Epic UK Christmas Gift Guide

Of course, you can barely move for fancy chocolate these days, and sometimes it’s hard to know which will be rather style over substance. But these companies produce truly delicious treats. Kernow Chocolate is handmade in Cornwall, and after a Cornish holiday this summer, I’m already addicted to their Creme Caramel bars.

Mr Stanleys produce a variety of tasty confections, in beautifully designed packaging, and I challenge you to try not to polish off an entire box of Mr Stanley’s Chocolate Matches with Salted Caramel. Yum.

The gang at Joe and Seph’s have won so many Good Taste Awards that they probably can barely get in the factory door for all the accolades strewn everywhere. It would surely be impossible for anyone not to find a Joe & Seph’s flavour they love - from the likes of Classic Caramel and Peanut Butter, to Cappuccino and White Chocolate and Raspberry; there are perfect party accompaniments such as Gin & Tonic and Cheddar & Smoked Paprika, and the adventurous results of a collaboration with Michel and Alain Roux, including Caramelised Ginger & Lemongrass and Blue Cheese & Rhubarb. A personal favourite is the Goat’s Cheese & Black Pepper popcorn, which someone once described to me as ‘like posh Wotsits’. They weren’t wrong. It’s delicious.

A dose of sweetness, without the calories. It’s an interesting fact that many of the world’s best known chocolate companies were founded by the philanthropically-minded, with visionary goals to look after their employees (think of the towns they created: Bournville in Birmingham, and Hershey in America’s Pennsylvania). From the humble origins of the confectioners’ empires, to less sugary takeovers in this modern, globalised world, here Deborah Cadbury shares the fascinating history of the chocolate industry.

Once a familiar sight in British gardens, hedgehog numbers have been in decline for many years. With gravel, cement and astroturf hindering upon their habitat, our prickly pals are in need of nurturing. This Hogilo will be a welcome refuge - a jolly hedgehog airbnb, if you will - and if your wildlife-loving recipient is lucky, maybe a spiky family will make it their hibernation home for the winter.

You could also stock up on some hedgehog food, so the garden restaurant is ready when they arrive!

This book was recommended by a zookeeper friend, who said it had taught him a shedload of fascinating animal facts. Noted as a ‘Brilliant natural history, starring lovesick hippos, stoned sloths, exploding bats and frogs in taffeta trousers…’, Chris Packham described it as 'Eye-opening, informative and very funny!', and The Guardian proclaimed it to be ‘A joy from beginning to end!’

For any animal lover who’d like to have a close encounter with their favourite mammal, this will be something to savour. Heythrop Zoological Gardens is located in the North Oxfordshire Cotswolds, and houses one of the largest private collections of animals in Europe. Their furry pals have appeared in many films and TV shows, and for your recipient’s Amazing Animals experience, they could meet Penguins, Tigers, Squirrel Monkeys or Two Toed Sloths (they get booked up far in advance though, so be sure to plan ahead!).

Of course, there’s an almost infinite number of animal welfare charities who would be exceedingly grateful receivers of a donation on behalf of your giftee. Just a handful of ideas are Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Sponsor a Puppy scheme, St Tiggywinkle’s adoptions of (amongst others) owls, deer, hedgehogs and Birds of Prey, or the World Wildlife Fund’s menagerie of options, including Penguins, Tigers, Gorillas, Elephants and Dolphins. And this is special: with not-for-profit Ahimsa Farm, you can, as they put it, ‘sponsor a cow or calf to never reach the dinner table,’ and instead contribute to its retirement fund, at this slaughter-free dairy.

With the sub-title, 200 birds, 12 months, 1 lapsed birdwatcher, this is Lev Parikian’s acclaimed story ‘about birds, family, music, nostalgia, the nature of obsession and obsession with nature.’ Author Emma Kennedy described it as "The loveliest book about birdwatching you will ever read". A delight, and an absolute must-read for anyone who loves birds (and plenty of others, who don’t).

Give a gift that keeps on giving, and help your pal bring birds into their garden with a nestbox. There are a variety available through the RSPB website.

Described as ‘the ultimate reference book for bird enthusiasts’ this guide is a must for any birdwatcher, and is jam-packed with all the avian-identifying intel they could need.

Featuring tips, advice, plus ‘birdwatching site guides, all the latest UK bird sightings news, and in-depth features from some of the world's top nature writers, photographers’ this subscription is a year-round gift that’s just packed with birdy goodness.

The Biggest Twitch run birdwatching trips, both in the UK and overseas. From a day trip in Wales, to the fortnight-long Cuban adventure that is The Best of Cuban Endemic Birds And More (for the not-quite-a-stocking-filler price of £4,150, which includes accommodation & meals, but not include flights or travel insurance), any twitcher is sure to be delighted with the gift of time observing their feathered friends.

This clock is ace - each hour is signalled by the song of a different bird (confession: I have one, and I love it!).

