While some people look forward to Christmas shopping, for others, it can prove stressful. Whether searching for a meaningful present for a loved one or a cheap Secret Santa gift for a colleague, sorting through all the options can be tricky.
With this in mind, we’ve collected some of our favourite gift ideas to inspire you. Below, you’ll find a range of items to suit various budgets – from grooming products and gadgets to toys and toiletries.
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 18th of December, 2023.
1. The Flat Lay Co Open Flat Box Bag
Price: £23, The Flat Lay Co
Lightweight and portable, this makeup box from The Flat Lay Co is perfect for anyone taking their cosmetics on the go.
Unlike other makeup bags, this one’s designed so you can access what you want without hassle (no more rummaging!) – meaning that you’re always ready for a quick freshen-up.
2. Merino Zip Neck Jumper
Price: £79.95, Charles Tyrwhitt
Just as suitable in the office as they are on a winter walk in the countryside, these Merino zip-neck jumpers from Charles Tyrwhitt may make a stylish, cosy gift for a man in your life.
Lightweight and breathable but warm, they’ll fit nicely under blazers or coats. Plus, with plenty of colours to choose from (our favourite is the forest green), you’ll hopefully find one to suit your loved one’s tastes.
3. Travelzoo Experiences
Price: Various, Travelzoo
If you want to give someone a Yuletide they’ll remember, why not gift them an experience this Christmas? Whether a weekend away, a day at the spa, or tickets to their favourite sporting event, organising an activity can offer your loved one a chance to create memories they’ll treasure forever.
Visit the Travelzoo website below to search for great deals on activities, events, and trips near you.
4. Dobble
Price: £6.99, Amazon
Playing games on Christmas Day is a cherished tradition for many families. So why not give someone something new to play this year?
Loud, fast, and endlessly entertaining, Dobble is a great pocket-size card game to get people in the party spirit. Choose from the original version or specific interest variations, like DC Comics and Harry Potter editions.
5. The Wine Society
Price: From £4.95, The Wine Society
If you’re searching for a gift to satisfy your favourite wine connoisseur, why not consider joining The Wine Society? Members get lifetime access to an award-winning range of delicious wines, all chosen by expert buyers – so you won’t be short of gift ideas.
From refreshing fridge-fillers to bottles worthy of the most special occasions, every order comes with free delivery, even next-day. And with The Society’s promise, they’ll refund any bottle you don’t like, which means you can shop with complete confidence this Christmas.
For ideas on which wines to try this festive season, check out our article 7 Christmas wines to serve and gift in 2023.
The Wine Society also offer gift memberships which could make the perfect gift for a fellow wine lover.
6. Mali Large Mug – White (Set of Two)
Price: £32, Nkuku
Sometimes, the simplest designs are the most stunning, and that’s certainly true for these handmade mugs from Nkuku. Elegantly minimalist, they’ll look at home on any table – which makes them a great gift.
If these don’t strike your fancy or you’d like something a little cheaper, Nkuku has an excellent range of mugs to choose from. We also like the Malia mugs in dusty blue.
7. Amazon Kindle
Price: £84.99, Amazon
The ultimate present for bookworms, e-readers allow you to access a whole library wherever you go. Ideal for commuters, travellers, or anyone who’d appreciate 1000s of books at their fingertips, the new Kindle is their most compact and lightweight model yet.
However, while a Kindle can be a convenient way for book lovers to enjoy a wide range of reads on the go, it might be worth seeing if they like the idea first – as many people still prefer the feel of a paper book in their hands.
8. MyHeritage DNA Testing
Price: £34 £79 MyHeritage DNA
If you’re looking to gift something meaningful this year, why not give a MyHeritage DNA testing kit? Using the latest technology to find new relatives and reveal ethnic background, your loved one can learn about their family history and discover their unique story.
MyHeritage DNA also offers gift memberships, which provide access to 19.6 billion historical records to help any history enthusiasts learn more about their ancestry.
9. Grey Star Tent
Price: £34, The White Company
To us adults, this might just be a tent. But for children, it can be anything – a looming castle surrounded by an enemy army, a spaceship adrift far off amongst the stars, or a grand manor house standing in an immaculate garden.
This surprisingly stylish grey star tent from The White Company will make a great addition to any kid’s bedroom or playroom.
10. Rest Less Events Annual Membership
Price: £49.99, Rest Less
If you haven’t come across it yet, Rest Less Events is our virtual community and events platform. Here, we run lectures, workshops, groups, and clubs over Zoom on a wide range of topics.
With around 100 events per month to try – from music performances and exercise classes to book clubs and art workshops – there’s sure to be something to pique anyone’s curiosity. And with our limited-time offer, you can gift your loved one a year’s access for only £49.99.
11. Pinch of Nom Express: Fast, Delicious Food
Price: £10, Amazon
Just because you have a busy life or don’t want to spend hours tirelessly working in the kitchen, it doesn’t mean you need to eat boring food.
