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25 of the best Christmas food hampers for 2025

Filled with festive food and wine, these food and drinks hampers are bound to impress.

Updated on 10 November 2025 • Written By Caroline Hendry

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25 of the best Christmas food hampers for 2025

We’re not saying getting your hands on one of the year’s best Christmas hampers is the most wonderful thing about Christmas. 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). However, the joy that a well-stocked basket of goodies can bring is undeniably brilliant. 

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. We like to think that getting a good hamper sort of cuts the corners on those pesky ‘nibbles’ you are going to need when the neighbours pop in, or offers up a wonderful way to turn leftovers into something special with a new jar of chutney or a few fancy crackers. They also, of course, make fantastic presents, and are a great way of showing someone just how much you appreciate them.

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Traditionally given away as gifts (although you can keep them to yourself if you like, no judgement here, as mentioned above), 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, or just want something special for yourself, 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.  

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The best cheap 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. Starting from less than £20, our selection of cheap Christmas hampers mean everyone can get a little taste of luxury for less this festive season. 

Festive Treats Christmas Gift Hamper, £24.99

Christmas treats tray hamper cheap festive hampers

What’s in it: Presented in a cute wicker basket, brimming with specially selected seasonal goodies, this Christmas 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 shortbread cookies and tea to cover your cosy cuppa needs, as well as chocolate buttons and jam.

A taste of what’s included

• Maxwell & Franks Christmas Pudding 100g
• More Food Belgian Milk Chocolate Caramel Shortbread 65g
• More Food Chocolate Fudge 80g

Buy the Festive Treats Christmas Gift Hamper

Pipers Farm The Little Cheese Box, £18.95

Little cheese festive hamper

What’s in it: Perfectly sized for a couple of enjoyable evenings of cheese, this offering from Pipers Farm makes the ideal way to say you care without having to blow the budget. Ticking off a Cheddar, a Camembert, and a local Cornish Yarg, there’s something for all tastes in this dinky hamper. These cheeses will also keep well in the fridge over the festivities, if you’re looking for something to perk up leftovers with..

A taste of what’s included: 

• Tunworth 250g
• Cornish Yarg 200g
• Quicke’s Vintage Cheddar 200g

Buy the Pipers Farm The Little Cheese Box

Hampers.com Let it Snow Hamper, £49

Let it snow Christmas hamper with white wine

What’s in it: Arriving on your doorstep in a sleek cream box, The Let It Snow Christmas Hamper features a bottle of Tenimenti Civa Pinot Grigio, paired with indulgent seasonal treats. Highlights include luxury Italian panettone, chocolate truffles, and English truffle crisps, all designed for cosy nights in. Tried and tested by the SquareMeal team, this ever-reliable option offers a nice blend of sweets, savouries, and festive treats. It's a great gift option for white wine drinkers. 

A taste of what’s included:

• Pinot Grigio, Tenimenti Civa 75cl
• Thursday Cottage Gingerbread Caramel Spread 210g
• Made for Drink English Truffle Potato Crisps, 40g

Buy the Let it Snow Hamper

Fine Food Specialist Artisan Salami Trio Gift Box, £32.95

Fine Foods Salami hamper

What’s in it: At just over £30, this is one of the cheapest Christmas hampers on our list. However, don’t let the price point fool you, this is a gorgeous gift that says you care without having to blow the bank, and thanks to the included high-quality ingredients, it feels special despite its small stature. Whoever the lucky recipient is, they’ll unwrap three differently flavoured salamis - a pure pork one, a truffle version and a wild boar to boot. If you want to up the ante slightly, you could always include a nice bottle of red to go alongside the charcuterie – an ideal match for an evening in.