You’ll have trouble fitting this under the tree... And you’ll need a mortgage to finance it, but was too tickled by this not to include it (no doubt you’ll be able to spot one in many a hipster-housing creative agency… ‘Yeah, yeah, Royston, you go ahead and spend a little time ideating in the nest. You can’t help but cascade great ideas when you’re sitting on an egg poof’).

For the couple whose pet is always top dog - or cat - then this personalised pillow case set will provide some close-to-home amusement. Featuring the three names of your choice, the pet’s name takes prime position, naturally!

Here’s a handy guide for any dog-loving friend. Featuring over a thousand pet-friendly pubs and places to stay, they’ll never have to paws for thought (sorry) when it comes to gadding with an accompanying pooch.

Incidentally, for a dog about town, these bandanas are exceedingly jaunty (also love how this aqua blue is dubbed ‘hankydot briney’ - aah!).

Melbourne-based Erstwilder’s self-proclaimed purpose in to keep your days dandy, and with their quirky and irresistible jewellery they certainly achieve that. Releasing new collections throughout the year, they frequently feature animals in their designs, such as Lena the Blue Eyed Birman Cat brooch (£24.95), as well as the likes of big cat, Cheetara’s Chum, and their popular The Schnauzer and Klaus brooch. One note: you might find that ordering direct from the Australian site can find you embroiled in Customs charges (not Erstwilder’s fault), so you might want to order from one of their many approved UK stockists, including Kitty Kat and Daisy Park.

Here’s a sophisticated way to keep your favourite architecture fan entertained during the holidays: get them building their own version of a splendid structure. Lego’s Architecture series features a number of notable buildings, such as New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, in addition to a selection of iconic skylines, including London, Sydney, Shanghai, Chicago, New York and Las Vegas.

With Brutal London: Construct Your Own Concrete Capital, they’ll be able to recreate nine of London’s best-loved Brutalist structures (all paper, though - no heavy lifting!). Plus the book has a foreword by no less than Norman Foster, so that’s sure to impress ‘em!

If you’ve a budding architect in the family, or a friend who loves to draw, Archidoodle: An Architect's Activity Book and 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School will be both fun and informative. Modern Architecture Since 1900, meanwhile, is an ‘analysis of the modern architectural tradition’ which is ‘Worldwide in scope’ - and a book that’s considered a tip top classic.

Books:

Archidoodle: An Architect's Activity Book (£12.99)

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School by Matthew Frederick (£10.95)

Modern Architecture Since 1900 by William J R Curtis (£27.95)

Work off all that stuffing (and the extra helping of Christmas pud) with an Architectural Tour. A perfect experience gift for anyone fascinated by buildings and a city’s environment, you could, for example, send them on one of the National Trust’s Routemaster bus tours - or for those who find Brutalism breathtaking, you could sign them up for an architecturally-minded gander around the Barbican or the National Theatre.

Tours:

Routemaster bus tours in London

Barbican Architecture Tours: Brutal or beautiful? (£12.50, concessions £10)

National Theatre Architecture Tours (£12.50)

Yorkshire-based Zincwhite create brilliant jewellery using factory-rejected arts materials like colouring pencils and paintbrushes. Perfect for any artistic friend (and I can say this with particular confidence, having given one of the strikingly unique paintbrush necklaces to an arty pal, who loved it!).

How exceedingly jolly are these? Cheer up your feet with artist-adorned socks, featuring paintbrush-wielding icons such as Andy Sock-Hole, Feetasso, Frida Callus, Vincent Van Toe, and Sole-Adore Dali. Pick a single pair, or one of the boxed gift sets.

Artists Socks:

Chatty Feet artist socks (£8 single pair, £30 boxed set of four)

The Artists Socks Gift Set (£30)

Modern Artists Socks Gift Set (£30)

Nab your favourite art lover a National Art Pass, and give them the invaluable treat of free entry to over 240 of the UK’s museums, galleries and historic houses. They’ll also receive a 50% discount on entry to major exhibitions.

In this, beauty guru Sali Hughes celebrates an emporium’s worth of iconic, game-changing products. Not just beautiful and informative, the book is evocative - written with warmth and, as the title suggests, memoir-esque moments - and bound to conjure flashbacks in every reader, as they remember associations with Girls’ World, sets of bath cubes, or sachets of Shaders and Toners. Pretty Iconic is also joyfully hilarious; for any of you old enough to remember, be sure to take a peek at the section on L’Oreal’s Studio Line (I tried to read that part to friends, but couldn’t get the words out because I was laughing so much).

Also available in the very lovely & presentable hardback format.

A failsafe rule of gift-giving is to present a loved one with something which they’d adore - but be unlikely to treat themselves to. Luxury make-up is a great definition of that - often too decadent to justify (or afford) for oneself, it’s a delight to be given. A friend bought me a fancy YSL mascara for a recent birthday, which is not only wondrous and compliment-inducing, but I think of her whenever I use it - which of course as a gift-giver is a real score. The above YSL mascara can be engraved for free, adding a real gilt-edge to the proceedings.

