Get your young competitive spirit going with yacht racing - combining the freedom of the open water with the thrill of racing and the satisfaction of hands-on involvement. You'll be on board a modern Sigma 8 metre keelboat which is a really good, manoeuvrable boat. First you'll meet your instructor and fellow crew members where you will get kitted out, then head out to the yachts for a safety briefing. Training includes hoisting sails, helming and practising the most efficient methods of manoeuvring the yacht. Next off you'll be briefed on the rules of the race which takes place on a floating 'race track'. And it's all hands on deck for that - you'll participate fully in crewing the yacht during the race, putting into action everything that you've learned so far. Afterwards (tired but happy we predict), you'll return to the clubhouse for race results and signing off the logbooks (for those who have been bitten by the bug and want to take their sailing a little further).

Who'd want to be stuck indoors throughout the the summer when you could get acquainted with the exciting world of watersports on this fantastic introduction to dinghy sailing? With the benefit of qualified instructors and specialist sailing boats (excellent for learning on the safe enclosed lagoon) at your disposal, progression is likely to be swift. You will learn how to safely navigate your dinghy around a buoyed course to bring in balance, sail set and steer, capsize recovery and gain some important general safety awareness of other water users. With instructors on hand to give you pointers and guide you through when the going gets tough, we think you will really enjoy this challenging but very rewarding experience. So go ahead and be prepared to be blown away!

Do you have a passion for culinary perfection but don't really have the time to spend it cooking? Spare yourself an hour to get to grips with classy contemporary creations at L'atelier des Chefs, the newest concept from France. You will be instructed on how to prepare and cook a fabulous two-course meal by fully trained international chefs in a bright and spacious professional cookery school in central London. With food ranging from the freshest scorpion fish to rich spare ribs, from extravagant sushi rolls to sublime raspberry lime cheesecake, you can choose the menu to suit your tastes from a wide ranging and cosmopolitan selection. After the in-depth training your mouth will surely be watering so retire to the modern dining room to tuck into your sumptuous creations and beam with pride at your newfound skills. To top the day off you will receive an exclusive L'atelier des Chefs apron to take home and help relive and recreate your devilish dishes again and again.

Treat yourself to a cup of freshly brewed coffee with this Philips Senseo coffee machine. Douwe Egberts coffee pods (one per cup) have been specially designed for the Senseo machine to make perfectly brewed coffee at the press of a button, topped off with a delicious coffee foam layer. Pods are available in a variety of Arabica, Robusta and perfumed coffees: coarse, classic, mild and decaffeinated. The water reservoir is removable and can be filled directly from the tap. Two cups of coffee can be prepared simultaneously. The machine comes in a smart black finish, with scratch proof/smudge proof body.

What's it like to be on the inside of a washing machine on spin? Why not have a go at the most fun experience you can possibly have with a bucket of water, set in the picturescque, rolling Sussex countryside. You and a friend start your adventure by hopping into a giant inflatable hamster ball, otherwise known as an orb. A friendly bucket of soapy water is thrown in to join you before you take off down the hill. This giant ball can reach speeds of up to 30mph as it flies down the UK's longest orb run. Slide and bounce your way down to the end, with your heart in your mouth. Dont worry, trained safety professionals are on hand to catch you. The huge grin and head-rush you are likely to be sporting when you finish are almost obligatory side effects! Afterwards, feel free to relax in the surroundings with friends, family and other orb participants for the rest of the day, watching others roll. For extra entertainment, the organisers even lay on music with a live dj and a barbecue - enjoy!

Rediscover your sense of adventure (and what it's like to be soaked to the skin!) with this white water rafting experience in an inflatable six to eight person raft. You'll start by being kitted out with all the equipment (note: this is not an experience for the style-conscious!), before a full safety briefing and instruction in rafting techniques. Then an experienced guide will take you onto the water for a series of runs down the breathtaking twists, turns and drops of the white water course. Depending on which venue you choose you'll be rafting either on mighty natural rivers, or thrilling purpose-built courses - either way, it's an adrenaline-fuelled, exhilarating and unforgettable experience.

