Shopping for teenagers at Christmas is rather like trying to nail down mist.
You think you’ve finally worked out what they want, perhaps a crochet top or a brightly-hued water bottle, only for them to announce with chilling finality that those things are already passé. Cue the frantic parent trawling through online wish-lists that seem to refresh faster than TikTok’s algorithm.
Part of the difficulty is that teens now have more access to trends than ever, and they are merciless about it. They don’t just follow what’s in; they dissect it, remix it, then abandon it within 48 hours. While you’re still congratulating yourself for knowing the difference between Labubu and Lafufu, they are already two obsessions ahead.
Still, there is hope. You don’t need to outpace the internet so much as find gifts that sit slightly outside the obvious. I’m talking about gadgets that double as a badge of independence and small luxuries that suggest you’ve been paying attention without hovering over their social media.
Some teenagers, of course, will remain stubbornly unreadable, the kind who respond to “What do you want for Christmas?” with little more than a shrug. For them, it helps to think beyond objects: experiences, cleverly chosen vouchers, or smart upgrades to the things they already use every day. And if all else fails, money in a well-chosen envelope still beats the wrong shade of Stanley cup.
So, whether your teen is a skater, a gamer, or someone who measures coolness in obscure music streaming stats, we’ve gathered the best Christmas gifts for 2025 that might just earn you the rarest of seasonal treasures: a nod of approval, perhaps even a thank you, from the most impossible people on your list.
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Monty Medium Shoulder Bag - Butter Yellow & Espresso
Whether you live in the city or the countryside, chances are you’ve spotted one of these stripy nylon totes from Monty. Handcrafted in India and complete with an inside pocket and zip-fastening, it’s the utilitarian accessory you didn’t know you needed. The brand is home to small, medium and large tote styles, as well as cosmetic pouches.
Buy now £45.00, Monty
Owala FreeSip
Best for: the aesthetically pleasing water bottle of dreams
One of the winners of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023, Owala was praised for its mantra of ‘hydration made fun’. The brand was founded with the intention to – as they put it – create magic out of the ordinary, transforming the mundanity of daily hydration into a fun experience for all.
The Owala FreeSip is the brand’s hero product, though they have an array of other options fit for kids and avid hikers. The FreeSip is available in five different sizes ranging from 710ml to 1 litre and is offered in an array of lovely colourways. It’s got triple-layer insulation, a handy carry handle, a built-in straw, and a large opening for chugging. We’re big fans of the push-button spring opening for easy hydration on the move.
Buy now £27.99, Amazon
Jellycat Otto Sausage Dog
It’s Jellycat’s world and we’re all living in it. The plush toys are everywhere, stealing the hearts of adults and little ones alike for their adorable design and sumptuously soft feel. Otto the Sausage Dog is one of our favourites and is made for Daschund lovers, whether they are in fact an owner or aspire to be one.
Buy now £30.00, Jellycat
Bimba y Lola Blue Ropes Key Ring
Marine knots meet Mediterranean colour in Bimba y Lola’s rope key ring. Bold, practical, and delightfully unprecious, it’s ideal for those who like their charms more functional than frilly, but still capable of brightening a rainy commute.
Buy now £36.40, Bimba y Lola
Chelsea Peers Enchanted Glade Print Button Up Long Pyjamas
Another absolute winner, if you’re yet to try a pair of ultra-soft and stylish pyjamas from Chelsea Peers, you’re in for a treat. This set from the brand’s latest autumn/winter collection feels like something out of a fairy-tale. I’m head over heels for the easy breezy three-quarter length sleeves paired with a 70s-style bell-bottomed trouser silhouette. They’re not wildly expensive but feel wonderfully luxurious, thanks to the 95 per cent recycled fibre jersey.
