From blow-out baskets of luxury goods to chic pared-back selections of artisanal products, the best Christmas hampers have evolved over the years. This year's no exception with retailers providing inventive and innovative takes on both the hampers and their contents.
Each of our picks below combines beautiful presentation with exceptional food and drink – think hand-crafted chocolates, limited-edition preserves, rare wines, and charcuterie from small-scale producers. Many of the items below are sourced for their provenance and quality; a trend which speaks to a growing desire for authenticity and sustainability in the food world and a demand for small-scale produce from consumers.
Whether you’re buying them for a friend, colleague or family member, Christmas hampers are guaranteed crowd-pleasers packed with the best kinds of gifts: items you wouldn’t buy yourself.
With three Michelin stars to his name, Simon Rogan is one of the UK’s most highly regarded chefs. The smart wooden presentation box is sturdy and reusable and the items are packed sweetly with a semi-homemade vibe that makes them feel more special and less mass-market than the majority of the hampers we tested. There’s a nice mix of ready-to-eat items and ingredients to enhance your holiday bakes yourself - like a cream cheese icing to spread generously onto the included Christmas cake once mixed. As you’d expect, every item is deftly made to maximise flavour, exuding an ‘in the know’ gifting quality.
Why we loved it: High-end foodie treats
Number of items: 8
Is alcohol included: No, but you can add it
Stand-out inclusions: Homemade crumpets and Christmas marmalade
Presentation style: Branded, reusable wooden crate
UK-wide delivery option: 3-5 working days
This sweet package from celebrated chef José Pizarro is ideal when you’re in need of a small thank you or celebratory offering for a friend. The Cava is surprisingly rich with caramel undertones and a steady effervescence. It is a less showy alternative to classic Champagne without losing any of the richness you might expect from the latter. As with everything Pizarro does, there’s an emphasis on the quality of ingredients here, demonstrated via the chocolate-enrobed figs, which are crafted by a family in Spain who specialise in such treats. This is one for someone who appreciates artisanal products.
Why we loved it: Perfect for a small celebration
Number of items: 2
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Chocolate-dipped jammy figs and Cava Gran Reserva
Presentation style: Cardboard box with paper straw
UK-wide delivery option: 1-2 working days
Perfect for chocolate lovers everywhere - both little and large, alike – this hamper combines a mix of both drinking items and edible treats for a truly indulgent spread. The milk chocolate flakes are rich and creamy with butterscotch undertones while the dark chocolate is pitched at 54% which means it’s rich without becoming too bitter. The shaker is genius, giving you that smooth, velvety barista-style drink without bulky gadgets cluttering your worktop, and the honeycomb is a welcome inclusion for a treat to have on the side of your hot drink. There are other things included, like a recipe book and a hot chocolate bowl, and the whole thing is packed in a reusable black wicker hamper for that traditional Christmassy feel.
Why we loved it: Ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth
Number of items: 7
Is alcohol included: No
Stand-out inclusions: 43% Milk chocolate flakes for creamy hot chocolate and a tub of addictive honeycomb
Best for: Tea total friends or chocolate-mad kids
UK-wide delivery option: 2-3 working days
Instead of including chutneys you’ll never wade through or a million mince pies, this hamper is pitch-perfect for the gourmand in your life presenting food they will actually want to eat. This would make an ideal gift for someone hosting this season, giving the gift of a ready-made meal via its selection of cheeses, crackers, charcuterie and olives. Packed with blue shredded cardboard and tied up with a big fat bow, it gives more theatre than other brands and the hamper – if you choose to add it – is of a really nice quality. There are lots of British-made goods included too, like Cornish tinned fish, which feels particularly special. With Perello olives and Fine Cheese Company Crackers, this one straddles both style and substance with trendy ingredients that are well-loved as much for their depth of flavour as their presentation style.
