter Days vouchers last 12 months. If you know their diary, buy tickets. If you do not, buy a voucher.
Theatre tickets: dated, and not refundable
All three are really a gift of an evening for two, so pick a date first. Theatre Tickets Direct emails e-tickets, usually instantly, and says there is no cancellation or refund once you have bought them.
1. Six tickets, from £37.26
The musical about Henry VIII's six wives, staged like a pop concert, at the Vaudeville Theatre. It runs about 80 minutes with no interval and is recommended for ages 10 and over. Theatre Tickets Direct showed it on offer from £37.26 for midweek shows, which can change. The venue sends check-in instructions about 48 hours before.
Why it passes: Memory and Story. It is the easiest musical to say yes to because it is short, so it suits someone who dislikes a long evening. Longevity is low until the night itself. Ad · affiliate link See Six tickets at Theatre Tickets Direct
2. The Lion King tickets, from £41.47
The stage musical at the Lyceum Theatre. It runs about 2 hours 45 minutes and is recommended for ages 6 and over, so it works for a family as well as a couple. £41.47 is the cheapest seat when I checked, and better seats cost more.
Why it passes: Memory, and the widest appeal on this list because the age range is so wide. Story is lower unless you can tell them why you picked it. Longevity is low, as with all tickets. Ad · affiliate link See The Lion King tickets at Theatre Tickets Direct
3. Wicked tickets, from £31
The long-running musical at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. It runs about 2 hours 45 minutes and is recommended for ages 7 and over. £31 is the cheapest seat when I checked. Better seats cost more.
Why it passes: Memory and Story, and it suits a fan who likes big vocals and a big night out. Do not buy it for someone who dislikes musicals and hope they will come round. Ad · affiliate link See Wicked tickets at Theatre Tickets Direct
Vouchers: 12 months to use
Red Letter Days lists a free instant e-voucher by email, 12 months to use it, and a refund on any unused voucher within 30 days of purchase. That takes the pressure off the date.
4. Guided Factory Tour at Triumph Motorcycles for One, £33
A guided tour of the Triumph factory in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Red Letter Days showed it at 4.5 out of 5 from two reviews, so treat the rating as a hint, not proof. It only works for someone who likes bikes, and they will need to book a date.
Why it passes: Story and Personal fit, narrow but deep. It gives them something to tell. Low on Longevity, high on Memory, and one of the cheapest ideas here. Ad · affiliate link See it at Red Letter Days
5. Axe Throwing or Archery for Two, £41.99
A 50-minute session at Adventure Now, for two. It suits people who would rather do something than watch something, and it works as a date, a friends' outing or a reward for a team.
Why it passes: Memory, from shared time and a bit of noise. It fails with anyone who hates trying new things in front of strangers. Low Longevity, which is fine at this price. Ad · affiliate link See it at Red Letter Days
6. 60-Minute Flight Simulator Experience in Leicestershire, £135
A one-hour session in a Boeing 737-800 simulator, for one person. It is the most expensive idea here, and Red Letter Days showed one review at 5 out of 5, which is a single opinion. It suits someone who has said they would love to fly, or has a long-standing love of planes.
Why it passes: Story and Memory, the strongest on this list for the right person. Personal fit decides it. Wrong person, it is a pricey way to be forgotten. Ad · affiliate link See it at Red Letter Days
What to check before you book
Match the experience to how they spend a Saturday. Someone who loves a night in a theatre seat and someone who loves a field are different people. Do not buy the one you would enjoy.
Avoid anything that puts them on show unless they have asked for it. Quiet people do not always want to throw an axe in front of strangers.
Put the voucher or the ticket in a card with a line about why you chose it. A forwarded email looks like an afterthought, even when the gift is lovely.
For the full method, read how we pick. It sets out the five-point test used above: Longevity, Memory, Personal fit, Frequency and Story.
Experience gift questions
What is a good experience gift?
One that matches how the person spends their time. The ideas above start at £33 for a factory tour and £41.99 for axe throwing or archery for two. Choose what they would pick, not what you would enjoy, and check their diary before you book anything with a fixed date.
Can I get a refund on theatre tickets I have bought?
Theatre Tickets Direct says there is no cancellation or refund once tickets are bought, though an exchange is sometimes possible for a fee. Check the date works for both of you before you pay. If you do not know their diary, a voucher is the safer gift.
How are theatre tickets delivered?
Theatre Tickets Direct emails e-tickets, usually instantly. For some shows the theatre sends them up to 48 hours before the performance, so read the delivery note for your show at checkout. These are the retailer's terms, not our guarantee, so check them when you buy.
How long do experience vouchers last?
Red Letter Days says vouchers are valid for 12 months. It lists a free instant e-voucher by email and a refund on any unused voucher within 30 days of purchase. Check the individual voucher for booking terms and locations, because the venue sets availability.
Does Mind The Gift cost anything to use?
No. It is free, and you do not need an account to get recommendations. We earn a commission if you buy through some links, which is how we pay for it. Links are labelled as affiliate links before you click, and our affiliate disclosure has the detail.
Want something more specific?
Not sure which kind of person this is? Tell the Mind The Gift quiz who the gift is for, your budget and how soon you need it, and it will suggest ideas from our catalogue. It is free and needs no sign-up. Try the quiz.
Also useful: what to buy your partner when you have no idea, gifts for someone who has everything and how we pick.