A taste of what’s included:

• Salami with Truffle 200g
• Pure Pork Salami 200g
• Wild Boar Salami 200g

Buy the Fine Food Specialist Artisan Salami Trio Gift Box

Hampers.com Festive Night In Hamper, £40

Festive Night In Hamper and Panettone

What’s in it: There’s nothing quite like a winter evening cuddled up by the fire, sharing a bottle of mulled wine and a couple of festive snacks, right? Designed around creating the perfect setting for a festive night in, this charming hamper boasts quite the festive bounty. Open the lid to reveal the likes of indulgent mince pies, jolly much mix, ginger thin biscuits 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.

A taste of what’s included:

• Luxury Mince Pies 215g
• Jacob Marley's Mulled Wine 75cl
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Bar 38g

Buy the Hampers.com Festive Night In Hamper

The best mid-range 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. Between £50-100, we think these are great for friends and colleagues, or couple pals where you want to send them something they can enjoy together. 

The Christmas Essentials by Ottolenghi, £55

Ottolenghi Christmas hamper box chear

What’s in it: Whilst a version of the essential foodie collection from Ottolenghi is available all year, when Christmas rolls around it gets a bit of a festive makeover, packed full of treats to get you through the season, including chocolate brunsli stars, spiced nuts and cheesy pistachio biscuits. The perfect gift for fans of the best-selling cookery book author and chef, discover all this, and more, wrapped up in a gift box. 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.

A taste of what’s included:

• Rosemary Spiced Nuts
• Cheddar and Pistachio Biscuits
• Preserved Lemon and Chilli Olives

The Christmas Essentials by Ottolenghi

Home by Simon Rogan Christmas Weekend Hamper, £65

Home by Simon Rogan Christmas Hamper
Photo credit: Nina K Claridge

What’s in it: This hamper, courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, offers something rather special with this selection of festive creations, all to be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. Wrapped up in a stylish wooden box, and filled with delicious sweet treats, it’s got everything you could possibly need to see through the festive period. The statement snacks include two festive brownies, mince pie fruit pastels, the Our Farm winter herb seed mix, and four frangipane mince pies. You’ll also get to choose between a bottle of mulled wine or mulled cider, and get the chance to tag on cheese selections or hot chocolate, depending on your preferences.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Two of Simon Rogan’s Festive Brownies
• Mulling wine (or cider)
• Four Ginger Bakers Frangipane Mince Pies

Buy the Home by Simon Rogan Christmas Weekend Hamper

Joe & Seph’s Best Sellers Gourmet Hamper, £80

Joe & Seph's festive popcorn 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 pop-ular (sorry) product. We can almost guarantee you won’t have had popcorn like this before, with flavours including raspberry and caramel, toffee apple, and peanut butter. A healthy serving of chocolate-covered popcorn things off nicely.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Salted Caramel Sauce Popcorn
• Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites
• Toffee Apple and Cinnamon Popcorn

Buy the Best of British Gourmet Hamper by Joe & Seph's

Melt Dark Chocolate Hamper, £76.99

Melt dark chocolate hamper

What’s in it: When it comes to creating something truly decadent, Melt never disappoints. This Notting Hill-based chocolatier has pulled out all the stops with this dark chocolate hamper, offering a rather indulgent option this winter. Beautifully presented in a wicker basket, this hamper is bursting at the seams with festive delights. Expect several chocolate bars flavoured with orange, sea salt and roasted hazelnuts, with mini boxes of indulgent truffles and zesty orangettes also on offer. Share them with your family, or keep them all to yourselves - we won’t judge.

A taste of what’s included:

• 70% Dark Chocolate with Roasted hazelnuts 90g
• Praline and dark chocolate truffle Box of 10
• Dark Hot Chocolate Buttons 250g

Buy the Melt Dark Chocolate Hamper

The British Hamper Company Vegan & Gluten Free Gourmet Food Hamper, £69.97

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 plenty of vegan treats such as jalapeno and lime mixed nuts, chocolate honeycomb rocks and a British breakfast tea gifting tin. Any vegans in your life are sure to appreciate you going the extra mile just for them. 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.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Rosemary & Garlic Olives 220g
• Gluten Free Chewy Oat & Raisin Cookies 125g
• Sun Blushed Tomato and Garlic Relish 195g

