Virtual gift ideas for last-minute shoppers

Forget the last-minute trolley dash, says Anna Tyzack – the best Christmas gifts are things to make, learn and do

If you’ve failed so far on the Christmas shopping front, remember that the best presents don’t always come in a box. The gift of an experience, voucher or subscription can delight for far longer than a panic- bought pair of socks, according to Matthew Jones, the founder of Bread Ahead baking school in London’s Borough Market. This Christmas he’s been inundated with people gifting baking classes – a trend inspired, he believes, by the pandemic. “During two lockdowns, we’ve realised how rewarding it can be to learn new skills – and how life-affirming.”

From floristry to interior design, pottery and Pilates, there are online classes and workshops available for all age groups, from the best-known experts in their fields. According to Will Daunt, co- founder of the Create Academy, which hosts online classes by industryleading teachers such as Rita Konig and Amelia Freer, an online course or workshop not only feels less consumerist than other gifts, but can be a far less overwhelming prospect than attending anything in situ – particularly in the current climate. “They’re a cross between learning and entertainment – you can do them in your down time and feel good about yourself,” he says.

This is not to say that every experience-based gift in 2021 has to be undertaken at home. For adrenalin-seekers there are also numerous socially distanced options available: polo lessons, mountain biking and kitesurfing, along with outdoor photography and furniture decorating workshops. “A gift experience can be something a whole family or group can do together – they stick in your memory,” says Guy Verdon, coach at Cowdray Polo Academy.

Be warned, though: the market is saturated, according to Daunt, and not all courses offer good value for money. “Pick someone who genuinely knows what they’re talking about and if it’s online, make sure they’ve invested in quality video production,” he says. “There’s a lot of dross out there – a good course is like a good book, it’s well put together by someone you trust.”