Quad biking is some of the best, messiest fun you can have in the countryside. After a thorough safety briefing you'll get kitted out in protective clothing and be introduced to your quad. To start off with you'll be driving on level ground round a marked circuit while you get a feel for the quad. As you gain experience - and bottle - you'll be able to shift up a gear and soon you'll be power sliding round the turns like you were born on the bike. Then take off on a quad safari for a taste of what quad biking is really about, venturing across woodland tracks, through water and up and down slopes, with your instructors keeping a close eye on you all the way. You will get mud spattered, but can hand in those overalls at the end. The bikes are usually Honda 250ESs - a utility machine with five forward gears operated by electric thumb shift - or Sportrax 90s - smaller, sports-tuned quads.

Lots of people assume that the most exciting thing you're likely to see in the coastal waters round Britain is a mackerel. In fact there is a staggering variety of marine and bird life living happily round our shores - and with this experience you'll get the chance to see it for yourselves. You'll be welcomed at the marina, before going aboard your boat and heading out. You might see bottlenose, common or striped dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks, minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales (yes, whales and sharks around Britain!), atlantic grey seals and visiting seasonal sea birds including skuas, sabine's gulls and the fabulously-named sooty shearwaters. Of course these are all wild animals so we can't guarantee which ones may make an appearance on the day, but we can guarantee a fascinating and eye-opening experience.

You're into speed, you're into extreme and you don't mind getting really wet? Head out onto the water in a zapcat! They're lightweight inflatable catamaran hulls with racing engines attached, which makes them amazingly stable and secure, even at high speeds, round tight corners and in conditions ranging from complete calm to large breaking surf (in fact, they were developed originally from life-saving surf rescue craft). Your experience will begin with a briefing on safety and handling, before you head out onto the water with your instructor. He or she will show you exactly what this fantastic craft can do - so prepare for the ride of your life as you speed along, pull tight manoeuvres and hit big air jumps. Depending on the weather and at the instructor's discretion, you might also get the chance to take the helm and try your hand at powering the zapcat across open water. There's a RIB powerboat on standby acting as a support boat, and you'll get a thrilling ride on this too.

We can't all be Wimbledon champs, but with this experience you can at least get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the revered All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, following in the footsteps of tennis legends like Becker, Sampras, Navratilova and Sue Barker. You'll see the hallowed Wimbledon turf, BBC studios and press interview room (scene of many a tense moment), roof gardens, underground walkway to Court 1, the Millennium Building and the gorgeous water gardens with their amazing views over London. Lunch is served up within the Number One Court complex and then you'll explore the new state-of-the-art Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. It has interactive exhibits, including a 200-degree cinema and is packed with tennis memorabilia including the Wimbledon champions' trophies. End your day in true Wimbledon style with strawberries and champagne.

Choose from a wide range of experiences, including: Cocktail Masterclasses, Cowboy Riding Adventures, Horse Riding, Ice Climbing, Snowboarding for Two, Bungee Jumping, Sushi School, White Water Rafting, Introduction to Archery for Two, Clay Pidgeon Shooting, A Day at Wimbledon, A Chocolate Heaven Workshop, Mini Cooper S Thrill with a High Speed Passenger Ride or Paintballing.

A Red Letter Days gift card offers the ultimate in flexibility. Your special someone can select from a wide range of experiences including: Light Aircraft Flying, Cocktail Masterclass, Cowboy Riding Adventure, Horse Riding, Ice Climbing, Snowboarding for Two, Indoor or Bridge Bungee Jumping, Dumper Truck Racing, Introductory Mountain Biking including Bike Hire, Adult and Child Karting, Rasul Herbal Steam Temple, Sushi School, White Water Rafting and RIB Powerboating on the Thames for Two. Choose a gift card and give the gift of choice!