Buy The British Hamper Company Vegan & Gluten Free Gourmet Food Hamper

Raphia The Silver Delight Hamper - Small, £90

Raphia Silver Delight Hamper

What’s in it: Bringing a Moroccan twist to your classic feast, Raphia is sure to impress this Christmas. Presented in an elegant silver velvet box, it’s filled with an array of hand-crafted sweets, coated nuts and signature chocolates. Perfect for those craving something a little different this season, Raphia brings distinctive flavours, quality ingredients and artisanal produce in each of its hampers. This one makes for a beautifully unique gift that’s sure to stand out beneath the Christmas tree.

A taste of what’s included:

• Chilli Sweet Nuts
• Almond Choco-Bon
• Gratitude Chocolate Box

Buy the Raphia Silver Delight Hamper

The Handmade Christmas Co. Wine & Nibbles Hamper, £65

wine and nibbles Christmas hamper

What’s in it: Pulling out all the stops every winter, the Handmade Christmas Co have endless options for the food and drink lovers in your life, but this wine and nibbles hamper has caught our eye, sure to raise a smile from whoever receives it. Not only will you receive two bottles of wine as part of the package, all wrapped up in a rather stylish wooden box, but there’s an option for an alcohol-free Noughty & Nibbles version for the non-drinkers who still deserve to be spoiled. Arriving packed to the brim with savoury snacks, you’ll get chilli puffs, pretzels and olives. For every order made, the Handmade Christmas Co. will donate three free meals, so you can also feel confident you are doing a little bit of good with your gifting.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Fallow's View White and Red Wines 75cl
• Mr Filberts Woodland Truffle & Wild Garlic Nuts 150g
• Mayfair Chocolatier Cocoa Dusted Milk Chocolate Truffles 200g

Buy the Handmade Christmas Co. Wine & Nibbles Hamper

Pong Cheese Continental Cheese Hamper, £98

Pong's 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 five different cheeses, including a creamy Chaource and a fantastic Taleggio, as well as a selection of biscuits, a caramelised onion marmalade and fresh chilli jam. There's no two ways about it, this is a gift for cheese lovers, and cheese lovers only!

A taste of what’s included: 

• Langres 180g
• Pecorino Toscano DOP 200g
• Chaource AOC 250g

Buy the Pong Cheese Continental Cheese Hamper

The best family 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 is bound to create some unforgettable Christmas memories. Most options include a range of treats for all ages - spanning sweets, biscuits, pickles, preserves, tea, coffee, wine and more, so that there's something for everyone.


Panzer’s Christmas Connoisseur Hamper, £249

deli panzers food gourmet luxury hamper

What’s in it: Showcasing an exceptional selection of luxury Panzer’s Deli goods, wine, and indulgent sweet treats, Panzer’s Angel’s Delight hamper covers all bases. Inside, you’ll find Burt’s Blue Cheese and Wyfe of Bath paired with The Fine Cheese Co crackers, a massive La Molina XXL milk gianduja and hazelnut bar, and a bottle of Delaforce port. Plus, Panzer’s award-winning smoked salmon is part of the deal, which, we can confirm, is one of the best on the market. There’s no chance of disappointment here; every item is top-tier.

A taste of what’s included:

• Pierre Mignon Brut Premier Cru Champagne 372ml
• La Molina XXL Milk Gianduja & Hazelnuts Bar 250g
• Panzer’s Smoked Salmon 227g

Buy the Panzer’s Angel’s Delight Hamper

Regency Hampers Christmas Surprise Hamper, £155.20

Regency hampers christmas surprise family hamper

What’s in it: Presented in a gorgeous handmade wicker basket tied up with a big gold bow, this Regency Hamper is ideal for treating a big group. Aside from a bottle of very good Argentinian malbec and Champagne to pop on the big day, you’ll find buttery cheese straws, chocolate box selections, artisanal vintage cheddar and double chocolate biscuits, which kids will love. We love that this one has a great mix of sweet and savoury, complete with a Christmas pub and moreish Yorkshire crisps.

