Best virtual experiences
Picked by PAUL DAVIES, head of weekend lifestyle. Even if staying in has become the new going out, make a day of it online with your friends and family
TIPPLE TASTING
Once Upon a Whisky usually runs tours of Scottish distilleries and the whisky hotspots of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Its tastings are now online: it’ll send you six premium single malts and take you on a virtual journey across regions and flavours.
Virtual whisky tour, £45, Once Upon a Whisky, onceuponawhisky.co.uk
TEEN-FRIENDLY
Aimed at smartphone-obsessed teens, this online course from Sharp Shots Photo Club includes sessions on, light, perspective and, of course, ubiquitous selfies. Online photography course, prices vary with age and skill set, sharpshotsphotoclub.co.uk
BREAD MASTER
Borough Market stalwart Bread Ahead runs superb courses at its London baking schools. Now you can join live online sessions in your own home too – its e-learning classics include sourdough, doughnuts and an Italian baking masterclass. E-learning gift vouchers, £25, Bread Ahead Bakery, breadahead.com
CHOCOLATECHOCOLATE HEAVEN
Learn how to taste different types of top-quality chocolate, to enhance its flavour and savour its complexity, with a one-off session with experts from Notting Hill’s delicious chocolate shop Melt (via Zoom of course).
Melt’s Virtual Chocolate Tasting, £45, Melt, meltchocolates.com
SPOONMANIA
Mindfulness meets woodcraft meets something to eat your soup with. Membership of Spoon Club provides access to more than 350 online videos; that’s 100-plus hours of spoon-carving tuition, led by charismatic beardy artisan maker Barn the Spoon.
Annual membership,£60, Spoon Club, spoonclub.co.uk
ESCAPE ROOM
It might feel like we’re all trapped in an escape room, but Aftermath provides the real thing – a one-hour experience in your own home, via video link. Ages 11-plus. Taskforce Hurricane game, £25 per person, Aftermath, aftermaththegame.co.uk