Features – The Activity People Blog

The Ultimate Father’s day gifts of 2017

Dads might not do fancy chocolates and they definitely don’t do flowers, which means with Father’s Day fast approaching you’re going to have to think on your feet to find the perfect present. Thankfully, we’re here to help and we’ve come up with some awesome gifts that will bring a smile to even the fussiest father’s face.

For the puzzle lover..

For the puzzle loving pop swap the sudoku book for an Escape Game experience. With 60 minutes to solve puzzles, crack codes and unravel mysteries, your dad’s in for a day he’ll never forget! As every escape room is completely unique he can even choose the theme, so if he’s always fancied himself as a master detective, a revolutionary scientist or even a rogue bank robber anything is possible inside these four walls. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get locked in 😉

For the box set addict..

If your dad’s always glued to Game of Thrones he’ll love a Medieval Jousting experience. Kitted up in authentic medieval costume he’ll be transported back in time and taught how to act, fight and joust like a knight. Not everybody’s up for the challenge of defeating the dreaded Black Knight though, so if your dad’s not a natural on horseback why not see if he’s got what it takes to master the art of archery or axe throwing. These awesome medieval target sports are even more exciting than they look!

For the petrol head..

Whether your dad’s dream ride is a flaming red Ferrari, a luminous Lamborghini or a full-throttle F1 car, we’ve got the perfect experience to satisfy his need for speed. From heart-racing supercar driving experiences to state-of-the-art F1 racing simulators, we guarantee he’ll have a blast! If he really wants to test his skill at the wheel though there’s only one place to be – the kart track.

For the budding Bear Grylls..

Your dad might not be a natural survivor, but we guarantee he loves Bear Grylls, which means he’ll love a survival experience too. Under the tuition of an expert instructor he’ll learn how to forage for food, find shelter and create fire, transforming him into a bona fide bushmaster before your eyes.

For the daredevil dad..

Finding the perfect present for your daredevil dad definitely isn’t as hard as you might think. Even the biggest adrenaline addicts admit the rush of taking the plunge from 10,000ft is impossible to beat. So why not find out how brave your daredevil dad really is by challenging him to a skydive? And if that’s too extreme we’re sure he’d be man enough to brave a bungee jump..

For the deadeye..

If getting his hands on a shotgun and smashing some clays doesn’t bring a smile to your dad’s face we’re not sure anything will! Even if he’s never held a gun before, our instructors will have him nailing clays in no time and who knows it might even be the start of a new hobby.

For the mud lover..

If your dad’s always out in the garden getting his hands dirty he’ll love an excuse to play in the mud, which is what quad biking and off-road driving experiences are made for! Nowhere is out of bounds on these awesome experiences and he’ll get to explore some of the country’s most rugged countryside.

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Visit The Activity People websites for even more awesome Father’s Day gift ideas.

Celebrate Christmas In Style With Unforgettable Experiences From The Activity People

christmas-shopping-1 The chaos of Christmas shopping seems to start earlier every year, and in just a few weeks time the high street will be a complete battle zone. Thankfully you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your sofa to find the perfect present though. So sit back, relax, and let us run through what makes an experience voucher from The Activity People the perfect present.

They’re completely customisable

Every experience from The Activity People is custom built by you. You choose the value (from £25), the message, and the gift wrap – making your gift 100% unique. So if you want to guarantee your gift really stands out make the most of your chance to get creative

They’re valid for over 70 different experiences

A voucher from The Activity People can be used towards any experience listed on our website, from skydiving to segway riding, and everything in between! We boast a staggering 73 different activities to choose from, which means there’s something to suit adrenaline junkies of all levels. The only hard part is choosing which activity to try first!

They’re valid at over 1400 venues nationwide

We’re not afraid to blow our own trumpet, and we’re proud to be the UK & Ireland’s largest action sports network. Getting your hands on one of our vouchers gives you a choice of over 1400 different venues across the country, which means you’re guaranteed to find the perfect location.