Other ideas are a Chanel nail polish (£22), or Tom Ford lippy (£40). Though a thing to keep in mind when buying cosmetics for someone else - especially when you’re splashing out on a pricier brand - is to be sure to pick a colour your recipient will like. You could keep an eye on the shades they usually wear, get advice from a mutual friend or, if still in doubt, go with them to choose something, which will be fun in itself.

If you’re blowing the budget, there’s unlikely to be a beauty fan in the land who wouldn’t love a little something from the much-adored Charlotte Tilbury range. These Beauty Gift Sets from Selfridges include a full face-worth of cosmetics, with each set based on one of the range’s signature looks. Choosing colours on someone else’s behalf can be a minefield though (eek!), so alternatively, you could buy a cosmetics bag and tuck a Charlotte Tilbury gift card (from £10) inside so your beauty aficionado can pick their own shades and products!

We’ve some fun Experience gifts for beauty lovers, including opportunities to create a bespoke perfume - and get to take home a bottle of your new, one-of-a-kind scent. Available at locations across the country, you're sure to find a perfume making session close by. Beginning with a brief chat about the history of perfume and the impact it’s had on our modern lives, the wise consultant will then present fragrance-minded attendees with twenty one unique scents and invite them to fashion their own bespoke blend. The consultant is on hand to give hints, tips and answers any questions you may have, but what the perfume lover puts into their potion is for them to decide. Could any gift smell as sweet?

*Such as the Create Your Own Perfume - Platinum Perfume Experience for Two with Afternoon Tea (£138)

The Letters of Note books are an absolute joy. Compiled by Shaun Usher following the success of his (fantastic) website of the same name, the series thus far includes Letters of Note, More Letters of Note, Lists of Note, and most recent addition, Speeches of Note. An engrossing, fascinating and sometimes jaw-dropping collection of correspondence - the first book includes a scone recipe sent from Elizabeth II to President Eisenhower, Iggy Pop’s heartwarming response to a piece of wisdom-seeking fan mail, and a remarkable letter from Frederick Douglass to his former slave master - these make for wondrous gifts.

With the world in such a pickle, kindness and empathy can sometimes feel in short supply. Not so in these books. Each sharing the stories of ordinary people, the power of listening to others resonates throughout these remarkable titles.

Books:

To Obama: With Love, Joy, Hate and Despair by Jeanne Marie Laskas, (£20.00) is the extraordinary tale of how American citizens’ letters to Barack Obama shaped his Presidency.

The rightly acclaimed Four Feet Under by Tamsen Courteney (£20.00) uncovers Thirty untold stories of homelessness in London, and is a must-read.

The People of Providence is one of many excellent books by historian Tony Parker (£15.99). This study tells the story of a Housing Estate and Some of Its Inhabitants, and is a fascinating read.

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights is an utterly spellbinding bookshop nestled in the streets of Bath. Twice winner of Independent Bookshop of the Year, in addition to being a cosy, labyrinthine store with exceedingly knowledgeable and helpful staff, they offer some unique, and entirely spectacular gifts.

Gifts:

Reading Spas. Over tea and cake, one of the splendid Mr B’s bookworms will discuss your reading tastes, and then select a stack of books for you to peruse - and handily, the Spa includes a gift voucher for spending on books!

Reading Subscriptions. Where hand-picked books are sent to you by your assigned Mr B’s Bibilotherapist! Honestly, I feel as though every book lover should experience such a thing (and if you’ve seen this shop, you will no doubt feel this, too).

For this aficionado, little can beat a dose of live comedy. Take a peek at upcoming show listings to see if any of their favourite laugh-inducers will be playing - if so, you could snap up a pair of tickets (and if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to be their gig-going pal). There’s also the option of buying a voucher for a comedy club, where they pick a show that takes their fancy. That’ll also give them the chance to catch new acts on the rise.

For something to keep the comedy lover entertained on Christmas Day while digesting those Brussel Sprouts (and second helping of pudding) here’s a selection of mirthsome tomes. From acclaimed, and suitably amusing, autobiographies to super scripts and behind-the-scenes tales, these should give them a chuckle.

Books:

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin (£10.99)

How I Escaped My Certain Fate by Stewart Lee (£9.99)

Bossypants by Tina Fey (£9.99)

Off the Mic: The World's Best Stand-Up Comedians Get Serious About Comedy by Deborah Frances-White & Marsha Shandur (£18.99)

Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty [scripts & insights] by Ben Elton, John Lloyd, Richard Curtis & Rowan Atkinson (£18.99)

Give the beer lover in your life a monthly supply of refreshment. There are a variety of breweries offering beer (and cider) subscriptions - this article by The Independent lists fifteen of their favourites, which include top picks from Brewdog and Honest Brew.

Beer Subscription:

Brewdog (from £23 per month)

Honest Brew (from £22.90 per month)

These Croft pieces from John Lewis have a splendid Art Deco air about them.