Why we loved it: This smartly paired hamper is a party in a box
Number of items: 12
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Cobble Lane mixed charcuterie platter and some of the deli’s best cheeses
Presentation style: Choice of a wicker hamper or cardboard box
UK-wide delivery option: From two working days
With toasty notes in the prosecco and candied citrus in the panettone, this is the type of hamper you want to tuck into immediately upon arrival thanks to such a perfect pairing. Aside from the hero elements, there’s also beautifully sourced hot chocolate, a cookbook from the Gelupo gelato team (who also own critically acclaimed Bocca Di Lupo in Soho), a box of fine Italian chocolate and a voucher for the gelato shop in London too. So not only does this gifting option give the recipient immediate gratification, but it also allows them to enjoy a special treat once all the fun of the festivities has finished.
Why we loved it: A winning combination of panettone and prosecco
Number of items: 6
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: A voucher for Gelupo’s gelato in-store and Forno Gentile classic panettone
UK-wide delivery option: Specific festive delivery slots,
Stuffed with tea, coffee and sweet treats, this collaborative hamper between HAY and Selfridges brings a touch of Scandi design to the holidays. While usually the hamper is pretty perfunctory, here it’s had a playful tweak. Instead of the usual wicker, this one is woven in cherry red and white, making it a handy and striking storage option to add to a shelf or cupboard in your home. The chocolate and biscuits included range from brownies stuffed into a Selfridges bauble to gooey caramels - an ideal selection to enjoy with family and friends over the holidays.
Why we loved it: Chocolate, biscuits and tea make for luxurious holiday afternoons
Number of items: 9
Is alcohol included: No
Stand-out inclusions: Dark and white chocolate selection box and Selfridges Selection mini panettone
Presentation style: A HAY reusable hamper
UK-wide delivery option: 2-4 working days
For keen cooks, this gargantuan selection of Italian produce is heaven. Instead of alchohol, here you’ll find the building block ingredients for authentic Italian recipes. From risotto rice to gluten-free pasta, this isn’t one for anyone who wants immediate snacking options from their hamper. Instead, it provides incredible catalysts for all kinds of meals, adding real depth to recipes via unusual finishers like a fig glaze or mandarin oil, or a speedy meal with just a few dollops of a wild fennel tomato pesto.
Why we loved it: An immediate pantry-filler
Number of items: 27
Is alcohol included: No
Stand-out inclusions: Raw honey and bronze-dried pasta
Presentation style: Wicker hamper
UK-wide delivery option: 3-5 working days
By day, Provisions is an eat-in cheese and wine shop in Highbury & Islington – well worth a visit if you’re a fromage fan. When you want to bring the experience to you, their range of smartly curated hampers delivers a little piece of their artisan sensibilities straight to your front door. The USP here is high-quality items that have been carefully sourced, including smoked trout fillets in olive oil from Portugal, Camembert from Normandy, goat saucisson from the Basque Country and a wonderfully easy-to-drink Champagne to toast the season with.
Why we loved it: Carefully selected, European produce
Number of items: 11
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: British honey and a rich, green olive oil
Presentation style: Cardboard box with paper straw
UK-wide delivery option: 2-4 working days
The award-winning Lyaness in London is one of the city’s best bars, but now you can bring the experience home without having to step foot in Zone One. There’s a bright pink neon box tied up with a bow and it also includes a handy tote bag to stash your loot in should you want to transport it somewhere else for Christmas. Of the eight products, six are alcohol – Champagne, cocktails and wine – so this really does feel like a celebratory gift for the season’s best soirees. Aside from the drinks, there is also a fragrant loose-leaf tea and a pack of Tunnock’s Tea Cakes… for the next day, perhaps?
Why we loved it: For top-end, sommelier chosen and mixed drinks
Number of items: 8
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Lyaness’ signature bottled cocktails and Carte Blanche extra brut Champagne
Presentation style: Cardboard box with paper straw
UK-wide delivery option: Selected dates
There are only so many cinnamon-spiced, dried-fruit-stuffed pastries and puddings you can eat. If you’re looking for something different and perhaps a touch summery in the depths of winter, this selection of Spanish goods should suffice nicely. It includes artisanal charcuterie, such as Ibérico ham and chorizo, along with Manchego cheese, olives, almonds, and quince paste. Additionally, there’s a bottle of wine and festive sweets like Turrón, a traditional nougat. This hamper celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Spain, offering everything needed for a festive spread. It’s ideal for sharing, making it a thoughtful and indulgent gift for any food lover.
