23 of the best Christmas food hampers for 2024

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.

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.

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: £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, £22.50

What’s in it: Presented in a delightfully seasonal gift bag for recipients to reuse again and again, this Festive 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, roasted nuts, Christmas pudding and a cherry and almond loaf. Filled with Christmassy delicacies and a mini bottle of Shiraz, this hamper is great for big kids who have never stopped loving Christmas.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Crunch & Crumble All Butter Shortbread Biscuits 150g
• Maxwell & Franks Christmas Pudding 100g
• Maxwell & Franks Mini Cherry & Almond Loaf Cake 125g

Buy the Festive Treats Christmas Gift Hamper

Pipers Farm The Little Cheese Box, £18.95

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 Camembert 200g
• Cornish Yarg 200g
• Quicke’s Vintage Cheddar 200g

Buy the Pipers Farm The 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 blow the bank, and thanks to the included high-quality ingredients, 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

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, classic panettone, 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
• Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Bar 90g

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. 

Home by Simon Rogan Christmas Weekend Hamper, £80

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 boxes of mince pie brownies, chocolate truffles, a hot chocolate making kit (which can be served in these rather delightful L’Enclume mugs) and all the necessary toppings for the ultimate ice cream sundae. You’ll also get to choose between a bottle of mulled wine or mulled cider, depending on your preferences, to keep you cosy on Christmas Eve.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Two Boxes of Simon Rogan Mince Pie Brownies
• Simon Rogan Christmas Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
• Simon Rogan Miso Caramel Sauce

Keep an eye out for the Home by Simon Rogan Christmas Weekend Hamper

The Classic Hamper by Gelupo, £68

What’s in it: Soho gelateria Gelupo has packed up a cracking 'classic' Christmas hamper this year filled with gourmet Italian treats. From creamy chocolate hazelnut spread by Amedei Toscana to dark chocolate bars, fig jam and an award-winning Panettone, this one's perfect if you have a friend or colleague with a sweet tooth. They've even thrown in their very own cookbook and a £10 Gelupo voucher to spend at their gelataria. Although you might want to wait for the weather to warm up first...

A taste of what’s included: 

• Forno Gentile Panettone
• Amedei Toscana’s Creamy Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
• Gelupo Gelato cookbook

Pre-order The Classic Hamper by Gelupo

Best of British Gourmet Hamper by Joe & Seph's, £65

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 things like rhubarb and custard, banoffee pie and marmalade. A healthy serving of hot chocolate finishes things off nicely, so that you're able to wash your treats down with another little something sweet - it is Christmas after all.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Salted Caramel Cheesecake Popcorn
• Rhubarb and Custard Popcorn
• Whittard of Chelsea Luxury Hot Chocolate

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

Silent Night Festive Christmas Hamper, £75

What’s in it: This hamper is about as traditional as they come. Presented in a wicker basket, it features both sweet and savoury delights. From the savoury side, expect Christmas preserves and wagyu beef crisps, while the sweet side of things is taken care of via chocolate covered marshmallows, shortbread biscuits and luxurious mince pies. An impressive array of treats that works well as a corporate gift over the festive season.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Maxwell & Frank Christmas Pudding 350g
• Baru Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallows with Raspberry 120g
• Butlers Assortment of Chocolate Truffles & Pralines 100g

Buy the Silent Night Festive Christmas Hamper

The British Hamper Company Vegan & Gluten Free Gourmet Food Hamper, £58.50

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 rosemary and seasalt biscuits, dark chocolate mint creams 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

The Christmas Essentials by Ottolenghi, £55

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 pecan snowballs, brunsli stars, spiced nuts and 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

Pre-order The Essentials by Ottolenghi (available from 17th October)

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

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 alternative 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
• Willie’s Cacao - Marc de Champagne Truffles
• Silver & Green - Rosemary & Garlic Olives 220g

Buy the Handmade Christmas Co. Wine & Nibbles Hamper

Pong Cheese Continental Cheese Hamper, £94

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 biscuit, 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, £169

What’s in it: An institution of northwest London, Panzer’s has been one of the city’s leading Jewish delis since it opened over 75 years ago. Luckily for those of us who don’t own property in St John Wood, the team have a whole host of festive hampers available for countrywide delivery. One of our favourites for 2024 is the Christmas Connoisseur selection. Filled with a range of its best festive products, this hamper includes fresh and storecupboard treats including Panzer’s panettone, smoked salmon, Burt's blue cheese, apricot and raspberry shortcakes and a bottle of Vina Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon that’s sure to go down a treat on the big day.

