Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year for so many reasons, whether it be the thrill of seeing the children in your family open up their presents from Santa, the epic Christmas dinner that features endless helpings of pigs in blankets, or the fantastic line up of Christmas Day television (Gavin & Stacey reruns, we’re looking at you).
The downside of the festive season though, is that getting everything right does take a fair bit of organising. Whether it’s matching the Christmas crackers to your well thought out tablescape or sorting out advent calendars for your loved ones, there’s a lot to think about. Something else to add to the list is Christmas food and drink hampers, which are a great way of showing someone just how much you appreciate them.
Traditionally given away as gifts (although you can keep them to yourself if you like, no judgement here), Christmas hampers are typically presented in lidded wicker baskets and are usually filled to the brim with sweet and savoury foodstuffs, as well as bottles of wine, Prosecco and Champagne. Hampers are a great all-rounder gift, as there’s usually something in every one to suit each family member’s tastes. They’re not just for handing out to your friends and family though, as Christmas hampers can also make for great corporate gifts to show your employees that you appreciate all their hard work, or to give to clients to show that you wish them the best for the holiday season.
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So, whether you’re on the hunt for a foodie Christmas hamper for a colleague, client, best friend or family member, our pick of the best of the bunch available this year should have something that piques your interest. We’ve categorised our favourite Christmas food hampers by price, so it’s up to you whether you want to save on the pennies or blow the budget entirely.
Best Christmas food and drink hampers: £50 and under
Christmas hampers are often seen as a luxury gift, but buying one for someone special in your life doesn’t have to leave you bankrupt. Check out these affordable options below which are sure to bring plenty of festive cheer to anyone who receives them.
Hotel Chocolat A Merry Little Christmas Hamper
What’s in it: Although Christmas hampers can often be pricy (they are a special treat, after all), they don’t necessarily have to break the bank. Hotel Chocolat’s affordable option is stuffed with more than enough chocolatey options to keep sweet-toothed snackers satisfied. Inside, you’ll find the likes of large caramel snowflakes, milk chocolate puddles, a rocky road chocolate slab and a dark nut and fruit bar.
Who to buy for: Well, this one’s pretty obvious. This hamper is for the chocolate lover in your life, who will find plenty in here to keep their taste buds entertained.
How much: £27.50
Buy the Hotel Chocolat A Merry Little Christmas Hamper
The Night Before Christmas Gift Hamper
What’s in it: Designed around creating the perfect setting for Christmas Eve, this charming hamper boasts quite the festive bounty. Open the lid to reveal the likes of a four pack of mince pies, a bundle of salted caramel biscuits, white chocolate truffles and a bottle of mulled wine. There is also the option to add a personalised note to the hamper, as an extra special touch for the lucky recipient.
Who to buy for: This Christmas food hamper is best suited to families with young children, so they can set the scene for Father Christmas the night before the big day.
How much: £22.50
Buy The Night Before Christmas Gift Hamper
Festive Treats Christmas Gift Hamper
What’s in it: Presented in a fun festive basket that features a sparkly finish, this Festive Treats hamper has plenty of classic Yuletide goodies for everyone to enjoy. The traditional Christmas pudding is the centrepiece, but there are plenty of other things to try too, including a spiced berries white chocolate bar, chocolate chip and cranberry cookies, an iced loaf cake and a package of chocolate fudge.
Who to buy for: Filled with Christmassy delicacies and a bottle of Merlot, this hamper is great for big kids who have never stopped loving Christmas.
How much: £19.99
Buy the Festive Treats Christmas Gift Hamper
Melrose and Morgan The Festive Tea Hamper
What's in it: Ideal for the night before Christmas, this cutesy hamper features everything you could need for a festive teatime treat. Inside, you'll find classic mince pies alongside gingerbread stars and snowflakes, stollen bites, and a blend of Brockley Breakfast tea. As an extra special treat, there's also a giant gold chocolate coin which you can choose to share or keep all to yourself.
Who to buy for: This one is great for families with young children or adults with a real sweet tooth
How much: £45
Buy Melrose and Morgan The Festive Tea Hamper
Joe & Seph's Best of British Gourmet Hamper
What’s in it: We think it's safe to say that popcorn is having a bit of a moment, and if you count yourself amongst its fans then there's good news on the Christmas hamper front. Yep, this offering from Joe & Seph's is crammed with plenty of this poo-ular (sorry) product. We can almost guarantee you won’t have had popcorn like this before, with flavours including things like rhubarb and custard, banoffee pie and marmalade. A healthy serving of hot chocolate finishes things off nicely, so that you're able to wash down your treats down with another little something sweet - it is Christmas after all.