This cookbook from bestselling authors Kate and Kay Allison shows us how to make quick dishes that taste like you’ve been preparing them for hours. From delicious ‘fakeaways’ to speedy family roasts, this book is a must-buy for any foodie in your life.
12. Personalised Beard Grooming Kit
Price: £50, Mo Bros
Whether your bearded family or friend already grooms their whiskers or they’re rocking a caveman look, this personalised beard grooming kit from Mo Bros is an ideal choice.
Complete with beard oil, wash, balm, butter, and grooming accessories like a comb and scissors; this is the perfect one-stop-shop for beard styling. Plus, getting their name engraved on the box is a nice personal touch.
13. Christmas Cactus Houseplant
Price: £24.95, Not On The High Street
This charming plant is often called a Christmas cactus because it flowers around the festive season – making it a thoughtful and unique way to add some colour (and Yuletide cheer) to a loved one’s home.
Plus, they’re pretty easy to take care of – making a good present for seasoned plant parents and first-time owners alike.
14. Plain Double-Breasted Coat
Price: £68, John Lewis
As the winter chill sets in, some of us will be looking for a new coat to keep us warm throughout the coming months. But finding a good quality one at a reasonable price can be tricky.
Giving this plain double-breasted coat from John Lewis is a wonderful way to keep someone warm this winter. The timeless style and versatile colours make it a complimentary piece for almost anyone’s wardrobe.
15. The Chocolate Wreath Box
Price: £44.95, Hotel Chocolat
What’s Christmas without chocolate? This wreath-shaped box from Hotel Chocolat packs a hefty Christmas punch. Inside, you’ll find a selection of stunning chocolates that look as good as they taste.
From the intricate salted caramel snowflake to the honey and cashew supernova, this diverse selection has plenty to offer.
16. Hydraulic Cyborg Hand
Price: £22.50, Debenhams
Want to get one of the little ones in your life something entertaining, engaging, and educational this holiday season? This hydraulic cyborg hand kit will keep them engrossed for hours, all while teaching them a little about engineering and clean energy.
17. Winter Botanical Candle – Medium
Price: £35, The White Company
Combining the spicy scents of cinnamon, clove, and orange, this winter botanical candle from The White Company perfectly encapsulates the smell of Christmas. It looks good, too, and can help a loved one transform their home into a winter wonderland.
18. Best Seller Book Box
Price: From £14.99/month, TeaTimeBookshop
Choosing your favourite bookworm a new read for Christmas can be nerve-wracking. What if they don’t like it? What if they’ve read it before?
This best-seller book box takes the pressure off because it features the most popular books currently on the shelves, whether it be fiction or non-fiction. Plus, it comes with a selection of treats that can be enjoyed while snuggled up under a blanket with a good read – like tea, biscuits, and chocolate
19. JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan
Price: £31.99, Amazon
This year, we experienced one of the hottest summers on record. And if you noticed one of your friends or family members struggling in the muggy conditions, why not make sure they’re prepared next year with this JISULIFE portable neck fan?
Available in five different colours, this fan sits around your neck (rather like a pair of headphones) and blasts you with cool air. It’s ideal for those sticky, sultry summer commutes.
Plus, it’s quiet and doesn’t use any blades, so you won’t have to worry about anything getting caught.
Portable neck fans are also a thoughtful and practical gift for anyone who experiences hot flushes due to menopause. Check out the reviews on Amazon to see how they’ve helped people with these symptoms.
20. Craft Box Club Subscription
Price: From £22/month, Craft Box Club
Do you know any avid crafters who are always searching for new ways to get creative? If so, these gift subscription boxes from Craft Box Club can deliver new projects to their front door each month.
Each box comes with a how-to video and everything your recipient will need to get crafting – whether they’re rock painting or making macrame plant holders. You can buy a one-off box or a lasting subscription for a gift that keeps on giving.
21. Raven King Hot Sauce
Price: £6.50, Tring Brewery
Spicy, sweet, and the perfect accompaniment to any barbecue, this hot sauce is a great stocking filler for anyone who loves adding heat to their meals.
It’s made using Tring Brewery’s Raven King IPA, so if your recipient enjoys a frosty pint, why not get them something to wash it down with? This mixed pack features some of the brewery’s newest beers.
22. Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Price: £279, Amazon
This stylish pair of over-ear headphones came out top in its category in our best headphones of 2022 article, and they’re still a great pick if you’re looking for a top-notch listening experience.
The noise-cancelling and sound quality of these cans are impressive. Plus, they come with plenty of smart features (including automatically changing the noise-cancelling settings depending on where you are and what you’re doing) and a very stylish design.
While you might be able to find some good deals, the WH-1000XM5’s price tag is still quite hefty. So, if you’re set on noise-cancelling headphones for a loved one, why not check out their predecessors, the WH-1000XM4s, which offer close to the same quality for a bit less?
