Every guide for buying unique presents seems to have some wacky ideas about what to get your mum for her 60th birthday. From sky-diving experiences to bee-rescue kits, although definitely unique, they just seem to miss the mark on what you would realistically buy for your loved one.
The list below contains 11 actually good (appropriate but also thoughtful!) presents that you could get for a brother, sister, mum, dad, child, friend, partner, grandparent or pretty much anyone, whether that be for Christmas or a milestone birthday.
Why am I qualified to put this list together? I myself am someone who is hard to buy for, and I have a tricky time buying gifts for other people. That means that when I get a present right, or I see someone else absolutely nail it, that gift idea is instantly added to my notes app.
Therefore, this list is the outcome of a 10-year-long project to collect the best presents I have either given, received, or secretly hoped for and can personally recommend to you.
This list is split into three categories:
1. Gifts they’d love but would never buy themselves,
2. The most thoughtful gifts of all
3. The staples: gifts they’ll use/wear everyday
Disclaimer: I have not been paid by anyone to endorse any of these products
Gifts they’d love but would never buy themselves
1. Customised playing cards
Hear me out on this one – this is hands down one of the best presents I have ever received. If the person you are buying for is someone that likes a card game, this is the gift that keeps on giving. Collect 52 photos of this person and any happy memories they may cherish, and watch their face light up as they go through each of the cards. Also a great conversation starter whenever the cards are brought out in a group setting!
Price: £14.95
Link
2. Comedy/theatre tickets
This is a classic present to give, and you can’t really go wrong (unless the person you’re buying for really hates the theatre). To start you off, below are some of the plays/comedy/theatre shows I can personally recommend whether for a family member, a partner or a friend:
The Play That Goes Wrong
Price: £20–£108
Link
The Comedy About Spies
Price: £19.50–£100+
Link
Hamilton
Price: £23–£105+
Link
Les Misérables
Price: £25–£100+
Link
Moulin Rouge
Price: £25–£150+
Link
3. A high-quality speaker
If they don’t already have one, a speaker is one of those possessions that you don’t really think to buy yourself, but once you have one, you use all the time. This is the speaker I’ve had for 10 years, and once momentarily dropped in a swimming pool, but still works perfectly to this day.
Price: £89.99
Link
4. Podcast Patreon subscription
This is a niche one, usually better suited to the younger crowd, but if the person you’re buying for has a favourite podcast, see if there is a paid version of it and buy them a month or two’s subscription. My sister once did this for me, and the thoughtfulness and specificity of it blew my mind.
Price: £15 – £20 for a few months
Link: Depends on the podcast!
5. Cookbook kit
This is another gift idea stolen from my sister, who once gave this exact kit to our grandmother, who loved it. It works for anyone that is into cooking, or looking to get into it, as it gives them a huge range of delicious spices and recipes for them to try out. Super unique present, and great for pushing people out of their comfort zones and into the worlds of different cuisines.
Price: £36.95
Link
The most thoughtful gifts
6. A custom/commissioned painting
The crème de la crème of thoughtful present ideas. I am a portrait artist myself, and the paintings featured above are my own, so naturally I would say this. However, whether you commission me for your painting or another artist I do truly believe that a hand-painted portrait is one of the most special and meaningful presents you can give to a person. From the craftsmanship, and the memory behind the photo you choose, to the fact that it’s one of a kind and entirely hand-made, there’s nothing else on this list that quite compares.
Some artists I recommend:
Annabel Fox (me)
A London-based independent artist with a realistic but traditional approach to painting, working from photographs. I’ve had commissions for big milestone birthdays, for spouses, wedding anniversaries, school graduations, and everything in between.
Pricing:
Smaller portraits (A5 head and shoulders) from £220
Larger portraits (multi-person) from £540
Learn more about how to commission a portrait
Rosanna Chittenden
Characterful and looser, traditional style of oil painting, working from life in her studio.
Pricing:
Smaller portraits (10 x 8 inches head and shoulders) from £4,000
Larger portraits (multi-person) from £11,000
Anna Bregman
Specialising in whimsical but realistic pencil portraits of children.