How much: £45
Buy The Joe a&nd Seph's Best of British Gourmet Hamper
The British Hamper Company Luxury Vegan Hamper
What’s in it: Think hampers are all about cheese and chocolate? Think again, as vegans can get in on the action too with this hamper made up entirely of plant-based goodies. Open the lid to find Chilean wine, alongside vegan treats such as hickory smoked almonds and cashew nuts, salty and sweet popcorn, and dark chocolate from Venezuela. Any vegans in your life are sure to appreciate you going the extra mile just for them.
Who to buy for: Snap up this hamper for any of your friends and family who follow a plant-based diet, so they’ll still have some variety on Christmas Day.
How much: £67.85
Buy The British Hamper Company Luxury Vegan Hamper
Best Christmas food and drink hampers: £50-100
If you want to treat someone (or yourself) to a Christmas hamper, but don’t want to go too overboard on the budget, this selection of mid-range hampers should have everything you are looking for and then some.
Harvey Nichols Really Chocolatey Hamper
What’s in it: If ever there was a time to indulge you sweet tooth, Christmas would be it (and, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, we all deserve treats more than ever after the year we’ve had). Harvey Nichols’ striking black basket-clad Really Chocolatey Hamper is stuffed with luxurious surprises that range from a cocoa-spiked Christmas pud through to butter shortbread biscuits flavoured with mint and studded by generous chunks of chocolate. Elsewhere there’s fudge, chocolate covered raisins, hot chocolate and even a – you guessed it – a chocolate panettone.
Who to buy it for: This one’s an obvious winner for any chocoholics you have in your life.
How much: £100
Buy the Harvey Nichols Really Chocolatey Hamper
Aldi The Luxury Collection Hamper
What’s in it: Christmas hampers often come with top-end price tags, but you can always rely on Aldi to come up with a cheaper alternative. For just shy of £60, you can tuck into a hamper filled with the likes of strawberry and Champagne preserve, chocolate florentines and stollen bites. For those looking to toast to the festive season there are bottles an Argentinian Malbec and a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Who to buy it for: Although hampers are typically given as gifts, we recommend keeping this one to yourself. It’s the perfect way to treat yourself this Christmas without breaking the bank.
How much: £59.99
Buy the Aldi The Luxury Collection Hamper
John Lewis & Partners Chelsea Hamper
What’s in it: Most Christmas food hampers tend to focus on sweet and sugary goodies, but this hamper also pays special attention to savoury tastes. That means you can expect to find a mix of honey and pepper nuts and a spicy chutney, as well as luxurious truffle crisps. They have spared some thought for the sweet-toothed though, with tempting options including such things as chocolate shortbread Christmas trees and a traditional festive pud.
Who to buy it for: Know a couple where one of them loves all things savoury and the other loves all things sweet? This hamper offers the perfect compromise.
How much: £100
Buy the John Lewis & Partners Chelsea Hamper
Bettys The Ilkley Hamper
What’s in it: Only found in Yorkshire, Bettys Tea Room has achieved legend status, eschewing the ultra-modern Instagrammable interiors that are favoured these days for its unashamedly twee offering. Betty’s Christmas hamper features a Yorkshire tea fruit cake, buttery shortbread and milk chocolate Langues de Chat. Wash it all down with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and toast to the Christmas season.
Who to buy it for: Perfect for a Yorkshire native who’s moved to a different part of the country and is missing home, or for fans of Bettys legendary afternoon tea.
How much: £100
Buy Bettys The Ilkley Hamper
Christmas in a Bag by Ottolenghi
What’s in it: While there’s no actual hamper included with this foodie Christmas collection from Ottolenghi, it does round up some lovely produce for a reasonable price point. Inside you’ll find a handy reusable tote filled with chutney, cheese and pistachio biscuits, preserved lemon and chilli olives, spicy rosemary nuts, marshmallows and more.
How much: £90
Who to buy for: We all have someone in our lives who is a big celeb chef fan – this specially selected round-up of unusual treats is the perfect way to show them that you care.
Buy the Christmas in a Bay by Ottolenghi
The Magic Of Christmas Hamper
What’s in it: If weekend brunch is a worthy enough occasion to sip Prosecco, Christmas is definitely worth cracking open a bottle for. This Christmas hamper comes complete with a bottle of the fizzy stuff, as well as some sweet treats which are perfect for the festive season. Pick from the likes of a salted caramel Christmas pudding, chocolate wafer rounds, luxury mince pies or festive fudge.
Who to buy for: Lovers of bubbly will fall head over heels for this hamper, while the gourmet snacks will keep sweet teeth satisfied.
How much: £65
Buy The Magic Of Christmas Hamper
Silent Night Festive Christmas Hamper
What’s in it: This hamper is about as traditional as they come. Presented in a wicker basket, it features both sweet and savoury delights. From the savoury side, expect red onion chutney, rosemary breadsticks and smoked bacon flavoured crisps, while the sweet side of things is taken care of via chocolate dipper marshmallows, sticky toffee pudding butter biscuits and Irish buttermilk fudge.
