Yearning for a learning holiday? Our tips for upskilling trips

Spring is in the air, the days are getting longer and we have an additional bank holiday this year to mark King Charles III’s coronation. It goes without saying the long weekends are wonderful for boosting wellbeing, whether we use the time to reset and refresh, to spend quality time together or to try something new.

Tacking additional days off onto a bank holiday is a fine art for some, with a little strategic planning going a long way to maximise the opportunity. While some just want to relax and recuperate during their time off, many are keen to utilise their free time to expand their skill set and learn new things - from sports to art, theatre to nature, hotels that offer excursions and packages incorporating an upskilling element are rising in popularity. But it’s not just about writing retreats and week-long photography workshops: many hotels are now incorporating learning and upskilling opportunities into their everyday offering, meaning you can be sure to learn something new, wherever you choose to stay…

For budding chefs and gardeners, getting closer to nature through learning about rewilding and foraging is definitely having a moment, too. Isabella Tree has helped kindle rewilding in the public conscience through her 3,500-acre project at Knepp Castle in West Sussex. The next six months will be a treasure trove of plants and fungi for the plate, with courses on identifying edible seaweeds, berries, mushrooms and flowers. Chefs up and down the country are adding flourishes to their menus from colourful kitchen gardens, too, allowing guests to participate of these, such as a tour of the charming gardens at Barnsley House, founded by one of Britain’s greatest gardeners, the late Rosemary Verey.