30 of the best Christmas food hampers for 2026

Christmas hampers are one of the easiest ways to treat someone this festive season, and this year’s selection has something for every budget. We’ve picked our favourites, from wicker-basket classics to chef-led boxes and indie producers. They’re practical, too. With crackers, tablescapes and advent calendars to sort, a good hamper takes care of the festive nibbles in one go. The important thing to remember when buying one is that the best Christmas hamper is a personal choice; it could be cheese and chutney for when the neighbours pop in, or a fancy dinner kit hamper that turns Christmas Eve into something very special.

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.

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.

The best cheap Christmas food and drink hampers: under £50

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 under £30, our selection of cheap Christmas hampers means everyone can get a little taste of luxury for less this festive season. 

Edenmoor The Little Cheese Box, £26.45

What’s in it: Perfectly sized for a couple of enjoyable evenings of cheese, this offering from Edenmoor (the Devon farm business formerly known as Pipers Farm) makes the ideal way to say you care without having to blow the budget. Ticking off a Cheddar, a soft Tunworth, and a 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 Clothbound Cheddar 200g

Buy the Edenmoor Little Cheese Box

Fine Food Specialist Artisan Salami Trio Gift Box, £33.95

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 break 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

Virginia Hayward Christmas Sparkling Treats Tin, £37.96

What’s in it: Who says a hamper has to be wicker? This one arrives in a pretty floral tin that doubles as the gift wrap, and it’ll be pressed into service for biscuits long after Christmas is over. Inside, a mini bottle of Prosecco is ready for a festive toast, with clotted cream fudge, a billionaire’s slice and a gingerbread mini loaf on the sweet side. A mini panettone, oat biscuits and English breakfast tea round it off – a lovely little gift for a friend or colleague.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Prosecco R&R Robert & Reeves 20cl
• Buttermilk Clotted Cream Fudge 100g
• Tenuta Marmorelle Luxury Italian Classic Panettone 100g

Buy the Virginia Hayward Christmas Sparkling Treats Tin

Home by Simon Rogan Our Sweet Christmas Hamper, £38

What’s in it: For the sweet-toothed, this handmade selection from Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan (of L’Enclume fame) is built around a deeply sticky ginger loaf cake. Around it you’ll find mince pie chocolates, chocolate-covered bee pollen honeycomb, brandy truffles and mulled wine pastilles, plus his milk and caramelised white chocolate bar. Everything is made fresh with no preservatives, so this is one to enjoy in the run-up to the big day – and for £53 you can have it presented in a wooden box.

A taste of what’s included:

• Sticky Ginger Loaf Cake 300g
• Chocolate Covered Bee Pollen Honeycomb 200g
• Six Brandy Truffles

Buy the Home by Simon Rogan Sweet Christmas Hamper

Hampers.com Festive Night In Hamper, £42

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 bounty. Open the lid to reveal a bottle of Maple Falls mulled wine, Grandma Wild’s mince pies, a gingerbread millionaire’s slice and Joe & Seph’s Christmas pudding popcorn. 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:

• Maple Falls Mulled Wine 75cl
• Grandma Wild’s Alcohol-free Traditional Mince Pies 215g
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Bar 38g

Buy the Hampers.com Festive Night In Hamper

Hampers.com Bearing Gifts Christmas Hamper, £45

What’s in it: Arriving on your doorstep in Hampers.com’s signature cream gift box, the Bearing Gifts hamper is a crowd-pleasing mix of sweet and savoury, with no alcohol in sight. Christmas morning is sorted with Mrs Darlington’s Buck’s Fizz marmalade, English breakfast tea and hand-roasted coffee, while Monty Bojangles truffles, Grandma Wild’s mince pies and a candy cane millionaire’s flapjack cover the afternoon. Joe & Seph’s Christmas pudding popcorn, Yorkshire Crisps and dry roasted peanuts take care of the evening nibbles.

