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The five best Christmas hampers for an indulgent season in 2024, tried and tested
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When there are so many tempting options on offer, finding the best Christmas hampers to treat yourself or loved ones to festive goodies can be a challenge. There's no better way to provide that generous sense of enjoyment than an overflowing, luxury Christmas hamper. A plentiful supply of food is absolutely essential for an enjoyable Christmas, and even the biggest scrooge can be won over with a good mince pie. Wicker basket or not, hampers make the perfect Christmas gift for almost anyone so, if you're feeling particularly indulgent, there's no harm in getting one for yourself to enjoy.
We've streamlined our almost 50-strong hamper picks from last year to our top five choices for 2024. These reflect the very best in the hamper business, all thoroughly tested–a tough job, but someone had to do it. From our favourite foodie retailers like Fortnum & Mason, John Lewis and Selfridges, to small independent brands like Snowdonia, we will be including a range of budgets to cover some of the best value for money hampers we've seen–they won't all ring in at bank-breaking expense!
Best Christmas hampers at a glance:
- Best hamper overall: Snowdonia Cheese Luxury Cheese & Wine Hamper
- Best hamper for gifting: John Lewis Spirit of Christmas Hamper
- Best luxury hamper: The Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper
- Best all-rounder: John Lewis Festive Fireside Hamper
- Best home hamper: The White Company Winter Hamper
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How we tested the best Christmas hampers
A range of hampers were tried and tested this October by the House & Garden commerce team along with decoration editor, Rémy Mishon. In our search to put together the 2024 list of the best hampers, we considered a number of important factors. Starting on the outside and working our way in, we looked at:
- Delivery: Was it hassle free? Overly expensive? Timely?
- Packaging: Was it excessive? Sustainable, or recyclable?
- Hamper basket: Is it suitable for a second life and reuse as a storage box afterwards?
- Contents: How delicious are they? Do they reflect the price point? Is there a broad selection, or are the products unusual and curated?
- Price: Is it reasonable? Better for gifting or a touch of self indulgence?
Our five top picks have been selected for their excellence in some or all of the aforementioned categories.
How to choose the best Christmas hamper?
When choosing your festive hamper, consider how and when your hamper will be enjoyed. There are breakfast options, brunch choices and afternoon tea selections for those looking to substitute cooking a meal for a hamper (you'll be particularly thankful for a brunch hamper on Boxing Day morning!). Our top choices for 2024 include a cheese gift hamper, a home fragrance hamper, as well as classic Christmas food hampers for those looking to stretch out the hamper's festive treats over multiple days.
If you really can't decide, why not opt for a ‘build your own’ hamper from either Fortnum and Mason, or Not Another Bill?
Best hamper overall: Snowdonia Cheese Luxury Cheese & Wine Hamper
| Information | Snowdonia Cheese Luxury Cheese & Wine Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | Cheese fanatics |
| Alcohol: | Yes, x1 bottle |
| Number of items: | 9 |
| Price: | £70 |
| Delivery: | 1-3 days, free over £35 |
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Read our full review of Snowdonia's Luxury Cheese and Wine Hamper.
The best in the business when it comes to cheese, The Snowdonia Cheese Company's £70 hamper has everything you could possibly need for the ultimate cheese board. With four different cheeses, crackers, a selection of chutneys (the balsamic caramelised onion is a particularly winning formula), and a bottle of Montes Alpha Colchagua Valley Carmenère red wine to wash it down with, we were left wanting for nothing with this hamper. A highlight is the fondue cheese bake, a ready to melt cheddar dip that goes down exceedingly well on a cold winter's evening.
My initial impression of this hamper was how compact it was, in its smart wicker box, which has changed slightly from the one pictured to a slate blue colour way with gold hardware. The smaller size makes it ideal if you're sending it as a gift or lugging it over to a friend or family member's house. Fear not though, in spite of its less grandiose exterior than some of the other hampers in our list, the contents of this cheese hamper still greatly impressed me.
With all the chocolate and sweet treats we tend to consume over Christmas, it's refreshing to have a hamper that focuses on curating the savoury. The four wax truckles of award-winning cheese are generously sized, and all have their own rich, complex flavour - the cheeses in this hamper are of far higher quality than the supermarket vintage cheddar that I'd usually have with my Boxing Day buffet. Included are an extra mature cheddar, a cave-aged chedder, vintage Red Leicester and black truffle extra mature cheddar. My only complaint here would be that there are no milder or softer cheeses to offset the sharp cheddars, but that is not really Snowdonia's speciality. The cheese fondue is a lovely alternative, however. The cheeses are, of course, the star of the show, but the extras complement them wonderfully: from the robust wholemeal crackers, to the paired Chilean red wine and chutneys (the sweet fig and apple was my favourite).
