The best last minute Christmas gifts for 2022 – for both him and her | The Sun

CHRISTMAS might be months away, but whatever you do, don't be complacent about gift-buying.

But if you're the type who leaves shopping until the eleventh hour, read on for our pick of last-minute Christmas gifts, with options for both him and her.

If you are buying Christmas pressies in a hurry, a wise move is to dodge dashing around the shops and buying online instead: plenty of retailers offer speedy and next-day deliveries.

Better still, you could opt for a present that doesn't even need to be delivered, such as a subscription or experience (you'll find both in our list below).

Ultimately, a last-minute Christmas gift doesn't have to lead to disappointed looks: you can still pick up something that's thoughtful and extra-special, even if it was purchased in a bit of a hurry.

But if you're stuck for ideas, panic not. Take a breath. Calm yourself. And read on.

We've not just selected our favourite last-minute Christmas gifts, for best Christmas gifts for him and best Christmas gifts for her.

Our top last-minute Christmas gifts

You can scroll further down for a wider selection of last-minute Christmas gifts, but here's a quick list of our top picks.

Our writers have selected their ten favourite gifts – so if you're in a real hurry? Just take a look here: we think you'll find something you like.

1. Whisky Tasting Experience Gift, £15

Who wouldn't appreciate a wee dram – or indeed four of them – at Christmas time?

This little gift set of single-malt whiskies can be ordered from Marks & Spencer, who mercifully offer a fast delivery time – this makes a lovely and thoughtful gift for anybody you know who considers themselves a connoisseur.

• Whisky Tasting Experience Gift, £15 from M&S – buy here

2. Cartwright & Butler Let's Celebrate Prosecco & Treats Gift Box, £35

High-street stalwart John Lewis offers deliveries with a fast turnaround time, including next-day options across many products.

We can't imagine many people out there wouldn't appreciate this hamper of rich and luxurious goodies from Cartwright & Butler, which includes a variety of sweet snacks along with a bottle of fizz.

Yes, a food box is a bit of a catch-all gift – but it's bound to go down well in the season of guilt-free guzzling.

• Cartwright & Butler Let's Celebrate Prosecco & Treats Gift Box, £35, from John Lewis – buy here

3. Theatre and Dinner for Two from Virgin Experiences Days, £99

Sidestep all the hassle of hoping that a last-minute present is delivered in time by getting something that doesn't need to be delivered – namely, an experience gift.

Virgin Experience Days offers a sweeping range of packages for an unforgettable day out, or in this case an unforgettable evening.

Taking someone special out for a night of dinner and theatre is also one surefire way to banish the January blues.

• Theatre and Dinner for Two, £99, Virgin Experience Days – buy here

4. A Christmas gift subscriptions from Appleyard Flowers, from £25

If in doubt, say it with flowers – just make sure you choose an excellent florists like Appleyard, who offer next-day deliveries on their bouquets.

They provide a range of gorgeous arrangements at a variety of price points, all delivered promptly and with care, and better still they offer Christmas gift subscriptions.

For a wider range of florists, head to our Sun Selects team's pick of the best online flower delivery services.

• Christmas Gift Subscription, from £25, Appleyard Flowers – buy here

5. LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Chest 2022, £95

Beauty boxes are something that's a perfect gift for a lady in your life – and we're a huge fan of those available from Lookfantastic.

This Beauty Chest is available to pre-order now, and contains a range of major brands, including  Elemis, ESPA and NARS, plus an array of products that would cost £368 if they were bought separately.

• LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Chest 2022, £95 (Worth £368) from Lookfantastic – buy here

6. A Kindle Unlimited subscription, £7.99 per month after 30-day trial

Again, a present that requires no delivery is a subscription service like Kindle Unlimited – and it's the perfect choice for any Kindle owners you know.

This service hooks members up with an unlimited supply of e-books to 'borrow', much like a library.

Best of all, you can get the first three months for just 99p right now – that's a saving of £22.96 (no need to tell the person you're buying it for).

• Kindle Unlimited, £7.99 per month (30 days free), Amazon – buy here

7. A Spa Day with Afternoon Tea, £89

Here's an another experience-based gift that we know lots of people would love to receive.

After all the pre-festive chaos and stress, who wouldn't love to be pampered at a spa day, followed up by afternoon tea?

This package is on offer right now, and it's for two people – so you can go along from some TLC too.

• Spa Day with 25-Minute Treatment and Afternoon Tea for Two, £89.99, Red Letter Days – buy here

8. A year of Disney+ streaming, £59.99

For anyone you know who loves the House of Mouse, this one's a no-brainer.

Disney+ is now one of the biggest streaming platforms out there: home to every single classic from the studio, plus the Star Wars and Marvel franchises, plus a number of other TV shows and films that are way more adults-oriented.

It's the perfect thing to switch on with the family this Christmas – especially if the TV schedule isn't up to much.

• Disney+ One-Year Membership, £59.99 – buy here

9. Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Gift Box, £39

You don't need much of an excuse to pop a bottle of champers at Christmas – and guess what? You can buy them on Amazon (who offer next-day delivery if you're signed up to Prime).