A taste of what’s included:

• Mrs Darlington’s Bucks Fizz Marmalade 130g
• Monty Bojangles Choccy Scoffy Chocolate Truffles 100g
• Grandma Wild’s Alcohol-free Traditional Mince Pies 215g

Buy the Hampers.com Bearing Gifts Christmas Hamper

The best mid-range Christmas food and drink hampers: £50-£99

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. All under £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, £50

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, with five Ottolenghi and NOPI staples to get you through the season, including chocolate orange sables, rosemary-spiced nuts, honeycomb and chocolate brittle and cheesy pistachio biscuits. 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 180g
• Cheddar and Pistachio Biscuits 120g
• Preserved Lemon and Chilli Olives 270g

Buy The Christmas Essentials by Ottolenghi

Wrapt The Anti-Hamper, £58

What’s in it: For anyone who rolls their eyes at the commercial wicker classics, Wrapt’s Anti-Hamper keeps things small but punchy. This London-packed box skips the filler entirely and goes all in on indie brands. A bottle of sparkling Crémant leads the charge, backed up by Serious Pig’s snackingham and chilli pickles, spicy Gordal olives and Parmesan drinks biscuits. There’s also smoked rosemary almonds and a milk chocolate bar for a sweet finish. It’s perfect for a friend’s first Christmas in a new flat, or anyone who’d rather nibble their way through the season at a very reasonable cost.

A taste of what’s included:

• amie Sparkling Crémant 750ml
• Serious Pig Snackingham 35g
• Nalo Smoked Rosemary Almonds 40g

Buy the Wrapt Anti-Hamper

Home by Simon Rogan Our Christmas Cheese Hamper, £70

What’s in it: This hamper, courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, is perfect for savoury fans. At its heart is a trio of British cheeses – a whole Winslade, Lanark Blue and Ticklemore – alongside a glazed ham and a slab of focaccia. Our Farm salt cheese biscuits, fig chutney, cranberry ketchup and pickles sort out the accompaniments, while a Marmite seed and nut crunch and mulled wine pastilles add a little something extra. And, for full wow-effect, upgrade the order to have it presented in a sleek wooden box.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Winslade Wheel
• Lanark Blue 150g
• Glazed Ham

Buy the Home by Simon Rogan Christmas Cheese Hamper

The Handmade Christmas Co. Wine & Nibbles Hamper, £70

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 Filbert’s Woodland Truffle & Wild Garlic Nuts 150g
• Mayfair Chocolatier Cocoa Dusted Milk Chocolate Truffles 200g

Buy the Handmade Christmas Co. Wine & Nibbles Hamper

The British Hamper Company Vegan & Gluten Free Gourmet Food Hamper, £74.97

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 jalapeño 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

Melt Dark Chocolate Vegan Hamper, £76.99

What’s in it: Chocolate lovers following a plant-based diet don’t have to miss out on a little festive indulgence. Melt’s Dark Chocolate Vegan Hamper is filled with dairy-free treats, all handmade by the Notting Hill chocolatier. Expect a tempting selection of dark chocolate bars, including orange, sea salt and roasted hazelnut flavours, alongside praline and dark chocolate truffles, orangettes, a roasted hazelnut chocolate slab and dark hot chocolate buttons.

A taste of what’s included:

• 85% Single Origin Dark Chocolate Bar 90g
• Praline and Dark Chocolate Truffles, box of 10
• Dark Hot Chocolate Buttons 250g

Buy the Melt Dark Chocolate Vegan Hamper

Raphia Festive Hamper, £90

What’s in it: Bringing a Moroccan twist to your classic feast, Raphia’s hamper is sure to impress this Christmas. The London chocolatier’s Festive Hamper gathers a generous selection of its finest Moroccan-inspired items, from hand-crafted treats to artisanal sweets made with quality ingredients. Perfect for those craving something a little different this season, it makes for a beautifully unique gift that’s sure to stand out beneath the Christmas tree. Going big? It also comes in medium (£150) and large (£200) sizes.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Almond fekkas 180g
• Apricot biscuits 250g
• Speculoos sellou 350g

Buy the Raphia Festive Hamper

Pong Cheese Continental Cheese Hamper, £98

What’s in it: Pong Cheese offers a huge number of different cheeses on its fromage-focused website, all of which make wonderful, if strong-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-£199

If you’re on the hunt for a high-quality Christmas hamper that’s filled with enough goodies to go round the whole family, you’ll need to spend a little bit more. Our pick of hampers priced between £100 and £199 is bound to create some unforgettable Christmas memories. Most options include a range of treats for all ages – spanning chocolates, biscuits, cheese, preserves, tea, coffee, wine and more – so that there’s something for everyone.

