Gloucestershire Christmas gift guide

Find the perfect gift in Gloucestershire this Christmas, with SoGlos.com’s guide to alternative festive pressies for 2009 from across the county.

Save yourself a wasted shopping trip and steer clear of the annual socks or slippers slip-up in 2009, with SoGlos.com’s fuss-free Gloucestershire Christmas gift guide.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for a thrill seeker, nature lover, or budding thespian, we’ve picked out some of the best gifts and experiences available in Gloucestershire – as far away from the High Street as you can get and guaranteed to bring a smile to the festive faces of family and friends.

Perfect for: Those with a need for speed, a strong stomach or 80s fixation
Gift idea: Top Gun Aerobatic Stunt Flying in the Cotswolds
From: Red Letter Days
Tell me more: Make like Maverick with a special Top Gun-style close-manoeuvre flight where, kitted out in a flight suit and parachute, passengers take to the air for 40-minutes in a high-performance lightweight aircraft, experiencing airborne tactic demonstrations and formation manoeuvres accompanied by another close-flying plane. There’s also the chance to take a turn on the stick and try out some manoeuvres, before tailchasing the enemy plane.
Cost: £495 for the Top Gun-style flying, with aerobatic flying starting from £125
For more info: Visit redletterdays.co.uk directly.

Perfect for: Star-struck lovers of the stage and budding thespians
Gift idea: A year’s membership at Gloucestershire’s finest theatre
From: Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham
Tell me more: Members of the Everyman Theatre Association benefit year round from a full range of features, including £3.50 off the top two ticket prices, priority booking and, not forgetting the opportunity to attend post show soirées and the chance to rub shoulders with the sparkling cast of visiting performers, all for a bargain price.
Cost: £18 for a single membership and £35 for a double membership for a year
For more info: See Everyman Theatre, call (01242) 572573 or visit everymantheatre.org.uk directly.

Perfect for: Wannabe Barry Normans and movie buffs itching to see the latest blockbusters
Gift idea: A year’s unlimited cinema card
From: Cineworld Cheltenham and Cineworld Gloucester
Tell me more: Cineworld’s Unlimited Cards give movie lovers the chance to experience unlimited tears, unlimited horror, unlimited laughter and unlimited fear – on the big screen, that is, any day at any time. It’s also perfect for treating yourself if you go to the cinema more than a couple of times a month.
Cost: From £13.50 a month or from £162 for 12-months
For more info: See Cineworld Cheltenham and Cineworld Gloucester, call 0871 200 2000 or visit cineworld.co.uk directly.

Perfect for: History buffs, garden lovers, and those with an eye for a grand design
Gift idea: Annual National Trust membership
From: The National Trust
Tell me more: As well as helping to protect the charity’s heritage properties, National Trust members get unlimited free access to more than 300 historic houses and gardens across the UK, with more than 10 places to visit in Gloucestershire alone. Members also benefit from regular newsletters, three copies of The National Trust Magazine, a car sticker and a map guide, as well as a free pair of National Trust binoculars as a seasonal incentive.
Cost: £35.63 for the first year – with a special online offer of nine months for the price of 12 when you pay by Direct Debit.
For more info: Visit nationaltrust.org.uk directly.

Perfect for: Thrill-seekers and Airwolf fans
Gift idea: A helicopter flying lesson at Gloucestershire Airport
From: Rise Helicopters in Staverton
Tell me more: Take the controls or just sit back and relax as you rise up into the skies over Gloucestershire, enjoying a thrilling helicopter ride and fantastic views over the county. Students are also presented with a certificate signed by their instructor, making for a lasting memory of a very unique experience.
Cost: £137 for 30 minutes and £274 for one hour
For more info: See Rise Helicopters, call (01452) 857083 or visit risehelicopters.co.uk directly.

Perfect for: Twitchers and fresh-air loving families
Gift idea: A year’s Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust membership
From: Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Tell me more: Not only are WWT members helping to save the wetlands and wildlife for future generations, but annual membership also includes unlimited free entry to the WWT’s nine wetland centres, including Slimbridge, where all ages can while away many an hour throughout the year.
Cost: £33 for adults, £24 for concessions, £49 for two adults and £58 for a family including two adults
For more info: See Slimbridge Wetland Centre, call (01453) 891900 or visit wwt.org.uk directly.

Perfect for: Those needing a little lift and anyone with a head for heights
Gift idea: Hot air balloon flight over the Cotswolds
From: Virgin Balloon Flights
Tell me more: Taking off from Cheltenham or Cirencester, a flight in a hot air balloon is an unforgettably unique and peaceful way to see Gloucestershire. The breathtaking balloon flights with Virgin last around an hour, with a traditional champagne toast on landing, 40 digital photos and a certificate signed by Richard Branson included.
Cost: From £145 per person
For more info: Visit virginballoonflights.co.uk directly.

Perfect for: Tree huggers and nature loving families – even the four-legged members
Gift idea: A year’s Friends of Westonbirt membership
From: Westonbirt Arboretum
Tell me more: Friends of Westonbirt benefit from free admission to the spectacular arboretum near Tetbury, free admission for their children – and dogs, who can be walked in Silk Wood; there’s also free admission to a number of special events and the opportunity to volunteer, all year round.
Cost: £28 for adults, £23 for concessions and £53 for two adults
For more info: See Westonbirt Arboretum, call (01666) 880220 or visit forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt for more information.

Perfect for: Opulent train-spotters and fans of Brief Encounter
Gift idea: A trip on the Orient Express’ Northern Belle From: The Orient Express
Tell me more: The Northern Belle is described as embodying the distinctive opulence and craftsmanship associated with the classic trains of the 1930s, and it just so happens that a number of daytrips on the elegant train depart from Gloucester and Cheltenham each year – which each include brunch onboard, followed by a guided coach tour and visit to a historic attraction, before hopping back onboard for dinner, a glass of champagne and wine on the return journey to Gloucestershire.
Cost: Prices start from £285
For more info: Visit orient-express.com directly.

SoGlos.com’s journalists are adding to this special Gloucestershire gift guide feature on an ongoing basis. If you would like your unusual Christmas gift idea to be included in SoGlos.com’s guide, contact James Fryer on (01242) 210330 or email james@soglos.com.

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