Food writer Kate Ng has tested a range of Christmas hampers for 2026, categorising them into four budgets from under £50 to £300, to help shoppers find the best value gifts. The hampers were assessed on price, presentation, and value for money, with particular attention to how Christmassy the contents are, although not every hamper is purely Christmas-related.
Under £50: Fortnum & Mason, Tesco, John Lewis, Ottolenghi, and Bold Bean Co
The Fortnum & Mason The Nice List Gift Box received five stars, praised for being child-friendly with vegan treats, including a hot chocolate gingerbread man, biscuits, cinnamon and plum tea, and vegan reindeer treats. It contains five items and does not include a wicker basket.
Tesco Finest Christmas Hamper with Prosecco earned four stars, featuring Parmesan cheese and garlic twists, chocolate florentines, shortbread, prosecco, salted caramel truffles, and a mini panettone in a wicker basket that feels flimsy. John Lewis Christmas Treats Gift Sack also got four stars, with a bottle of Waitrose Prosecco, mince pies, clotted cream shortbread, truffles, and assorted nuts in a drawstring sack.
Ottolenghi Christmas Essentials Hamper received five stars for non-traditional flavours, with cheddar and pistachio biscuits, chocolate orange sables, preserved lemon and chilli olives, rosemary-spiced nuts, and chocolate brittle, though most items have a 10- to 15-day shelf life. Bold Bean Co The Bean Lover Gift Set got four stars, offering three jars of beans and a ceramic plate, ideal for home cooks.
£100 and under: M&S, Nourished Communities, Eataly, Sous Chef, and Ottolenghi
The M&S Collection Deluxe Christmas Hamper earned five stars for impressing on a budget, with a robust wicker basket and nine items including goat's cheese biscuits, chutney, truffles, shortbread, tea, coffee, and red and white wine, though no fizz is included. Nourished Communities Best of British Artisan Food Hamper got four stars, supporting British brands with items like Chapel Down Classic Brut NV, Baron Bigod cheese, and Cobble Lane Cured salami, but requires immediate refrigeration for some items.
Eataly Taste of Christmas received four stars as an Italian hamper with 11 products including a full-sized panettone and prosecco at £85. Sous Chef Thinking of You Hamper earned five stars for foodies, featuring Bret's salted butter crisps, ethically sourced chocolate, and artisan pasta. Ottolenghi Festive Champagne Hamper got four stars, including a bottle of Huguenot Tassin Signature Brut Champagne retailing at £40 alone, plus panettone fudge.
£150 and under: Waitrose and John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, Daylesford, Panzer's, and Citizens of Soil
The Waitrose and John Lewis No.1 Golden Christmas Hamper received five stars, with 13 products including three bottles of wine, Belgian waffle biscuits, and blonde chocolate florentines in an open basket. Fortnum & Mason The Christmas Cheer Hamper also got five stars, featuring a half-bottle of port, tea, and coffee in a signature wicker basket.
Daylesford Christmas Cheer Gift Box earned four stars for alcohol-free gifts, with rose kombucha, dark chocolate treats, and organic plum jam, though lacking savoury options. Panzer's World Journey got four stars, with unique items like Patio De Viana olive oil and Sono dessert wine. Citizens of Soil The Christmas Case received five stars for olive oil enthusiasts, featuring six oils sourced by founder Sarah Vachon, prioritising regenerative farming and female producers.
£300 and under: Claridge's, M&S, Khoury's, Made in Oldstead, and Lakeland
Claridge's Mews Hamper earned five stars for its robust wicker basket with rope handles, containing sweet treats like milk chocolate truffles, a 500g panettone, and Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve NV. M&S The Grand Collection Christmas Hamper also got five stars, with 17 items including a full-sized Christmas cake and pudding, three bottles of wine, and a tea towel.
Khoury's A Passport in Chocolate received five stars as a chocolate hamper, with 14 items of artisanal, plant-based chocolates using organic cacao. Made in Oldstead The Ultimate Oldstead Christmas Hamper earned five stars, with 26 items sourced from Yorkshire, including a cured ham joint and smoked salmon, suitable for the entire Christmas period. Lakeland The Christmas Tradition Hamper got four stars, with 19 items including Christmas crackers and familiar brands like Filbert's and Joe & Seph's.
The best Christmas hamper is one that is thoughtful and keeps on giving, with options as low as £35 in the under £50 category, such as the John Lewis Christmas Treats Gift Sack and Tesco Finest Christmas Hamper with Prosecco.