As agreeably Art Deco as the cocktail shaker and ice bucket, these are rather handsome - and will naturally be even more appealing once they contain a beverage...

This spirit dispenser makes for a fancy addition to any home bar. If you’re feeling flush, you could buy a quartet of their favourite tipples so they’re ready to start serving!

As the smitten owner of a very lovely 1950s home bar, I can attest that they’re a fabulous thing to have. If your recipient would enjoy a corner of their home housing a rather dandy bar - and if you know they have the space! - check out local second hand furniture shops, or Ebay, which usually has a good selection, priced from roughly £100 upwards.

If you’ve a friend with an affinity for great whisky, then you could treat them to one of our nationwide whisky tasting or blending workshops. Give them the chance to learn about the production processes and history of whisky whilst enjoying a tipple or two. And with workshops available at cities throughout the country, there’s bound to be a nearby shelf of scotch and bourbon just waiting for them…

Locations:

Whisky Tasting: Leeds, Liverpool London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, York

Whisky School for a day: London, Manchester, Newcastle, or York

A jolly whiskey guide, in fragrant book form. Incorporating that most ‘80s of sensory experiences, scratch ‘n’ sniff, this is a book to learn from, and um, rub your nose against (and if you’re buying your favourite whisky lover one of our gift experiences, you could consider tucking the voucher in the pages of this malty tome?).

I sometimes wonder how we could live without cheese, one of the greatest foodstuffs known to humankind (and mice. And some dogs). If you know someone who similarly considers cheese to be the bees knees, why not give them the sublime gift of regular (and fancy!) cheese with this subscription? The Cheese Society has an excellent option, but you could also check out this Independent guide to subscription boxes.

The Cheese Society also has an agreeably presented cheese knife, which you could give as a subscription-accompanying gift (something to open on Christmas day, and all that).

Then there’s this personalised cheese board, which is rather jolly, eh?

After working their way through a whole tub of Heroes over the holidays, your foodie friend will no doubt be looking forward to returning to healthier eating in the new year. So they’ll be extra chuffed with this fun and pleasing sushi making kit.

The student/camper/breakfast enthusiast will surely thank you for this clever multi-section frying pan!

This top-rated gift experience gives your recipient the chance to spend a day creating delicious bites from around the world, making anything from Japanese delights to classic British favourites. If they’ll enjoy a cookery class that will transport them into a world full of flavour and culture, than look no further. This International Cookery Course is the perfect unique gift for any budding chef you know.

The gals at Tatty Devine have been creating arty, eye-catching jewellery for nearly twenty years. With seasonal collections and sporadic collaborations, the company is also well-known for their bespoke name necklaces, which are a gift idea in themselves. Investing in one of their more elaborate designs feels like buying a piece of art - and incidentally, Tatty Devine’s jewellery is all handcrafted in their Kent studio (also: if in doubt as to which piece your recipient would be most likely to pick, you could opt for gift vouchers, which start at £10).

Naturally, it’s tricky trying to hit the fashion bullseye when it comes to someone else’s style. If in doubt, safe bets are a gift card for their favourite shop - if you’re sure it’s their favourite shop! - or an item that’s accompanied by a gift receipt for easy returns. But as a suggestion, Karen Mabon makes quirky, original accessories which are both stylish and out of the ordinary. This scarf quite literally has fashion all over it - in an appealingly lovely and colourful way.

Here’s another accessorising option: pretty, ethereal and unique, this V&A silk scarf takes artist Nick Veasey’s X-Ray image of a 1950s Cristobal Balenciaga frock, revealing (in remarkably beautiful-CSI style), ‘the invisible details that underpin Balenciaga's gowns.’

There are alternatives, of course, to buying fashion for the fashion-lover. A subscription to iconic mag, Vogue, will keep them enthralled, in monthly doses. There’s also thoroughly engrossing and illuminating documentary, The September Issue, which goes behind the scenes at US Vogue; that film’s belated discovery for many, Creative Director Grace Coddington, published her own memoir, Grace - aside from a glorious cover, it’s wonderfully illustrated inside, too; and for insight from this side of the pond, there’s former editor Alexandra Shulman’s Inside Vogue, her account of the UK mag’s 100th year.

Immerse them in Vogue:

Grace by Grace Coddington (£30)

The September Issue DVD (£5.99)

Inside Vogue: My Diary Of Vogue's 100th Year by Alexandra Shulman (£9.99)

Subscription to Vogue

And for more iconic fashion imagery, you could give Lee Miller in Fashion, documenting the groundbreaking photographer’s remarkable fashion imagery.

Tatty Devine’s arty, playful jewellery usually has something to say, and their most recent collaborations are shouting gloriously loud. In celebration of the Year of the Woman and Vote 100, Tatty Devine have joined forces with both The Fawcett Society and Poppy’s Papercuts, resulting in some magnificently sassy pieces (personally, I’ve worn the Nevertheless She Persisted necklace nearly every day since I bought it).