Regency Hampers Christmas Surprise Hamper, £156

What’s in it: Presented in a gorgeous handmade willow basket, this Regency Hamper is ideal for treating a big group. Aside from a bottle of Paul Langier Champagne to pop on the big day and a Trivento Private Reserve Malbec for dinner, you’ll find a farmhouse Cheddar and an organic Cotswold brie, Cheddar cheese twists, a jewel-topped fruit cake 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 pud, Lindt chocolates and moreish chutney crisps.

A taste of what’s included:

• Farmhouse Cheddar
• Organic Cotswold Brie
• Paul Langier Brut Champagne 75cl

Buy the Regency Hampers Christmas Surprise Hamper

Panzer’s The Italian Dinner Journey, £160

What’s in it: St John’s Wood favourite Panzer’s has packed all the accoutrements for two festive Italian suppers into one nifty box. Either would be perfect for Christmas Eve dining, when you want something decadent but light in preparation for the Christmas feast the next day. There’s Carnaroli rice and dried porcini for a proper risotto, along with organic green taglierini and a Sicilian almond and caper pesto, plus a set of seasoned salts to taste-test and experiment with. A bottle of Gavi DOCG rounds it off. We’d gift this to families and anyone who’d take a good bag of porcini over a box of chocolates any day. That said, last year we tried the Angel’s Delight hamper, which is another great option for anyone who loves quality smoked salmon (it’s elite, trust us).

A taste of what’s included:

• Produttori del Gavi Mille951 Gavi DOCG 750ml
• L’Aquila Dried Porcini Mushrooms 40g
• Magamila Sicilian Almond & Caper Pesto 170g

Buy Panzer’s The Italian Dinner Journey

Charbonnel et Walker Christmas Delights Hamper, £165

What’s in it: A lovely gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, Charbonnel et Walker’s Christmas Delights Hamper brings together a festive selection of the chocolatier’s signature treats. Alongside a set of four Christmas crackers, there’s a 16-piece chocolate and truffle assortment, peppermint bark and gingerbread truffles, two chocolate-filled Christmas baubles and a little Letters to Santa envelope containing three mini chocolate letters. It’s a generous collection of seasonal chocolates, beautifully suited to sharing.

A taste of what’s included:

• Christmas Cracker Gift Set with four crackers
• 16-Piece Christmas Chocolate & Truffle Selection
• Peppermint Bark Truffles

Buy the Charbonnel et Walker Christmas Delights Hamper

Ottolenghi Christmas Hamper, £170

What’s in it: Prepare for the feast to end all feasts with Ottolenghi’s most popular hamper, packed full of flavour – the classic Ottolenghi way. Filled with the essentials for Christmas feasting, including a Christmas cake matured to order and a classic panettone, along with plenty of sweet and savoury treats such as raspberry and pomegranate preserve, cranberry and oat biscuits, dark chocolate and pistachio brittle and a cranberry, apple and pomegranate sauce for the main event. Spiced nuts, olives and grissini round it out, making this the true gift for the foodie in your life.

A taste of what’s included:

• Christmas Cake
• Panettone Classico
• Raspberry & Pomegranate Preserve

Buy the Ottolenghi Christmas Hamper

José Pizarro Favourite Treats Hamper, £170.50

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 100% Ibérico jamón and lomo, Cantabrian salted anchovies, mussels in escabeche, Ortiz tuna, spicy Gordal olives and Manchego. 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 Marqués de Vargas Gran Reserva Rioja.

A taste of what’s included:

• 100% Ibérico Jamón 5J 70g
• José Pizarro Spicy Gordal Olives 150g
• Manchego Cheese 250g

Buy the José Pizarro Favourite Treats Hamper

Harrods The Get Together Hamper, £190

What’s in it: Specifically designed to encourage catch-ups, this sharing hamper arrives in a classic Harrods wicker basket with 12 treats to fuel a good long natter. The brews are covered by a box of Harrods No. 14 English Breakfast tea and a pack of Knightsbridge Blend coffee pods, while the biscuit tin gets all-butter Scottish shortbread fingers, lemon shortbread rounds, lemon and almond biscuits and, for a savoury moment, Stilton and walnut oat biscuits. Chocolate fans will make a beeline for the 600g bag of white, dark and milk chocolate almonds, the sea salt caramel truffles, a mixed chocolate selection box and a single-estate 72% bar from Malekula Island, with rhubarb and custard sweets for a nostalgic finish. 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:

• White, Dark and Milk Chocolate Almonds 600g
• No. 14 English Breakfast Tea (50 tea bags)
• Sea Salt Caramel 15-Piece Truffles 180g

Buy the Harrods The Get Together Hamper

The best premium Christmas food and drink hampers: £200-£499

Spending £200 or more is where a hamper stops being a nice gesture and becomes a proper showpiece. Our premium picks come from some of the biggest names in British food and hospitality, with top-tier fizz, keepsake extras and the kind of presentation that does all the wrapping for you. They’re ideal for a heartfelt thank you, a milestone gift or a festive table in need of a centrepiece.