Pricing:
Smaller portraits (12 x 10 inches head and shoulders) from £590
Larger portraits (multi-person) from £1190
7. A hand-picked stack of books
Most people are looking to get back into reading, or have finished a book and are wondering what their next read should be. This present involves getting your loved one a selection of 4 or 5 books. These can be second-hand if you are working on a budget, for which I recommend World of Books. But the idea is to give them a cocktail of genres, so they are never stuck for what to read. I would recommend a mix of beach reads, thrillers or whodunnits, something uplifting, and something out of left-field for them.
Books I can absolutely recommend:
Carrie Soto is Back
Carrie Soto is back follows a tennis legend who comes out of retirement at age 37 to defend her record of 20 Grand Slam titles. You do not have to be into tennis to read this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes the most immersive fiction I have ever read. This is the definition of unputdownable and perfect for anyone who roots for the underdog.
Rachel’s Holiday
Rachel’s Holiday is about a 27-year-old Irish woman living in New York who is forced into rehab after a drug overdose. But it’s not nearly as bleak as that summary suggests. It is a witty, funny, and unbelievably clever book by Marian Keyes. The reader is thrown into a world of big characters and carried along by Marian’s brilliant writing.
SAS: Rogue Heroes (or anything by Ben Macintyre)
The official authorised history of the birth of the SAS, and its daring operations during World War II. Don’t assume this one is just for the boys (although your dad is guaranteed to love it). Ben Macintyre is a world-class storyteller. He takes you right into the heart of the action and makes you care about the real-life heroes he writes about.
SAS: The Great Train Raid by Damien Lewis
A similar vibe with this one. I’ve seen both Damien Lewis and Ben Macintyre talk live, and they are the single most compelling speakers I’ve ever seen. The way they have audiences hanging off their every word ought to be studied. A masterclass in storytelling and an amazing true story about what the Allies were really up to behind enemy lines during WW2.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
I don’t know how to describe this book. It’s about two friends who set out to make a video game together (but obviously it’s about much more than that). All I will say is read the first 10 pages.
Into Thin Air
A non-fiction, first-hand account of the 1996 Everest disaster that killed 8 people. This book was as gripping as it was tragic. If I’d had a heart monitor on whilst reading it, I can be almost sure it would have imploded.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
A classic, and widely regarded as one of Agatha Christie’s greatest whodunnits. I read this in one sitting on a sun lounger in Zante. By the time I reached the end I was irredeemably burnt, and the sun had melted whatever glue was holding the book’s pages to the spine, so it effectively self-destructed.
8. 11 compliments
This gift costs nothing but has put everyone I’ve given it on the verge of (happy) tears. Whether you’re writing to wish your loved one a happy birthday in a text, email or card, take some time to write 11 genuine compliments for that person. Think of the things you don’t ordinarily get to say, but you think all the time about that person that they should know, and would make them feel good. Get honest about all the wonderful qualities this person has, and why you value them so much.
The Staples – gifts they’ll wear/use everyday
9. Jeans
Pretty much everyone wears jeans and needs a high-quality reliable pair that work for any occasion. Most people I know also put off buying themselves jeans at all costs. Do your friend/partner/family member a favour and get them some Levi 501s – they are a classic for a reason. Super flattering, great quality, will be worn all the time, and great for men or women. It may give you away, but be sure to ask for their jeans size (waist and inseam) before you buy to make sure you get it right!
Price: £100–£110
Link
10. High quality accessories – belt, scarf, gloves, work/smart shoes, bag
Again, these are the items that people fail to buy for themselves. A good example: the belt I currently use is one I bought for £5 on Amazon for a Halloween costume in my first year of university. Despite it pretty much falling apart since, I will almost certainly continue to put off buying myself another one, let alone one of decent quality because there always seems to be something else I could be spending my money on.
Price range: £30–£250 (depending on how bougie you go!)
11. PJ bottoms
There is nothing more exciting than unwrapping a new pair of pyjama bottoms and feeling how soft they are. These work as a present for anyone, but are particularly good for dads, brothers, and grandfathers, who rely solely on Christmases and birthdays for their pyjama supply. I bought my father the ones linked below for his birthday last year, and he went to the shop the same day and bought them in 2 more colours.
Price: £35
Link
Meet the Author
Annabel Fox is a London-based portrait artist specialising in hand-painted oil portraits from photographs. She writes about portraiture, thoughtful gifts and commissioning original artwork.