Who to buy for: This is one for the traditionalists, who wouldn’t want to find any unexpected surprises in their Christmas hamper.
How much: £75
Buy the Silent Night Festive Christmas Hamper
Selfridges Selection Classic Christmas Hamper
What’s in it: Selfridges yellow shopping bags are instantly recognisable and the department store has added a touch of them to its Christmas hamper, where the wicker baskets are adorned with bright yellow straps. Inside, you can expect to find a selection of Selfridges most indulgent own-brand treats, such as a traditional Christmas pudding, spiced fruit chutney, brandy butter and a festive chocolate box.
Who to buy for: Got someone in your family whose idea of a work out is lifting heavy shopping bags? This is the hamper for them.
How much: £100
Buy the Selfridges Selection Classic Christmas Hamper
Pong Cheese Continental Cheese Hamper
What’s in it: Pong Cheese offers a huge number of different cheeses on its fromage-focused website, all of which make wonderful, if strongly smelling, presents. However, if you don't know where to start when it comes to cheese, this fantastic continental cheese hamper features a mixture of artisan cheeses from france and Italy. Included in the lovely wicker hamper are 5 wodges of cheese including a creamy Chaource and a fantastic Taleggio, as well as a selection of biscuits and a tangy ploughman's pickle.
Who to buy for: There's no two ways about it, this is a gift for cheese lovers, and cheese lovers only!
How much: £89.95
Buy the Pong Cheese Continental Cheese Hamper
Top Cuvée Christmas hamper
What’s in it: This hamper from Highbury wine shop and bar Top Cuvée may not look quite as traditional as some of the others in our list, but all the bits included are fantastic quality. Featuring a bottle of natural red wine chosen by the team, a bottle of sparkling, a bottle of premixed negroni, and a bottle of Top Cuvée's very own mulled wine, there's booze a plenty in this hamper. Meanwhile delicious edible treats include a big bar of Tony's Chocolonely and Neal's Yard Comte, so you'll do well not to finish the contents within a few days of receiving...
Who to buy for: Fans of natural wines and high quality produce.
How much: £89.95
Buy the Top Cuvée Christmas Hamper
Best Christmas food and drink hampers: £100-500
If you’re on the hunt for a high-quality Christmas hamper that is filled with enough goodies to feed a large family, you’ll need to spend a little bit more. Our pick of luxury hampers priced between £100-500 are bound to create some unforgettable Christmas memories.
International Champagne Diptyque gift box
What’s in it: We love this beautifully balanced Christmas hamper which combines luxurious self-care items with foodie treats. Inside the box you’ll find a bottle of Champagne as well as a salted caramel chocolate selection. Aside from the edible gifts the lucky recipient will also get their hands on a luxury Diptyque candle, cashmere bed socks and a hair and body oil. If that doesn’t sound like the perfect night in for one, we don’t know what does.
Who to buy it for: Combining cashmere and Champagne, this is one for proper princesses (or princes!).
How much: £175
Buy the International Champagne Diptyque gift box
Martini Cocktail Kit
What’s in it: If we’re all going to have to spend most of the winter indoors anyway, we may as well make it as much fun as we can. This martini cocktail set brings the bar to your front room with its contents that includes a stylish matte black cocktail set, a bottle vermouth, a bottle of vodka, luxury olives and some luxury martini glasses.
Who to buy it for: Anyone with a penchant for cocktails will love this kit that makes for the perfect night in.
How much: £155
Buy the Martini Cocktail Kit
The Sous Chef Best of Italy Hamper
What’s in it: Sous Chef is renowned for its top-quality foodie offering, and of course its hampers uphold the brand's high-end reputation. Here, in the Italian hamper, you'll find carefully sourced ingredients like a whole fennel salami, black truffle oil and Amalfi lemon jam. For a little sweet treat there are is also a box of Pariani Pistacchiotto included - which are a mix of milk and white chocolate and a smooth pistachio paste. Delicious after dinner!
Who to buy for: If you've got friends and family who have been missing the food of far-flung places this year, this is the answer to their woes.
How much: £110
Buy the Sous Chef Best of Italy Hamper
The Fortnum's Christmas at Highgrove Hamper
What’s in it: A wicker basket from Fortnum & Mason is often considered the holy grail of Christmas hampers, although they do come with a hefty price tag. There are a few versions to choose from, but this selection is a fail-safe option in our eyes. Inside, you’ll find two bottles of wine and a bottle of fizz, alongside the likes of chocolate orange shortbreads, organic brandy butter, a whole Christmas pudding and a box of decadent salted caramel fudge.
Who to buy it for: This hamper is great for families, with adults able to enjoy the boozy treats, while kids will be kept entertained by the biscuits.
