The Know’s bumper gift guide
I’ll be honest: I’ve only just started to enjoy festive shopping. As an indecisive teen (and, okay, adult), I’d spend the run-up to the festive season nagging my loved ones to tell me what they’d like. When they invariably didn’t, I’d always default to a bar of fancy chocolate or a box of fudge.
No shade to those present choices (there’ll undoubtedly be a few Green & Black’s-shaped goodies under our tree this year), but over the years I’ve found myself wanting to get better at gift giving. My cynicism at the commercialism of Christmas aside, I’ve learned that picking out a thoughtful present for someone is just a really nice way to show you love and appreciate them.
Bearing all this in mind, I’ve found it almost therapeutic to bring this gift guide together, gathering recs from the team and scouring the internet for smaller brands and businesses we think you’ll love. Whether you’re buying for a food lover, culture vulture, globe-trotter or that special someone in your life, we’ve got you covered (with a handful of discount codes sprinkled in…).
So why not put your favourite music on (it’s definitely not too early for Christmas tunes) and dive right in?
Last-minute gifts
£
Homemade pickles
Pickles are a must-have for any kitchen - and they make a really great last-minute gift. We love this recipe for spiced pickled shallots, which is surprisingly easy to make at home.
A book, with a twist
We included this suggestion in last year’s gift guide and, as so many of you loved it, we’ve decided to bring it back! Books make an objectively lovely present - but this year, write a handwritten note on the inner front page explaining why you think that book is perfect for the recipient.
An IOU
Gifting your friend an IOU note for coffee and a treat is a great idea, especially if you aren’t 100% sure of their tastes. They get treated to a hot drink, cake and your company - what could be a better present?!
££
Homemade hamper
We love the idea of a homemade hamper as it shows you’ve given a fair bit of thought to your loved one’s tastes. If you’re looking for inspo, a classic panettone makes for a great festive treat.
A wonderful workshop
If you’re based in London, this beer and cheese tasting sounds like a great day out, while this silk screen printing workshop would make a lovely gift for any arty friends.
Listen up
A year-long Audible membership is a great gift for a bookworm or audiobook aficionado - and is guaranteed to brighten even the most mundane of morning commutes.
£££
Bloomin’ lovely
Gift a flower subscription service to brighten up your friend’s life every month - not just in December!
A week(end) away
Whisk your loved one away on a relaxing and sustainable Byway break - where the holiday begins with the train journey to get there. This five-night, flight-free trip to Delft and Leiden in the Netherlands is guaranteed to banish any January blues.
An unrivalled escape
What could be a better gift than a three-night digital detox at a beautifully designed cabin? Nestled in the heart of the English countryside, Unplugged’s off-grid cabins are equipped with everything you could need to truly switch off and relax (think: board games, cosy blankets and wood-burning stoves).
Unplugged, from £100
For the social butterfly
Nothing beats brekkie
We all know the stress of having guests to stay and realising you haven’t even thought about what to do for breakfast. Solve that dilemma by gifting one of Dishoom’s delicious at-home kits.
Dishoom, £20
Let’s get quizzical
Bolster a friend’s board game repertoire (and avoid playing Monopoly again this Christmas) with League of the Lexicon, a quiz game all about words and language. The game was also founded by our editor Kate’s uncle - pretty cool!
Two Brothers Games, £34.99
Cracking card games
We love an offbeat game - and Master Dater certainly fits that brief. In this creative, card-based game, players combine heads and bodies into “perfect” matches - with wacky results. This is definitely one to be played with friends, rather than around the Christmas dinner table!
Master Dater, Amazon, £25
Looking for a more family-friendly option? Opt for Sosig - a pocket-sized game in which players use a variety of head and body cards to create “Sosigs” of different shapes and sizes, while others use “Mystery Meat” cards in an attempt to sabotage their quest to win awards.
Sosig, HMV, £9.99
An aroma of opulence
We’re big fans of these elegant yet practical 2,500ml hand-poured XXL diffusers. The rich tones of the glass bottles coupled with bespoke black oak base tray make them a chic piece of statement décor - and we love how they transform the vibe of a room with their rich, deep scents. Take 15% off with our code Know15.
Lifestyle Home Collection, £195
Clink clink
We all have that friend who’s always hosting - so help them out by gifting a bottle of bubbles… with a twist! We love Wild Idol’s sparkling champagne alternative, which is hand-crafted from a superior blend of grapes and totally alcohol-free. Hangover-free festivities? Yes please.
Wild Idol, from £29.99
For your friend who deserves a treat
Great vibes
We love this luxury twelve-day advent calendar from SheSpot, the female-founded sexual wellness destination that’s on a mission to empower women. Curated in partnership with Killing Kittens, the calendar features a high-end vibrator, vegan condoms, Agent Provocateur lingerie, lube and much, much more. Their other gifts are well worth checking out too - there are some great ideas for stocking fillers!
SheSpot, £149 (Readers can take 25% off with our exclusive code: THEKNOW)
Light up
When in doubt, gift a candle. These colourful soy wax candles double up as the perfect table centrepiece.
Etsy, from £5
We also love these (admittedly pricier) hand-poured candles from Lo Studio, featuring intriguing-sounding scents like “winter’s glow”, “bergamot clouds” and “open window”.
Lo Studio, £49
Vitality hit
Infused with natural ingredients such as pomegranate extract, ginseng and blue tansy, as well as the highly regarded ingredients hyaluronic acid and GHK-CU, the Rejuvenate Duo - from the lovely brand Mellow Patch Company - is a surefire way to help a loved one level up their skincare routine. Make them feel rejuvenated from the outside in and take 10% off while doing so, using the code GIFT.