This 75cl gift bottle from the legendary Moët & Chandon is the perfect last-minute bubbly gift.

• Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Gift Box, £39 from Amazon – buy here

10. Six months of cheese from Neal's Yard, £105

Cheese tends to go down very, very well as a gift – so why not subscribe your giftee to months of the stuff?

Neal's Yard offers a subscription that will deliver a parcel of matured, hand-picked cheese to their door – this is the ideal gift for any dedicated fromage-lovers out there.

• Neal’s Yard 3-month cheese subscription, £105 – buy here

11. Prezzee Smart Gift Card, from £5

Prezzee Smart Gift Card is perfect if you're stuck for a gift for someone.

You'll be able to send the card digitally, meaning you can even send on Christmas Day if you've left it super late.

Shoppers can buy personalised gift cards that can be redeemed at over 100 outlets: including favourites such as ASOS, Deliveroo, Uber, M&S and Wagamama.

Plus your digital gift card can be personalised with audio, photo and video.

• Prezze Smart Gift Card, from £5 – buy here

12. Selfridges Electronic Gift Card, from £10

Selfridges is often the place to go when shopping any gift, for any occasion.

But for those who are stumped for ideas, or time, a Selfridges gift card is a saving grace.

• Selfridges Electronic Gift Card, from £10 from Selfridges – buy here

1. Last minute Christmas gifts: Drinks

A bottle of booze is guaranteed to go down a treat with anyone come Christmas, whether it is a work colleague, as part of the secret Santa gift, a friend, relative, male or female.

In short: everybody loves a boozy gift at Christmas.

While some may be wine drinkers, others may prefer to gift something a little more "upmarket" for the festive occasion so it looks like more thought has gone into the gift – no need for them to know it was picked up at the last minute.

1.  Ron Santiago De Cuba new Añejo 8-Year-Old rum, £24 from Tesco – buy here

2. 818 Tequila Blanco | Kendall Jenner, £64.99 from The Bottle Club – buy here
3. Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Gift Box, £39 from Amazon – buy here
4. Clementine & Spiced Sugar Plum Light up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur Duo, £40 from M&S – buy here
5. Whisky Tasting Experience Gift, £15 from M&S – buy here
6. FIOL Prosecco DOC Extra Dry, £20.50 from Amazon – buy here
7. Ciroc Red Berry Flavoured Vodka, £28.99, from Amazon – buy here
8. Kocktail The Old Fashioned Collection, £22 from John Lewis – buy here

2. Last minute Christmas gifts: Beauty box subscriptions

Beauty Boxes have grown in popularity over the years, along with the rise in beauty advent calendars. For those who are looking to get into beauty and skincare, or even more seasoned beauty buffs, a subscription allowing them to trial the latest products, new brands they may not have used before is a win. You can select from one month, three, six, or even 12 month subscriptions – a year's worth of beauty items will be more than they bargained for this Christmas, and score you major brownie points.

For our Sun Selects team's pick of the finest available, head to their best beauty boxes article.

1. Glossybox – buy here
2. Lookfantastic – buy here
3. Cult Beauty – buy here
4. FeelUnique – buy here
5. Beauty Pie – buy here
6. Birchbox – buy here
7. Holland & Barrett – buy here
8. Liberty London – buy here
9. Neom – buy here
10. Space NK – buy here

3. Last-minute Christmas gifts: Memberships

Memberships are a fabulous choice of last-minute gift. We've listed a range of options below, covering everything from audiobooks to cheese to whisky – take your pick.

1. Audible membership, £7.99 per month (30 days free) – buy here, 
2. Disney+ One-Year Membership, £59.99 – buy here
3. Neal’s Yard 3-month cheese subscription, £83 – buy here
4. Kindle Unlimited, £7.99 per month (30 days free), Amazon – buy here
5. Pour & Sip Subscription Box, £29.95 per month – buy here
6. Beer52 8-beer subscription, £12 first month, £24 after – buy here
7. Lookfantastic beauty box, from £13 – buy here
8. Oddbox fruit and veg box, from £10.99 – buy here
9. Hello Fresh, from £14 per month – buy here
10. The Cheese Geek, £32 per month – buy here

4. Last-minute Christmas gifts: Next-day deliveries

It's always worth checking the final delivery dates of any UK stores that you're planning to buy gifts from – but it's also worth bearing in mind that plenty of retailers offer next-day delivery.

For guaranteed next-day deliveries on Amazon, the best thing to do is to sign up to Amazon Prime, which costs £7.99 a month but comes with a 30-day free trial.

1. Mandarin, Clove & Cinnamon Boxed Candle, £5, Marks & Spencer – buy here
2. Spiced Rum Gift Set, £19.34, Amazon – buy here
3. The Beaulieu Hamper, £50, Marks & Spencer – buy here
4. John Lewis & Partners Christmas Treats Tray, £25 from John Lewis & Partners – buy here
5. John Lewis & Partners Sheepskin Mule Slippers, £49 from John Lewis & Partners – buy here
6. Merci Maman Personalised Heart Padlock 18ct yellow gold-plated brass bracelet, £59, from Selfridges – buy here
7. Herbal Tea Selection Box, £14 from Amazon – buy here
8. Seychelles Mini Home Scenting Set, £35 from The White Company – buy here

5. Last-minute Christmas gifts: Experience days

Some people are very tough to buy for – so rather than giving them a gift they unwrap, how about you treat them to a day they'll never forget instead?