They’re available at any time.. even Christmas Day!

If you like to leave things a little last minute, or have just plain forgotten somebody your secret’s safe with us. By choosing an eVoucher you’ll receive your voucher instantly, and nobody will be any the wiser. Your voucher will be sent straight to your inbox, meaning all you have to do is print it out and take the credit for an awesome present. The perfect crime!

They’re perfectly presented

Whether you choose an eVoucher, a gift box or a gift wallet, you can rest assured that your vouchers will arrive perfectly presented. Our signature gift wallets are ideal for slipping into cards and stockings, while our glossy gift boxes make the perfect Christmas keepsake – and they even include a free adrenalin guide!

Still not convinced? It’s not just us that love our gift vouchers..

“This was a present for my dad he had a great time and is seriously thinking of taking it up as a hobby. Thank you so much.”

Claire Maund, Clay Pigeon Shooting Bury St Edmunds

“Great present, thanks for all involved.”

Gavin Marchant, Clay Pigeon Shooting Stockbridge

“Fantastic present for 16 year old son”

Clare Woolin, Karting Tockwith

“This was a present from my Sister so it was something I had never done before and probably never would even thought about doing, but I have to say it was an excellent experience for myself and my wife and it could not have been any easier to arrange. All we had to do was turn up and have a very enjoyable time Clay Pigeon shooting.”

Tom Deedigan, Clay Pigeon Shooting Morpeth

So why not give the gift of a truly unforgettable experience this year, we promise you’ll score some serious brownie points! Visit The Activity People website for more information.

November Activity Focus – Air Rifles

With new venues being added to The Activity People network every day, we’re delighted to be able to offer more exhilarating activities than ever. One of our favourite activities is one we’ve been offering from day one though, and we still think nothing beats a trip to a rifle range! But just in case you need some persuading, here’s everything we love about air rifle shooting.

Anybody can give it a go

airrifles

The great thing about air rifle shooting is that you don’t need any experience to give it a go, and even if you’ve never held a gun before you can master the technique needed to take out the targets. Children as young as 7-years-old can try their hand at air rifle shooting too, which makes visiting a rifle range the perfect place for some family fun.

Experienced and enthusiastic instructors

Our instructors love air rifle shooting even more than we do, which means there’s nobody better to learn the basics of this brilliant target sport from. Safety is always paramount, as is having fun, and whether you’re new to air rifle shooting, or a seasoned pro they’ll always have some expert advice to help you improve your accuracy.

Friendly competitions and fun games

Our air rifle venues boast a variety of different targets to take aim at, and they’re perfect for fun competitions and games. So whether you’re setting your sights on traditional paper targets, spinners or knock downs you’re guaranteed some serious fun. At certain venues you can even focus your fire on a range of exploding targets, which means your day will really go with a bang.

Huge choice of venues

As air rifle shooting continues to grow in popularity, rifle ranges are popping up all over the country, and you’ll now find over 40 different venues to choose from on The Activity People website. With both indoor and outdoor venues to choose from too, not even the winter weather can spoil your fun!

The best way to find out why we love air rifle shooting so much is to give it a go yourself. So why not take on the targets and unleash your inner marksman!

To find your nearest venue enter your location in the search bar at the top of the page

Tom tries axe throwing in Tadcaster..

Autumn is definitely in the air, but it takes more than a drop in temperature and a few leaves to stop us getting our adrenaline fix. So when tom Tom (our Partner Relations Executive) got the chance to visit our axe throwing venue in Tadcaster, we challenged him to unleash his inner axeman and give it a go. Here’s how he got on..

