Gifts for little ones

Whether it’s terrific toys or an item that might just inspire a lifelong passion, finding gifts for children can be a tricky business. There are, however, a couple of key stores offering fun and colourful presents that will delight even hard-to-please little ones, and there’s not a tablet in sight…

Consider LEGO – having entertained children for more than 90 years, it knows a thing or two about inspiring play and stoking the imagination. With film-inspired exclusive sets, racing cars, pirate ships and other adventure-filled bricks and pieces kits, children (and their parents) can dream about new places as they build. Plus, collect up to 10 Avios for every £1 spent on LEGO purchases.

Meanwhile, at Hamleys, purveyor of the finest toys in the world, every £1 spent online collects you 4 Avios. Take your pick of teddy bears (have one personalised to make it even more special), ever-popular card games and card sets, dolls inspired by favourite films, train and constructions sets and the latest game stations and games.

Gifts for tech aficionados

Keeping up with the latest gadgets and gear can seem impossible. But luckily, if you need to find a technology-first gift for someone on your list, we’ve done the hard work for you. First to consider is Apple. The tech behemoth is a go-to for brilliant gifts that are not only great to look at but also highly practical. Whether it’s an AirTag – a super-easy way to keep track of your stuff – a swish new iPhone or MacBook Pro, or, for the health-conscious, a highly intuitive Apple Watch, a present from here is sure to put a smile on the recipient’s face. Shop at Apple via our shopping portal and collect 5 Avios for every £1 spent.

From game-changing laptops to gaming accessories, Currys is also a great choice for the tech-savvy. Its wellness-related tech spans a great range, too, from muscle therapy devices to temperature-controlled sleep masks. You can collect up to 3 Avios for every £1 you spend. 

Regular travellers will also appreciate the range of noise-cancelling headphones at Panasonic (collect 8 Avios per £1 spent) that you can take on your next flight.

Gifts for foodies

Delight epicures with a gourmet gift that will tickle their tastebuds or help them to up their cooking game in 2025. Fortnum & Mason is a culinary Mecca that caters to every taste – anyone who has spent hours in its legendary Food Hall can attest to that. What could be sweeter than a hamper full of old-fashioned confectionery, for example? Or traditional bon-bons in beautifully packaged jars? Or for something more savoury or spirited, there are cheese gift boxes and cocktail-making kits. And don’t forget Fortnum’s quintessential range of biscuits and fragrant teas. Collect 8 Avios for every £1 spent. 

If the gourmet in your life is a fan of cooking, too, consider gifting the means to easily recreate all manner of recipes with an air fryer. They’ve been selling like hot cakes all year (you can also bake a cake in one). Head to Lakeland for a good selection of the best and collect 8 Avios for every £1 spent. 

Wine lovers, meanwhile, will be taken with a gift from The Wine Flyer, where there’s a range of fruity reds, citrussy whites, pink and orange wines and bottles of sparkling stuff for celebrations to pick from. Seek out a bottle that evokes memories of something the recipient may have enjoyed on recent travels or treat the wine lover in your life to the Bestselling Reds Selection. You’ll collect up to 5 Avios for every £1 spent. Cheers.

Gifts for fashionistas

For the fabulously attired in your family and friendship group, a timeless designer bag is a no-brainer. NET-A-PORTER has a fantastic range across big name brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Loewe, Burberry and Versace, and stocks all of the best-loved bags from their collections. And for the person who gifts it, you’ll collect up to 12 Avios per £1 you spend. Selfridges is one to consider for other classic fashion items such as dainty jewellery, watches, cashmere gloves and scarves and buttery-soft leather purses and wallets. And, again, you’ll collect up to 12 Avios per £1 spent.

Don’t miss Marks & Spencer, where the style renaissance that’s in full swing will collect you plenty of Avios (up to 4 per £1 spent). Opt for statement leather jackets, metallic trousers, woven knits and designer-esque skirts that will be perfect for the winter season. Otherwise, head to ASOS to collect up to 6 Avios per £1 spent on everything from party frocks to pyjamas. 

To navigate TK Maxx in real life, you need to be a discount ninja. Shop via us, however, and you’ll take out the hassle and collect 4 Avios for every £1 spent. A goldmine for gifts from streetwear giants, where pieces can all be picked up for an absolute fraction (and we mean a fraction) of their original price, there are also great basics such as designer underwear and must-have colognes. And, for the beauty-obsessed, Boots (collect 4 Avios for every £1 spent) nails it with highly covetable skincare and makeup sets and beauty advent calendars.

Gifts for design lovers

Whether you're shopping for a graphic guru, a master of material or an architecture aficionado, consider this a stress-free assembly of great gifts for design lovers – some might even surprise you. Debenhams, for example, is a treasure trove of gifts for the home from top designers that aesthetes will appreciate – think elegant diffusers and candles, chic lighting, cosy-making throws and blankets and affordable artwork. One of its design-led photo frames with a snap of you and a loved one or friend makes for a thoughtful present, and you can collect 8 Avios per £1 spent.

Argos (collect from 1 Avios for every £1 spent), meanwhile, has a brilliant selection of stylish kitchenware and tableware and gorgeous Scandi-inspired crockery, while Harvey Nichols (collect up to 12 Avios per £1 you spend) has decorative vases that you can give with a bouquet from Appleyard Flowers (collecting up to 22 Avios per £1 spent). 

To embrace the vinyl boom, treat a design lover to a turntable – an excellent option for anyone new to the world of LP records. Buy one at Very and collect up to 12 Avios for every £1 you spend. 

Gifts for the person who has everything (or if you need to buy a last-minute present)

We all have that one person who stumps our best gift-giving efforts, either by buying whatever they need themselves or by claiming they don’t want anything. But there are a few key stores with presents that run the hard-to-buy-for range span, from the pretty to the useful.

Take Nike’s range of athletic footwear and clothing, for example. Here you can snap up a perennially practical gift for the person who has everything, but who also appreciates comfort imbued with style. And for the outdoorsy and fitness-inclined, it’s just another great reason to kickstart a new wellness regime or get out and about in the new year, not to mention that you collect up to 5 Avios for every £1 you spend. A beautiful book is also a thoughtful gift for those who are hard to please. Waterstones (collect up to 4 Avios per £1 spent) is a reader’s treasure trove, covering everything from fashion design, art history, architecture, cinema and cooking to children’s picture books bursting with colour and exquisitely illustrated Christmas classics. 

LOOKFANTASTIC is stocked to the rafters with big name brands as well as up-and-coming retailers who are sure to impress – expect science-backed skincare, the latest trending makeup, grooming tools and fragrance sets, with curated product edits tailored to every gift recipient (collect up to 10 Avios per £1 spent). John Lewis is another great option if you’re stuck for ideas, with gifts spanning everything from jewellery to stationery, clothing to outdoor games (collect up to 2 Avios per £1 spent). 

And what could be better for someone with everything than a collection of Avios to put towards a weekend in a luxury hotel or even a business-class upgrade? Executive Club Members can buy Avios as a gift, with purchases from 2,000 Avios (costing £49) up to 200,000 (per calendar year), usually available to spend immediately.