Mellow Patch Company, £41.39
For the food lovers
Spice things up
Give the gift of flavour with Mama Yu’s Chilli Oil, made by mother and daughter duo @xiensscran and @joleneyu2 of Instagram fame.
DELLI, £5.95
O-live you
Any olive fans in your life? Gift them this foodie workshop where they can taste exceptional Greek olive oils and olives.
Wecandoo, £25
Fermented fun
Hop onto the kimchi and kombucha hype by gifting a foodie in your life these freshly-formed and aesthetically-pleasing products - we can confirm that they’re seriously delicious.
Bath Culture House, from £5.59
Cook up a storm
In the era of online recipes, there’s something really nice about receiving a physical cookbook which you can return to time and time again. I swear by Samin Nosrat’s Salt Fat Acid Heat, which is as much a beautifully illustrated masterclass in cooking as it is a collection of recipes.
Waterstones, £36.00
For the person you want to splash out on
The ultimate keepsake
These handcrafted lockets from London-based jewellery brand Dower & Hall would make a perfect gift for that special someone in your life. Designed from sterling silver and gold vermeil, they’ll be treasured for decades to come.
Dower & Hall, from £175
Sweet dreams
Linen bedding is perhaps our ultimate bucket list Christmas item.
Piglet in Bed, from £263
Exquisite earrings
Help your friend elevate their everyday style - or get ready for a glamorous event - with these timeless, sophisticated earrings from Danish jewellery brand Sif Jakobs. In fact, we love the company’s entire ELLISSE collection, in which every piece is inspired by the elliptical (think: oval-shaped) form.
Sif Jakobs Jewellery, from £95
A high-quality tipple
For a friend with sophisticated taste, The Lost Explorer Mezcal - a premium, handcrafted artisanal spirit - would make a special (and flavourful!) present. Made using 100% agave from Oaxaca in Mexico, this Mezcal Espadính contains hints of red apple and ripe fruits, and has a mild smoky layer to finish.
The Lost Explorer, £62.50
For your most organised friend
Stylish calendars
Calendars are an utterly overlooked gift - they’re totally practical and can also double as wall art. This Japanese Woodblocks Calendar is especially lovely, as is this one from the V&A celebrating female artists from the late 19th and early 20th century.
Calendar Club, both £10.99
Drink up
Help your friend save money and the planet by gifting them this chic reusable coffee cup.
Circular&Co, £14.95
Click click
We love this leather mouse pad - who knew such a functional item could be so luxurious?
lundi, £55
Looking for a cheaper - and arguably more cheerful - option? This one is tried and tested (I actually bought it for my grandad last year).
Etsy, £10.99
For culture vultures
Wall art
Denmark’s Louisiana Museum is world-renowned - and its expansive collection of posters will light up any room.
Louisiana Design Butik, from €28.95
Skål!
Tired of wine tastings? Gift your loved one this aquavit tour and tasting, which dives deep into the history and flavours of the famous Scandinavian spirit.
Wecandoo, £25pp
Art pass
A National Art Pass is the perfect gift for any culture lover in your life, giving them free and discounted entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK.
Art Fund, £75 (discounts available)
Shine on
This is one of those presents that sounds a bit ridiculous in theory, but actually makes a lot of sense in practice. Introducing: the plant leaf shining gift set.
Plantsmith, £19.99
For the globe-trotter in your life
Pack it up
Frequent fliers swear by this 40L Osprey backpack - as does Lily from our team. It’s compact enough to be taken on most planes as hand luggage and allows for easy unpacking when you arrive at your destination.
Osprey, £150
Brush up
Give the gift of sustainability (and, okay, clean teeth) with this biodegradable bamboo toothbrush. It would make the perfect stocking filler.
Bamwoo, £3.65
Sleep tight
Wave goodbye to sleepless nights on the go. This bizarre but brilliant travel pillow can be moulded to fit the space you’re in - whether that’s on a train, plane or at home on the sofa!
Infinity Travel, £40
Supercharged sneakers
Deciding on which shoes to pack for a city break is always a struggle - but we’ve heard amazing things about Tropicfeel’s super versatile pair which are not only sustainably made, but also waterproof!
Tropicfeel, £139
Listen up
Losing your AirPods while travelling is definitely an inconvenience - so gift your friend a personalised case to make them easier to identify.
Etsy, £13.95 (on sale for £6.97 right now)
Wonderful weekend
At The Know, we absolutely love stylish Scandi brand Rains’ take on the essential overnight bag - available in three sizes.
Rains, from £79
For your stylish friend
Extra-special earrings
Lily from the team told us about these handmade earrings crafted from real flowers - and now several of us are planning to gift pairs to pals this festive season.
élida c., £38
Arm candy
When in doubt about what jewellery to opt for, a bracelet is the way to go - and we love this delicate, floral one.
Etsy, £11.95
Pull your socks up
Meet the perfect gift for any Doc Martens wearers in your life: these socks. I was given some by my sister last year (and I’m hoping for another pair this year… hint hint!).
Darn Tough, £27
If you’re looking for present inspo for the men in your life, help switch up their sock game with these super stylish pairs. The subtle pink one is especially chic.
London Sock Company, £88 for six
Stay dry
Help your friend through the winter months by investing in a staple raincoat on their behalf. We love Rains’ stylish-yet-practical anorak.
Rains, £105
Caffeine hit
Brighten up a friend’s morning by gifting them these super chic espresso cups that look way more expensive than they actually are. I recently bought these for myself as a moving house present - and I’m obsessed.
HKliving, £6.40
We hope this guide has helped spark some gift-giving inspiration - and made the festive season that bit easier!
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