Buying Christmas presents can be a right headache if you're not sure what to get them, which is why the best Christmas hampers can be a good option. They're a gift box or bag filled with goodies for everyone to tuck into, making them a fab gift for foodies.
Early Black Friday deals on hampers
Early Black Friday deals are popping up on hampers. Want to grab a bargain? These are the retailers that have the best deals right now, or keep scrolling to continue reading our buyer's guide.
Shop Black Friday hamper deals on: Lakeland
£10 off: Borgo de' Medici Italian Black Truffle Dinner Gift Box, WAS £45 - NOW £35
Save £8: Cottage Delight Classic Cheeseboard Savoury Food Hamper, WAS £40 - NOW £32
Christmas pick: Mrs Bridges Snowflake Christmas Hamper, WAS £20 - NOW £16
The best Christmas hampers never fail to impress come Christmas morning as they're perfect for snacking throughout the festive season and beyond. There are loads to choose from these days, and they don't have to just feature marmalade and tea bags (although we do love a good tea-themed hamper!) so they're a great one-stop gift for the whole family.
There are hampers for chocoholics, cheese fiends, and gin lovers. You can also get hampers for vegans and gluten-free ones, too. Some are specifically Christmas-themed whilst others are just a welcome gift for relaxing around Christmas time. And then there are ones that come in beautiful baskets that can be reused - fantastic value and guaranteed to give the 'wow' factor. Just make sure to choose one that your recipient will love and it'll be sure to go down a treat.
Best Christmas hampers at a glance:
• Best overall: Prestige Hampers Traditional Gift Basket – Buy now on Prestige Hampers
• Best afternoon tea Christmas hamper: Festive Afternoon Tea Hamper – Buy now on Hampers.com
• Best festive treat Christmas hamper: Cartwright & Butler The Totally Christmassy Gift Box – Buy now on Next
• Best Christmas cheese hamper: Snowdonia Cheese Christmas Cheeseboard Hamper – Buy now on Snowdonia Cheese Company
Check out our shortlist of the best Christmas hampers to buy in 2024, whatever your budget. Make sure to keep an eye on this page as new hampers are released closer to Christmas.
The best Christmas hampers
Tried & (taste) Tested by Rosie Floyd: “A great gift for that friend who really has everything or as a special treat who deserves to have the best Christmas ever, you’ve got a bit of everything in this Prestige Hamper. There are two things that stood out to me the most about this hamper. One is, the variety of treats inside, you’ve got two bottles of wine, crisps, Christmas pudding, shortbread, chocolate, cakes, jam and so much more so you’ll give the gift of having all the best nibbles over Christmas. The second is the hamper itself, it’s definitely one you can reuse again and again, perhaps for a picnic or an outdoor concert in the summer (that’s definitely my plan!) People often pay good money for a sturdy, old-fashioned picnic basket and the fact you get that plus a whole host of different goodies is what makes this hamper such good value.
The red wine was a particular favourite with people I’ve enlisted to help give this hamper a proper taste tasting, with them saying it went down a treat, and I also enjoyed the mini cake selection, although the packaging of these did arrive a bit crumpled under the weight of everything else inside. That didn’t stop them from tasting absolutely delicious! As well as the sheer volume of products, I appreciate that there’s a good mix of traditional Christmas items as well as general luxury food products as this hamper will take you well past Christmas to work your way through.”
Pros
- Comes presented in a strong, sturdy hamper that you can definitely reuse
- A good mix of sweet and savoury products
Cons
- We found that the box of cakes did get a bit squished under the weight of everything included, not the cakes themselves though, just the packaging
- Waterstop Station Shiraz 75cl, Waterstop Station Chardonnay 75cl, Valley Bakery Chocolate Chip Biscuit 150g, Valley Bakery Artisan Mini Christmas Cakes, Valley Bakery Christmas Shortbread Shapes 60g, Valley Bakery Brandy Christmas Pudding 112g, Walkers Chocolates Milk, White & Dark Classics 120g, Valley Bakery Milk Chocolate Infused with Orange Bar 60g, Valley Preserves Strawberry Jam 130g, Valley Preserves Medium Cut Marmalade 130g, Grate Britain Smoked Cheese Crackers 45g, Yorkshire Crisps Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella 95g, Valley Tea English Breakfast x 10's, Traditional Prestige Hampers Brown Wicker Hamper 18"
Tried & (taste) Tested by Rosie Floyd: “Who doesn’t love afternoon tea?! This hamper has everything you need to gift someone so they can throw themselves a Christmas-themed afternoon tea (and fingers crossed you’ll get an invite!) This hamper has a bit of an Italian twist with the products. Think amaretti biscuits, cappuccino flapjack and Prosecco. It certainly brought a bit of the Mediterranean to our office when we were taste-testing what was inside. We wished the cappuccino flapjack was a bit bigger as there were a few of us arguing over the last bite – something to keep in mind if you’re ordering this hamper to share among a couple of people.