Buy now £45.00, Chelsea Peers
Kindle Colorsoft
Featuring 16GB of storage, there’s room aplenty for all your literature. The seven-inch, 300ppi B&W, 150ppi colour screen and nice light weight of just 215g makes the Colorsoft comfortable on the eye and also in the hand. Meanwhile, the epic battery stamina last up to eight weeks, means your poolside Kindlecation will go utterly uninterrupted by power-outages.
And, yes, I say poolside, because it’s also IPX8 water-resistance rated meaning that it not only can it shrug off odd splashes, it can survive for up to 60-minutes fully immersed in two-metres of water, so whether you’re by the waiter-rich pool at the l’hôtel du Ostentation in Bali or merely having a soak in the bath, your Colorsoft can be your constant companion.
Key specs
Buy now £239.99, Amazon
Beaded Phone Ropes
Available in cobalt, blue, black and orange, these stylish beads actually serve as a functional phone charm - perfect for the person in your life who either loses their phone often, or simply needs it close by at all times.
Buy now £14.00, Not Another Bill
Kudd.ly Hoodie Blanket - Mushrooms
“You know what they say about mushrooms - they're a bunch of fungis”. A free joke to write on the gift tag when you present this cosy, oversized hoodie to a grateful teen.
Buy now £29.00, Kudd.ly
Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2 – USB DJ Controller – 2 Decks with 16 Pads and Built-in Sound Card
Treat the budding DJ in your life to a brand-new set of starter decks in 2024. Serato DJ Lite software is included in your purchase and offers all the features integral to learning how to mix and scratch like a pro. Simply set up your Hercules via an iMac or Windows PC and connect to a pair of headphones or speakers depending on how confident you are in your set. Complete with 16 pads for triggering funky samples and loops, this lightweight device is sure to kick-start your musical career.
Buy now £155.00, Amazon
Monchhichi Bearchichi Keyring
Think of Monchhichi as the cuter, vintage cousin of Labubu. Any keychain/bagcharm obsessive would be delighted to receive one this Christmas.
Buy now £16.00, UO
Elizabeth Scarlett Turtle Conservation Cosmetics Bag
Not only can Elizabeth Scarlett’s charming designs be personalised, but they also contribute to the well-being of turtle hatchlings across seas. This gorgeous turtle-print number is spacious enough for the bulkiest of skincare and is washable when spillages and leaks occur.
Buy now £38.00, Elizabeth Scarlett
Drowsy Blue Belle Silk Sleep Mask
There’s nothing worse than struggling to sleep on a flight, especially under stress. Drowsy’s sumptuous silk sleep mask features a total black-out effect, a pure mulberry silk fabric, a fully adjustable head strap and a hypoallergenic, breathable design. The wrap-around fit and cloud-like plushness ensure all surroundings are effortlessly blocked out.
Buy now £69.00, Drowsy
Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes
Teens have been flocking to Adidas in troves to purchase Sambas like Emma Chamberlain, or Gazelles – which have been dubbed ‘Satellite Stompers’ by Harry Styles fans, as they’re a key element of his tour ensemble. This has resulted in both Sambas and Gazelles being extremely hard to purchase. Offering a brilliant middle-ground between the two styles and our personal favourite, the Adidas Spezials are a bang-up choice and are available in a range of colourways.
We’re particularly partial to the navy/baby blue colourway with gum soles. You can also add some subtle personalisation at the side of each shoe. Now that’s a perfect gift.
Buy now £85.00, Adidas
Subcold Ultra 15 Mini Fridge Cooler
Though we’re not necessarily supposed to encourage our teenagers to never leave their room, this 15L mini fridge will keep their favourite snacks and beverages safe from sneaky siblings. Plus, keeping skincare in a mini fridge is a fantastic way to keep opened products as fresh as possible, while boosting their soothing or calming capabilities.
Buy now £69.99, Amazon
Mr Maria Miffy XL Lamp
Teens and tweens will adorn this giant Miffy lamp. It exudes a gentle warming light for young ones to use while reading and relaxing at night.
