Ideas for retired parents

[MammaGnomes]

I've posted similar in retirement but thought I'd ask here incase anyone was thinking or struggling with similar

My parents are retiring at Christmas and I was thinking of gifting them something that could link into a hobby going in to retirement. Neither of them have any hobbies at the moment and neither drive.

Ideas for either a joint hobby or separate hobbies??
We live in a pretty boring town but has good links into Manchester

Watching, as I also need inspo here!
Parents are 60 and 62 and took early retirement.
Usually get them a few “bits” and a main, joint gift. Last year it was a night in a spa hotel, two years prior to that was theatre tickets.
Dont want to do spa hotel as it’s a little out of our budget this year, and looked at the theatre listings for their nearest theatre and there’s annoyingly nothing they’d both like.
Any other thoughts for an experience gift anyone?

Budget around £100.

Might they enjoy a cooking class? My mum sometimes buys them for my dad - he's done Vietnamese cookery, curries etc.

Last year I got them both tickets to see a show at the Lowry in Salford.

My parents enjoy visiting different restaurants in Manchester, so I usually get them a voucher. Hits have been San Carlo, Six by Nico and The Ivy.

This year I've gone a bit different as I thought it would be nice to spend time with each of them separately. I've got me and my mum theatre tickets to see Mary Poppins and football match tickets for me and my dad.

A year’s membership of National Trust or English Heritage?

I was going to suggest the same. So far in the past I have bought my parents th8ngs like cashmere gloves from Turtle doves and cashmere socks. Things they think are too lux for them to buy themselves but much appriated. I also bought my mother a very nice purse in orange leather which is her favourite colour.

A wine tasting experience.
Golf lessons.
Falconry experience.

Or an RHS subscription?

As a parent who is similar position to your parents what I'd like most is something where we spend time together - a meal or gig or a day trip together - if they don't drive perhaps there is somewhere they might like to go for the day ?

National Trust/English Heritage/RHS can be tricky if they don't drive, quite a lot aren't very accessible by public transport.

Have you asked what they are intending to do with their time now they are retiring? They may have some ideas for things they'd like to try and you could get something towards that - if they want to do art classes for example you could get some art supplies.

My DH and I are both retired (we retired very early), the present we would like most would be a restaurant voucher and then to have a meal with all 3 of our adult DC.

Membership of National Trust
theatre vouchers
a voucher for an experience
afternoon tea at a hotel in Manchester
you say they don’t drive - buy them both Senior Railcards.

Thanks all, some good ideas here. My mum is coeliac so food related things are always a bit tricky, I've done restaurant vouchers a lot in the past too.

Dad has mentioned starting up bowles but that's about it in terms of ideas. He's just gotten back into reading.

Theatre trip is a good idea

I had thought of NT but the ones around here are tricky on public transport.

Do they have a garden? A bird table / feeder?

Agree parents most want to spend time with you, but you could do a taster session for something new that they haven't tried before that they can do with you. Even better if you do a different one tailored to each parent.

You can also just say you want to take them to do something they have never done before and ask them for a list, you can pick from.

Do they like cheese? A Pong subscription? Wine? Can never have too much of either in my (retired) opinion.

We were relatively early retirees, now retired for 4 years. To be honest I don't want anything different than before.
This morning we are currently out at a local hotel that offers a champagne breakfast. Great fun not on a weekend or on holiday time.
Otherwise for me letterbox flowers subscription. Posh magazine subscription. Theatre tickets. Restaurant meal. Anything I would have had before.
For him indoors. Tech gadgets more tech gadgets. Anything he would say no I've already got that but secretly want it.

I’d not choose a hobby on their behalf, I’d hate that!

I agree with Doidontimmm, don't choose a hobby for them. Ask them first or if you feel like you absolutely have to suggest something, make it in such a way so that they wouldn't feel pressured into doing something they don't really like.

That being said, what are their interests or which hobbies did they have, if any? Maybe they'd like to join book clubs? How about a book subscription box then?
Or maybe they like photography or videography, and they'd like to get a simple camera and a photo editing software that would be beginner friendly? My grandpa was into filmmaking in his youth and he jumped back in when he was 68 when we asked if he's like to get a proper camera.
Also if they like to go out, maybe they'd like attending dancing or cooking classes together?

Second theatre vouchers - much easier than trying to find something they'd both like! Or gift card for local cinema?

Some ideas. Out of interesting, if neither drive, how do they current get about?

-Bird bath/bird feeder
-Learn to fly lesson. I bought one for DH years ago, but chose the larger plane so I went up also.
-Gliding lesson/taster
-Night/weekend away to a nice hotel. Some have murder mysteries/wreath making or other themed things to do too
-A meal out with you and your family
-Sailing lesson
-River cruise with a meal
-Photo book

I’d not choose a hobby on their behalf, I’d hate that!
Same.

No more 'stuff', thank you!

DH doesn't seem to want anything.

I'd like pretty much anything that means I get to spend some quality time with my DC. I've been up in a balloon, to the zoo, to the theatre/cinema and very soon we will be making chocolates. All three trips involved food as well.

If you're reading this DDs, I'd really like to drive a tank!

Have they ever expressed a want to do a specific event, wimbledon, chelsea flower show, or goto a certain place?

Lot of coach companies do coach trips either as a day or overnight you can buy as a gift if theres somewhere they've wanted to go?

National trust/English Heritage membership.
Theatre tickets.
Couples massage/ spa day.
Do they enjoy Strictly? My husband bought me 10 ballroom dancing classes 5 years ago, we’ve gone every week since.
They have time now, something to do together would be lovely.

How about a year's membership to Manchester art gallery/museum? Or something similar.

Members, or Friends as it's sometimes called, get access to exhibitions, sometimes evening talks.

Or a year pass to a cinema?