A thoughtful, indulgent and practical gift idea - and a present the whole household can enjoy - Christmas hampers are always a winner. With such huge variety available, it's easy to find a hamper you know your friends and family will genuinely appreciate. You may even save them a trip to the supermarket, which is especially convenient over the festive period when guests are constantly popping in, in need of a treat to go with their coffee or mulled wine. Plus, the hampers themselves make for lovely home accessories and picnic hampers, so it's a gift that keeps on giving.
In our roundup of the best hampers, we've reviewed a mix of savoury, sweet, vegan, boozy and organic treats. Browse below, and find the perfect hamper for your loved ones.
Best Christmas hampers at a glance: our favourite picks
- Best for families: Family Christmas Hamper, Cutter and Squidge
- Best for festive hosting: The Luxury Fizz & Nibbles Christmas Hamper, Abel and Cole
- Best for ethical shoppers: Original Social Stories Gift Hamper
For more gifting inspiration, check out the best reusable wrapping paper.
Best Christmas hampers, reviewed for 2023
Family Christmas Hamper, Cutter and Squidge
Best for families
Buy now from Cutter and Squidge (£69.99)
- RRP £69.99
- Hamper material Cardboard box
- Number of items 9
- Delivery details Available now, delivery dates vary depending on address
- Vegetarian? Yes
There’s something very fun about Cutter and Squidge’s Family Christmas Hamper with its brightly coloured packaging and quirky recipes, and the products are seriously delicious.
The box includes child-friendly treats such as hot chocolate spoons, sweets and cookies, as well as festive staples such as mince pies and coffee. It’s a hamper filled with odd treats to keep you going throughout the festive season, so we'd say it's good value for money. Plus, a few of the items would make great stocking-fillers.
Rather than a traditional wicker hamper, the food arrives in a large orange cardboard box, which is sure to please those who can’t stand Christmas packaging clutter.
The large, chunky cookies are the only item with a shorter shelf-life (up to eight days) but they really help this hamper stand out. You can pop them in the oven for a decadent dessert (we’d recommend eating with ice cream or cream) — a perfect addition to a family night in, or children’s sleepover perhaps.
The orange and candied ginger dark chocolate bark is another winner for us, you can really taste the quality of the cocoa, plus the nigella seed and sweet chilli vegan bites are a real upgrade from your classic cracker.
The aesthetically pleasing branding is sure to delight, but we found there was a lot of plastic wrapping. The cookies and mince pies are individually wrapped, which while enhancing the freshness of the produce, may put people off.
All age groups are covered here, and it’s an enjoyable box for families to open together. All of the items are suitable for vegetarians, and there are a couple of vegan-friendly treats too.
Pros: Interesting (and delicious) flavours, recyclable hamper, fast delivery, fun for kids
Cons: Too much individual packaging
The Luxury Fizz & Nibbles Christmas Hamper, Abel and Cole
Best for festive hosting
Buy now from Abel and Cole (£77.00)
- RRP £77.00
- Hamper material Wicker basket
- Number of items 9
- Delivery details Available from 11th December (can pre-order now)
- Vegetarian? No
You may associate Abel and Cole with fruit and veg delivery, but the brand also creates hampers filled with organic goodies. We reviewed the Luxury Fizz & Nibbles Christmas Hamper and were impressed by the high-quality produce and overall charm.
The cheeses really stood out for us on test. Both the brie and cheddar are creamy yet bold, and even the feta used in the stuffed cherry peppers is particularly smooth. Every hamper detail and ingredient feels of premium quality.
The mini mince pies are covered in icing sugar, adding to this hamper’s homemade feel. The subtle brandy flavour didn’t go unnoticed! The chilli and rosemary shortbreads are an interesting combination of sweet and savoury, and are sure to jazz up an otherwise ordinary cheese board.
This Christmas hamper works as a whole, so it’ll please hosts looking to impress. You’ll not need to worry about picking up extra bits (although more crackers certainly wouldn’t go amiss) — just serve up and relax. The mix of cheeses, charcuterie, olives and fizz make it an ideal celebratory yet rustic dinner for four.
The hamper arrived with a woolen cool pack, a nice alternative to soggy plastic, to keep the perishable goods nice and chilled. The inclusion of meats and cheeses really takes this hamper to the next level - just make sure your recipient is around to receive it to avoid food waste (and disappointment!).
The wicker basket offers a traditional, country-chic look - it even creaks when you lift the lid - and would work well for two-person picnics.
At just under £80, this hamper is on the expensive side considering it could disappear in one sitting, but all of the items work well together and we appreciate the unique, delicious and punchy flavour combinations.
Pros: Organic produce, premium taste, hamper works beautifully as a whole
Cons: Fresh ingredients may complicate delivery
Snowdonia Quintessential Cheese Hamper
Best for cheese lovers
Buy now from Snowdonia Cheese Company (£45.00)
- RRP £45.00
- Number of items 8
- Delivery details Within 1-3 days
- Vegetarian? Yes
Cheese enthusiasts are in luck! Whether you like your cheese mild, or packed full of flavour, this selection of five includes something for everybody, and it's a great way to try more unique flavour combinations.