A taste of what’s included:

• Wainwright's Choice Black Waxed Farmhouse Cheddar in Muslin Cloth 200g
• Silver & Green Sweet Basil Olives 220g
• Paul Langier, Brut Champagne, 75cl

Buy the Regency Hampers Christmas Surprise Hamper

The Classic Christmas Hamper by Ottolenghi, £170

best food christmas hamepr ottolenghi

What’s in it: Prepare for the feast to end all feasts with Ottolenghi’s carefully curated holiday hampers, each offering an elevated version packed full of flavour - the classic Ottolenghi way. Filled with everything you could need for the festive period, including the likes of Christmas cake, pudding and panettone (because one is absolutely not enough), along with plenty of sweet and savoury treats such as lemon and vanilla marmalade, strawberry meringues, dark chocolate gingerbread and Ottolenghi favourites such as homemade granola and nougat. Wrapped up in a festive red box, adorned with golden ribbon, this is the true gift for the foodie in your life.

A taste of what’s included:

• Plum, Blackberry, and Black Pepper Jam
• Christmas Cake
• Chilli and Coriander Chutney

Buy The Classic Christmas Hamper by Ottolenghi

Pink Marc De Champagne Celebration Hamper, £190

Pink Marc de Champagne Celebration Hamper

What's in it: Fans of pink will fall head over heels for this rosy-hued round-up that sees some of the brand’s greatest hits all bundled into a chic selection box. As one of Britain’s oldest chocolatiers (celebrating 150 years in 2025) and with an official Royal Warrant, we’d save gifting this something special from Charbonnel et Walker’s for only your favourite people. There’s complimentary shipping too, so no nasty surprises at the checkout, and if you’re in London and have left things a little too late, you can have some items couriered on a same-day basis.

A taste of what’s included:

• Pink Marc de Champagne Truffle Heart shaped Box 200g
• Pink Champagne Moet 200ml
• Strawberry Truffles 135g

Buy the Charbonnel et Walker Pink Marc De Champagne Celebration Hamper

José Pizarro: José’s Favourites Hamper, £169.50

Jose Pizarro favourites hamper

What's in it: Add a Spanish twist to this year's Christmas collection with this hamper from José Pizarro, whose selection of favourites includes salted anchovies, chocolate-coated figs, jamón ibérico, spicy olives and plenty more to see you through the festive season. These are the bits that he can't live without, and we reckon that you'll feel the same way once you've devoured your way through these snacks, which can all be washed down with a bottle of the chef's favourite Rioja.

A taste of what’s included:

• Jamón Ibérico 70g
• Perelló Spicy Gordal Olives 150g
• Manchego Sheep Cheese 250g

Buy the José Pizarro: José’s Favourites Hamper

The Dorchester Festive Essentials Hamper, £250

The Dorchester Christmas hamper

What’s in it: The prettiest hamper on the market (in our humble opinion), The Dorchester knocks it out of the park every Christmas. This year is no different, all tied up with a pretty royal blue bow. You’ll discover a wealth of Dorchester goodies, including a beautiful Christmas cake, delicious preserves, and a striking chocolate relief depicting the hotel’s iconic façade. Also home to the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, this one’s a great option if you’re looking for a taste of indulgence. You'll get beautiful keepsake tins out of it too.

A taste of what’s included:

• The Dorchester Christmas Cake, 1.05kg
• Sauvignon Blanc Mahi 2023, 75cl
• The Dorchester Dorchester Rosemary and Sea Salt Shortbreads, 165g

Buy The Dorchester Festive Essentials Hamper

Harrods The Get Together Hamper, £190

Harrods The Get Together Hamper christmas

What's in it: Specifically designed to encourage catch-ups, this lovingly curated hamper is just what the doctor ordered. Whether you plump for tea and biscuits or an evening of crisps and snacks, this basket of delights will act as the perfect catalyst for cosy evenings in with the ones you love. We suggest giving this to someone who is guaranteed to give you an invite over, to share the spoils!