Collection includes:

Do What I Want necklace (£50)

Girls Got Ideas necklace (£65)

Nevertheless She Persisted necklace (£35)

Sassy sockery ‘n’ Girl Power goodness.

Girl Power Socks & Superpower socks:

I’m a Girl… What’s Your Superpower

Mother Fucking Girl Power

Bookshop shelves are becoming increasingly packed with powerful new feminist fiction - and hallelujah for that. Naomi Alderman’s acclaimed dystopia The Power, where women begin to awake with extraordinary, electricity-conducting strength, was described by Margaret Atwood as ‘electrifying’. Recently adapted for TV, Sarai Walker’s brilliant, darkly comedic Dietland, tells the tale of an anarchic guerrilla group, an underground women’s community, and our ostracised-by-the-cool-kids heroine, who becomes mixed up with them both.

Books:

The Power by Naomi Alderman (£8.99)

Dietland by Sarai Walker (£8.99)

Designed by Katch Skinner and handmade in West Yorkshire, her lovely, characterful ceramics are pretty irresistible. Breakfast with this suffragette egg cup is certainly a positive way to start the day (and Katch Ceramics’ egg cup population includes plenty of other notable heads, including David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol).

Another collection marking Votes 100, the House of Commons’ shop has some treats to be found in their Votes for Women range, and this festive decoration could make for a suitably celebratory tree-topper!

These Little Thinker dolls, featuring celebrated women including Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo, Ada Lovelace and Jane Austen, are perfect companions for any junior feminists.

Help keep them transfixed by the big screen with membership to their local cinema, such as a Picturehouse subscription, which gives free tickets and discounts.

Cinema Membership:

Picturehouses Cinema Membership (from £50; Students from £20; Retired from £45)

Picturehouse locations: Bath, Bradford, Brighton, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Henley, Norwich, Liverpool, Oxford, Southampton, Stratford-upon-Avon and York, plus ten locations throughout London.

Everyman Membership (from £95 per year)

Everyman locations: Altrincham, Birmingham, Bristol, Chelmsford, Esher, Gerrards Cross, Glasgow, Harrogate, Leeds, Oxted, Reigate, Stratford-upon-Avon, York, Walton-on-Thames, Winchester, as well as ten locations throughout London.

A colourful, eclectic gift for film fans, this picture book is a cinematic riff on the likes of Where’s Wally, challenging the reader to locate iconic movie characters and directors within its beautifully illustrated pages.

For a James Bond enthusiast, this Movie Bus Sightseeing Tour of London is just the ticket. During this action-packed day, they’ll visit plenty of iconic 007 movie locations - including the MI6 HQ - and see many interesting places that are linked with both Ian Fleming and James Bond. And it goes without saying (yep, you’re already ahead of me), this experience will leave them shaken, not stirred...

With the increasing awareness of just how damaging to the planet our excessive use of disposable plastic is, it would be bananas not to make every effort we can to be less wasteful. The plastic coffee cups you see everywhere are obviously popular, but personally, the Thermos mug is the way to go. I was given one for Christmas a few years ago (thanks, Mum!), and it’s a corker. Its insulated layers mean it’s never too hot to hold, and it has a proper handle - which is, well, handy. Perfect for every day, mine also came into its own at a summer festival.

While we’re (hopefully) all getting better with reusable cups, who tends to have a fork in their bag for that lunchtime salad? (I always save any plastic cutlery I nab in sandwich shops, but the cleaned collection in my cutlery draw still makes me wince with guilt). Enter the compact, portable cutlery set. Made of stainless steel, it won’t snap like those dastardly free plastic ones - and every time your earth-friendly pal uses them, they’ll be able to breathe a small sigh of relief that there’s a little less plastic frippery about to find its way to landfill.

A gander around your local bookshop will no doubt provide inspiration when it comes to top titles for nature-lovers, but here are a handful of suggestions...

Books:

A special 40th anniversary edition of David Attenborough’s Life on Earth (£25)

How to Give Up Plastic: A Guide to Changing the World, One Plastic Bottle at a Time by Will McCallum (£12.99) - Head of Oceans at Greenpeace and spokesperson for their anti-plastic campaign, no less!

More wisdom on ridding the world of plastic: No. More. Plastic.: What you can do to make a difference by Martin Dorey (£6.99)

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben (£9.99). The description of this book illustrates how it became an international bestseller: The

Hidden Life of Trees draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers.

This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate by Naomi Klein (£10.99). Another international bestseller, and a must-read: the remarkable, game-changing Naomi Klein addresses global warming in a book described as ‘one of the defining and most hopeful books of this era’.

We’d be lost without our fuzzy, buzzy, stripy and entirely essential bee pals. Give your favourite Friend of the Earth the gift of a day learning about bees and beekeeping. Taking place at the very lovely Tiger Hall in Shropshire, they’ll be kitted out in one of those top-to-toe protective white suits, and amongst the day’s fascinating and insightful treats, will get to inspect a working beehive - and take home a sample of Tiger Hall honey.