Buy now £195.00, Selfridges
Nintendo Switch 2
The new console will boast 256GB of memory – a considerable improvement on the earlier Switches (the first one only had 32GB), and which can be improved upon even further with microSD cards.
The only downside was the battery. The new console takes three hours to charge and lasts between 2.5-6.5 hours, depending on what games it’s playing. That’s not a lot of charge at all – certainly less than the upgraded Switch OLED with its whopping 4.5-9 hours of battery life.
Then again, processing power doesn’t come cheap, and the Switch 2’s awesome power comes thanks to a custom bit of kit from gaming giant NVIDIA. While no further details have been released in terms of what that means, the software is capable of playing massive games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy and even the new Hazelight game Split Fiction without breaking a sweat.
This is a bigger beast than its predecessor, though it still weighs in at around the same, at about 500g. It feels great to hold, and comes in a lovely matte black colour. The Switch 2 has a much bigger 7.2-inch screen (compared to 6.2 inches), that displays games in 1080p, and (bonus) it’s thinner than its predecessor, coming in at 1.4cm width. Oh yeah – and there’s no OLED screen, as with the later Switch models. This is just LED for now, which essentially means slightly less crisp visuals.
There is also a dock. While it looks roughly the same as earlier models, it’s also bigger, and rightly so – when the Switch 2 is docked, it will be capable of outputting videos at a 4K resolution, and playing games at up to 120FPS. That’s no joke – it’s certainly much better than any of the current models, and explains why the new dock contains a fan to help the switch cool down faster.
The Joy-Cons are probably the flashiest upgrade of the entire product. Nintendo was at pains to show us everything that could be done with the brand-new Joy-Con controllers, and no wonder: in addition to a gyroscope, they contain HD rumble packs and (best of all) mouse control functionality.
Buy now £395.00, Amazon
Hogwarts Legacy for Switch 2
Step into the wizarding world like never before with Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world RPG set in the 1800s—long before Harry Potter’s time. As a student with a unique ability to harness ancient magic, you’ll explore a fully realised Hogwarts, complete with classes, secret chambers, and familiar spells.
The Switch version brings the magic on the go, allowing players to roam beyond the castle into the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade, and sprawling Scottish Highlands. Alongside attending Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, you’ll engage in wand duels, tame magical creatures, and uncover a deep, original story that expands the lore of the wizarding world.
With an emphasis on choice, players can align with different houses, forge friendships, and even dabble in darker magic
Buy now £28.99, Amazon
Huge Goose Plush Toy
We don’t think we need even comment on this giant goose plush toy, the picture alone says it all. Available in sizes ranging from 90cm to 160cm and with a price point that never exceeds £50 no matter how giant a goose you go for, the pay-off for this massive stuffed toy is priceless.
Buy now £35.99, Amazon
Lookfantastic The Skin Clarifying Edit
This clarifying edit features seven premium products and is brilliant for hormonal, acne-prone skin. Despite being priced at just £45, it’s worth over £200 – making it a great starter kit for the young adult in your life who doesn’t quite know what clarifying products will work for them, but wants to try them all.
Our fave? We love Caudalie’s Instant Detox mask, which clarifies without drying out the skin.
Buy now £45.00, Lookfantastic
LEGO Architecture Trevi Fountain
Whether you’re a fan of the Lizzie McGuire movie or you want a little bit of Rome at home, it’s LEGO’s Trevi Fountain you need on your radar. No lucky pennies, included.
Was £139.99
Buy now £97.99, Amazon
Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer
A holy grail product since its launch in 2001, Benefit’s Hoola bronzer is truly something special. The fluffy powder brush makes for a simple application, while the pigment-packed formula takes your complexion from dull to dreamy in a jiffy. This warm shade is just the ticket for pale or medium skin tones.
Buy now £0.00, lookfantastic
Bird & Blend Perfect Matcha Latte Kit
Not into plain old green tea? No problem. The tea lovers over at Bird & Blend have developed a brilliant matcha latte kit which includes two 30g tins of Pure Grade and Super matcha, a 250ml bottle of Sweetbird Vanilla Syrup, a simple handheld two-in-one milk and matcha frother, as well as a matcha scoop for perfect portions every time.
