Learn from a former Bake Off winner, Essex

Inspired by Bake Off? Who better to learn from than a former winner? Jo Wheatley picked up the title in 2011 and now runs her own cookery school at her home in Essex. Courses include a Christmas hamper baking class £155, a multi-bake day (£160) and cupcake classes (£155). Prices include lunch, essexcookeryschool.co.uk.
• The Pitstop (01279 725725, the-pitstop.net) is a quirky B&B in Little Hallingbury, near Bishop's Stortford, about eight miles away, where breakfast is served in an American-style diner

Christmas treats, Lincolnshire

Manor House Stables (theguardian.com/travel/2009/oct/03/sally-shalam-reviews-manor-house-stables), a converted 18th-century stable in Lincolnshire, offers a wide range of courses in all sorts of homely skills, including breadmaking. Its festive offering is cake, bread and gingerbread men (5 December) where participamts tackle carrot cake baked in a Christmas tree shape, spiced apple cake and orange and lemon-scented bread plaits. Most courses are held in the old part of the stables, while the bread, jam and handmade chocolate days are in the farmhouse kitchen. One-day breadmaking, and cake, bread and gingerbreadmen courses £75pp each for a day.
• Three-night self-catering breaks cost from £300 (Bothy, sleeping three) and £330 (Hayloft, sleeping four) for three nights, manorhousestables.co.uk

First, mill your own flour, Talgarth, Powys

If you're interested in the ingredients as much as the end result, go back to basics at Talgarth Mill, a restored 18th century mill with an onsite bakery and cafe. The day is spent learning the art of milling and bagging two types of flour, followed by two hours of baking tuition. A full-day milling and baking costs £125 including lunch, and of course, your bread to take home.
• Available any day of the year (book two weeks in advance, minimum two people), talgarthmill.com

Christmas treats, Somerset

This Christmas, wow your relatives with perfect homemade mince pies, and stollen. The cookery school at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa just outside Bath is offering a series of Christmas baking day courses on 14, 22 and 28 November and 10 December. Course from £175pp including lunch (lucknampark.co.uk).
• An overnight stay at the hotel with breakfast plus a one-day course costs £395pp

Bake in a wood-fired oven, Devon

Manna from Devon is run by baker David Jones and his wife Holly from their home in Kingswear, overlooking the river Dart. They run several one-day courses, including a new one: bread and baking in a wood-fired oven. Other days include success with bread, Italian bread, pastry making and two-day artisan bread weekends. One-day courses £135, two-day £220.
• There are two B&B doubles from £90 (£75 single occupancy), mannafromdevon.com

Bake like Bettys, North Yorkshire

If you've ever been to Harrogate you will probably have had a cream tea at its famous tea room, Bettys. The brand also has a cookery school, in a purpose-built kitchen next to its craft bakery. Courses include a baking day, where participants learn to make lime and Italian meringue sponges, chocolate mocha cake, and shortbreads with raspberry jam filling. Other courses cover pastry, patisserie, cakes and continental breads. One-day courses £180.
• The Lawrance apart-hotel in Harrogate, has studio apartments from £95 (thelawrance.com)

Gluten-free baking, Glasgow

The Cookery School (thecookeryschool.org) in the Merchant city area of Glasgow offers a huge number of classes, including a gluten-free baking and breadmaking day – herb loaf, Victoria sponge and chocolate muffins are among the dishes and deserts on the menu. One-day courses cost £99.50, lunch extra. The next gluten-free course is 7 February 2014.
• Stay at boutique hotel Grasshoppers, adjacent to Glasgow Central station, with doubles from £85, grasshoppersglasgow.com

Learn how to make sourdough, Hackney, London

E5 Bakehouse, an artisan bakery located in a railway arch in Hackney, is a sign of just how trendy breadmaking has become. Specialising in sourdough it produces a selection of speciality organic breads – learn to make them and you'll save yourself a small fortune. Over a day students typically make four breads: pain de campagne, ciabatta, rye and bagels. They also learn how to sustain a 'sourdough mother', and get tips on kneading and shaping.
• Classes are held on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and cost £99 including recipes, coffee and lunch, e5bakehouse.com. Go the whole Hackney hog and stay at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. Rooms from £159 plus VAT, excluding breakfast.

Alternative Christmas at River Cottage HQ, Devon

Bored of mince pies? Fed up with making a Christmas cake no one eats? At River Cottage, Aidan Chapman of the Phoenix Bakery in Weymouth, teaches students to make chestnut and walnut loaf, cranberry and yoghurt sourdough, Guinness and apple soda bread and an Italian alternative to mince pies. Students also bake flatbreads and pizza dough in the wood-fired oven for lunch. The Christmas bread and baking day on 16 November is reduced to £135pp, rivercottage.net.
• Stay at nearby Riverbank Cottage from £250 for three nights' self-catering, dream-cottages.co.uk