The Fortnum’s Classic Christmas Hamper, £200

What’s in it: Fortnum & Mason may be known for its brilliant afternoon tea, but a wicker basket from the Piccadilly store 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 clementine 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

The Dorchester Festive Essentials Hamper, £250

What’s in it: The prettiest hamper on the market (in our humble opinion), The Dorchester knocks it out of the park every Christmas, and this year is no different. Tied up with a pretty royal blue bow, it’s packed with a wealth of Dorchester goodies, including a beautiful Christmas cake, delicious preserves, and a striking chocolate relief depicting the hotel’s iconic façade. The hotel is also home to the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, so 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, 1.1kg
• Sauvignon Blanc Mahi 2024, 75cl
• The Dorchester Rosemary and Sea Salt Shortbreads, 165g

Buy The Dorchester Festive Essentials Hamper

Muse by Tom Aikens The Muse Christmas Hamper, £250

What’s in it: Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens has packed the spirit of Muse, his intimate Belgravia mews house restaurant, into a festive hamper – and much of it is made in-house or foraged by Tom himself. There’s treacle and dill-cured salmon and a Baron Bigod cheese with homemade oat digestives, fig chutney and his signature cultured butter, plus Muse mince pies filled with aged mincemeat, confit figs, brandy butter and chocolate and sea salt macaroons. Foraged hedgerow jam, vintage sloe gin and elder and blackberry cassis add a wild touch, and there’s even a herbal ‘hangover’ tea for Boxing Day. 

A taste of what’s included:

• Treacle & Dill-Cured Salmon
• Baron Bigod Cheese
• Vintage Sloe Gin

Buy The Muse Christmas Hamper

Brindisa Christmas Hamper, £250

What’s in it: Spanish food specialist Brindisa has spent decades bringing the best of Spain’s artisan producers to the UK, and you can taste plenty of it at its tapas restaurants in Battersea, South Kensington and Richmond. Its biggest hamper is essentially a Spanish deli in a wicker basket. There are three cheeses – a mature 1605 Manchego, a truffle-flecked La Solana and a gooey Cañarejal torta for scooping – alongside hand-carved acorn-fed Ibérico ham, chorizo and salchichón. Gordal and Manzanilla olives, smoked Catalan almonds, guindilla chillies, membrillo and olive oil crackers fill out the grazing board, while turrón, chocolate-coated figs and salted dark chocolate leaves take care of pudding. A bottle each of cava, Priorat red and Manzanilla sherry means the drinks are sorted too.

A taste of what’s included:

• Brindisa Acorn Fed 75% Ibérico Ham 50g
• 1605 Manchego, Mature 230g
• Castelo de Pedregosa Cava 75cl

Buy the Brindisa Christmas Hamper

Adam Handling The Night Before Christmas Family Hamper, £300

What’s in it: Built around the magic of Christmas Eve, this family box from chef Adam Handling – the name behind Frog and Ugly Butterfly – has something for everyone in the house, including the reindeer. Little ones tuck into dark chocolate and sea salt cookies and milk chocolate and peanut butter cookies, plus a chocolate carrot (these ones are too good for Santa and Rudolph), before settling down with two drums of hot chocolate: a 48% Honduran milk and a festive spiced dark. Once the stockings are hung, the grown-ups get a bottle of Handling’s own-label English sparkling brut and a 125g tin of Oscietra caviar with blinis, with 16 mince pie chocolate truffles to pass around. Everything is dispatched fresh a few days before Christmas Eve, so get your order in by 16 December.