A taste of what’s included:

• Milk, Dark and White Chocolate Almonds 600g
• All-Butter Lemon and Almond Biscuits 200g
• Knightsbridge Coffee Beans 250g

Buy the Harrods The Get Together Hamper

The Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper, £200

best Fortnum and Mason Christmas Hamper

What’s in it: A wicker basket from Fortnum & Mason is often considered the holy grail of Christmas hampers, and they're not all as pricey as you might expect. There are a few versions to choose from, but this selection is a fail-safe option in our eyes. This gorgeous wicker basket comes stocked with a bottle of Blanc de Blancs Champagne and LBV Port, alongside Christmas orange biscuits, fig preserve and Cognac butter. With pretty much all of the contents having a Christmas twist, this is a perfect hamper for true lovers of the festive season.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Christmas Plum & Stem Ginger Biscuits, 250g
• St. James Christmas Pudding, 454g
• Fortnum's Blanc de Blancs Champagne, Hostomme, 75cl

Buy the Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper

Stein's Made in Cornwall Christmas Hamper, £100

Rick stein family Christmas hamper

What's in it: This basket – courtesy of celebrity chef Rick Stein – brings the wow factor. Piled high with a selection of Cornish treats, we can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t love to receive this in the run-up to the big day. Inside, there’s a treasure trove of foodie delights that range from Rick Stein’s caramel salted chocolate, all the way through to savoury oat biscuits, and chipotle-coated nuts. There’s some delicious fudge in there too, so you’re guaranteed something for all the family.

A taste of what’s included:

• Rick Stein Strawberry Jam
• Rick Stein Raspberry & White Chocolate Shortbread
• Rick Stein Lemon Shortbread

Buy the Stein's Made in Cornwall Christmas Hamper

The best luxury 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. These luxurious selections are ideal if you want to impress colleagues or clients, or owe a big thank you to someone special. 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!

Daylesford Organic Cotswolds Christmas Hamper, £500

Daylesford organic christmas hamper with crackers

What's in it: Known for its organic products and farm shops, the team at Daylesford certainly know how to put a gift together. This bumper hamper offers a range of delicious things, all of them organic. We’re talking bottles of Bordeaux, rose kombucha and sparkling wine, alongside tempting snacks like dark chocolate-covered honeycomb, reindeer food jellies, and parmesan cheese straws. It even includes a scented candle, matches and a set of Christmas crackers.

A taste of what’s included:

• Daylesford Organic Rose Kombucha
• Daylesford Organic Fig, Apple & Balsamic Chutney
• Daylesford Truffle Nut Jar

Buy the Daylesford Organic Cotswolds Christmas Hamper

John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper, £1,000

John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper

What's in it: Looking to seriously impress? We think this one might just do the trick… With £1000 (yep, that’s not a typo) worth of goodies included, this blow-out hamper is just about as luxurious as you can go. It's a true treasure trove for keen foodies, with all kinds of high-end ingredients included, as well as two bottles of Bollinger and two bottles of Chablis. The only problem we can foresee with this one – aside from the financial outlay – is how the lucky recipient will get through all of the included goodies.

A taste of what’s included:

• Two Bottles of Cuvée de L'Hospice Châteauneuf du Pape 75cl
• Connie Glaze Toffee Vodka Liqueur with Cornish Sea Salt, 70cl
• Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Christmas Pudding 908g

Buy the John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper

Harrods The Ultimate Christmas Hamper, £5,500

Harrods most expensive christmas hamper

What’s in it: Harrods’ Ultimate Christmas Hamper 2025 isn’t content with one or even two baskets - it arrives as three full hampers plus two cool bags. Unapologetically decadent and 100% on brand, at just shy of £6,000, it’s the definition of indulgence, but if anyone can justify the extravagance, it’s Harrods. Inside, you’ll find an embarrassment of festive riches: fine teas and coffees, mince pies, marmalade, nuts, caviar, chocolate, foie gras, and much more. It’s the kind of feast that demands reinforcements - you’ll need a small army to get through it all.

