Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
The Best Value Christmas Hampers for Under £70 (2023)
Marc Crosby
1st Dec 2023
Everyone loves a hamper. They look so impressive and there are some really Christmassy ones around. But a lot of Christmas Hampers can be very expensive, particularly when you see what’s in them!
We’ve decided to look at hampers on offer for under £70 to see which ones look the best and offer the greatest value for money. We’ve painstakingly sampled a selection of hampers (the things we do…) to bring you the ultimate verdict. We’re deciding on presentation, taste and value for money.
- A complete Christmas dinner hamper!
- For the traditionalist
- A bird-lover’s hamper from Lakeland
- Glamorous box for chocolate lovers
- Bradford’s For salted caramel fans does us proud
- For Meat Lovers
- For Cheese Lovers
- For the chocolate lover
- For the salted caramel freak
- Baileys and cookies
- For the wine lover
A complete Christmas dinner hamper!
Luxury Christmas Turkey Butterfly Christmas Hamper – (£50)
We were lucky enough to receive this at the beginning of December and oh boy did it satisfy. This is a great ‘hamper’ if you’re looking for a really useful and exciting gift for the relatives at Christmas. It includes a delicious 2kg Turkey Butterfly (we ate it yesterday and, speaking as someone who isn’t a turkey fan, I LOVED it), meaty pork sausages (we’ve tasted them), unsmoked crispy bacon, bacon medallions, pigs in blankets (because who doesn’t love pigs in blankets!) and more. There’s even Figgy Pud stuffing which was amazing!
It’s from Musclefood which specialises in proper food for body builders and the fitness community but over the last few years they have attracted a lot of women / mums who love the prices and the quality of the product.
We’re not surprised. This is a dinner that anyone could be proud of…and keep eating for a few days after the festive season. They deliver up to 23rd December so order it now and the rellies will have it in time for the big day.
Presentation: 7/10 – This didn’t come in a pretty wicker basket but this hamper is substance over style, with ice packs inside two very sturdy boxes. Everything was fresh and good to go.
Taste: 9/10 – This is really good quality – particularly the meat. Some of the best sausages we have tasted and the turkey is fantastic – everything you’d hope it would be! The Figgy Pud stuffing was a nice surprise and really hit the spot.
Value: 9/10 – We think this is a great package because most the hard work is done for you. All you’ll need to add is your favourite veggies. An excellent present if you’re going to the relatives for Christmas dinner this year, or one this will last you several days if you’re having a smaller gathering.
Who to buy for: Family or friends who are treating you or maybe a family that could do with a really good Christmas this year. Know anyone who needs a good dinner? It’s the ultimate Christmas pick-me-up after another tough year!
Get your Luxury Christmas Turkey Butterfly Christmas Hamper here.
For the traditionalist
The Christmas Winter Wonder Basket Hamper £43.99
For those who like their hampers old-school, you’ll love this Christmas Winter Wonder Basket.
It includes chocolate covered marshmallows, blackcurrant and blueberry preserve, chilli biscuits and more treats to enjoy.
What’s more, you can add a message of your choice to the included gift card to create a gift that they’ll love!
Presentation 9/10: With a closing wicker basket and a personal message, this really is beautifully presented.
Taste 8/10: Everything tastes just as it should. Very nice!
Value 8/10: It is reasonably pricey, but you’re paying for quality goods and beautiful presentation.
Who to buy for: Anyone who would appreciate a traditional Christmas hamper!
a bird-lover’s hamper from Lakeland
Lakeland Exclusive Garden Birds Hamper Tote, £19.99 (p&p varies)
Lakeland have a fine selection of hampers available, from just under £20 to over £100. There’s a definite concentration on country food, with a lot of conserves in all the available selections, and a focus on almost homemade produce.
We just picked out one – a new one which is really a nice, sturdy, hessian bag
This hamper is immediately impressive when unwrapped. It’s the sort of thing that would be ideal for a country person who loves birds. The bag itself is practical and pretty – good as a shopping bag – and the contents are small but good quality.
Presentation: 9/10 – It really is a delight to look at and the bag is very useful to have
Taste: 7/10 – Good-quality food in here, although the preserves are small.