If your gadget fan doesn’t already own an action camera, you could treat them to a GoPro, or a model by less pricey brand, Yi. Small and great for travelling, these are ace for holidays, or for adrenaline junkies wanting to capture the action.

Action Cameras:

GoPro HERO7 (£379.99)

YI 4K action camera (from approx £168.99)

These interactive robots are not only adorable (with changing facial expressions!), but are keen to engage with you and learn. Giving you a new AI pal, that provides entertainment at Christmas… and beyond.

Interactive Robots:

Anki Cozmo Robot (£179.99)

Meccano Robot M.A.X (£129.99)

If your nearest ‘n’ dearest gadget fan already has quite enough electronics, how about this book, intriguingly showing the insides of all sorts of things, from an electric kettle to a laptop; from a seashell to a golf ball. Also, the book features a pleasing dose of retro tech - enjoyable for those of us who remember lives spent entirely offline!

For times when the keen gardener is indoors with their feet up, the Rakes Progress magazine will provide some rather beautiful horticultural inspiration: swoon-inducing photography, and interesting and thought-provoking features. Buy them a subscription and give them something green to look forward to (that they don’t need to grow themselves!).

Help them keep everything entirely to hand as they gad around the garden, with these nifty tool belt aprons. No more wondering where those sneaky secateurs or that cheeky trowel have gone… (also good for stashing emergency biscuits).

Garden Tool Belts:

Garden Apron Tool Belt in Green & Brown by Fallen Fruits (£5.99)

Long Garden Tool Belt Apron in Green & Brown by Fallen Fruits (£5.99)

For a less practical, but entirely adorable gift, you could order a personalised garden gnome to keep them company - and make them smile! - when they’re in the garden.

The Royal Horticultural Society run all manner of courses and events for the green-fingered and garden-appreciating. It would be hard to exaggerate their extensive array of options, from pruning, planting and photographing, to drawing, crafts and walks… your favourite gardener will no doubt find something to tickle their fancy.

You could also consider RHS membership, which starts at £45.75.

Your local bookshop will have shelves jam-packed with marvellous mysteries, but here are a trio of suggestions: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle puts an entirely original spin on the classic murder mystery, whereby central character Aiden must repeatedly relive the same day until he can solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s death, and identify her killer. The book has been described as ‘Gosford Park meets Inception, by way of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express’. Based on a real-life case, Little Deaths is set in New York in 1965, tracing the aftermath of the disappearance of a pair of young siblings, and the trial by media - and neighbourhood gossip - that grasps their non-conformist mother, Ruth. With A Murder to Die For, Stevyn Colgan, author of a dazzlingly diverse collection of books, turns his hand to a murder mystery with a comic twist - and who could resist a perfectly British dose of humour with their homicide? If you need further encouragement, Stephen Fry says of the book, "Stevyn Colgan bestrides the territory of English rural comedy, one foot on the throat of Joanna Trollope, the other knocking the bonnet of Miss Marple off her silver head. Divine black village comedy."

Books:

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (£7.99)

Little Deaths by Emma Flint (£7.99)

A Murder to Die For by Stevyn Colgan (£8.99)

Not just for the Sherlock fan, anyone who’d enjoy dabbling in some after-dinner* detective action, or sleuthing that’s a little more in-depth than Cluedo, can don their virtual deerstalker and gad about the board, solving a case fir for Mr Holmes (*I like a bit of alliteration, but obviously you can play this game whenever you feel like it).

A killer gift for any mystery lover, this glorious, immersive experience will give them the chance to do their best Jane Marple, Hercule Poirot or Jessica Fletcher impression - a whodunit, set aboard a beautifully restored 1920s Pullman train. There will be champagne, a five course dinner, and a lovely journey through the English countryside… but there will also be a murder that needs solving, with curious characters to be encountered, and clues to be considered. There are no spoilers involved when we say that your loved one will love this!

These striking, colourful tea towels are an ace gift for any music lover - just pick their favourite icon, and voila!: a practical present that looks great and celebrates their musical hero (I should add that I’ve given quite a few of these and they always get an enthusiastic thumbs up).

Tea Towels:

Bowie tea towel

Prince tea towel

Amy Winehouse tea towel

Morrissey tea towel

Michael Jackson tea towel

Madonna tea towel

Robert Smith tea towel

For all the wonder of having 4 trillion tunes in your phone and being able to stream music via a multitude of devices, as reinvigorated vinyl sales show, there’s still nothing quite like the magic of playing a hold-it-in-your-hands record. There are numerous turntable models on the market, but here are a few options… and of course, you could snap up a vinyl platter or two to accompany it (or a record token, so your music loving pal can pick their own).

Record Players:

ION Max LP Conversion Turntable with Speakers (£69.99)

Lenco 87 Turntable (£229.99)

Miniot Wheel (€650)

Keep an eye out for upcoming shows by your musically-minded loved one’s favourite artists, and snap up tickets for something you think they’ll be excited to see. As a variation on this, many venues around the country offer gift vouchers, so you could check if their nearest spot has them, and give your recipient the gift of the gig of their choice.