A taste of what’s included:

• Panzer’s Smoked Salmon 227g
• Burt's Blue Cheese 180g
• The Fine Cheese Co Flavoured Crackers Selection Tin

Buy the Panzer’s Christmas Connoisseur Hamper

Provisions Festive Hamper, £110

What’s in it: Provisions is first and foremost one of London’s best restaurants for cheese plates and fine wines. Found in both Islington and Hackney, the shops are the physical outlets for a wider operation that sends wonderful cheese gifts across the UK (we love the ‘Cheese Canteen’ subscription). This specially crafted festive hamper sees the team expertly collaborate on some of the loveliest Christmassy treats that are as unusual as they are interesting. We’re talking mackerel fillets from Portugal, chocolates from the UK and the most wonderful saucisse seche from France.

A taste of what’s included:

• Jar of Goose Rillettes from Maison Argaud
• Box of Hazelnut Biscuits
• Bottle of Cremant Originielle 2020 from Yves Duport

Buy the Provisions Festive Hamper

Bettys The Ilkley Hamper, £135

What’s in it: Only found in Yorkshire, Bettys Tea Room has achieved legend status, eschewing the ultra-modern Instagrammable interiors that are favoured these days for its unashamedly twee offering. Betty’s Christmas hamper features a Yorkshire fruit cake, buttery shortbread and milk chocolate Langues de Chat. Wash it all down with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and toast to the Christmas season. This one is perfect for a Yorkshire native who’s moved to a different part of the country and is missing home, or for fans of Bettys legendary afternoon tea.

A taste of what’s included: 

• Florentines
• Classic Seville Orange Marmalade
• Bottle of La Petite Perrière Sauvignon blanc

Buy the Bettys The Ilkley Hamper

Pink Marc De Champagne Celebration Hamper, £175

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 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

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 Fortnum's Christmas Treat Hamper, £110

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 wine, alongside christmas biscuits, fig preserve and classic blends of tea and coffee. 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 Blend Ground Coffee Tin 250g
• Fortnum’s Christmas Tea Biscuits 120g
• Christmas Peppermint Bark 150g

Buy the Fortnum's Christmas Treat Hamper

The Holiday Hamper by Ottolenghi, £280

What’s in it: Prepare for the feast to end all feasts with Ottolenghi’s carefully curated holiday hamper, 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: 

• Lemon and Vanilla Marmalade
• Christmas Cake and Pudding
• Strawberry Woodland Meringues

Pre-order The Holiday Hamper by Ottolenghi (available from 17th October)

Stein's Family Christmas Collection Hamper, £250

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 own Champagne, all the way through to Cornish pilchards, and clotted cream shortbread. There are also a few non-edible items, which give the recipient something to hold on to long after they’ve made their way through all the food. The festive tea towel is a lovely finishing touch. 

A taste of what’s included:

• Rick Stein Champagne
• Box of Caramel Sea Salt Chocolates
• Rick Stein Clotted Cream Shortbread

Buy the Stein's Family Christmas Collection Hamper

Harrods The Get Together Hamper, £190

What's in it: Specifically designed to encourage catch ups, this lovingly curated hamper is just what the doctor ordered after years of festive lockdowns. 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:

• Mixed Chocolate Coated Almonds 325g
• Truffle Potato Crisps 125g
• Knightsbridge Coffee Beans 250g

Buy the Harrods The Get Together 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 of 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!

John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper, £1000

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 a bottle of Salcombe gin. 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. There’s even a six pack of crackers for the table come Christmas Day.

A taste of what’s included:

• Two Bottles of Cuvée de L'Hospice Châteauneuf du Pape 75cl 
• Odysea Balsamic Vinegar Of Modena 250ml
• Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Christmas Pudding 908g

Buy the John Lewis Christmas Treasure Chest Hamper

Harrods The Ultimate Christmas Hamper, £TBC

What's in it: There’s nothing more Christmassy than a large, Harrods hamper landing on your doorstep come December. This one is only available for a couple of short weeks – normally sometime mid-December – but that somehow makes it feel extra special. There’s practically every hamper inclusion you can think of in this mammoth basket, including tea, coffee, mince pies, preserves, chocolates, caviar and foie gras (naturally). There is also a total of no less than fifteen bottles of plonk included, so recipients certainly won’t be short of options to toast the season with.

A taste of what’s included:

• Dom Pérignon 2013 75cl
• George Bruck Goose Foie Gras 210g
• Harrods Golden Oscietra Caviar 125g

Buy the Harrods The Ultimate Christmas Hamper

Who invented Christmas hampers?

There are plenty of historical anecdotes you could follow to get to the route 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 Crimea War. The British Red Cross also sent out Christmas puddings during WW1 too 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.

Ultimately though, 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 are treated to something lovely 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 2024.

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