Hobbies & Interests

Art Classes in drawing, pastels, watercolours and oil painting are available through most local authorities' programmes of day and evening courses. Enquire at your local town hall, library or adult education centres for details or many local authorities have this information on-line. Find your local authority website at DfES. Many private schools and galleries offer art classes and you can even find companies offering art classes on-line. The Open University offers a Masters Degree in Art History as well as Art modules in its undergraduate diplomas and degrees in Humanities. There are also plenty of books available on mastering the techniques of drawing and painting. You might also want to consider taking an art holiday.
Coming soon, our directory of holidays for hobbies in the UK and abroad.

Bowls is a popular pastime that can be enjoyed by all ages but, in particular, the 50+ age group due to its relaxed pace and light physical demands. The game has been around for many centuries as proved by the documented story of Francis Drake insisting on finishing his game of bowls before taking on the Spanish Armada. There are variations of the game including lawn bowls (flat green bowls), crown green bowls, petanque, carpet bowls, short mat bowls, indoor bowls. The object of the game, however, is universal - to roll bowls up the 'green' in turn trying to finish closest to a smaller white ball called the "Jack".
Visit the English Bowling Association for information for beginners on how bowls is played and links to Bowls associations throughout the UK. Also Bowls Club.org to find a bowls club near you. See also Wikipedia pages on Bowls for further information.

Computers have much to offer - including the ability to surf for information or to email friends, do your household accounts, design greetings cards, make a photo gallery of family photos and a host of other activities. Day and evening classes in a whole variety of computer related fields are offered by local authorities at their adult education centres and schools. Visit your town hall, library or adult education centres for further information, or your local authority's website which can be found at the DfES local authorities' information page. For those who have a basic knowledge and would like to study for a computer related qualification, they should consider attending a local college full or part-time. There are many private companies and organisations who offer courses (including on-line). If you prefer to carry out your studies at home, there is also a wealth of books to support you - covering just about every use of the computer you can imagine.

Cycling, as well as being a pleasurable pastime, helps to keep you fit and healthy. According to the British Heart foundation, cycling at least 20 miles a week, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease to less than half that of non cyclists. Some local authorities provide leaflets on local cycle 'trails' which can be more pleasurable than cycling on roads. Check the leisure and tourism pages of their websites to find any near you. Join Sustrans, coordinator of the National Cycle network which offers over 10,000 miles of cycling and walking routes on traffic free paths and quiet lanes. Download a copy of their 2007 National Cycle Network Map showing routes throughout the UK. Visit London Cycling Campaign for useful information on buying cycles, their maintenance, security and for free London cycle route maps.

Gardening is an extremely satisfying hobby based on the pyschological effects of seeing beauty that has been self created. Whilst some people are labelled as having 'green fingers' meaning that plants flourish under their care, gardening is a hobby that can be enjoyed by anyone. There are numerous books on gardening available which include how to care for plants, garden design, conrol pests and many other topics. Many towns have gardening societies. Visit Greenfingers - a leading UK on-line store that caters for all your gardening needs. Offering an extensive range of gardening tools & equipment, garden furniture, lights, water features and much more. See our selection of some of the great gardening gift ideas available from Greenfingers.

Genealogy is now one of the most popular pastimes for the over 50s. A fascinating hobby that will have you hooked in a very short space of time. Learn how to trace your ancestors, where they came from, their professions and delve into history to learn about their lifestyles. In this your computer will be your greatest asset. Consider purchasing a book that helps you to trace your ancestors on-line from Tracing Your Ancestors or taking one of their genealogy holidays. On these holidays, you can learn not only how to trace your ancestors but also how to make books of your ancestral line that you can share with family and friends as printed versions, email attachments or CDs. Once you have discovered your roots, you can join family history societies covering the counties in which your ancestors lived which can provide you with very helpful information.

From Francis Frith, obtain historic photos and maps, books, calendars and jigsaws of the places where your ancestors lived. The Francis Frith Collection also provides a web-based community where visitors can read and share memories of their local town and village and contact old friends and acquaintances who lived in their area. Use photos and maps in your ancestor books or just check out the great gift ideas for relatives and friends!

Golf is a hobby enjoyed by many people in the 50+ age range. Whilst not confined to this age group, it has become a popular hobby amongst retired people rather than workers due to lack of constraints on time. It also has the health benefits of exercise and fresh air. With well over 1000 courses in the UK, you are sure to find a golf course near you. If you are going on holiday and want to play golf whilst you are there, visit this site where you can book tee times at some 6000 clubs in Europe. See also our page on golf for information on beginner's golf, rules and equipment. Many books are also available on beginner's golf.

Music can be an absorbing hobby which need not be confined to listening to your favourite CDs. Browse music groups on the internet where your can find information about concerts and festivals. Serious music lovers who wish to extend their knowledge can study for a diploma or Masters Degree in Music with the Open University. If you are a musician, consider attending workshops. Visit the helpful Music Workshop guide, for details of workshops held throughout the UK and beyond.

Photography, a popular hobby in the 1960s and 1970s has seen a revival in the last decade with the advent of digital cameras. Photographs taken on your camera can be added to photo galleries on your computer and shared with family & friends via email attachments. Beyond just taking family and holiday photos, photography is an art. Camera and photography clubs and societies are to be found in every town where members share knowledge and skills. Just type in the name of your town/nearest town or county, followed by Camera Club and you are sure to find a club near you. See also Directory of Photography Clubs and Photography Clubs & Societies in Wales. Courses are also provided my many local authorities at their adult education centres. Some very useful websites are also available for photographers who are beyond the basics including dg28.com's Photographer Education and dmoz open directory project - Photography : Techniques & Styles. For a comprehensive overview of photography, visit Wikipedia. There are also numerous books available on the art of photography.

Reading offers enormous benefits. It entertains, educates and helps up to drop off to sleep at the end of a long day. It's safe to say that you can find a book on almost any topic or subject area that interests you. As well as bookshops in your local area, there are many on-line bookshops and bookstores where you should be able to find what you are looking for whether it is fiction or non-fiction. Most on-line stores also offer cut price books. Libraries are the cheapest solution if you are an avid reader and you might also like to consider second hand bookstores that are available in most towns. Charity shops are also a good place to look as they usually have a decent supply of novels as well as non fiction books. Consider setting up a mini library amongst family and friends. Swapping books is another way of helping to keep costs down when you are getting through several novels a week.

Walking has become a popular pastime. As well as providing a good form of exercise, you can get to see many beautiful countryside locations. Join a rambling club that organises walks in your area. You will make many new friends and, if you are retired and on your own, you will benefit from regular company - a great panacea for loneliness and feelings of isolation. Clubs usually arrange walks for beginners as well as their long standing members. So if you don't want to have to walk for miles, you should be able to find a walk that suits your level of fitness. For walking information, forums, events, directory of walking companions and details of a club near you, visit the The Ramblers Association website.

See also our pages on tennis, skiing and travel.