The hamper includes 200g servings of Black Bomber (extra mature cheddar), Beechwood (mature cheddar naturally smoked over beechwood chips), Red Storm (vintage red Leicester), Green Thunder (mature cheddar with roasted garlic and garden herb) and Red Devil (red Leicester with Habanero chillies, peppers and spices).
The Black Bomber went down particularly well, and the Green Thunder was moreish rather than overpowering. We also found the Red Devil's subtle spicing complemented the Red Leicester beautifully.
The chutneys - Balsamic Caramelised Onion and Pear and Date and Cognac - pair perfectly with the cheeses, elevating the experience.
The hamper also includes a box of wholemeal and extra virgin olive oil crackers to complete the set. The number of crackers was slightly disappointing but the cheese is the real star of the show. Just remember to stock up on cheese board essentials!
What we really like about this hamper is that it's also the gift of an experience. Bring everyone together over a cheese night, whether it's for a housewarming present, or family members you'll miss over the festive period.
The five cheeses are beautifully presented on a bed of raffia, contributing to the overall rustic feel of this Snowdonia Cheese Company hamper. The hamper box can be reused in the future, but it feels quite fragile so it may be best for display purposes.
It's also worth checking out the Snowdonia Cheese Company's serving suggestions.
Pros: Exceptional quality, decent portion sizes, great value for money
Cons: Refrigerated items require some degree of forward planning for delivery
The Christmas Treat Hamper, Fortnum and Mason
Best for luxury
Buy now from Fortnum and Mason (£110.00)
- RRP £110.00
- Number of items 7
- Delivery details Order by 18th December for standard delivery before Christmas
- Vegetarian? Yes
Fortnum and Mason's Christmas Treat Hamper contains a variety of food and drink items, including a whole Christmas pudding, a bottle of red wine, reindeer sweets and cognac butter, but we'd say it's more suited to those who prefer sweet things. This is a mature hamper that certainly leans towards an adult age group, but the chocolate coins are sure to please little ones.
We were impressed with the quality of products. The Christmas tea has a subtly unique flavour thanks to the cocoa nibs, clementine, and warming Christmas spices. Tea enthusiasts should enjoy this. The pecan and ginger biscuits are crumbly and buttery, and go well with the tea.
You're covered for the big day itself with a rich and moist Christmas pudding, and there's even cognac butter if you're a fan. The Claret was of very high quality, but likely hikes the price of the hamper up quite a lot.
As for packaging, we could’ve done with less raffia. While aesthetically pleasing, it’s messy. Fans of the iconic brand however will appreciate the classic Fortnum and Mason design in black on front of the basket. The lovely biscuit tin, tea tin and cognac butter jar can all be reused, but they're distinctly festive, so perhaps best left for homemade Christmas presents.
Fortnum and Mason gifts come at a cost, and you’re paying for the iconic wicker hamper, as well as the goods inside. We question whether the seven food and drink items are worth over £100. Compared to other hampers on the market, we'd say this one doesn’t offer enough products to be considered good value.
Pros: High-quality tasting items, iconic hamper design
Cons: Expensive, fewer items than other hampers on review
Original Social Stories Gift Hamper
Best for ethical shoppers
Buy now from Social Stories Club (£60.00)
- RRP £60.00
- Number of items 8, plus story booklet
- Delivery details Free UK delivery, allow up to two working days to be dispatched
- Vegetarian? Yes
The Social Stories Club supports sustainable brands that aim to have a positive impact on the world, so it's one for ethical shoppers who think carefully about their consumption habits. In this hamper you'll find shortbread biscuits made from renewable energy; chocolate from a company that contributes towards reforestation projects and organic soap that's been designed by artists living with epilepsy and learning difficulties. There's also a sparkling drink made from wonky lemons that would otherwise be chucked into landfill.
What's more, you can learn more about the social enterprises involved thanks to the story booklet that comes with the hamper. This aspect justifies the price tag, as we're happy to pay more to support charitable and sustainable projects.
The shortbread biscuits are especially tasty, and the hot chocolate has a luxurious feel which gives it a real treat sensation. We love the mix of edible and non-edible gifts. While the artisan soap and candle are small, they really help make this a special hamper, full of surprises.
The hamper itself is a sturdy woven box, crafted from red, raffia-like material. It feels especially festive, and more substantial than a traditional wicker hamper.
Pros: No fresh produce for effortless delivery (great for surprising!), sustainability at the core, inclusion of non-edible gifts
Cons: Lack of savoury treats
How we tested
Our team tested a number of hiking water bottles, in varying temperatures and hiking conditions, taking the following questions into consideration: is the water bottle easy to carry and use? How effective is the insulation? Is it leak-proof? Is it good value for money?
We rated them on how well they packed into a backpack as well as how practical elements such as carry handles, care instructions and material weight made them. Durability was also a factor we tested the bottles for, by using the bottles for everyday use, as well as for specific hikes and long excursions. Insulation was also put to the test, by assessing how long specific designs could retain heat effectively for that all-important brew with a view.
For more present inspiration, read our gift guides:
- Best gift ideas for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers
- Best gifts for walkers: 33 top presents for hikers
- The best outdoor gift cards and subscriptions for friends and family
We've also put together a guide to the best experience gifts and best subscriptions for gifting, which include plenty of ideas for foodies.