The box that the hamper was delivered in was reasonable, not overly large or cumbersome for the size of the hamper basket, making delivery a breeze. At £70, I feel that this is very affordable for a Christmas hamper, and the products within are well worth the price. The basket is ideal for reusing as a small storage basket, and the branding is discreet enough to do so.
Best hamper for gifting: John Lewis Spirit of Christmas Hamper
| Information | John Lewis Spirit of Christmas Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | Traditional festive treats |
| Alcohol: | Yes, x 3 bottles |
| Number of items: | 11 |
| Price: | £100 |
| Delivery: | UK delivery within 2 to 5 days, 8am - 8pm, Monday to Saturday. Free over £50 |
Read our full review of John Lewis's Spirit of Christmas Hamper.
Pretty much a one-stop shop for all things Christmassy and crowd-pleasing, John Lewis has a varied collection of food hampers and festive gifts. Between wine, Christmas pudding, and plenty of sweet and savoury snacks, this spirited Christmas hamper will help the festive season go with a bang.
This selection of treats arrives in an open wicker gift basket, rather than a traditional hamper with lid. This may be a turn-off for some, but I rather liked it for something a little different. It's nice when gifting it that the array of treats is immediately displayed in the basket, though if you unboxed it and attempted to transport it anywhere, the products are not quite as secure.
With three bottles of festive alcohol (mulled wine, merlot and prosecco) and a balanced mix of eight other savoury and sweet treats, at £100 I think this is perhaps the best value for money hamper I have come across. In general, the selection heavily leans towards the traditional, with Christmas pudding, mince pies, nuts and a small box of chocolates in the mix, so for those looking to play it safe or just prefer to keep it classic at Christmas, this is an ideal choice. On the other hand, the bubbly serrano chilli crisps were very unusual and a highlight of the hamper for me.
Similarly to the Snowdonia hamper, the box that this hamper arrived in wasn't too large and was securely packaged up, so even with the open-top basket design, the products arrived in pristine condition. Furthermore, I can see the simple and sturdy basket having a second lease of life as storage in my bathroom long after all its treats have been eaten, so waste is kept to a minimum.
Best luxury hamper: The Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper
| Information | The Fortnum's Classic Christmas Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | Luxury Christmas treats |
| Alcohol: | Yes, x2 bottles |
| Number of items: | 10 |
| Price: | £200 |
| Delivery: | Standard UK delivery 3-5 working days, £5.95 |
Let's be honest, no one does a Christmas hamper quite like Fortnum and Mason. It's the classic destination for a wicker basket hamper, and their suitably-named "Classic Christmas" is what we'd plump for. Filled with luxury biscuits, preserves and spreads, alongside Louis Roederer champagne, white and red wine, as well as other sweet treats, we’d be thrilled if Santa delivered this on Christmas Eve. Plus, it was all packaged up in the iconic F&M wicker basket, an instant signifier of sumptuous Christmas celebration.
This beauty costs £200, which we think is quite reasonable given the level of luxury it brings. For a more in depth look at the best Fortnum and Mason Christmas Hampers to buy, head to our dedicated guide.
The beautifully designed packaging on this smartly presented hamper (as is to be expected from Fortnums) is a real plus for me, and means the products have a cohesive aesthetic. It's certainly the best-looking hamper on our list, and its premium contents don't disappoint in quality and taste either.
The Christmas fig preserve is delectably sweet (perhaps not its intended use but I have been enjoying it accompanied with a gooey brie) and the festive green tea infused with liquorice and coconut - which I wasn't sure I would enjoy - has been a very pleasant surprise. Fortnum's biscuits are in a league of their own, and the suitably festive flavour combinations on offer here (plum and ginger and chocolate and orange) do not disappoint. The metal tins could be reused as storage afterwards too.
