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It can be incredibly difficult to figure out what to buy your friends and family for Christmas. This year’s most popular Christmas gifts include the The White Company’s Electronic Diffuser, the M&S Collection hamper and a classic Hotel Chocolat gift box – but those are just three options out of thousands. That’s why, this year, we’ve rounded up best Christmas gifts for all the people in your life on eight separate guides.
Below are the best ideas from the Telegraph editors’ individual Christmas gift guides, including presents for men, women, children, dogs (yes, really) and gardeners, plus home, food, drink and secret Santa gifts. At the top of our list, you’ll find the most popular gifts to give at Christmas, based on our own research.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick summary:
Which are the best Christmas gifts in 2023? At a glance
- Best Christmas gift for women - The White Company Diffuser
- Best Christmas gift for men - Fitbit Versa 4
- Best Christmas gift for kids - Squishmallows Brock the Bulldog
- Best secret Santa gift - Hotel Chocolat Milk Chocolate Reindeer
- Best Christmas gift for dogs - Engravable Dog Tag
Best Christmas gifts
1. The White Company Diffuser
Best Christmas gift for women
Unlike reed diffusers, The White Company electronic diffuser’s scent can be switched daily if you so desire. At this time of year, we lean towards the woody Highland Escape (£10). The diffuser has four time settings and doubles as a home ornament.
£70
Price at
The White Company
For men, Fitbit takes the spot of the most desired Christmas gift of 2023. It’s not cheap, but it combines around 10 gadgets in one; it’s a watch, heart rate, sleep and fitness tracker, GPS, fitness coach and voice assistant.
£149
Price at
Amazon
A squeezable, squishy plush toy that’s en route to becoming a collector’s item. Ideal for toddlers and tweens alike.
£8.99
Price at
John Lewis
For a secret Santa present, you can’t go wrong with chocolate. (Especially if you don’t know your secret Santa recipient very well.) This box of reindeers is made from high quality 40 per cent chocolate.
£8.95
Price at
Hotel Chocolat
If you’ve left your present-buying until now, you don’t have that many options, but you can still get a floral centrepiece for your loved one’s Christmas dinner table. Interflora’s flowers aren’t sent out from a central depot: they come from your nearest florist, who can hand-tie and hand-deliver a Christmas arrangement tomorrow (or today, if you order from their same day range by 3pm). Who says you weren’t planning it all along?
From£45
Price at
Interflora
6. 2023 According To Blower Jigsaw Puzzle
Best Christmas gift for Telegraph readers
Yes, we are allowed to recommend our own gifts. So would you, if you’d seen the loving care that Blower puts into squeezing an entire year’s worth of events into this 300-piece wooden jigsaw puzzle and the 1,000-piece card one. Did we mention he’d been awarded Political Cartoonist Of The Year?
From£28
Price at
All Jigsaw Puzzles
These from Etsy prove that dog tags don’t have to be boring - they’re etched with your dog or cat’s name or your choice of text. Decide between silver, gold, rose gold or black and choose from 30 possible illustrations.
From£3.51
Price at
Etsy
Best Christmas gifts for women
8. Jo Malone Pine & Eucalyptus Home Candle
Best scented candle gift for her
Jo Malone’s aromatic Pine and Eucalyptus candle is our pick of the best Christmas scented candles this year. Housed in a limited edition glass design with a green and white striped ribbon on top, it floods the room with aromatic pine and fresh eucalyptus. Each 200g candle provides 45 hours of burn time.
£59
Price at
Net-a-Porter
This small cross body pouch in chromium-free leather is recommended by Telegraph fashion director Lisa Armstrong who calls it, “the perfect dress up accessory for evenings.” It can also be worn as a clutch. For more ideas, see Lisa’s guide to the best Christmas gifts for women.
£97
Price at
Arket
A seriously good value coffee machine that’s often on sale, Nespresso’s Vertuo Pop makes at-home barista-ing a doddle. It comes in blue, red or white and takes any of Nespresso’s 30 types of vertuo coffee pods. Truly delicious coffee at the touch of the button.
£59
Price at
John Lewis
This gift is recommended by Telegraph men’s style editor Stephen Doig: “From the Florentine apothecary that’s the oldest of its kind in the world, this scent is as handsome as its packaging.” For more ideas, see Stephen’s guide to the best Christmas gifts for men.
£43
Price at
Santa Maria Novella
Best Christmas gifts for the home
12. SMEG Dolce & Gabbana Mediterraneo toaster
Best luxury homeware gift
At this price it’ll be a fantasy gift for most, but there’s clearly a market for a toaster lovingly decorated by Dolce & Gabbana to look like a treasured piece of crockery from an Italian nonna’s kitchen. This has already sold out almost everywhere (including at SMEG’s own site), as have the matching kettle and coffee machine, but John Lewis and Harrods still have a few.
£599.95
Price at
John Lewis
This gift is recommended by Telegraph design and interiors editor Jessica Doyle, who says: “A cosy blanket to warm up the bed or sofa on chilly evenings, in one of this season’s hottest shades.” Another very popular gift this year is an electric heated throw for snuggling on the sofa. We recommend a good one on our guide to the best electric blankets. For more ideas, see Jessica’s guide to the best home Christmas gifts.