The fact that you can buy an experience at the very last minute is simply an added bonus, whether you head to Virgin Experiences, or travel sites including Trainline, or Booking.com for a break away, there are plenty of options.

1. Theatre and Dinner for Two, £99, Virgin Experience Days – buy here
2. Visit to The View from The Shard and Bottomless Pizza for Two, £86 from Virgin Experience Days – buy here
3. Tree Top Challenge at Go Ape for Two People, £66, Red Letter Days – buy here
4. Wine Tasting With Overnight Stay At Chapel Down Winery For Two, £99, Virgin Experience Days – buy here
5. Gourmet Dining Experience Box, £89.99, Buyagift – buy here
6. Spa Day with 25-Minute Treatment and Afternoon Tea for Two, £78 (Was £138), Red Letter Days – buy here
7. The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, £15.91 (Was £16.75) from Booking.com – buy here
8. All-inclusive Maldives villa retreat on secluded island, £4,289 from Secret Escapes – buy here
9. Buyagift Fun Together For 2 Gift Experience, £39.99 from John Lewis – buy here
10. The Adventure Challenge Couples Edition, £45 from The Adventure Challenge – buy here

6. Last-minute Christmas gifts: Flowers

Sometimes it's the most traditional presents that are the best, like a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Below, we've picked out our favourite online flower delivery services, most of which offer next-day delivery options (though we recommend checking availability around the hectic Christmas period).

1. Bloom and Wild – buy here
2. Flowerbx – buy here
3. Serenata Flowers – buy here
4. Arena Flowers – buy here
5. Appleyard Flowers – buy here
6. M&S – buy here
7. Prestige Flowers – buy here
8. Waitrose Florist – buy here

To find out more about these florists, head to our best online flower delivery service article.

7. Last-minute Christmas gifts: Vouchers

Vouchers may feel like a cop-out gift option, but many people appreciate being given the freedom to pick out what they want. Plus, a voucher chosen from an unusual choice of store will make for a pleasantly surprising gift – we've picked out a few different options below.

1. Selfridges – buy here
2. Amazon eGift Voucher – buy here
3. Harrods Gift Card – buy here
4. John Lewis Gift Card – buy here
5. Wayfair Gift Cards – buy here
6. Smyths Toys Gift Cards – buy here
7. Not On The High Street Gift Card – buy here
8. One4All Gift Card – buy here
9. My Townhouse – buy here
10. ASOS – buy here
11. Candy Kittens – buy here
12. Lookfantastic – buy here

What are some good last-minute Christmas gifts?

Just like all Christmas pressies, the finest, loveliest last-minute gifts are those that really show some thought and care.

So when you're making your choice, keep your recipient's tastes, interests and personality in mind.

If they have a hobby, buy them something that relates to their passion – alternately, if you know they're in need of something but will never treat themselves, jump in and do it for them.

And if your last-minute Christmas gift is for someone you don't know so well – a workplace Secret Santa, perhaps – then you can't go wrong with something a little indulgent, like chocolates or booze, or a pampering product.

What should I get my girlfriend last minute for Christmas?

Shock horror: you've left buying your girlfriend a Christmas until the final hour!

Don't worry, this doesn't have to be a disaster – as you can see from our selection above, things like subscriptions make for excellent last-minute gifts, especially luxurious beauty box options from Glossybox, Birchbox and Lookfantastic.

Alternately, you could treat her to a spa weekend, or a mini-break to a hotel – or, if you (finally) get organised, even a New Year's trip abroad.

What to buy for parents who have everything?

We know how tough parents can be to buy for, especially if they seem to already have everything they need and want.

An experience package from the likes of Virgin Experience Days and Red Letter Days would work well as gifts for both mums and dads – we've listed a few options above in our round-up.

Another option is take the DIY route: gifts that have been handmade are the perfect way to show your love and care.

This might be anything from homemade jams and chutneys to candles and craft items.

What stores do next-day delivery?

You'll find that a number of UK retailers offer next-day delivery on online orders – however, the details will change from store to store.

As a general rule, you'll have to pay extra if you want you purchase to arrive the following day – it's included within the Amazon Prime subscription, but of course you're paying £7.99 a month for that.

Here's a quick run-down of stores who offer next-day delivery options for online shoppers:

• Amazon
• Argos
• AO
• ASOS
• Boohoo
• Currys
• Debenhams
• GAME
• John Lewis & Partners
• Marks & Spencer
• River Island

On the hunt for more besides last-minute Christmas gifts? Don't miss our pick of the best Christmas gifts for boyfriends and best Christmas gifts for girlfriends.

For everything you need to know about the biggest sale of the year, head to our when is Black Friday? explainer.

Sun Selects is here to help you find the best items at the best prices. 

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