A taste of what’s included:

• Golden Oscietra Caviar 125g, plus Royal Platinum 000 Caviar 30g and Imperial Caviar 50g
• Nyetimber 1086 2010 vintage
• The Macallan Double Cask 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl

Discover Harrods’ Ultimate Christmas Hamper, purchase in-store

Who invented Christmas hampers?

There are plenty of historical anecdotes you could follow to get to the root of who made hampers popular, but it’s widely accepted that they began life as a French invention. It’s thought that as far back as the 11th century, the French were using woven baskets to make up food and drink parcels for long trips or hunting expeditions, and that they were introduced to the UK via this guise.

Fast forward a few hundred years, and they see a real boom in the Victorian era. With improved transport links, the movement of food and drink around the country was much more straightforward, and the baskets made the perfect gifts for loved ones who lived near and far. At a similar time, employers started parcelling up food and gifts for employees to gift them on Boxing Day, after they’d finished their festive chores and were finally allowed a well-deserved day off, a tradition which gave way to the popular name we know today.

Ultimately, though, the style of hamper that we all accept as the standard these days was brought to life by Fortnum & Mason. The iconic British retailer started creating hampers as far back as the 1730s, when customers began to ask the team to prepare them a picnic to take on the road between their London homes and their country pads. The brand added to their expertise – and improved their navigational skills – when they were asked by Queen Victoria to send Fortnum’s beef tea to Florence Nightingale to nourish her patients during the Crimean War. The British Red Cross also sent out Christmas puddings during WW1 to boost soldiers' morale, which we can only hope were sent out in those wonderful branded British baskets.

What is a Christmas hamper?

A Christmas hamper is most commonly a lidded basket which contains food and drinks to be enjoyed over the festive season. There are truly endless options out there these days, with everything from savoury cheese selections and beer boxes through to hampers stuffed with snuggle blankets and sweet treats.

Can you make your own hamper?

Yes, of course. Typically, lots of shops – like Waitrose – have an option to build your own hamper around Christmas time. This means you’re given a basket in-store to fill with anything you choose from the shop’s shelves, and then the team will gift wrap it for you to give to your loved one(s). If you prefer, you could always go to town on the DIY angle by sourcing your own basket and stuffing it full of delicious homemade treats. Try to include things that have a good shelf life, like pickles, preserves, chocolates and teas.

What makes the best Christmas hampers: how are they tested?

When we’re testing the best Christmas hampers, we’re looking for two things: What’s inside and what’s outside. We want to know that the food and drink included are of the very best quality – worthy of a really special present – and that the whole thing is presented beautifully, to alleviate the stress of wrapping.

But what makes a Christmas hamper the best is entirely dependent on the recipient. It might sound obvious, but try to have a think about the interests and likes of the recipient so that you can tailor your choice to their likes.

Who should you buy hampers for?

Hampers make great gifts for all kinds of people, given the far-reaching selection available. We love them as special family gifts that ensure the full clan gets a lovely treat for the festive season, while eliminating the need to buy a whole host of different things. Hampers also make a great gift for colleagues and clients: nothing shows you care more than a big old box of treats to tuck into over the holidays. It really does spell ‘relax’.

Do hampers make good Christmas presents?

We think there’s something ultimately indulgent about a good Christmas hamper, which means they make the best Christmas presents. Whether you plump for a little selection of charcuterie for a couple or go all-out on a blow-out for a big family, there’s nothing quite like the magic of unpacking a selection of treats you’d be unlikely to pick up on your weekly shop yourself.

To get you in the mood for the Yuletide season, check out these beer advent calendars for 2025.

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