How much: £175
Buy The Fortnum's The Christmas at Highgrove Hamper
The Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper
What’s in it: For those with a similarly generous budget to that of the above, you can't beat the classic offering from Fortnum & Mason. This Santa’s sack is filled with goodies that will delight even the biggest Scrooge in your family – think fruity biscuits, Champagne truffles and cognac butter. There’s also a bottle of Fortnum's own fizz and top-shelf wines included for additional merry-making.
Who to buy it for: With pretty much all of the contents having a Christmas twist, this is a perfect hamper for true lovers of the festive season, and is great for big families too.
How much: £300
Buy The Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper
Harrods Boxing Day Hamper
What’s in it: Hampers don’t come much more versatile than this one, which features an array of teas and coffees, confectionery, pantry items and even a box of crackers. The mysterious sounding pantry items include things like brandy butter, mince pies, jams, marmalade and even a whole Christmas pudding. Elsewhere there are five bottles of booze, with top-drawer bottles like a 2017 Kits Coty Chardonnay included.
Who to buy it for: With a whole programme of varying items, this is perfect for that one friend who is always hosting.
How much: £500
Buy the Harrods Boxing Day Hamper
Premium Wild Honey Hamper
What’s in it: It’s been a tricky year for the hospitality industry, so one way to support your favourite restaurants during Covid-19 is to buy some of your Christmas gifts from them. This hamper comes from Wild Honey run by chef Antony Demetre, and showcases some of his favourite products to make this year’s celebrations extra special. All packaged up beautifully in a black wicker hamper, inside you’ll find bottled cocktails, delicious cheese, foie gras, Champagne, chocolate truffles and much, much more.
Who to buy for: Lovers of luxury are sure to fall for the charms of this very special Christmas hamper.
How much: £295
Buy the Premium Wild Honey Hamper
Passione Vino Experience Silver Hamper
What’s in it: Already familiar to wine aficionados across the UK, Luca Dusi (who supplies many of London’s top restaurants) has spent month curating beautiful hampers in time for Christmas, so that we can all enjoy sommelier-quality wines in the comfort of our own homes. Alongside the carefully chosen bottles are plenty of producer-led items like homemade onion jam and pickles, and Calabrian olive oil, as well as a selection of cheese and salami – perfect for serving up alongside a glass of something delicious.
How much: £225
Buy the Passione Vino Experience Silver
The Sam’s Christmas Hamper
What’s in it: Championing producers from around the UK, Sam’s Riverside restaurant’s hamper is stuffed with high end ingredients for the foodie in your life. Expect all butter crackers from The Fine Cheese Co alongside England Preserves marmalade and chutney, a wonderful English sparkling wine and some spicy extra virgin olive oil. As well as plenty of edible treats, this hamper also provides a little escapism from the festive madness by way of a geranium and body lotion and a fig candle, both from Bamford.
Who to buy it for: This carefully curated hamper is worthy of the highest-level recipient: mum figures. Yep, whether it’s your mum, your aunty, your dad or your best friend, this gorgeous care-package allows you to give a little love back to anyone who looks after you from one end of the year to the other.
How much: £250
Buy The Sam’s Christmas Hamper
Best Christmas food and drink hampers, more than £500
If you’ve got a big budget to play with, you might as well go all out with a super-high end luxury Christmas hamper. There aren’t too many hampers out there that break the £500 mark, but the ones that do feature top quality goodies such as caviar and Champagne – cheers to that!
Selfridges Selection Christmas Day Hamper
What’s in it: This mammoth Christmas hamper comes with a hefty price tag, but the sizeable hamper is absolutely filled to the brim with goodies. Inside, you’ll find bottles of various wines and Prosecco, as well as plenty of tempting foodie treats. Pick from the luxurious likes of caviar, truffle Gloucester cheese and a 250g royal salmon fillet. There are sweet treats too, such as fruit cake, mince pies and cherry amaretto jam.
Who to buy for: If you’re hosting all of the extended family for Christmas Day, this hamper will ensure that everyone leaves well fed.
How much: £1,000
Buy the Selfridges Selection Christmas Day Hamper
Harrods The Harrodian Hamper
What’s in it: The title of most expensive Christmas hamper on our list goes to none other than luxury department store Harrods, and we can’t really say that we’re surprised. Although we’re not sure any amount of food and drink could justify that eye watering price tag, you do get some seriously high-quality products for your money. Sip on a dozen different wines and spirits, alongside caviar, smoked salmon, Christmas pudding and festive chocolates.
Who to buy it for: There’s enough food in this hamper to feed a family of 20, so it could be a good match for large family gatherings during the festive season.
How much: £2,500
Buy the Harrods The Harrodian Hamper
To get you in the mood for the Yuletide season, check out our pick of the best Christmas sandwiches in London.