“Axe throwing is definitely one of the most unusual activities we sell, so when I got the chance to give it a go at our Tadcaster venue, I couldn’t wait. Even though I’ve never tried anything like axe throwing before I decided to go for the one hour experience, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The day started with a quick check-in at reception followed by a full safety briefing, and before we knew it it was time to head out to the axe throwing range. Our instructor Rick explained everything really clearly, but because we’d never tried axe throwing before it took a bit of time to get used to. He was really patient with us though and we soon got to grips with the technique, and started hitting the target.

After hitting the target a few times Rick decided to make things even more interesting by throwing in some competitions and games, which really spiced things up. I must admit I was a little bit nervous that my fiancé would beat me, but I just about managed to come out on top. Before the start of our session I was worried an hour of axe throwing might get a bit ‘samey’, but I couldn’t have been more wrong and the time absolutely flew by.

My favourite part of the experience came right at the end of the session when I got to throw two axes at the same time, which felt a bit like something from Lord of the Rings! It wasn’t until the last throw of the day that I managed to stick both axes at the same time though, but when I did it was a great feeling.

Tom’s Fiance, Emma trying out Axe Throwing

I’d definitely recommend an axe throwing experience, it’s totally unique and not like anything I’ve ever tried before – in fact it’s a bit like going back in time! Even though it’s undoubtedly much harder than it looks, it’s more about technique than strength, which means almost anybody can give it a go. The team at Tadcaster were brilliant, and Hazlewood castle is the perfect setting for this kind of target sport. A big thank you to everybody involved, especially our instructor Rick who was friendly and patient throughout.”

If Tom’s axe throwing adventure has inspired you to give it a go, visit our website to find out more about this ancient target sport.

Some Cool Kids Party Ideas

With the last of the summer sun fading fast, and children across the country all heading back to school, the September party season is about to burst back into life – and believe us it’s better to be prepared! So if you’re already planning the perfect kids party, here’s five fantastic party ideas that are guaranteed to get the kids going crazy.

1. Segway

Almost anything is possible on a Segway and these crazy creations are tailor-made for fun, which makes them perfect for parties. Some of the best Segway experiences include countryside safaris, off-road obstacle courses and tailor-made Segway games such as the segg and spoon race. But whichever you choose you’re guaranteed a good time.

2. Combat Archery

Kids can’t get enough of this crazy new combat sport, and it’s easy to see why. Part archery, part dodgeball and all action, combat archery is a heart-racing hybrid of some of the most exciting activities around – and almost anything goes! Using specially adapted, foam-tipped safe arrows the aim of the game is to eliminate as many players as possible, and with a series of manic missions and games to take on too, there’s no end to the excitement.

3. Bubble Football

This bonkers ball sport is even more exciting than it looks, and both kids and big kids find the fun of bubble football almost impossible to resist. From inside an inflatable body zorb almost anything goes, and although the aim of the game is still to outscore your opponents you’ll spend just as much time bumping and bouncing round the pitch. So if you’re looking for a fun and frantic footy themed birthday bash, bubble football takes some beating.

4. Laser Combat

With no masks, no bruises and unlimited ammo, laser combat is perfect for parties, and gives kids a great excuse to unleash their inner action hero. They’re guaranteed to love taking on the tailor-made missions and games too, and the state-of-the-art laser equipment makes the combat action even more exciting.

5. High Ropes

If you’re planning a birthday bash for a budding adventurer, they’re guaranteed to love taking to the tree tops for a heart-racing high ropes experience. Typical course include bridges, swings, ladders and zipwires, and these incredible aerial experiences are guaranteed to take excitement levels to whole new heights.

Everything You Need to Know about Archery

The countdown to the Rio Olympics is almost over, and with just under a week until the start of the greatest show on earth we thought we’d fill you in on one of our favourite Olympic events – target archery.

londonarchery

So without further ado here’s everything you need to know about the ancient art of archery!

1.) Archery first appeared at the Olympics in 1900, when live pigeons were used as the targets. Thankfully for the planet’s pigeon population this was the first and last time pigeons participated in target archery.