“The items that make an afternoon tea what it is have a bit of a Christmas sprinkling with the Christmas cake and mince pies but you’ve still got the classic strawberry jam and breakfast tea. All the items came packaged lovely in a bamboo tray which is quite deep as all the items arrived laid flat inside and wrapped in nice tissue paper for that luxury touch. Nothing was squished in transit either so that was a win!”
Pros
- Everything you need to throw a Christmas afternoon tea
- Arrived nicely packaged
Cons
- We wished there was more of certain items as we were sharing among a couple of people
- Letizia Prosecco Spumante DOC Extra Dry 75cl, Luxury Mince Pies by Grandma Wilds 215g, Choccy Scoffy Chocolate Truffles by Monty Bojangles 100g, Thursday Cottage Strawberry Jam 112g, Cappuccino Flapjack by Yorkshire Flapjack 85g, Amaretti Di Saronno Biscuits by Lazzaroni 65g, Cherry Bakewell Milk Chocolate Bar by Choc Affair 90g, Holly Topped Fruit Cake by Maxwell & Frank's 350g, New English Tea White Christmas Afternoon Tea 20g, Ginger Thins by Anna's
Tried & (taste) Tested by Rosie Floyd: “Talk about getting in the festive spirit! Every inch of this Cartwright & Butler Totally Christmassy Gift Box, from the box packing and product packaging to the items and flavours inside, is completely festive. If you’ve got a friend that loves everything to do with Christmas, they’ll adore this hamper and if your loved one is a bit of a scrooge, this might even get them in the holiday mood.
“The mince pies were without a doubt my favourite product in this hamper. You could tell that they were luxury ones with thick, buttery pastry and rich, slightly spiced filling. There’s also an equally luxurious Christmas pudding that was also delightfully tasty. One thing that our group of testers in the office pointed out was that it came with a lovely Boxing Day chutney but there were no crackers to put it on. There are biscuits inside but we felt the chutney was more of a savoury thing.
“For those who are lovers of a Christmas sweet treat, you can’t go wrong with this box as there are shortbread, fruit cake, gingerbread fudge and so much more to tuck into.”
Pros
- Everything both inside and out is Christmassy
- Full of lovely sweet treats and some savoury
Cons
- Came with a delightful Boxing Day chutney but no crackers to put it on
- Christmas Pudding Biscuits, Luxury Mince Pies with Brandy, Winter Spiced Orange and Cranberry Shortbread Rounds, Christmas Pudding, English Breakfast Tea, Iced Fruit Loaf Cake, Boxing Day Chutney, Coffee Beans in Dark Chocolate, Gingerbread Fudge, Spiced Plum Preserve, Crispy Wafer Rolls with Cocoa Cream
Tried and (taste) tested by Home & Gardens Product Writer Natalie Knowles: “Cheese truckles and making a cheeseboard are a part of our Christmas tradition, and the Snowdonia Cheese Hamper is a real treat. This hamper is a cheese lover's ultimate indulgence, with irresistible aromas, tastes and textures. We liked that the cheeses kept their shape when sliced and arranged on a cheeseboard. Also, we enjoyed the accompaniments of the chutney, olives and crackers. They were perfectly curated to give a balance of sensational flavour notes and contrasting texture. The balsamic and caramelised onion chutney was vinegary, sweet and tangy. It held its own against the cheeses. The fig and apple crackers were sweet and almost biscuity, with no fear of them breaking, so you can pile them high!
"My mum’s favourite cheese was the Rock Star, for its mouthfeel and crunchy salt crystals. It’s strong, buttery and tangy and you only need a finger-sized amount. While my partner’s favourite cheese was the Beech Wood; he said it had a familiar and inviting cured smell like Bavarian smoked cheese. It was bold, luscious and velvety smooth artisanal cheese.