On delivery, the hamper arrives protected in a cardboard box, with handle holes that make it easier to lift and manoeuvre. I appreciated the consideration given here, as the hamper is definitely heavier and bigger than others we tried. The large wicker basket makes an impressive entrance when unboxing, and again has handles for easy lifting. F&M wicker hampers are always so useful to keep for storage, and this one is an ideal size for belongings such as shoes, vinyl records or books. At £200, the price point may be too steep for some, but buying their hampers always works out cheaper than purchasing the products and basket separately, so we still think its great value for the luxurious Christmas treats within the wicker. Although I'd prefer it if delivery was free, as with other retailers.
Best all-rounder: John Lewis Festive Fireside Hamper
| Information | John Lewis Festive Fireside Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | A classic selection for the whole family |
| Alcohol: | Yes, x3 bottles |
| Number of items: | 12 |
| Price: | £150 |
| Delivery: | UK delivery within 2 to 5 days, 8am - 8pm, Monday to Saturday. Free over £50 |
Read our full review of John Lewis's Festive Fireside Hamper.
We feel that this hamper is one of the very best value on the Christmas market, with twelve items for £150.
Inside the handsome wicker basket was a Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Prosecco. Alongside the alcohol, there was chocolate-covered marshmallows, chocolate brownie biscuits and mince pies for the sweet-toothed. For those who err on the savoury side, there were salt and vinegar crisps, truffle flavoured nuts, and herby cheese straws. To top it all off, the gift hamper came with a box of Christmas crackers.
A real crowd-pleaser of Christmas hits, I feel that this hamper truly has something for everyone, while remaining at the reasonable price of £150. Red wine, white wine and sparkling wine is included, as are mince pies, nuts and crisps, so classic festive nibbles and drinks are covered. For those that aren't a fan of Christmas pudding or Christmas cake, panettone is a great alternative, and I love the festive tin in which this one is presented. It would be perfect to reuse and store biscuits or crackers afterwards. The bag of ground coffee is an unusual but welcome addition, and would be ideal to kick off Boxing Day morning, perhaps after enjoying a few glasses of the Merlot the night before. My favourite element of this hamper were the indulgent marshmallows, thickly covered in milk chocolate. The chocolate brownie biscuits were also delicious. Finally, the box of crackers is a lovely touch, and something that most other hampers don't offer.
I really like how the John Lewis hampers are unbranded, making them particularly apt for reuse in the home afterwards, or perhaps as a summer picnic basket. This one is a perfect medium size, not too small, not too bulky. It very snugly fit into the cardboard box it was delivered in, making it a little tricky to slide out, but on the other hand means that you avoid excessively large packaging, which I always appreciate.
Best home hamper: The White Company Winter Hamper
| Information | The White Company Winter Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | An alternative hamper |
| Alcohol: | No |
| Number of items: | 6 |
| Price: | £120 |
| Delivery: | Free standard delivery over £50, Next day delivery (order by 4pm) £7.95 |
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For those who may become oversaturated with indulgent treats over the festive period, The White Company's Winter Hamper is a lovely non-foodie option. It’s also a great choice for those searching for alcohol-free hampers. With their classic winter fragrance of cinnamon, clove and orange conjuring up a cosy and wintery atmosphere, it's the perfect gift set to get you in the mood for Christmas, or to give to someone to relax with in that glorious, seemingly never-ending week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
Along with the fresh Mustique for summer, The White Company's Winter fragrance is my favourite scent of theirs. I'm not a fan of aggressively Christmassy, cinnamon-heavy scents, but this fragrance is perfectly pitched, managing to balance both the zesty orange and herbal notes of clove, grounded by the aforementioned cinnamon (but not in an overbearing way).
The gift box includes a room spray, candle, diffuser, hand cream and hand wash, and fragrance oil. The diffuser and candle both release a really powerful scent when in use; it filled the whole studio while we were shooting. A quick spritz of the spray is a nice way to freshen up a room, but the scent doesn't linger like it does with some of the other products. In the overwhelming culinary conveyor belt of the Christmas season, I would find it very refreshing to receive this as an alternative hamper gift.
As with John Lewis, the hamper is unbranded, so ready to go for any post-Christmas storage needs. I especially liked the design of The White Company's box, which has toggle-style fastenings rather than the buckle straps. For me, this makes it look a little more like a storage basket that you might buy than an obvious reuse of a hamper. At £120, it's a luxurious present for a special someone, or perhaps an indulgent treat to yourself. The 2024 edition of the Winter hamper is not yet available to buy online, so check back soon for updates.
With enormous thanks to CC Moulton. Shop the backdrop moire here.
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