Best Gifts for Friends
Curated by The Right Gift editorial team
Buying gifts for friends sounds easy until you actually try to do it. You know them well enough to have opinions — what they’re into, what they’d probably like — but not quite well enough to know what they already own, have bookmarked or quietly bought for themselves last week. That’s where most gifts go wrong.
The best gifts for friends tend to sit in a very specific sweet spot: things they’ll genuinely enjoy, but wouldn’t necessarily think to buy themselves. A little more considered than practical, a little more interesting than safe — and ideally something that feels like it was chosen for them, not picked up in a rush. For this guide, we’ve focused on gifts that feel genuinely chosen rather than obviously gifted, spanning everyday upgrades, small indulgences and a few pieces with real personality — all available from UK retailers and comfortably above the filler threshold. If your friend has a particular interest, it’s also worth exploring our gifts for dog lovers and our wider edit of gifts under £50.
These are the gifts we’d give to our own friends — and feel quietly pleased about getting right. No filler. Just gifts worth giving.
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Thoughtful Gifts Under £40
These are the lower-budget options that still feel like they were chosen with care. They work well for birthdays, thank-yous and smaller occasions, and none of them feel like an afterthought.
Cowshed Calming Essentials Bodycare Set
A nicely presented Cowshed set with bath and body essentials in the brand’s signature black bag.
£35.00 from John Lewis
View on John Lewis →✓ Standard UK delivery and click & collect available
Why we like it
This gets the balance right. It feels premium, looks giftable and is easy to give when you want something relaxing but not risky.
Le Creuset Stoneware Mug, Cerise
A weighty stoneware mug that feels noticeably better than the usual cupboard standard.
£20.00 from Le Creuset
View on Le Creuset →✓ Standard UK delivery available
Why we like it
A mug can be dull, but this one is not. It feels substantial, looks good and has just enough brand appeal to feel like a proper gift.
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil
A concentrated bath and shower oil from a brand people genuinely rate.
£38.00 from Space NK
View on Space NK →✓ Standard UK delivery available
Why we like it
This feels like a step up from the usual bath gift. Small but effective, well regarded and ideal for a friend who likes the nicer version of everything.
Everyday Upgrades They’ll Actually Use
These are the gifts that improve something a friend does every day — drinking better coffee, listening better, carrying more comfortably. They tend to outlast the moment because they keep getting used.
Wilfa Svart Aroma Coffee Grinder
Best Overall Pick
A well-rated burr grinder that feels like a proper upgrade for anyone serious about coffee.
£59.95 from Amazon
View on Amazon →✓ Next day delivery available
Why we like it
This is the kind of gift that gets used every morning. It makes a noticeable difference and feels more thoughtful than another bag of beans.
Yiayia and Friends Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 500ml
A beautifully packaged Greek extra virgin olive oil that feels far more giftable than a standard supermarket bottle.
£35.99 from Selfridges
View on Selfridges →✓ Standard and next-day UK delivery available
Why we like it
This turns a staple into something worth giving. We absolutely love this and the oil itself is delicious, but it is the design that make it feel like a proper gift rather than a pantry item.
Anker Soundcore Motion 300 Portable Speaker
A waterproof portable speaker with sound that is better than most at this price.
£79.99 from Amazon
View on Amazon →✓ Next day delivery available
Why we like it
Most people mean to buy a decent speaker and never do. This one is portable, reliable and useful indoors or out.
Proper Treats & Indulgences
These are the gifts that feel a little more indulgent than practical — the kind a friend probably would not justify buying for themselves but would be pleased to receive.
Fortnum & Mason Piccadilly Biscuit Selection, 600g
A generous Fortnum’s biscuit tin in packaging that already feels like a gift.
£26.95 from Fortnum & Mason
View on Fortnum & Mason →✓ Standard UK delivery available
Why we like it
Fortnum’s packaging does a lot of the work here. It feels smart, classic and a touch more special than a standard food gift.
Diptyque Baies Scented Candle
An iconic luxury candle that feels beautifully gift-worthy.
£79.99 from Amazon
View on Amazon →✓ Next day delivery available with Prime
Why we like it
This is a classic for a reason. The scent is sophisticated, the label is instantly recognisable and it feels generous without being over the top.
Food Lovers Birthday Treat Gift Box
A smart foodie gift box packed with dressings, dippers and pantry treats.
From £30.00 from Not On The High Street
View on Not On The High Street →✓ UK delivery available
Why we like it
This feels personal without being too niche. It is a good-looking food gift with enough substance to feel like a proper present.
Gifts Worth Remembering
These are the bigger, more considered gifts for a friend’s milestone birthday, a long-overdue thank-you or any occasion that calls for something with a bit more presence.
The White Company Seychelles Luxury Gift Set
Best Luxury Pick
A well-packaged White Company set in the much-loved Seychelles scent.
£60.00 from The White Company
View on The White Company →✓ Standard and next-day UK delivery available
Why we like it
This is an easy luxury gift to get right. The scent is popular, the set looks polished and it lands well for a close friend.
The Best of British Tasting Box
A chilled selection of British cheeses from one of the UK’s best-known online cheesemongers.
£42.00 from Pong Cheese
View on Pong Cheese →✓ Chilled next-day delivery available
Why we like it
This has more personality than a standard hamper. It feels specialist, generous and ideal for a friend who actually cares about good cheese.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturiser, 50ml
A best-selling moisturiser that feels like a real treat rather than a token beauty buy.
£75.00 from Charlotte Tilbury
View on Charlotte Tilbury →✓ Standard UK delivery available
Why we like it
This is a high-confidence beauty gift. It has strong name recognition, feels premium and is the sort of product people are pleased to unwrap.
How We Choose The Best Gifts for Friends
At The Right Gift, we look for gifts that feel like they were actually chosen rather than defaulted to. For a guide focused on friends, that meant ruling out anything too generic, too obviously branded or too likely to end up in a drawer.
We wanted a sensible mix — a few options under £40 for smaller occasions, a solid mid-tier of everyday upgrades and treats, and a small number of more generous picks for milestone moments. All products are available from UK retailers and were chosen for how well they work as actual gifts, not just how they look on a list.
FAQs
What are the best gifts for friends in the UK?
The best gifts for friends tend to be things they would genuinely enjoy but probably would not buy for themselves — a better candle than usual, a quality grinder they have been meaning to buy, or a properly curated food gift from a specialist retailer. The exact choice depends on what your friend is into, but the options here cover a good range of personalities and budgets.
What is a good friend gift under £40?
A Cowshed bath gift set, the Fortnum & Mason biscuit selection or an Aromatherapy Associates bath oil are all well-considered options under £40. They feel chosen rather than grabbed off a shelf, and they all arrive looking properly gift-ready.
What do you buy for a friend who has everything?
The best approach is usually something they would enjoy but would not justify buying for themselves — a specialist cheese box, a quality skincare product from a brand they admire or a candle that feels a step above what they usually buy. Experiences can also work well, especially if they are indulgent or social.
What is a thoughtful birthday gift for a friend?
A Diptyque candle, a Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream or a Wilfa coffee grinder are all gifts that feel considered rather than generic. If you know they love food, something like the Pong Cheese tasting box or a good foodie gift set will also land well.
Are experience gifts better than physical presents for friends?
It depends on the friendship and the occasion. Experience gifts work well for close friends where you plan to share the activity, but a physical gift often carries more warmth because it keeps reminding them you thought of them. The best physical gifts are the ones that feel like a treat rather than something purely functional.