“The perfect finish is the salted caramel truffles, which are best served chilled. When you bite into them, it's substantial, moreish and filling – a deep hit of rich cocoa – the ideal sweet counterpoint to the array of cheeses. In my partner’s words: ‘You better have a couple of those quick; otherwise, I’m going to finish them off!’ Every aspect of the hamper, from the beautiful basket to the thoughtfully paired flavours, is expertly done. Just keep in mind the contents need refrigeration, so make sure you've cleared a shelf.”
Pros
- Varying flavours of cheese to help you discover new favourites
- Tasty extras to help you put together the ultimate cheeseboard at home
Cons
- You'll need to make sure you've got enough room in the fridge to store everything
- Black Bomber – extra mature Cheddar, Red Storm - a vintage Red Leicester, Truffle Trove - an extra mature Cheddar with Black Summer Truffle, Rock Star - a rich Cheddar that's been cave-aged, Beech Wood - a mature Cheddar that's naturally smoked over beechwood chips, Balsamic Caramelised Onion Chutney, Rhubarb & Gin Chutney, Fig & Apple Chutney, Fig & Cranberry Crackers, Sicilian green olives, Cocoa-dusted salted caramel truffles, Snowdonia Cheese Co slate board, Reusable hamper basket
Tried & (taste) Tested by Rosie Floyd: “First things first, this package smells delicious before you’ve even opened it so I knew we were in for a treat when taste testing this one. The star of the show is undoubtedly the Chelsea Buns. Living in the Cambridgeshire area, I know that Fitzbillies are famous for their Chelsea Buns and they did not disappoint. Soft, moist and oh-so-sticky, we equally enjoyed them warmed up with the extra syrup and cold, just as they arrived. Just be prepared to wash your hands afterwards!
“Let’s not forget about the other baked delights inside. Among the jam, marmalade, English breakfast tea and chocolate honeycomb, there’s a tasty vanilla and raspberry cake that arrives in a Fitzbillies branded tin plus macarons and shortbread so if you know someone who loves a bakery treat, this one is a good option.
“When it arrived in the office, my colleagues and I were surprised to see there’s no separate box inside the one it is posted in with your items inside as that would have been the perfect finish touch to a delightful hamper. That being said, You wouldn’t be able to tell any of these items have been sent by post as they arrived completely perfect and just like you’d walked straight out of a shop with them.”
Pros
- Lovely and tasty fresh bakery products
- Great for anyone who loves a sweet treat
Cons
- There's no separate gift packaging and arrived in the box it was shipped in
- 1 x vanilla & raspberry postable cake in a collectible Fitzbillies tin, 6 x Chelsea buns, 6 x macarons - 6 flavours: rose, lemon, raspberry & chocolate, pistachio, salted caramel, chocolate, 1 x tin of English Breakfast Tea, 1 x bag of plain shortbread, 1 x bag of chocolate chip shortbread, 1 x bag of chocolate honeycomb, 1 x jar of raspberry jam, 1 x jar of marmalade
Best M&S hamper
www.marksandspencer.com
Presented in a smart hamper, this Marks & Spencer gift has something for everyone. It includes chutney and crackers, sweet milk chocolate florentines and Scottish shortbread, plus a bottle of Bordeaux Merlot, all packaged in a dark-stained hand-woven wicker hamper.
Rated an average of 4.6 out of five stars from over 2,000 reviews, this M&S hamper is guaranteed to delight and make a loved one feel spoilt this Christmas. Reviewers love it for its high-quality products and punctual delivery.
Pros
- A good mix of sweet and savoury products
- Comes packaged in a woven hamper for that extra touch of luxury
Cons
- Not suitable for nut or peanut allergy sufferers
- Bordeaux Merlot (75cl) (Alcohol content- 13.5%), Collection Cornish Cruncher All Butter Biscuits (80g), Collection Milk Chocolate Florentines (170g), Collection Rye Sourdough Crackers (130g), Collection British Ale and Caramelised Onion Chutney (230g), Collection Shortbread Fingers (165g)
Best luxury hamper
www.fortnumandmason.com
When you think 'Christmas hamper', you probably think of Fortnum & Mason straight away. There isn't really any more iconic hamper than the big wicker one from London's exclusive shop, and there are loads to choose from - depending on what your budget is, and how much you really love the person you're buying it for.