Why we loved it: Not a mince pie in sight for non-conformists
Number of items: 21
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Pancracio hazelnut and dark chocolate praline bar and Brindisa acorn-fed Iberico salchichón slices
Presentation style: Wicker hamper
UK-wide delivery option: Named day
Covering all bases this chunky hamper includes wine and sweet and savoury items for a one-stop Christmas storecupboard shop. Everything comes wrapped up in a sturdy wicker hamper emblazoned with the signature H, which is as much a part of the offering as anything else thanks to its recyclability as a household object. Preserves like lemon curd and Harrods’ own house marmalade are ideal for a Christmas morning breakfast while a full-bodied bottle of claret paired with olives, crackers and nuts make for a welcome turkey-free supper between Christmas and New Year.
Why we loved it: Classic, British luxury
Number of items: 21
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Harrods Prosecco Superiore and a milk chocolate caramelised biscuit bar
Presentation style: Wicker hamper
UK-wide delivery option: 2-3 working days
Tommy Banks is a Michelin-starred chef who runs a number of restaurants with his family in Yorkshire. With an emphasis on produce throughout his menus, his Christmas hampers reflect a similar approach to sourcing, with beautiful artisanal ingredients and homemade treats included. Little touches elevate this one like the canned mini wines coming in Christmas cracker wrapping and a note that offers serving suggestions for each of the different food stuffs. The root veg mince pies are a stand-out as a completely unique twist on a classic.
Why we loved it: For its unusual spins on Christmas classics
Number of items: 31
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: A Christmas-scented candle and a moreish pate de champagne pie
Presentation style:
UK-wide delivery option: Select festive dates
Synonymous with tasteful garden and interior design, The Newt in Somerset’s appeal extends into their stellar selection of deli items sold at the farm in-person and online. With a sister property in South Africa, this one combines the very best of global goods that range from Cape wines to British-made cyder pressed from local apples. Aside from tipples, there are also savoury snacks like pigs in blankets roasted nuts and chilli and fennel biscuits, as well as sweet treats like Christmas cake, nougat and Italian Pandoro. On top of the edibles, there’s also a sweet calendar to help you make plans to look forward to in 2025.
Why we loved it: Beautiful packaging and small-scale artisanal products
Number of items: 14
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Babylonstoren Babel wine and Christmas cake
Presentation style: Wooden box
UK-wide delivery option: 2-5 working days
Charbonnel et Walker have been making chocolates since 1875 when Madame Charbonnel from Paris met Mrs. Walker from London. The formidable pair were skilled at their individual crafts: making chocolates and luxurious boxes respectively. Together they formed quite the team and the brand has traded on its inimitable combination of the finest chocolates wrapped in beautifully detailed boxes ever since. This extraordinary offering is a ‘best of the best’ type of curation that includes Champagne as well as chocolates to every taste - from pink Marc de Champagne classics to vegan bars. It’s a one-size-fits-all gift for groups.
Why we loved it: A sumptuous selection of beautiful chocolates
Number of items: 11
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Bottle of Moët et Chandon and 650g of milk and pink Marc de Champagne truffles
Presentation style: Cardboard box
UK-wide delivery option: 3-5 working days
One of London’s most exclusive delicatessens, Panzer’s is the shop of choice for the city’s north-west dwellers. The experience for this one begins before you’ve even got the hamper open, with beautiful wrapping all finished off with a signature pink and teal bow that exudes a real sense of occasion. This luxurious gift features artisanal charcuterie, fine cheeses, gourmet snacks, and a selection of wines and sweets that create an abundant spread. Each item is carefully selected for quality, giving the hamper a touch of sophistication and exclusivity. Perfect for gourmet lovers, it’s an ideal gift for any celebratory occasion, beautifully assembled to make a memorable impression.