2.) The bow and arrow was originally used as a weapon, it was so effective that the earliest civilisations such as Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans all used archers in their armies.

3.) The string on a traditional bow is usually made from materials such as linen, hemp, sinew, silk and rawhide.

4.) People who have the surname ‘Fletcher’ are the ancestors of arrowsmiths, or sellers of arrows. The name is derived from the word ‘fleche’, which is the French word for arrow.

5.) Splitting an arrow down the middle with another is known as a ‘Robin Hood shot’ due to the precision needed to execute this almost impossible feat.

6.) Archery is the national sport of the Kingdom of Bhutan, which is undoubtedly why all their Olympians (bar one) have competed in the sport.

7.) There are a variety of different bows used for archery including longbows, crossbows, pyramid bows, recurve bows and reflex and decurve bows.

8.) Archers in most competitions including the Olympics must engrave their initials on their arrows, which are usually made of Carbon.

9.) A traditional and ceremonial form of Japanese archery called “Kyudo” is considered to be an art form.

10.) When archers take aim at a target 90 meters away, the size of the target is equivalent to the head of a pin held at arm’s length.

To try your hand at this awesome Olympic sport visit our website.

Introducing Off-Road Shredders at Market Harborough

We’re excited to announce the latest addition to The Activity People network is Off-Road Shredders at Market Harborough.

These all terrain machines are part tank, part skateboard and part jet ski, and with acres of rugged countryside to explore our Market Harborough venue is the perfect place to put them through their paces! With a mixture of dirt tracks and all terrain trails to negotiate your Shredder skills will be pushed to the limit, but with the help of our expert instructors you’ll master the basics in no time.

Anybody aged 16+ can give Shredder driving a go, so if you’re ready to experience off-roading like never before why not give it a go?

To find out more about our Market Harborough Shredder venue visit our website.

Announcing our venue of the month – Shepton Mallet 4×4

We’re delighted to announce The Activity People site of the month for June is Shepton Mallet 4×4!

Located less than half an hour from Bristol this mad and muddy 4×4 centre is the perfect place to put your off-road driving skills to the ultimate test.

shepton2

It’s not only the off-road course that makes our Shepton Mallet venue stand out though, it’s team of friendly and experienced instructors who make taking on the course as fun and challenging as possible.

So if you think you can conquer rock crawls, mud runs, tunnels and hill climbs there’s nowhere better to experience 4×4 driving. But don’t just take our word for it here’s what our customers thought:

Chris Eley – Shepton Mallet, 4×4

“Totally awesome experience. Had the best time. 5 Stars. Many thanks to all the staff for making it a great experience.”

Steve Ekless – Shepton Mallet, 4×4

“Had a fantastic hour or two with two guys who enjoyed it as much as I did even though I was driving ! It’s a lot harder than you think when you look at the course and trust me, for the first time an hour is enough! Can’t wait for the next time, bring on the mud and water.”

So for a truly unforgettable stag, hen, birthday or team building event, why not find out if you’ve got what it take to conquer this mad and muddy 4×4 course? With Father’s day just around the corner too, a 4×4 driving experience at our venue of the month is guaranteed to score you some serious brownie points!

Introducing Escape Games Bristol

We’re excited to announce the latest addition to The Activity People network is Escape Games Bristol.

Hidden within a beautiful listed building at the heart of Bristol city centre this unique escape game venue is the perfect place to put your logic and lateral thinking to the ultimate test.

Working as part of a team you’ll have 60 minutes to discover a once respected professor’s darkest secret, but with time running out fast escaping with the evidence will be far from easy! With authentic props and surroundings adding to the excitement too, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were trying to escape from real-life laboratory.

With 4 identical escape rooms our Bristol venue can cater for up to 20 players at a time. So if you’re looking for a truly one-of-a-kind stag, hen, birthday or team building event there’s nowhere better to test your escape skills.

To find out more about our Bristol escape game venue visit our website.