This is one of the most affordable options from F&M and contains plenty of treats - including tea, chocolate, and shortbread. As the name suggests, it'll really give the person you're buying it for a taste of what this luxury brand has to offer.
Pros
- Comes presented in an iconic F&M basket
- Offers a taste of some of the brand's luxury products
Cons
- Just sweet items included, no savoury
- Fortnum’s Earl Grey Shortbread Rounds, 125g, Piccadilly Blend Ground Coffee Tin, 250g, Fortnum’s Cocoa Dusted Royal Blend Chocolate Truffles, 125g, Strawberry Preserve 100g, Royal Blend, 25 Tea Bags, 50g, Mini Huntsman Wicker Basket
Best vegan hamper
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Hampers often contain lots of non-vegan products, but this Luxury Personalised Food And Drink Hamper is the ultimate vegan-friendly option. It includes nut butter, sweets, biscuits and more so it offers a great opportunity to sample and try new Vegan products they may not have experienced before. All of the products will have a minimum shelf life of three months so your vegan friends and family can enjoy the treats well beyond Christmas. Not only that, you can request for the products to be gluten-free too to ensure this hamper really caters to any dietary requirements the recipient may have.
This hamper can be personalised by adding gift tag messaging and ribbon for that extra special touch and you can also opt to add liqueurs, prosecco and mocktails too but just be aware that this will increase the overall price.
Pros
- Includes a variety of Vegan treats so the recipient may discover a new favourite
- All products have a minimum shelf life of three months
Cons
- Personalised touches and drinks are optional extras that come at an additional cost
- Eden Treats Nut Butter, Jealous Sweets Tangy Worms, Filberts Somerset Smoked Nuts, Fellow Creatures Salted Caramel Chocolate, Green Fingers Artisan Chocolate Granola, Savoursmiths Beef, Honey & Mustard Crisps, Rhythm Almond Biscotti, Apple & Cinnamon Flapjack, Blendsmiths Traditional House Chai, Rhythm Chocolate Praline Cookie
Best John Lewis Christmas hamper
www.johnlewis.com
Beautifully presented in a gift box that can be kept and reused, this John Lewis hamper stands out for offering a wide range of snacks at a mid-range price point. It includes an assortment of sweet and savoury snacks to be enjoyed both in the run-up to Christmas and after.
There's red wine, mince pie fudge, luxury crisps, nuts and more. This would certainly bring some seasonal cheer to whoever you choose to gift it to, with reviews saying it will be a lovely Christmas gift.
Pros
- A good selection of both sweet and savoury snacks
- Includes mince pies and mince pie flavoured fudge for that seasonal taste
Cons
- Not suitable for vegans and not gluten free
- Villarrica Cabernet Sauvignon 75cl, Grandma Wild's Alcohol Free 4 Luxury Mince Pies, Tenuta Marmorelle Authentic Italian Gourmet Cheese and Black Pepper Taralli 250g, Abbey Biscuits Chocolate Brownie Biscuits 150g, House of Fudge Mince Pie Fudge 113g, Savoursmiths Wagyu Beef and Honey Mustard Luxury Tin 100g, Cambrook Christmas Nuts 75g
Best for chocolate lovers
www.hotelchocolat.com
Well, you can't really go wrong with chocolate, can you? This Most Wanted Collection from Hotel Chocolat gets a thumbs up from everyone at Yours. It features chocolate macarons, a slab of caramel chocolate, a Patisserie H-Box, milk chocolate batons, dark chocolate shortbread, and two sachets of hot chocolate in Milky and Classic. Delicious.
Reviewers say this hamper has a good variety of products inside and also mention it is beautifully presented.
Pros
- A sample of some of Hotel Chocolat's best products
- Beautifully presented in a gift box
Cons
- It includes two sachets of the drinking chocolate and while they can still be drunk and enjoyed using milk and a kettle, they'll taste better using a Velvetiser
- Chocolate Macarons, Caramel Chocolate Bar Selector, Patisserie H-Box, 40% Milk Chocolate Batons, Milky 50% Single Serve Sachet, 70% Classic Single Serve Sachet, 70% Dark Chocolat Shortbread
Best for gin lovers
www.hampers.com
This one is for the pink gin lover in your life! This gorgeous FlaGingo Pink Gin Hamper, displayed in a bamboo tray, includes a bottle of FlaGingo Pink Gin and tonic waters so you can pour the perfect tipple. Alongside scrumptious truffles and chocolates, and cookies for an extra special treat.