We have plenty of recording studio experiences… Learn to DJ is perfect for beginners looking to improve their DJ skills in any genre of electronic music. If they take the personally tailored one-to-one Music Production course, they’ll spend their half day immersed in the world of creating electronic music. As one five-star review states: ‘A fantastic experience. Very educational and beneficial. I learnt many practical techniques which I can use straight away.’

You could tuck the voucher into a great music book, such as: Detroit 67: The Year That Changed Soul by Stuart Cosgrove, Billy Bragg’s Roots, Radicals and Rockers: How Skiffle Changed the World or Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop by Bob Stanley (of which music writer Alexis Petridis enthused: ‘Might be the best book about music I’ve ever read’). Alternatively, you could opt for a rollicking memoir, like music journalist Sylvia Patterson’s I’m Not With the Band, or witty music fan Giles Smith’s Lost in Music.

In addition to celebrating an artist’s work, there’s nothing quite like a photography book for escaping to another world. They’re also something that can feel decadent to buy for oneself, making them an ideal gift. There are publishers who produce pretty irresistible offerings, including Taschen, Dewi Lewis and Hoxton Mini Press. The latter’s little offspring make for perfect (portable!) presents - your only problem will be choosing from their series of beautiful, engrossing and tactile titles.

Vivian Maier was a professional nanny who, as she travelled the world, took tens of thousands of extraordinary photos - but shared them with no-one. That her mesmerising body of work has been revealed is down to the chance discovery of a box of Maier’s undeveloped negatives. The fascinating story of this discovery, and the subsequent search for more of her work and information about her, is told in documentary Finding Vivian Maier.

Gifts:

Vivian Maier: Street Photographer book (£33.99)

Finding Vivian Maier DVD (£5.99)

This jolly smartphone case is an ace accessory for any photography buff, adding a retro element to that inescapably modern gadget.

A vivid, experimental form of photography which first gained popularity in Vienna in the early 90s, lomography captures pictures on film (rather than digitally), and produces dazzling, colourful results (you can learn more here). At Lomography.com they offer camera bundles (including a camera, lenses and film) which will get any budding lomographer started. They’ve also put together a handy Beginners Guide to help with picking the model that’s right for you, or your lucky giftee. As a wading-gently-into-the-lomography world starter, you could opt for this single use camera.

If your favourite amateur photographer has a Digital SLR camera (or has been pondering on buying one) and would like some help making the most of it, then this one-to-one photography course is just the ticket! Hugely informative and immensely enjoyable, this introductory digital photography course (which is run in Worcester, Birmingham City Centre and the heart of the Malvern Hills), will allow them to learn, take control and fulfill their dream of taking magnificent pictures – every time.

For more Experience Days Photography courses, hop here.

It’s a little-known fact that Britain’s railways feature 150 stations which are request stops. Author Dixe Wills gads about the country visiting some of them, in the process uncovering fascinating tales which reflect Britain’s history. And incidentally, Paul Merton’s TV series, Secret Stations, was inspired by this book.

I’ve spoken to many board game enthusiasts who love the Ticket to Ride games. This edition takes players on a train adventure through the great cities of turn-of-the-century Europe. Just the thing to enjoy with a Christmas sherry and a bowl of nuts; railway-tastic fun for all the family!

For your favourite railway enthusiast, this Diesel Train Driving Experience in Derbyshire is guaranteed to be a truly unforgettable day. Starting at heritage Wirksworth station, they’ll hop aboard a lovingly-restored diesel railcar, accompanied by an expert train driver. During the day, they’ll learn about railway operations and take the controls as they journey through Ecclesbourne Valley… plus they’ll get to enjoy a delicious lunch in the Pullman Buffet Car. This train driving malarky is hungry work, after all.

Keep the family football fan entertained with one of these 3D models, where they can build their own stadium. No need to fret about getting glue on the sofa, either, as these don’t require any tools or sticking. Models to choose from are Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United.

Says The Guardian: A stunningly produced and illustrated magazine for runners, featuring original illustrations – and, of course, stories about running, all done by runners. Each issue is a mini work of art (and you can buy prints from the magazine at the online shop, too).

More Sports Magazines:

For other stylish and original sports mags, check out this Stack Magazines list of recommendations, including Racquet (tennis), Mundial (football), Caddie (golf), Franchise (basketball) and more besides.

Here’s TomTom with another tip-top gadget: the Spark 3 is a high-flying running watch and fitness tracker which features non-phone music, heart monitoring and GPS navigation. As TechRadar state: ‘Being able to head off for a long run and not care about getting lost – or download and follow a new path entirely - will appeal to any runner guilty of plodding the same route day-after-day. But it could be especially useful for frequent travelers who want to explore a new city, safe in the knowledge they can get back to the hotel without flicking that data roaming switch.’