Value: 87/10 – The food inside is good but the portions are small. The fudge is in a plain plastic bag
Who to buy for: A country friend who loves animals and birds.
glamorous box for chocolate lovers
‘the gateway’ from willies cacao £39.99 (p&P£6.95)
This hamper is really impressive to receive.
The big, red box with a black ribbon looks glamorous and impressive.
Then you open it and find black stuffing around some really impressive chocolate goodies.
The products are from the kitchen of Willie Harcourt-Cooze in his factory in Devon. Celebrating real single estate bean to bar chocolate, he grows many beans on his farm in Venezuela, and brings them to the UK to transform into real chocolate with only a few ingredients. They say there are no nasty additives or preservatives, no vanilla or soy lecithin, just cocoa beans and raw cane sugar.
Presentation: 9/10 – Lovely looking box expertly filled
Taste: 9/10 – Really good quality chocolate here.It’s safe to send this to a chocolate gourmand
Value: 8/10 – It’s not cheap but it”s quality stuff.
Who to buy for: People with taste who like organic, real chocolate and nice packaging.
Festive Goodies from Bradfords Bakers
Bradfords: Santa’s Treat Box £54.90 (£4.95 Delivery)
This hamper may be one of the more expensive on the list, but when you see just how much you get you can understand why! It arrives beautifully arranged in a large decorative gift box complete with festive bow and includes all of the following:
- Walkers Biscuits For Cheese
- Medium Roast Columbian Coffee 56g
- Bradfords Handmade Madeira Sponge Christmas Cake in Gift Box (approx. 400g – about 2 servings)
- Bradfords Raspberry Jam 340g
- Baxters Cream of Asparagus Soup (400g)
- Packet of Strawberry Bon Bons (125g)
- Bradfords Sultana Loaf Cake
- Bradfords Traditional Christmas Pudding 220g
- Farmhouse Cranberry & White Chocolate Biscuits (150g)
- Bradfords Selection of Handmade Cupcake Chocolates (125g)
- Bag of 4 Bradfords Christmas Mincemeat Pies
- Arran Cheese Truckle with Herbs (200g)
- New English Breakfast Tea (10)
- Bradfords Handmade Christmas Tree Biscuit Dipped in White Chocolate
Presentation: 9/10 – Beautifully presented in a large red box with a bow. Inside the items are packed with faux straw and overall it just looks really posh and appealing (and expensive!). Many items were even individually wrapped and so could be given as separate gifts to people if you wanted!
Taste: 8.5/10 – Very good quality products as well as a few well known quality brands such as Walkers and Baxters. The homemade mince pies were AMAZING, best we have ever tasted! and the really tasty handmade madeira Christmas cake was a nice alternative to traditional fruit.
Value: 8/10 – It’s right up near that £60 limit, but just look at how much you get and how nicely it’s presented. You’re sure to fill up someone’s cupboards for about a month with this hamper and so we think the price is pretty reasonable!
Who to buy for: Really anyone who loves good food and has a bit of a sweet tooth. We thought this would be perfect for the older generations, but younger recipients would probably like it a lot too! The portions are about right for two people, maybe 3.
For MeaT Lovers
Grasmere Farm: Christmas Esentials Hamper (£29.95 + £10 Delivery)
This hamper is definitely one for the meat lovers. It came in a styrofoam box with ice packs to keep the meat chilled.
The impressive selection of meats all come from the Grasmere Farm herds. Grasmere Farm are members of the prestigious Q Guild of Butchers. The hamper includes:
- 16 Cocktail Sausages wrapped in Streaky Bacon
- a Pack if Lincolnshire Sausagemeat, 10 Lincolnshire Chipolatas
- a Tube of Stuffing (your choice of chestnut, cranberry and orange or sage and onion)
- 1lb Dry Cured Streaky Bacon
- a 4lb Boned Gammon Joint (Uncooked).
Although the delivery is a bit higher than other hampers this is probably because it’s full of fresh raw meats that need to stay chilled – you wouldn’t want to receive warm stinky meat would you?
