History Experiences - give them the chance to go back in time

History Experiences - give them the chance to go back in time

If you're looking for a gift for a history lover, one option is to give them a day out. Visits to historic centres and historical attractions are very popular, as this year's Annual Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions from Visit England shows.

As you might expect, visits to historical attactions come top of the list, with the Tower of London leading the way, and St Paul's Cathedral coming a close second. But there's lots of history to explore in the UK - it's one of the things I love about it, and it really is a history lovers dream!

	Medieval Longbow Experience Chelmsford, Essex £249.00 Go back in time to play the role of a soldier in 1346! Find out how to use an authentic longbow and the history behind it, and wear the uniform of a millitary archer as you complete for hand-made silver coins. Use handmade longbows and arrows crafted by talented bowyers and fletchers and embrace the life of a fourteenth century soldier as you're guided through the story of a major campaign. There's a Medieval-style lunch for all archers! This experience is available from Into the Blue.
	Lancaster Bomber Flight Simulator Brighton City Airport, East Sussex £75.00 Get a feel for what it was like as WW2 bomber pilot with this Lancaster Bomber Flight Simulator. This is a great chance to learn about the history of the Lancaster Bomber, with 1:1 tuition from your experienced simulator instructor and realistic sound and visuals. There are two different experiences; the more basic one enables you to test your skills by flying under the Severn Bridge and return back to try your hand at landing, whilst the ultimate one is longer and you fly low level over the same dams in Germany as the heroic Dambusters pilots! Available from Into the Blue
	Visit to Brooklands Museum, Concorde Experience and Tea and Cake for Two Weybridge, Surrey £49.00 Immerser yourselves in the world of flight and motor transport, as you explore the exhibits on offer, including walking the original banked track of the World’s first purpose-built racing circuit. Enjoy a hot drink and a slice of cake or scone in the Sunbeam Café and step on board the world’s most famous aircraft, Concorde, for a 35 minute tour that includes a boarding pass, an interactive exhibition, a virtual take-off and much more. Available from Virgin Experience Days
	The Royal Mint Experience For Two with Lunch South Glamorgan, Wales £55.00 Unlock 1,100 years of British history with this experience. See the UK's coins being made and head behind the scenes to follow the journey of a coin from a blank to a bank in a 45 minute Guided Factory Experience. You'll have the chance to lift a 400 oz Gold Bar (worth about £400,000) and to stroke your own coin to take home as a momento! There are rare coins to see and over 1,000 years of history in the exhibition gallery. Tuck into lunch with a drink each at the on-site cafe. Visit Virgin Experience Days for more info
	Medieval Banquet in London for One St Katherine's Dock, London £50.00 Experience a night in the court of the King, enjoying live music as balladeers play and sing ancient song. There's graceful acrobats to marvel at, plus court jesters full of energy and enthusiasm. Tuck in to a 4 coures meal with ale, wine and soft drinks to really make your night a merry one. There’ll be plenty of entertainment and you’ll even enjoy a disco before closing. Available from Virgin Experience Days.

There are tons of different history experiences so here's a round up of some examples.

Lots of castles, historic houses, historical attractions, worship centres and visitor centres offer a visit combined with an Afternoon Tea, or a Champagne Afternoon Tea, or lunch or a membership. Buyagift.co.uk have over 80 history attractions to choose from - click here to see them

You could combine their love of history with another passion. If you've got someone who loves history, war history and horses, you could treat them to a visit to the Household Cavalry Museum. Virgin Experience Days have lots of tours to pick from, too, covering a range of sporting interests - football, cricket, tennis, motor racing to start with.

Other tours follow TV interests, giving you a chance to find out more about your favourite shows - Emmerdale, Downton Abbey, Games of Thrones, the Making of Harry Potter. Plus ghost tours as well! It's a great way to indulge in the past of a favourite interest or passion.

You could also go back in time with a Steam or Diesel Train experience. These are often combined with visits to gardens, Afternoon Tea or lunch, so they can make for a really nice day out.

If you want to give a slightly longer experience, how about a stay in a castle? or a Medieval Yurt

Into the Blue have Mounted Archery on Horseback in Hertfordshire and a day out at a Knight Training School in Kent, so you can get an insight into what it was like to be a knight! Or you could try your hand at a Jousting Experience.

Tour of The Royal Pavilion Brighton and Cream Tea for Two, from Red Letter Days