Christmas is a great excuse to get everyone together. But if another Christmas meal, crowded pub or predictable office party doesn't quite inspire you, why not do something completely different this year?

From throwing axes or dancing to cheesy dance classics, to exploring underground medieval vaults or creating a Christmas wreath from foraged materials, we have plenty of unusual ideas of how you could celebrate

Whether you're organising the office Christmas party, getting a group of friends together, or planning a festive day out for your club or family, here are some of our favourite unique Christmas party ideas in Hampshire.

For the competitive group ....

Axe throwing

Swap the darts board for something considerably more satisfying! An axe throwing session gives everyone the chance to learn how to safely throw axes at wooden targets, before putting their new-found skills to the test.

Once you've mastered the basics, add a little friendly competition and find out who really is the axe-throwing champion of the group!

Why it works: It's energetic (in a relaxed kind of way), easy to get involved with and inevitably creates plenty of laughs. You don't need any previous experience either.

Christmas twist: Split into teams for a festive tournament – with bragging rights for the winning team lasting well into the New Year.

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For the group that loves to dance ....

Festive Handbag Hits disco

Remember the festive songs that used to get everyone onto the dance floor? Handbag Hits is an unapologetically fun celebration of the great dance-floor favourites.

Think classic disco, pop anthems and those irresistible songs you know every word to – whether you'll admit it or not.

Why it works: There's no complicated activity to try to master and no awkward team-building exercises. Just great music, dancing and a chance for everyone to have fun together.

Christmas twist: Add fancy dress, festive accessories and a few seasonal floor-fillers and you've got a Christmas party that everyone will enjoy

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For the foodie group ....

Festive sharing bread making workshop

There aren't many things more comforting at Christmas than the smell of freshly baked bread.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn the techniques behind making a beautiful festive sharing bread – perfect for putting in the middle of the table and tearing into with friends and family.

You'll be guided through the process from preparing and shaping the dough to creating something impressive enough to become the centrepiece of a Christmas spread.

Why it works: Baking is wonderfully sociable. Everyone gets involved, learns a new skill and, most importantly, has something delicious to take home at the end

Festive twist: Take your new-found skills home and recreate your sharing bread for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or a festive gathering.

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Christmas cupcake wreath workshop

Create something almost too beautiful to eat in this festive cupcake decorating workshop.

Over four relaxed hours, you'll learn how to pipe beautiful buttercream flowers before arranging your individually decorated cupcakes into a stunning Christmas wreath. Your host will guide you through the techniques step by step, so you certainly don't need to be an experienced baker or cake decorator to join in.

There's also a home-cooked lunch to enjoy together, accompanied by a glass of fizz or a soft drink, plus tea and coffee.

Why it works: It's creative, sociable and delicious – and everyone gets the satisfaction of seeing their skills develop during the workshop. It's particularly good for groups looking for a relaxed Christmas celebration where there's plenty of opportunity to chat while you create.

Christmas twist: The finished cupcake wreath is beautifully packaged for you to take home. Share it with friends and family, give it as a rather impressive handmade Christmas gift – or keep it all to yourself. We won't judge!

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For the crafty group ....

Make a foraged Christmas wreath

Forget buying another mass-produced Christmas wreath this year. Head outdoors, discover natural seasonal materials and use them to create your own to take home with you

A foraged wreath workshop combines time outside with a relaxed creative session, transforming greenery and other natural finds into a Christmas decoration for you to be proud of

Why it works: It's creative without being intimidating and gives everyone plenty of time to chat while they work. Better still, everyone goes home with something completely individual.

Festive twist: This one already has Christmas built in! Hang your finished wreath on the front door and you'll have a reminder of your festive day out throughout December.

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For the adventurous foodies ....

Winter foraging workshop

You might associate foraging with spring and summer, but the countryside still has plenty of secrets to reveal as the year draws to a close.

Join an experienced forager and discover what's edible in Hampshire's countryside, how to identify wild ingredients safely and how they can be used in the kitchen.

Why it works: A foraging workshop gets everyone outdoors and doing something genuinely different. There's always something new to discover, so it's particularly good for groups looking for an experience rather than a conventional Christmas party.

Christmas twist: Discover wild ingredients and flavours that could find their way into your own festive food and drinks.

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For the group that loves history – with a difference ....

Go underground on a Southampton Vault Tour

How about holding part of your Christmas get-together underground?

Beneath Southampton's modern streets lies an extraordinary collection of medieval vaults, originally built to store wine and other valuable goods arriving through one of medieval England's busiest ports.

On a private Southampton Vault Tour, your group can step beneath the city streets and discover hidden spaces that many people who have lived in Hampshire all their lives have never seen.

Why it works: It's local, surprising and completely different from a conventional Christmas gathering. It's also an easy activity for mixed groups where something highly physical might not suit everyone.

Christmas twist: Follow your tour with Christmas drinks or dinner in Southampton – you've already got a rather good conversation starter.

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Make your Christmas party this year one you'll actually talk about

A Christmas get-together doesn't have to mean booking the same old restaurant and ordering from another set menu.

Throw an axe. Bake something. Go foraging. Make a wreath. Throw some moves on the dance floor. Explore medieval Southampton. Or get everyone cooking and laughing together.

At Experience Hampshire, we work with local Partners to offer a host of memorable things to do across Hampshire – and nearly all of the over 220 experiences featured on our website can be arranged privately for groups.

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If you would like any advice or ideas or how we can help you arrange a fun festive get-together, please email hello@experiencehampshire.uk