Presentation: 5/10 – It isn’t all glitzed up and wrapped in a pretty bow, but this isn’t that type of hamper. We feel the sort of person you’d buy a meat hamper for probably wouldn’t mind how “pretty” it looked either!
Taste: 8/10 – Excellent quality meat. You can definitely tell it isn’t mass produced in a factory!
Value: 7/10 – Meat isnt cheap, so £30 for all this is pretty darn good value. Your chosen recipient will have a feast!
Who to buy for: Meat lovers! We all know someone who just loves all things meaty, this is definitely one for them!
For cheese lovers
Paxton and Whitfield Cheese Hampers (From £30)
If you know someone who loves their cheese, we strongly recommend taking a look at the cheese hampers offers by Paxton and Whitfield.
From simple cheddar and ale for £30 to huge hampers full of cheese, crackers, chutneys and wine, there really is something for everyone.
They even have gluten free hampers, which are perfect for your gluten intolerant friends/family, who may often struggle at this time of year.
Presentations 9/10 – It varies depending on which hamper you go for, but the hamper we received came in a nice wooden box, which would be sure to brighten anyone’s Christmas.
Taste 9/10 – The products really did seem top of the range. The cheeses were of very good quality and largely enjoyed by everyone who tried them. In particular the smoked cheddar had a beautiful smokey flavour, and the Stilton had a lovely creamy texture.
Value 7/10 – These aren’t the cheapest hampers in the world, and if you go for the very top hamper it will set you back £1K! That having been said, the products really are top of the range, so you’re getting what you pay for.
Who to buy for: This is the perfect gift for the cheese lovers in your life. You can be sure they won’t be disappointed.
For the chocolate lover
Chocolate COllection Hamper (£44..99)
If you know a chocoholic, then this hamper offered by Virginia Hayward will be an absolute delight for them.
However they like their chocolate, this is sure to satisfy. From a deliciously indulgent chocolate bar to crunchy chocolate chip cookies, and not forgetting the sensational Belgian chocolate fudge, this is the perfect gift to indulge on this Christmas.
Served in a dark willow basket, it’s guaranteed to put a smile on any recipient’s face!
Presentation: 8/10 – These chocolate goodies come in a dark willow basket, which could easily be put to use within the home once all the chocolate has been consumed.
Taste: 9/10 – This chocolate tastes as good as it looks. The drinking chocolate is a delicious treat to warm you up on a cold winter’s evening, while the chocolate cake is perfect to share among the family. The milk chocolate coated honeycomb is a particular highlight, absolutely exquisite!
Value: 8/10 – At £44.99, this isn’t the cheapest hamper, especially when you consider it’s all chocolate indulgence. However, when it comes to quality, you get what you pay for, and this chocolate doesn’t disappoint.
Who to buy for: This is a perfect gift for any chocoholic. No card-carrying chocolate lover could say no to this sugary delight!
You can see the full list of hampers available at Virginia Hayward here.
Christmas Gold Treasure Box (£25)
Most people love Cadbury chocolate, so if you’re looking for an affordable chocolate hamper that is almost guaranteed to go down well, the Christmas Gold Treasure Box is one to look at.
It’s packed with all the classic Cadbury favourites including Selection Boxes, Roses, Milk Tray and Cadbury bars alongside our Christmas chocolate goodies! Delivered to your door with a Christmas gift card with your own gift message.
Presentation 7/10: It’s not quite the beautiful wicker basket you might think of when you say ‘hamper’, but it’s a suitably festive box and the opportunity to leave your own message is a nice touch.
Taste 10/10: Let’s be honest, you already know if you like Cadbury chocolate or not but, for our money, the vast selection of yummy choccies makes this an absolutely scrumptious treat!
Value 8/10: It’s on the cheaper end of the hamper scale, so a good one if you’re on a budget.
Who to buy for: Anyone who you know loves Cadbury chocolate (and let’s be honest, that’s most people!)
Baileys and cookie hamper (£39.99)
This hamper is perfect for a Baileys lover get a full 70cl bottle of Baileys Irish Cream packed with loads of goodies to enjoy with the Baileys, you can make some Irish hot chocolates to enjoy with some cookies.