Buy now £63.00, Bird & Blend
Maison and White Vinyl LP Record Storage Case
Real record obsessives with priceless collector’s items should keep those special LPs under lock and key. This handy, tour-ready storage case will keep your most prized possessions protected from wear, tear and sun damage while preventing grubby paws from touching them.
Buy now £29.99, The Range
Sriracha Sauce Lamp
Kitchen fun meets quirky design. This Sriracha Sauce Lamp isn’t just for spice lovers, it’s an instant conversation starter. Soft light, playful shape, and reduced to just £14. If you want something cheeky on your shelf, this is it.
Was: £20
Buy now £14.00, UO
Lululemon Everyday Backpack 21L
Best for: effortless style, longevity and function
Refined and water-repellent, this Lululemon backpack is set to last you the entire three years of uni, and then some. You won’t tire of the sleek and functional aesthetic, and the adjustable padded straps, designed to evenly spread the load, will keep you comfortable whether you’re taking a leisurely stroll or sprinting to meet a tutor on time.
It has two side pockets for a water bottle and umbrella, a padded pocket that fits a 16-inch laptop, as well as interior zippered and mesh slip pockets for valuables and other essentials. Plus, there’s a luggage sleeve for comfortable travels back home or further afield.
Buy now £88.00, Lululemon
Eleanor Bowmer Zodiac Bone China Mug, 300ml, Leo
A classic zodiac gift for the colourful, opulent and charismatic Leo, we adore this ceramic creation by Eleanor Bowmer. Morning coffee has never looked so good. It is, of course, available in options for every zodiac under the sun.
Buy now £14.00, John Lewis
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist
Sol de Janeiro has bottled the aromas from its bodycare collections into fragrance mist form, allowing its loyal fan base to spritz the scents throughout the day in a way that is delicate and refreshing yet still heady and likely to garner compliments.
The selection of mists is expansive and ever-growing but the most popular are the Cheirosa 68 which has reached TikTok viral status as an affordable dupe for the cult Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 (that retails for £235!) and the brand’s signature Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist.
Buy now £24.00, lookfantastic
Rug Tufting Workshop
This rug tufting workshop will allow your giftee to take matters into their own hands with the ability to create their very own rugs. Prices range from £128-150.
Buy now £150.00, ClassBento
Dogs Trust ‘Sponsor A Dog’
A gift guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings, this charity-supporting idea helps the Dogs Trust look after the hounds in their care until they find a forever home. Sponsors will get updates on their dog three times a year with photos, postcards, stickers and a fridge magnet.
The Trust has seen admissions spike in recent months, meaning they have more pups to look after than ever. Sponsoring a dog or puppy means they'll get the love and attention that man's best friend truly deserves.
Buy now £1.00, Dogs Trust
Champneys The Original Spa Break with Treatment
By far the most comprehensive, flexible and gloriously relaxing staycation package on offer within the UK, Champneys’ Original Spa Break package is redeemable against any of their iconic locations. Brands on offer for your treatment include Aromatherapy Associates, Clarins, Elemis, Jennifer Young and more – depending on whether you’re in the market for a full-body massage, in-depth skin treatment, relaxing facial, hormonal balancing massage, reiki or reflexology.
During your stay – whether it be in the Garden of England at Eastwell Manor, Forest Mere or Henlow – you’ll be able to indulge with full access to the Champneys spas - you don’t even need to book a relaxing treatment (but you should). For true bliss, try Champney’s 100-year anniversary treatment which is exclusive to 2025. In celebration of 100 years of nurturing the mind, body and soul, the spa is offering 100 minutes of treatment (choose two signature Champneys treatments to enjoy back to back) for just £100.
Buy now £265.00, Champneys
