We all know someone with a knack for giving gifts. For these people, holiday shopping is a joy, and they have an uncanny ability to choose thoughtful presents that always hit the mark.
However, for every gift-giving genius, there’s someone who might need a little inspiration. That’s why, every year at Christmas, we like to offer a selection of present ideas – whether you’re looking for a Secret Santa gift for a coworker or something romantic for your other half.
Below, you’ll find everything from budget stocking fillers to big-ticket items.
Note: These are hand-picked gift ideas. Items can sell out fast, and prices can change often, so you may notice some variations on the providers’ websites. Prices and availability are accurate as of the 14th of November 2024.
1. Curtis Brown Creative Gift Voucher
From £40.00
Writing a book is a later life goal for many of us – whether our memoirs or the novel we’ve carried around in our heads. So, if you know any fledgling scribes, why not treat them to an online writing course from Curtis Brown Creative?
Curtis Brown Creative offers various learning experiences – from broad, 30-day writing boot camps to genre-focused courses covering crime, romance, historical fiction, and more. Plus, because it’s the only writing school run by a major literary agency, you know you’re getting top industry advice.
2. Bala Bangles
£39.96
If you know someone on a bit of a health kick, these bangle weights from Bala can help them smash their fitness goals. They can be worn on ankles or wrists to add extra resistance during workouts or while doing everyday activities, such as housework or walking the dog.
Unlike conventional exercise equipment, Bala Bangles are sleek and stylish – with three chic colours.
3. St. Eval Bay and Rosemary Candle
£15.00
Candles are a classic gift. But, because of our wildly different tastes, picking one you know your recipient will like can be tricky. This bay and rosemary scented candle from Cornish brand St. Eval boasts a crowd-winning smell and an understated tin design, so it’ll fit in with anyone’s home decor.
4. Chatsie Phone
£19 per month
With its simple menu, large fonts, voice-enabled messaging, and hassle-free remote setup, Chatsie mobile phones are designed to help seniors stay connected.
Phone and SIM plans are just £19 per month – plus, there’s an exclusive 10% discount for Rest Less members with code: RESTLESS10.
5. Papier Family Favourites Recipe Journal
£29.00
Perfect for young families, this Family Favourites recipe journal from Papier can help your loved ones start creating culinary memories. If you’re giving it to a relative, why not add a couple of treasured family recipes to get them started?
6. Ooni Karu 12G Multi Fuel Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
£379.00
An Ooni pizza oven is the ultimate gift for home chefs who like to host. It cooks authentic, wood-fired pizzas in just 60 seconds, so your recipient will never dream of ordering Dominoes again. Not only is it delicious but crafting the perfect pizza can also become a hobby in itself – there’s even an Ooni Facebook Group where owners share tips and tricks.
The Karu 12G model is portable, so it’s ideal for anyone who loves camping.
7. Rest Less Events Premium 12-Month Membership
£69.99
If you haven’t already checked it out, Rest Less Events is our virtual community and events platform. All sessions are run through Zoom and cover a vast range of topics – from history lectures and astronomy talks to exercise classes and virtual travel tours.
For a thoughtful gift, why not give your loved one a Premium 12-Month Membership? This will give them unlimited access to over 100 online events each month. Plus, right now, you can save 20% using the code LAUNCH20.
8. Corduroy Overshirt
£45.00
When shopping for men in winter, you can’t go wrong with a corduroy overshirt like this one from Arket. It’ll look just as good on a dinner date as a brisk country walk. Play it safe with navy or khaki (a classic look with a white undershirt) or take a chance with off-white.
9. Knoops Hot Chocolate Flakes
From £11.95
Keep the chocoholic in your life happy with these Knoops Hot Chocolate Flakes. Described by reviewers as “the perfect treat” and “the best [hot chocolate] by a country mile”, just combine with a heated milk of your choice to enjoy.
With a range of types and percentages – from 28% white and 34% milk to 100% extra dark (they even have oat milk varieties) – you’re sure to find something to satisfy your loved one’s sweet tooth.
10. The SURI Sonic Toothbrush
From £75.00
Anyone who thinks an electric toothbrush is a bit of a boring Christmas gift clearly doesn’t know about the SURI Sonic. This ultra-chic item, available in five elegant colours, is as much a stylish bathroom ornament as a practical oral hygiene machine. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, with recyclable plant-based heads.
For someone who travels a lot, why not throw in the UV travel case too?
11. Sculpd Pottery Kit
£39.00
Unleash your loved one’s inner artist with this pottery kit from Sculpd. It comes with enough clay, paint, and varnish for two – plus a 10-page illustrated pottery guide. You can even purchase additional paint sets – from earth tones to terracotta pens.
Creating vases, plant pots, key dishes, and more is the perfect cosy Christmas Day activity. Plus, your giftee will come away with something they can treasure forever.
12. Balvi – Pick a boo! Toothpick Holder
£7.42
Finding Secret Santa and stocking filler gifts for adults can be tricky – especially if you’re looking for something under a tenner. Ideally, we want to choose something useful with some wow factor.
This whimsical toothpick dispenser ticks both boxes. Once filled, simply lift the casing up and down and the little man inside will hold a toothpick up for you. It’s best placed next to finger food at a party where it can serve as a practical but charming talking point.
13. De'Longhi EC9155.MB La Specialista Arte Bean to Cup Espresso Coffee Machine
£349.00
For many of us, there’s little better than a barista-style coffee – whether a velvety flat white or an aromatic espresso. And while Nespresso pod machines can offer something close to this in our homes, they’ll never beat a beverage lovingly made on a bean-to-cup machine.
This BBC Good Food-recommended setup from De’Longhi is sure to wow the coffee lover in your life. It’s one of their most compact models, but that’s not to say it doesn’t come with everything a budding home barista needs. There’s even a comprehensive manual to help them improve their skills.
14. Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
£30.00
While these silk pillowcases from M&S may not be as flashy as some other gifts on this list, what better way to say you care than helping your loved one get a better night’s sleep?
However, silk pillowcases bring more than just comfort. They can reduce wrinkles and frizzy morning hair, and hydrate your skin and hair. Plus, they can keep you cooler than normal cotton pillowcases, making them a great gift for anyone experiencing hot flushes.
15. KiwiCo Labs Subscription
From £18.64/month
Looking for something fun and educational for the child or teenager in your life? These KiwiLabs subscriptions could do the trick.
Every month, your recipient will receive a new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) project to build – from an archery set to a spinning sand garden. It’s a perfect choice for any budding inventors you know.
16. Dawson Pick Merino-rich Cardigan
£75.95
You can’t go wrong with this cosy Dawson Pick Merino-rich Cardigan from Seasalt Cornwall. Its timeless style will complement anyone’s wardrobe. Plus, the range of colourways (we like the dahlia or grassland) offers ample opportunity to show your loved one how well you know them.
Consider buying a size up if your recipient prefers a relaxed fit.
17. NIO Christmas Cocktail Gift Box
£39.00
Described by reviewers as “exceptionally tasty” and “surprisingly unusual”, this cocktail gift set from Nio puts a festive spin on some mixology staples.
Featuring a spiced negroni, Christmas margarita, and snow daiquiri (among others), these creative concoctions will live on in your recipients’ minds long after the final sip. The sleek and stylish packaging is also a plus.
18. Willow Bird House Kit
£47.00
Know someone who loves crafts and gardening in equal measure? Then look no further than this willow birdhouse kit from sculptor and basket weaver Rachel Harwood Willow. Inside, your giftee will find everything they need to create a cosy (and beautiful) home for the feathery friends in their garden.
19. Molton Brown Christmas Cracker Bodycare Gift Set
£16.00
Bath and body sets are a Christmas classic, but these gift sets from Molton Brown take things up a notch.
Wrapped inside beautiful marble print packaging designed by artist Natascha Maksimovic, your giftee will find a quartet of bath and shower gels. Choose from Floral & Spicy or Woody & Aromatic.
20. Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
£188.00
Know someone forever untangling their wired earbuds who deserves an upgrade? Many of us automatically think of Apple AirPods when it comes to wireless earbuds. But the reviewer consensus is that these Sony WF-1000XM5s offer much better value for money.
Described by What Hi-Fi as having the “clearest and most detailed sonic performance from a pair of wireless earbuds on the market right now,” the Sony WF-1000XM5s offer noise-cancelling, water and sweat resistance, and eight hours of battery life.
However, depending on what features you’re looking for, you don’t need to spend this much for a decent pair of wireless earbuds. For example, the Earfun Airs offer good performance for just £24.99.
21. Herd Mentality
£19.99
The best board games are those that can bring people together during the festive season – and since Herd Mentality can accommodate 20 players, the odds are you won’t have to leave anyone out.
But sheer numbers isn’t all this game has going for it. Dubbed “the best party game ever created” by TechRadar, it promises to be “udderly hilarious”. The premise is beguilingly simple: a question is read aloud and you try to guess what the other players might answer.
22. Bosun Socks
£20.00
These Bosun Socks from Finisterre are an excellent gift for any outdoorsy people in your life. Described as the Cornish brand’s “woolliest winter socks”, they’re made of soft but sturdy British wool and come in plenty of colours. They’ll see you through lengthy hikes and winter nights at the pub.
Socks may be an often maligned present – but not when you choose ones like these.
23. Oakley Encoder Multi-Sport Sunglasses
£210-£228
Embraced by high fashionistas and Olympic athletes alike, Oakleys are the undisputed kings of sporty sunglasses. So, to make the festive season unforgettable for your favourite fitness fanatic, why not nab them a pair of Oakley Encoders?
The Encoder’s multi-sport design makes them equally suited for a friendly game of pickleball as an Iron Man race. We especially like the frameless design, which offers a larger field of view and is especially important for cycling.
24. Home Chef Ceramics Mugs
£11.00-£12.00
Simultaneously rustic and elegant, these ceramic mugs from HK Living are an affordable present your recipient will treasure. They’re a great choice for any young adults needing some good-quality tableware. Plus, because they’re finished with a reactive glaze, each one has a slightly unique pattern.
ELLE Decoration even touted these as “one of the best mugs to buy right now” – not bad for just over a tenner. Buy one, a few of the same colour, or mix and match for an eclectic set – the choice is yours.
25. RHS Prints
From £10.00
These prints from the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) are the perfect home decor gift for anyone passionate about plants and gardening.
Featuring classic illustrations of flowers (from tulips to agapanthus), produce (like carrots and tomatoes), and other garden-related scenes, you’re sure to find something up your loved one’s street. For an extra fee, you can have them framed too.
26. Monica Vinader Birthstone Necklace
£98-£128
Stuck for a jewellery gift for the woman in your life? You can’t go wrong with one of these elegant and understated birthstone necklaces from Monica Vinader. Available in gold and silver finishes, it’ll surely be a welcome addition to your loved ones’ jewellery box.
Final thoughts…
Searching for the right Christmas presents can be tricky. However, it’s important to remember that, while gift-giving is a great way to show your love and appreciation, it’s only a small part of what makes the holiday season special. It’s not presents people remember, but the time they spend with those closest to them.
For more festive content, check out our articles: 10 unique Christmas traditions from around the world, 11 ideas for festive get-togethers in the lead-up to Christmas, and 11 best Christmas markets to visit in Europe.
Have you been inspired by any of the gifts on this list? Or do you have any suggestions you’d like to add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.