Why we loved it: Chic Christmas fare with a sense of occasion
Number of items: 20
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Aetos Ithaki extra virgin olive oil and a bottle of Vina Cobos Felino
Presentation style: Ribbon-wrapped cardboard boxes
UK-wide delivery option: Select Christmas dates
Nothing quite says Christmas like a big, fat Fortnum’s hamper and this one is a real blow-out example for large gatherings. Inside you’ll find nearly forty products, including some wonderfully nostalgic treats such as a tin of sweet liquorice and a pretty wooden box filled with squashy pieces of Turkish delight. This one has the excitement factor as you unpack what feels like an endless supply ranging from premium bottles to sweet and savoury snacks. Whether you’re making sandwiches with Boxing Day pickle or indulging in peppermint hot chocolate, this basket will see you through many a happy day of eating and drinking.
Why we loved it: It’s iconic status
Number of items: 38
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Christmas puddings iced biscuits
Presentation style: Wicker hamper
UK-wide delivery option: Up to five working days
The John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper is an opulent selection packed into a supersized wicker chest that might be used as a basket for shoes or laundry after the decorations have been packed away for another year. This luxurious collection boasts Bollinger Champagne, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, Salcombe gin, and festive treats like a Tiptree Christmas pudding, decorated fruit cake, and a selection of gourmet chocolates, cheeses, and crackers. It’s a real kitchen stuffer, with food and drinks fit for every kind of supper and snack. Aside from the food, this hamper also includes Christmas crackers for dressing your festive table with.
Why we loved it: For an explosion of Christmas cheer
Number of items: 39
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Bollinger Champagne special cuvee and Rendles Farmhouse duck pate with Armagnac
Presentation style: Wicker hamper
UK-wide delivery option: 2-5 working day
It makes sense that one of London's best Italian restaurants would curate an excellent Christmas hamper. River Café have drawn on years of expertise sourcing the best produce to compile a gift box packed with the restaurant's own creations (jam, chocolate dipped candied oranges and of course, grappa) and curated Italian favourites. It's not just food, either. We loved the Bella Freud herb-scented candle, Murano glass cocktail stirrers and Chiarastella 100% linen cocktail napkins. Perfect stocking fillers for unexpected festive guests.
Why we loved it: For last-minute gifts and foodie treats
Number of items: 16
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Murano glass cocktail stirrers and a Bella Freud candle
Presentation style: Gift box
UK-wide delivery option: Order before 19 December for Christmas delivery
If you’re looking for something truly unique, this collaboration between No.3 Gin (Berry Bros. & Rudd’s brand) and Globe-Trotter luggage is supremely limited, with only 100 sets having been made. There’s synergy between these two brands with their shared long-standing British heritage. In true Globe-Trotter style, the suitcase is of the very highest quality, with beautiful detailing like studded bodywork and leather straps. Dukes Bar’s (home of one of the best martinis in London) Alessandro Palazzi was consulted to bring together the contents, so you can expect his signature Vermouth drop bottle as well as the fragrant No.3 gin, glasses, coasters, a jigger and picks. It’s the ideal grouping to create the very best drinks with the type of flair that made Palazzi so famous for his martinis.
Why we loved it: An instant design classic
Number of items: 7
Is alcohol included: Yes
Stand-out inclusions: Alessandro Palazzi’s vermouth drop bottle and No.3 Gin
Presentation style: Luxury suitcase
What’s included in a traditional Christmas hamper?
The contents of Christmas hampers vary greatly, but some traditional items include Christmas cakes, mince pies, cheese and charcuterie, wines, chutneys, chocolate and even cooked meats like ham or game pies.
What is the most expensive Christmas hamper?
You can find Christmas hampers at nearly any price point, with many reaching the thousands. The most common luxury hampers are from brands such as Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, whose most expensive Christmas hamper for 2024 is listed at £6000.
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