23. Olaplex Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit
Price: £48.99, Amazon
Our hair contains millions of bonds that can easily be broken by a range of factors – from treatments like colouring and straightening to less obvious things like pollution and even the blue light coming from our computer screen. So why not treat your loved one to some protection for their locks?
Millions of people swear by Olaplex as a way to build these bonds back and keep their hair healthy and strong. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, a bottle of their No. 3 Hair Perfector is sold every five seconds!
This gift set features the famous Hair Protector along with a shampoo and conditioner – giving your recipient everything they need for luscious and healthy hair.
24. Afternoon Tea Gift Bag
Price: £35, M&S
Do you know anyone with a sweet tooth and a taste for the finer things in life? If so, this gift bag allows your recipient (and a friend or two) to indulge in the delectable delights of an up-scale afternoon tea from the comfort of their home.
Inside, they’ll find a tin of English Breakfast tea, as well as a Victoria sponge, cherry bakewell loaf, millionaires’ shortbreads, and Viennese swirls – so, they may even find they’d prefer not to share!
25. Cashmere Ear Warmer Headband
Price: £22, Turtle Doves
Cashmere products like this ear warmer from Turtle Doves can make wonderful Christmas presents. Not only are cashmere products famously soft and long-lasting (so your loved one can enjoy your gift for years), but they’re also great insulators, meaning they’ll be able to keep your recipient warm throughout the rest of winter.
These ear warmers come in 20 different styles and colours – like Safari (pictured above), Tranquility, and Parma Violet – so you’ll hopefully find one to suit whoever you have in mind.
26. Tefal ActiFry Genius XL
Price: £144.99, Amazon
It seems like everyone has been talking about air fryers recently – and for good reason. From making perfectly crisp mains and sides to saving money on your energy bills, they’re a handy gadget to have in your kitchen.
But with so many on the market now, it can be tricky to find the perfect one.
Emerging as a front runner in our best air fryers of 2023 article, this Tefal ActiFry Genius XL is one of the few models to come with a paddle attachment, which stirs the food while it cooks to get an even coating.
The ActiFry Genius XL also has two compartments, so you can cook your mains and sides at the same time.
27. Leuchtturm1917 Notebook
Price: From £14.90, Leuchtturm1917
As the name suggests, Leuchtturm1917 have been making high-quality stationery for years, and their notepads are a go-to for many looking for something simple and well-made at a decent price.
Their standard notepad is a great gift for helping someone get stuck into their goals in 2023 – whether that be starting a new job or a new journal.
For extra thoughtfulness, why not pair it with a LAMY fountain pen?
28. Personalised Mini Backpack
Price: £25, My 1st Years
Whether it’s for their first day of nursery or just a place to keep their toys, this personalised mini backpack is a cute, thoughtful, and practical gift for any toddler in your life.
The large main pocket, adjustable straps, and sweet design mean it can suit any child from one to three years old, no matter what their hobbies or interests are.
29. Curry Night Kit
Price: £19.95, Not On The High Street
Featuring four mixed spice pots and a recipe booklet, this curry night kit makes whipping up authentic and delicious Indian food easier than ever.
Most of the recipes in the kit are ready in half an hour or less – so this is an ideal present for anyone in your life who loves good food but is tight on time.
30. English Heritage Gift Membership
Price: From £57 per year, English Heritage
Unlock over 400 intriguing historic sites for your loved one this Christmas. With an English Heritage Gift Membership, they’ll have unlimited access to breathtaking ancient attractions all over the country – from the mighty Dover Castle to the ancient stones of Handrian’s Wall.
They’ll also receive free entry for children up to six, free or reduced-price entry to English Heritage’s events, an exclusive members’ magazine three times a year, and more…
31. Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle
Price: £22, Uncommon Goods
Do you have someone in your life who loves everything macabre? These murder mystery jigsaw puzzles are uniquely entertaining because you solve them by following a story. Piecing together the puzzle will help you to unlock clues to solve the grisly crime at the centre.
You can choose between two different stories/puzzles.
In The Clairvoyants Convention, you’ll need to solve the murder of a strangled mystic, and in The Missing Will, your recipient will be instructed to work out a safe combination to unlock the circumstances of a wealthy uncle’s death. A perfect lazy day activity for that strange gap between Christmas and New Year.
32. ABBA Voyage
Price: Various, ABBA Voyage
If you haven’t heard about it already, ABBA Voyage uses cutting-edge technology to bring us a virtual gig that looks and feels like the band is playing to us live from back in their heyday.
With a setlist curated by the band themselves, this show is a chance to travel through time to see one of the greatest acts of all time – whether you’ve seen them before or would like to help introduce a new generation to their music.
Final thoughts…
From simple and elegant notepads to top-of-the-range headphones, we hope this gift guide has given you some inspiration to make your Christmas shopping a little easier this year.
And for more gift ideas, why not check out our food and drink gift guide for 2023 and our article, 20 gifts for £10 or under?
Do you have any other good ideas for Christmas presents? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