A taste of what’s included:

• Ahrelia Oscietra Caviar 125g, with blinis
• Adam Handling Own Label English Sparkling Brut
• Mince Pie Chocolate Truffles, box of 16

Buy the Adam Handling The Night Before Christmas Family Hamper

The Wolseley x Champagne Bollinger Christmas Hamper, £375

What’s in it: This limited-edition collaboration lets you bring a little of Piccadilly’s grand café home. A bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvée comes with two etched Bollinger glasses. The real showstopper is a genuine antique silver-plated teapot from The Wolseley, carefully restored, which means no two hampers are the same. There’s also Canton English Breakfast loose-leaf tea, a silver-plated swivel strainer, nine miniature mince pies on an oval Wolseley plate, a pair of Wolseley crackers and a set of Christmas cards.

A taste of what’s included:

• Bollinger Special Cuvée 75cl
• Antique silver-plated Wolseley teapot
• Canton English Breakfast loose leaf tea 125g

Buy The Wolseley x Champagne Bollinger Christmas Hamper

Rossella The Supreme Christmas Hamper, £450

What’s in it: Kentish Town’s much-loved family trattoria has put just about the whole deli into this one, making it the closest thing to an Italian Christmas you can get delivered. Rossella has packed in a trio of cheeses, including 18-month Parmigiano Reggiano and Gorgonzola Piccante, plus Levoni salami, coppa and mortadella for the antipasti board. For dessert there’s both a Vergani panettone and a pandoro, so there’s no need to pick sides. Rossella’s own Prosecco, family-vineyard Aglianico and hazelnut cream liqueur cover the drinks. Pasta, sauces, oils and a jar of Fiasconaro pistachio cream will keep the cupboards stocked well into January. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more modest, check out the full Rossella range. 

A taste of what’s included:

• Vergani Traditional Pandoro 1kg
• Levoni Mortadella
• Parmigiano Reggiano 18 months 200g

Buy Rossella The Supreme Christmas Hamper

The best luxury Christmas food and drink hampers: £500 and over

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

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, presented in a linen-lined basket with leather straps, offers 24 festive items, many of them organic. We’re talking bottles of organic Bordeaux and Prosecco, alongside tempting snacks like dark chocolate golden honeycomb, reindeer food jellies, and Cheddar and Parmesan cheese straws. It even includes a scented candle, matches and a set of Christmas crackers.

A taste of what’s included:

• Organic Fig, Apple & Balsamic Chutney
• Truffle Honey
• Organic Daylesford Prosecco

Buy the Daylesford Organic Cotswolds Christmas Hamper

John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper, £1,000

What’s in it: Looking to seriously impress? This £1,000 hamper is a true treasure trove for keen foodies, presented in a beautiful wicker basket and packed with an extravagant mix of festive food and drink. There are two bottles each of Bollinger Champagne, Chablis and Bordeaux, alongside a bottle of Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Chocolate Cream Liqueur, a 1kg panettone, a Fiona Cairns iced Christmas cake and plenty of sweet and savoury treats. From artisan cheese crackers and gourmet preserves to chocolates, olives, mince pies and Christmas pudding, it’s a seriously generous centrepiece for festive entertaining.

A taste of what’s included:

• Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée NV, 75cl x 2
• John Lewis Chiostro Classic Panettone 1kg
• Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Chocolate Cream Liqueur 500ml

Buy the John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Wicker Hamper

Harrods The Ultimate Christmas Hamper, £5,500

What’s in it: Harrods’ Ultimate Christmas Hamper isn’t content with one or even two baskets – it arrives as three full hampers plus two cool bags, packed with more than 100 products. Unapologetically decadent and 100% on brand, at £5,500 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: a 2.5kg glazed ham, foie gras, a whole cheese counter’s worth of truckles, three tins of caviar, and a wine cellar running from Dom Pérignon to vintage port. It’s the kind of feast that demands reinforcements – you’ll need a small army to get through it all. You’ll need to contact the team for this one – it’s so exclusive you can’t buy it online!

A taste of what’s included:

• Golden Oscietra Caviar 125g, plus Royal Platinum 000 Caviar 30g and Imperial Caviar 50g
• Dom Pérignon Champagne 2017 75cl
• 18-Year-Old Double Cask Whisky 70cl

Discover Harrods’ Ultimate Christmas Hamper

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 several centuries, and hampers saw 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 give them on Boxing Day, after they’d finished their festive chores and were finally allowed a well-deserved day off – one popular theory for how the day got its name.

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 had been creating hampers since 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 its expertise – and improved its navigational skills – when it was 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 them.

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 2026.