From£47.99
Price at
The British Blanket Co
Best Christmas gifts for children
14. Yoda’s Jedi Starfigher
£29.99,Boots, also available at LEGO
Best Lego Star Wars set
This gift is recommended by The Telegraph’s Anna Tyzack, a mother of four. “There are a host of new Lego Star Wars sets out for Christmas suitable for children aged 4 and up,” Anna says, “and no wonder, given that the range is the brand’s most popular. This Yoda’s Jedi Starfighter set is aimed at children aged around nine. It’s poised to be a sell-out, so move fast.” Harry Potter Lego sets and Marvel Lego sets are almost as popular. For more ideas, see Anna’s guide to the best kids’ toys for Christmas.
£29.99
Price at
Boots
These shrunk down versions of vinyl collectibles Funko Pop! are also recommended by Anna Tyzack. “They’re affordable, collectible, cute and they make perfect stocking fillers,” she says, “plus there’s a range for every child. This set includes Harry, Malfoy, Dobby and a mystery Bitty Pop!” You might prefer to go for a collection from Marvel or Disney.
£44
Price at
Amazon
Best Christmas food gifts
16. Marks & Spencer Christmas Hamper
Best Christmas hamper
This gift is recommended by Telegraph food columnist Xanthe Clay, who says: “A proper wicker hamper feels luxurious and this one is a great price, with three kinds of biscuits, chocolate florentines and wine, plus the obligatory jar of chutney.” For more ideas, see Xanthe’s guide to the best food Christmas gifts.
£55
Price at
Marks & Spencer
Xanthe also recommends this Japanese-style cross back apron, which she says is elegant and easy to wear, with no ties to knot. She says, “These ones, made from pure Irish linen, have deep pockets and the cranberry red is warm and winter-friendly.”
£45
Price at
Jupiter Red
Best Christmas drink gifts
18. Glencairn Four Glasses Set
Best whisky glasses Christmas gift
This set of Glencairn glasses comes highly recommended by The Telegraph’s wine correspondent, Victoria Moore, who says, “Packed in a smart black box, these Glencairn glasses are the classic whisky tumbler.” For more ideas, see Victoria Moore’s guide to the best alcohol Christmas gifts.
£28
Price at
Glencairn
19. Taylor’s Historical Collection ‘The Mallet’ Reserve Tawny Port NV Portugal
Best port Christmas gift
Victoria Moore also recommends this tawny port for a classy alcohol gift. She says, “Beautiful aged tawny, which tastes of toffee and roasted nuts, in a bottle inspired by the 18th century ‘mallet-cylinder’ bottles.”
£29.99
Price at
Majestic
Best Secret Santa gifts
20. Cartwright & Butler Trio of Hot Chocolate Stirrers
Best seasonal secret Santa gift
At £7.50, these hot chocolate stirrers are perfect for any sub £10 secret Santas. The solid chocolate blocks are filled with three different flavours: milk chocolate, salted caramel and marshmallow. All you need to do is stir them into hot milk and watch it form into a perfectly crafted hot chocolate.
£7.50
Price at
Jarrolds
This mini terrarium is more than your average, boring keyring. It houses your very own cactus. There’s the option of a white or orange spiked cactus, personalisation and gift wrapping, with the most expensive option only costing £10.50.
From£5
Price at
Etsy
These Niwaki secateurs come highly recommended by gardener Sarah Raven. She says, “Light and nimble, for small and chunkier stems, these secateurs are amongst our favourites at home. The tools from this brand are — in my experience — pretty much all fantastic.” For more ideas, see Sarah’s guide to the best Christmas gifts for gardeners.
£42
Price at
Niwaki
23. Bee Border Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Best garden seeds to gift
If you’re wanting to gift seeds for the garden, Sarah Raven recommends this box from Bee Border in collaboration with Seed Pantry. She says, “Selected to be stacked full of nectar or pollen for bees, this collection of seed from the Cambridge Botanic Gardens are perfect for the beginner gardener/seed sower, whatever age.”
£24
Price at
Not On The High Street
Best Christmas gifts for dogs
24. Barbour Dog Quilt
Best dog coat
We like: suitable for all shapes and sizes
A padded jacket with a luxurious tartan lining and practical rip-stop fastenings, recommended by dog owner Anna Tyzack. It’s machine washable and available in three sizes. For more ideas, read Anna Tyzack’s guide to the best gifts for dogs and cats.
£39.95
Price at
John Lewis
25. Kong Classic Medium
£11, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
For gift for greedy dogs
We like: stimulates and helps keep the weight off at the same time
For more than 40 years, the natural rubber Kong toy has been chosen by dog owners (like Anna Tyzack) and recommended by vets: Fox-Pitt suggests stuffing their meal into it to stop them bolting their food, but they can also play games of bounce or fetch with it or chew it in peace. It’s made of natural rubber.
£11
Price at
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home