Add an extra dimension to your trip in Britain by exploring a rich variety of learning experiences. Whether you're sporty or cerebral, adventurous or creative, there's ample opportunity to embrace something new or deepen existing knowledge, all with a unique British twist.

Sport

You're never far away from the coast in Britain and, where there's coastline, there's watersports. Surfing is particularly popular off both England's south-west coast of Cornwall and the south coast of Wales. Qualified surfing schools offer full and half-day courses that will take you to some of the most stunning natural areas of Britain. Gower Activity Centres, for example - around a 90-minute drive from Wales' capital Cardiff - base lessons on Rhossili Beach, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the beautifully unspoilt Gower Peninsula.

Britain's diverse natural scenery is also the perfect backdrop to learn horseback riding. The Stonetrail Trekking and Riding Centre offers an exceptional riding holiday - a week-long, 100-mile ride to the sea crossing the whole of Cumbria in the north of England, home to the awe-inspiring Lake District. You can reach the Lake District's town of Windermere in just over three hours by train from London Euston.

Young, international football fans are in for a treat at Manchester United Football Club - it offers boys aged 8-18 years a two-week residential camp that incorporates coaching from the Manchester United Soccer Schools in the morning, while the afternoons are dedicated to English lessons. As one of Britain's leading cities, Manchester offers an exhilarating mix of arts, shopping, culture, sport and nightlife.

Performing Arts

Train where British acting stars Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins and Alan Rickman, among others, began their craft, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). The London-based drama school runs acting workshops designed for people of all ages, abilities and experiences, offering full-day and half-day taught by RADA or RADA-affiliated teachers.

Thrill-seekers may be interested in turning their hand to studying circus skills. Bristol (in the west of England, a two-hour train journey from London) is home to Circomedia, where you can learn to juggle, walk the tight-wire or fly through the air on a trapeze. The school is just a leap away from some of the city's main attractions too, including the world-famous, iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel plus ss Great Britain, which he also designed. London's Circus Space is another good choice for those wanting to try something different; the school runs Experience Days that will unlock your inner trapeze-artist.

Calling all singing enthusiasts! Even without any singing experience or ability to read music you can head to the Rose Theatre in Kingston, Surrey - regular train services operate from central London to the Thames-side town - where the theatre offers the chance for all abilities to rehearse and perform a public concert in one day.

Brought your dancing shoes? Whether it's ballroom or Latin American, jazz to Bollywood, the world-famous Pineapple Dance Studios in London offers a class to meet every taste and, as all of the classes are open, you can just drop in and take a class, whatever your experience. Or for something a little more traditional the English Folk Dance and Song Society runs London-based classes in Morris dancing - an English folk dance where performers wear bells and may wield sticks or handkerchiefs.

Food and Drink

While wine and cheese are often happy culinary partners, the School of Artisan Food in Nottinghamshire (in the East Midlands area of England, about 3 hours by train from London) has launched a course on the more unusual collaboration of beer and cheese. Participants learn about British artisan cheeses paired with traditional ales from the Welbeck Abbey Brewery. And if you feel like working up your appetite first, the cooking school is situated in the heart of Sherwood Forest, famed for its association with Robin Hood and a great place to explore nature walks.

Master bread-baking or chocolate-making, four-course lavish meals or one-pot wonders at the cookery courses run by Betty's famous Yorkshire tea rooms in the north of England. Courses such as 'Baking with Chocolate', 'Effortless Entertaining', or the 'Chocolate Box' - where you can learn the delicate art of hand tempering, creating indulgent fillings, hand dipping and different finishes - are on offer.

No trip to Scotland is complete without a whisky tasting. Glengoyne Distillery - one of the few distilleries producing whisky in the southern Highlands of Scotland - goes a step further and offers a whisky Master Class. As well as a visit to the Glengoyne warehouses not open to the public, there are tastings of Glengoyne 12- and 18-year old Highland Single Malt, plus the chance to create your own blend. And as 2013 is the Year of Natural Scotland, there's no better time to explore the natural landscapes, historic locations and wildlife that the Highlands afford.

If tea is more your tipple, the United Kingdom Tea Council has partnered with two of Britain's tea experts to provide one-day seminars revealing the secrets behind Britain's favourite drink. Held at the Chesterfield Hotel is London's exclusive Mayfair, you'll learn a cornucopia of tea facts, from the history of tea to its health benefits and the art of perfect brewing. The Chesterfield is just a few minutes walk away from the top shopping spots of Regent Street and Bond Street and well as the Royal Parks.

Art & Literature

As 2013 is the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice it's an apt time to learn more about one of the most widely read authors in English literature. For example, Farncombe Estate in the charming Cotswolds (the south west of England) is running a course designed to shed light on how the novels Austen herself read had an impact on her on writing. The beautiful rural setting of the Cotswolds is a joy to explore with its unique chocolate-box villages and historic towns, many around a two-hour drive from London.

Renowned British artist David Hockney is the inspiration behind art courses run by TV artist and tutor Tony Hogan. The area of Hockney's more recent paintings - northern England's scenic Yorkshire Wolds and the north of England's east coast - will be your muse and all abilities from beginners and upwards are catered for. As well as the breath-taking views of the Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales - a national park - Yorkshire is home to the ancient city of York, the buzzing city of Leeds and the elegant spa town of Harrogate.

There's always something new to discover at Britain's huge variety of museums and art galleries, whether it's from regular exhibitions or special showcases. The seaside town of Margate, on Britain's south coast - less than two hours by train from London - is home to stunning new art gallery the Turner Contemporary. Between 25 May - 15 September it will host 'Curiosity: Art and the Pleasures of Knowing'. It aims to cross the boundaries between art, science, literature, philosophy and popular culture, and explore the themes of fascination, inquiry, obsession, monstrosity and invention for anyone with aims for mind expansion.

The theme of learning is also the subject of an exhibition at London's multi-arts venue The Barbican between 2 March and 10 April. 'Wonder: Art and Science on the Brain' marries art and neuroscience to host a number of creative events encompassing dance, theatre, music and art while unveiling facts and fiction on all things cerebral.

Nature

Known for its green and pleasant land, rugged landscapes and beautiful parks, Britain is the perfect place to discover more on gardening. Situated in the south-west county of Cornwall - a haven of spectacular beaches, diminutive villages, dramatic coastlines and mouth-watering cream teas - is the Eden Project. This unique attraction contains the world's largest greenhouse and its horticulturalists and scientists offer half-day and full-day courses teaching a wide variety of horticultural topics from garden sculpture, foraging and beekeeping to hands-on practical experience.

Animal lovers, meanwhile, can experience the ins and outs of zookeeping for the day at one of Britain's excellent zoos. Edinburgh Zoo - home to two giant pandas, the first to live in Britain for 20 years - offers the chance to help with daily animal feeds and watch animal training.

Experience a magnificent birdseye view of Britain by taking to the skies to learn how to fly a gyrocopter. Similar to a helicopter but self-propelling, they have dual controls so you can either take control of the gyrocopter yourself or enjoy the view while your instructor flies. Roger Savage Gyroplanes, based near the Cumbrian town of Penrith in the Lake District - under two hours by car from Manchester - takes students up over the magnificent Lakes - an unforgettable experience.