Whatever sports float your action man or woman’s boat, we’ve an experience they’ll love. There’s this, for starters - a chance to get behind the wheel of one of the most iconic racing cars of all time - the classic 1960's Ford GT40.

Another way to get the adrenaline pumping would be to Learn Rock and Ice Climbing in Scotland (£89), or partake in Climbing and Abseiling for Two in Cornwall (£130).

If sea-bound adventures are more their thing, there’s the Discover Surfing Experience (£39), or a Full Day Sailing Lesson in Southampton (£149).

Back on solid ground, there’s the PGA Professional 30 Minute Golf Lesson (£35), or the 18 Hole Golf Lesson For 3 with a PGA Professional in Hertfordshire (£375). And of course, there’s plenty more to choose from...

It may not be the cheapest option for stapling your gas bill together, but what a fancy gift for your stationery-loving pal! This range of staplers features a fair menagerie of animals, including a Toucan, Deer, Hippo, Flamingo, Zebra, Crocodile and Cockatoo - phew!

These fountain pens are truly splendid - stylish, practical, and with an accompanying range of magnificently-coloured ink cartridges.

If you’d like to also give something for the imminent pen owner to write on, you could pick a box of jolly notecards, which will come in handy for their Christmas thank you’s.

Smythson’s entirely elegant cards, with gold-lined envelopes:

Fox

Postbox

Sailboat

Portico’s embossed notecards are quirkily lovely, and the complementary envelope linings are a nice touch, too:

Lighthouse

Zebra

Pineapple

Bee (incidentally, I love in the reviews that these went down a storm with the Secretary of a Bee Keepers’ Association… sweet).

Chronicle Books’ notecards are witty, inventive and fun:

High Five! Notecards

You're a Peach: 8 Scratch and Sniff Notecards

Kodachrome Notes Notecards

Vintage Mccall's Patterns Notecards

The gang at dandy stationery company Ohh Deer curate cheery, gorgeously designed products. They also offer a subscription to their Papergang, sending members a monthly treasure trove of stationery and desk accessories, designed in collaboration with different artists (plus, for every four boxes sold, they plant a tree!). One review exclaimed, ‘I love my Papergang box. It’s like a mini Christmas every month!’ And if that isn’t a ringing endorsement (and a festive one, no less), then I don’t know what is...

I’d imagine that any keen theatre-lover would feel compelled to read this book after encountering this description: ‘Amber Massie-Blomfield takes the road less travelled to discover Britain’s most astonishing and unexpected theatres. A ruined playhouse, haunted halls, a stage hewn from granite cliffs. Theatres on wheels, squeezed into a former public lavatory and rescued from fire. A theatre that is not there at all. Making the case for radical, quirky and non-conforming performance spaces alongside iconic venues, this book is a celebration of thriving against the odds. It also tells a personal account of a life-long love affair with the places where 'anything is possible.’

Now here’s a pretty spectacular bit of merch… Lady Macbeth’s Hand Sanitiser. We’re not making any insinuations about the cleanliness of your theatre buff, but they’ll no doubt enjoy exclaiming - all together now - ‘out, damned spot’... and then enthusiastically (or, depending on how theatrical they are, manically) covering their hands with this sanitising gel.

As if the hand sanitiser weren’t brilliant enough, this here honey is produced from hives situated on the roof of the National Theatre. As the gang there explain: ‘Our bees forage up to three miles from their hives on the roof of the National Theatre. A very limited number of jars are produced each year; get yours before they go.’ So snap up a pot for your favourite theatre fan before they buzz off the shelves (sorry).

Whether they prefer high drama or a toe-tapping musical, Theatre Tokens are a tip top treat. Giving your recipient the gift of a show of their choice, these particular vouchers can be used at more than 240 venues nationwide. What’s more, Theatre Tokens is a not-for-profit organisation, which reinvests any profits into promoting theatre. So supporting them supports future theatre, which surely deserves a round of applause!

Make their travels more comfortable with one of these swish ‘n’ cosy pillows… (the Cabeau Evolution Pillow came top in Independent’s list of 10 best travel pillows).

Travel Pillows:

Trtl Travel Pillow (approx £30)

Cabeau Evolution Pillow (£29.99)

Identify your luggage with these practical ‘n’ elegant leather tags (and while we’re here, how is it that the ribbons that all folk with black luggage tie to their suitcases - in an attempt to make them un-missably unique - are red?).

An often-travelling friend raves about the Ring Video Doorbell, which keeps an eye on your property, and lets you answer your front door, wherever you are. Featuring motion detection which can send an alert whenever there’s movement outside the house, it also captures video and has two-way audio, allowing you to speak to anyone outside - from your office, an airport, the beach… or your living room.

A restaurant guide that features ‘over 3,000 recommendations for more than 4,500 restaurants in more than 70 countries from more than 650 of the world's best chefs’, give your favourite traveller the inside scoop on the best places in the world to grab a great bite.