This has to make the to make the best Baileys experience.
Presentation 9/10: Coming in a beautiful wicker basket, this one looks the business!
Taste 10/10: Delicious! If you love Baileys, you’re going to love this. Everything tastes as great as you imagine.
Value 8/10: It’s not exactly cheap, but for those who love Baileys and have a sweet tooth, the price is worth it.
Who to buy for: The Baileys lover in your life.
for the salted caramel freak!
salted caramel lovers hamper £17.99 (available in Dobbies stores)
This is pretty good value for money. It comes in a sturdy box, well stuffed with shavings and full of delicious wickedness aimed at anyone who loves salted caramel (and who doesn’t?)
It includes fudge, biscuits, chocolate, salted caramel spread and more. It’s the sort of thing that you can give pretty much anyone with a sweet tooth and know that there will be quite a lot they can munch their way through into January.
Presentation: 8/10 – It’s a nicely-packed, solid hamper that won’t fall apart in the post
Taste: 8/10 – A good variety
Value: 9/10 – We are really impressed by what you get for the money here.
Who to buy for: Anyone who loves salted caramel – particularly if they’re a bit tired of chocolate
Sweets for a month!
The Retro Sweet Hamper £39.97 – (delivery £3.95)
This is a lovely ‘surprise’ hamper from AQuarterOf. When it arrives it looks like (and is) a traditional wicker hamper with traditional fastenings. But as you open it and remove the red tissue paper you realise it’s something quite different. It is packed with sweets and a few tricks too. These aren’t just ordinary sweets either, they’re retro so it’s a great present for adults as well as for kids. There’s everything you might remember if you’re 30+ including Love Hearts, Fizzy Cola Bottles, Fruit Salads, Kola Kubes, Rhubarb and Custards, Flying Saucers, Sherbert Fountains, Space Dust and Wham Bars among others. Just for laughs you also get Water Bomb packs and a Whoopee Cushion!
Presentation: 8/10 – This is a really impressive-looking and a great surprise when you open it!
Taste: 9/10 – Well, they’re sweets – you know what they taste like!
Value: 9/10 – For what you get and for the presentation, we think it’s good.
Who to buy for: Kids, teenagers, adults and anyone who loves sweets.
Fabulously festive dog hamper
Fabulously Festive Dog Hamper in wicker basket – £39.99 (standard delivery £5.99)
This is the ultimate in Christmas pampering for the lovely doggy in your life, or the life of someone close! It’s from Best in Show and is a fantastic basket of treats that any dog would love including a really impressive bone-shaped wicker basket..There’s a dog mug, a doggie roast turkey cupcake, a rope toy, Woof dog ‘beer’, duck-flavoured dog treats, dog popcorn and Laughing Dog oaties and more.
Presentation: 8/10 – This is a really impressive-looking present for a dog owner, particularly the lovely basket.
Taste: 9/10 – Well, we didn’t actually taste these goods but they look fantastic. The cupcake and the ‘beer’ look particularly interesting!
Value: 7/10 – These are really great products and wonderfully-well presented but the price is little steep. Still, it makes a really impressive present.
Who to buy for: A serious dog lover, ideally with a few pooches to get through this bags of treats!
For the wine lover
‘Countdown to Christmas’ Wine Advent Calendar (£55)
With a small bottle of the UK’s favourite wines from behind each of the 24 doors, this is the lead up to the big day made extra special.
From Prosecco to Pinot Grigio and Mulled Wine to Malbec, this calendar proves that the run-up to Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.
Presentation 9/10: The wine comes in a beautiful box, each bottle hidden behind a day like a proper Advent Calendar.
Taste 8/10: There’s a real mix of wines, so something for everyone.
Value 8/10: Okay, it’s not cheap, but each bottle is about a glass of wine, so you’re get 24 glasses of different wines for £55. Not bad when you think of it like that.
Who to buy for: The drinker in your life – they’re going to love it!
Can’t afford any of these Christmas hampers? Then find out how to make your own Christmas hampers to sell or give as gifts!
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