Yesterday, The Times reported that the popularity of cycling is surpassing levels seen in the pandemic, when usage was the highest in 60 years.

The Department for Transport figures are showing that 50% more people are cycling regularly compared with before the pandemic.

Fuel prices have undoubted played their part in encouraging people to use their cars less and switch to two wheels from four. And the charity Cycling UK think a surge in people cycling mid-week suggests they are using cycling for shorter journeys e.g. to work, to the shops or for the school run.

This must be good news for the environment – less car pollution – but also for people’s health as they are more active.

Cycling UK has been supporting cycling since 1878 and it has a Big Bike Revival initiative to make cycling more accessible.  Its mission is to deliver free events which help people start cycling through fixing bikes, teaching skills and leading rides.  

It has a really good, helpful website, with lots of information for anyone who wants to get stuck into cycling or get more involved. Their website is full of lots of useful information, including how to get started, information and advice on e-bikes (e.g. are they for me?), campaigns – there’s even something for employers on how to be cycle friendly.

Cycling UK also has a gift membership scheme – you can give the cyclist in your life a year of benefits:

• £10m third party insurance
• 6 issues of Cycle Magazine a year, plus retail discounts

Gift memberships support the work Cycling UK does to help more people to enjoy cycling. It will help the charity make cycling safer, too, as gift memberships help fund campaigns.  Gift memberships can be sent to you to give your loved one, or directly to the lucky recipient!

So get peddling and head off to Cycling UK for more information!

How about a cycling experience?
Tour the South Downs with
GPS Guided Half Day Electric Mountain Bike Hire for Two
Available from Virgin Experience Days for £90.00

It’s International Gin and Tonic Day today and a chance to look at gifts you could look at for lovers of gin.

Gift ideas for gin lovers

A gin experience! 

There are a huge range of these around the country.  You can have a tours and tastings experiences or make your own gin (or craft your own gin) – there are even online gin experiences as well so you don’t need to leave home.  Virgin Experience Days has nearly 120 gin experiences to choose from around the country and from home so you’re spoilt for choice.  These include gin cruises so that you can cruise along sipping some gin!

There's a Gin Lover's Masterclass with Tastings and Meal for Two
for £80.00 with over 20 locations to choose from
Available from Virgin Experience Days

Gin Afternoon Tea 

There are lots of opportunities to enjoy Afternoon Tea and a G&T or Gin Cocktail to go with it.  Check out the range at Virgin Experience Days and treat a fellow gin lover – a great chance to catch up over gin and afternoon tea! Lovely!

Gin Afternoon Teas - a great chance to sip gin and tuck in!
View the range of Gin Afternoon Teas available from Virgin Exprience Days

A Gin Subscription

Virgin Experience Days have both gin and rum memberships with Little Box – the gin comes to you so that you can try out different gins, for different lengths of time.

How about a Six Months Gin Subscription with Little Gin Box?
for £60.00 available from Virgin Experience Days

A gin glass

Emma Bridgewater is very well known for her pottery but did you know she does some amazing glass gifts as well?  One is this glass which is just perfect for gin lovers for £45.00!

A bottle of Gin!

Perfect for anyone who loves Scotland and gin (or whisky, for that matter), take a look at the National Trust for Scotland.  Their whiskies and gins are exclusive to the National Trust for Scotland and inspired by the beautiful places they care for. 

Don’t miss the Pinewood Conservation Gin or the Inverewe Garden Gin – along with berries, birch and heather, it’s infused with Tasmanian pepperberry.  They also have a couple of gin glasses.

Cheers!

Please remember the fifth of November, 
Gunpowder season and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.

So the poem went when Guy Fawkes and his partners in crime nearly succeeded in blowing up the Houses of Parliament and everyone in it, but they were of course just stopped before they could do it.

If you're looking for an experience for a couple of history lovers, you could look at The Gunpowder Plot Immersive Experience for Two at The Tower Vaults

The Gunpowder Plot Immersive Experience for Two at The Tower Vaults - Peak
£110.00 from Virgin Experience Days

It's 1605, and London is divided, with the peace of the nation balancing on knife edge.  Step into a world where spies and informants hide in the shadows.  Trust nobody as you go undercover and unmask the figures behind this infamous plot.  Try to escape the Tower, discover a secret safehouse - and make the journey to the Hosues of Parliament along the Thames.

You're immersed in a fully 360 environment with live theatre and digital technology - will you have what it takes to stop the plot?

Now, some scenes are very dark with loud noises, which some children may not like, so minimum age for this experience is 10 and under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. 

Please read the participant guidelines Virgin Experience Days give (and I quote)

• For your own safety, the experience may not be suitable for:
  Those who suffer from high blood pressure, heart conditions, asthma, back or neck conditions, epilepsy, or any type of medical condition affecting the senses of smell, vision, or hearing
  Those of a nervous disposition
  The elderly
  Those with disabilities, blind or visually impaired
  Those with sensitivities to scent, loud noises, or flashing lights
  Pregnant women
  Those suffering from breathing or respiratory problems, such as allergies or scent sensitivities
  Those who are prone to motion sickness
• A guest with a disability is entitled to a single free carer ticket. To qualify for this free carer ticket you must apply in advance and provide documentation 
• The experience is not fully wheelchair accessible but regular wheelchair accessible events will be run. Please register your interest for one of these accessible events
• The experience content, equipment used and restrictions may vary
  
  

Find out more from Virgin Experience Days!

Did you know that it's Afternoon Tea Week from Monday 8th August through to Sunday 14th August? 

What an opportunity to celebrate this great event by simply having afternoon tea!  You could create your own and invite friends round, get the kids to do one or you could treat yourself to an Afternoon Tea out!  These aren't membership experiences or subscription gifts, but they give your loved one the chance to get away from it all and the routine of life and just relax for a couple of hours. 

Visit to Kew Gardens with Prosecco Afternoon Tea
at The Botanical for Two
£110.00

Well, Virgin Experience Days loves Afternoon Tea experiences and they have a huge number to choose from, starting at £24.00.  (That's a Chilli Afternoon Tea for Two with Gourmet Tasting in Bedfordshire, normally £50). 

In fact, you can choose from Afternoon Tea in London, Champagne Afternoon Tea, Traditional Cream Tea, Luxury Afternoon Tea, Unique and Themed Afternoon Tea, (including Peppa Pig tea experiences and also a Kitty Cafe  - you can stroke and talk to cats while having your Afternoon Tea).  For gin lovers, there's Gin Afternoon Teas, or maybe the vegan in you wants to have a Vegan Afternoon Tea?

How about Fortnum & Mason Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon?
(Was £172.50, now £120 at the time of writing)

You can combine Afternoon Tea with Doing Something or visiting somewhere, such as having a spa day.  You could go for a walk with an Alpaca, visit a birds of prey centre, trot off to see the animals at the Port Lympne visit sites such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Spinaker Tower in Portsmouth, the Palace of Holyroodhoue in Edinburgh or Windsor Castle.  Maybe you'd like to visit Bletchley Park or get a tour of the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, or head off to The View from the Shard or the London Eye.  Car enthusiasts could take in a Motor Morgan Company Factory Tour, but if you prefer the train, there's the chance to enjoy a tea on a steam train.  There are possibilities around the country!

Visit to Port Lympne Reserve and Afternoon Tea for Two
(Was £90, now £60 at the time of writing)

Anyway, enough of me rambling on!  Head off to Virgin Experience Days and have a look at their range.  And don't forget to have a look at their special offers!