Perfect for Christmas and other special occasions throughout the year, customers have bought this hamper as a birthday or Christmas present, or as a 'just because' gift to put a smile on the face of the recipient. They say the gift is good value for money and arrived quickly.
Pros
- A great gift for Christmas, birthdays and 'just because'
- Include pink gina and tonic alongside sweet treats
Cons
- Could include more gin
- FlaGingo Pink Gin 50cl, 2 x Franklin & Sons Natural Indian Tonic Water 200ml, The CCC Mini Milk Chocolate Bar with Beans 38g, Chococo Marvellous Milk 47% Colombia Origin Milk Chocolate Bar 75g, Millers Miss American Pie Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies 75g, Monty Bojangles Coconut Crush Chocolatey Truffles 100g, Bamboo Tray
Best classic Christmas hamper
www.selfridges.com
Not only does this hamper include the classics you expect from a Christmas hamper, but coming from Selfridges, your lucky recipient will know you meant business. They can kick start their Christmas feasts with a traditional Christmas pudding, festive blend tea and a gingerbread biscuit selection in a musical tin.
There are two bottles of wine, too, and, a hanging bauble filled with salted caramel truffles. Selfridges have upgraded this hamper for 2024 compared to last year as there are now eight items included as opposed to six last year.
Pros
- Includes two bottles of wine
- Has a selection of festive-themed and flavoured treats
Cons
- Selfridges may need to amend the items within this hamper due to stock and seasonality
- Selection Côtes du Rhône red wine 750ml, Selfridges Selection Gavi DOCG white wine 750ml, Selfridges Selection Festive Blend tea bags 50g, Selfridges Selection Traditional Christmas pudding 454g, Selfridges Selection Gingerbread musical biscuit tin 150g, Selfridges Selection Milk Chocolate and Salted caramel Truffles bauble 48g, Selfridges Selection Lucky Milk Chocolate coins 109g, 18” wicker basket
Best for biscuit fans
www.biscuiteers.com
It's a Christmas hamper made entirely of biscuits! Perfect for those who love gingerbread at Christmas or those looking to buy a 'hamper' on a budget, this selection from Biscuiteers wins taste and novelty points.
Inside the Biscuiteers Christmas Hamper keepsake tin, they'll find nine delicious gingerbread biscuits expertly iced to look like hamper must-haves. From mince pies to tea, cheese to a Christmas cake. Customers online think this is a really unique gift and say these biscuits not only look great but are tasty too.
Pros
- Beautifully iced and decorated
- Comes in a keepsake tin
Cons
- Just biscuits so not a variety of things included
- 9 individually iced gingerbread biscuits in a keepsake tin
Best gluten-free hamper
www.hampers.com
If your loved one is gluten-free, they don't need to miss out on the finer things in life thanks to this Sweet And Savoury Delights With Prosecco hamper. A bottle of Tenuta Sconta White Prosecco is perfectly matched with tasty treats ranging from gourmet fudge to olives.
This hamper was very much appreciated by recipients, according to reviews. The speedy delivery and contents were also praised by those who ordered it.
Pros
- Great for those with gluten intolerances
- Included a bottle of bubbles for further celebrations
Cons
- More sweet treats than savoury
- La Tenuta Sconta Prosecco DOC Extra Dry 75cl, Savoursmiths Desert Salt & Vinegar Crisps 40g, Joe & Sephs Caramel and White Chocolate Popcorn 80g, Farmhouse biscuits Gluten Free Spicy Stem Ginger 150g, Olives et al Kalamata Pitted Olives 250g,
Grey and gold Earl Grey 10 Teabags
Best Christmas hamper FAQs
What is in a traditional Christmas hamper?
If you are buying a specific Christmas hamper, you will usually find the following inside:
• Christmas pudding
• Confectionary such as chocolates or sweets
• Biscuits
• Cheese
• Mince pies
• Preserves including jam and chutneys
• Wine or tea, coffee, and hot chocolate
However as you'll see from our round-up above, there are so many different types of hampers available so you can really hone into someone's interests.
Are Christmas hampers good value?
This depends on what you get in them! The best Christmas hampers are generally good value for what you pay for but with others, it would be cheaper to buy bits individually yourself so it's always worth quickly working out the total cost of the contents of the hamper you are considering.
Don't forget the actual hamper, too, as many you can reuse for picnics or storage.
Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.