Where would we be without our friends?
Whether you’ve been pals since primary school, they’re the uni friends who you bonded with during pre-exam all-nighters, or they’re the workmates who know every detail of your day, our friends are the rich bouquet that makes life smell and look brighter. Maybe that's why we call them our best buds.
There are all kinds of relationships, and friendship is arguably the most special. Many studies show that people value their inner circle more than their partners.
Whether it’s their birthday, a cheer-up gift, or because it’s International Friendship Day, there’s never a bad time to show your precious pals how much you love and appreciate them.
Shopping for someone you know well can often be as tough as searching for a special pressie for a newcomer. It helps if they have hobbies, interests or obsessions (and yes, wine definitely counts) or if you know about major goals or events they have coming up. Maybe they're saving up for a bucket-list trip and desperately need travel gear. Those on the cusp of home ownership will welcome a piece of cool new homeware to enjoy once they get their keys. A tent may be an unusual gift, but if they're the outdoorsy type or have festival tickets, it could be a winner.
On the other hand, a silly gift could make their day far more than a practical one will.
That said, gift-finding can be a challenge. So, in the name of friendship, we’ve put together a hit list of the very best gifts to spoil your favourite people and send them a bear hug, wherever you - or they - happen to be in the world.
From fancy fragrances and cool tech to a corner shop’s-worth of chocs, here are some of the best gifts to send to your BFFs.
See our selection below
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
Make no mistake folks, we are living in a time of peak hydration. For the friend who needs to keep their own water reservoir in their orbit at all times, there's no gift that will have the squealing more than a Stanley.
The brand has launched a new Oasis collection (nope, nothing to do with the Gallaghers), which includes this statement striped collection. No losing this bad boy in your bag.
Available in three sizes: 0.59L, 0.89L and 1.8L.
Buy now £50.00, Stanley
Meller Nayah sunglasses
Help them throw the best kind of shade with a cool pair of shades. From Meller comes this tigris carbon style that boasts polarised lenses, an anti-scratch coating and UV400 protection.
Right now, you can score a second pair for absolutely free with the code: SUMMER.
Buy now £49.00, Meller
Maya Brenner Endless Summer Necklace - Capri
Beach babes will adore a little beading this summer, and LA-based jeweller Mara Brenner has just the treasure to light them up.
This beaded necklace, Capri, is made for wearing solo or layering with other pieces, ideally of the waterproof variety. The pretty mix of gemstones - turquoise, pearl, coral, rose quartz, and amethyst gemstones are all present - bringing to mind the beauty of the Italian Riviera.
We’re wearing ours all summer.
Buy now £152.00, Maya Brenner
trtl Pillow Original
There is no comfortable way to sleep upright in planes: fact. Well, it was at least.
Enter trtl’s (turtle) game-changing neck pillow that turns this idea on its head. The design looks like a snood but comes with an internal brace to give your neck the support it needs as you try to catch some shut-eye on the journey, be it plane, road or rail.
We tried it on a 12-hour flight and felt overjoyed to wake up to no neck cricks or back pain. It’s so good that our travel essentials list now reads: passport, ticket, trtl.
If you want to get a step ahead of jetlag and arrive feeling ready to hit the ground running, you need the trtl. I know it’s on the expensive side - but that’s what makes it such a great gift for a jet-setter.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
PHLUR Golden Rule
Up for finding a new signature fragrance? PHLUR's Golden Rule is a lovely segue from winter to spring with exotic floral notes sandwiched between bright sparks of mandarin, pink pepper and pear at the top and sandalwood and vanilla at the base. It's a sensual, mysterious floral perfect for golden evenings.
And the bottle? Beyond beautiful.
Buy now £99.00, Space NK
Della Vite Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
The brainchild of the Delevingne sisters – Chloe, Poppy and Cara – Della Vita is punchy for a Prosecco but worth every penny. It successfully reimagines the sparkling wine by using Glera grapes for deep flavour and rich texture while packaging everything up in a seriously sexy bottle.
Buy now £25.99, The Bottle Club
Instax Pal
The cutest addition to Instax’s camera family is the Pal, a teeny gizmo that will earn a big place in their heart.
The palm-sized cam is shoot-only, using Bluetooth to send prized shots to Instax Link smartphone printers for printing out on mini, square and wide formats. As well as remote shooting, it can do interval bursts and even make animations!
Available in a range of sweet pastel colours, this is a crowd-pleasing gift that all shutterbugs will love.
Buy now £49.43, Amazon
Supergoop! Lipshdes 100 per cent Mineral SPF30
Shine, colour and protection in one handy tube? Supergoop! has earned its place in my holiday wardrobe thanks to its triple whammy of benefits. The lip SPF comes in three fun shades, dressing them while also shielding them from UV rays. Perfect for beach days.
Buy now £17.60, Space NK
Mermaid Gin
This gorgeous bottle from the Isle of Wight distillery is beautiful inside and out, and the perfect way to let your gin obsessive know you’re thinking of them.
Rich with ingredients plucked from the island (think ocean-splashed rock samphire and Boadicea hops from the famous Ventnor Botanic Garden), add a splash of tonic and a cucumber garnish to bring out its sparkling best.
Buy now £42.49, The Bottle Club
Floral Street sweet almond blossom eau de parfum 50ml
The perfumer's collab with Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum is ideal for those who love fruity, floral scents.
The vegan-friendly gourmand spritz, which comes in three sizes, is refreshing and evokes thoughts of bright blue skies - even if the weather outside is anything but. The pretty bottle comes in sustainable packaging made from the pulp of a coffee cup so it ticks the eco box too.
Why not try a discovery set first which offers eight vials of the brand’s bestsellers to find your favourite?
Buy now £74.00, Floral Street
Instax Link Wide
A hybrid photo printer, the Instax link wide forgoes the usual methods and uses Bluetooth to connect your phone instead, printing any picture onto the largest Instax paper so all those snaps on your camera roll can be brought to life in cool, high-quality print.
Buy now £112.09, Amazon
The Cheese Life: Recipes, Cheeseboards and Pairings
Much to the delight of the UK's cheese lovers, cheese purveyor and restaurateur Mathew Carver and food journalist and cheese writer Patrick McGuigan have launched The Cheese Life. This beautiful 208-page book will have the foodie in your life salivating while clueing them into the story of cheese and giving helpful tips on the best pairings.
Buy now £20.53, Amazon
DELLI ‘Chef’s Kiss’ Spicy Box: Restaurant Condiments
For the pal who has an entire kitchen cupboard reserved solely for condiments, gifts don't get saucier than this.
DELLI has rustled up the ultimate sauce hamper to breathe fire and flavour into everyday recipes. Expect artisan jars and bottles of everything from Sriracha made by restaurant Fallow, harissa-spiked hot honey, chilli jam, umami-rich Japanese chilli oil and a fiery pizza chilli oil made with Sicilian chillies.
Buy now £28.00, DELLI
Sock Sisters socks
Friends don't let their pals suffer with cold feet. For a sweet treat that won't break the bank, independent sock company Sock Sisters has a mini hamper that comes with a handmade greetings card, nailing your Palentine's gift in one easy swoop.
You'll get a set of four genderless chunky knit, classic slub, colour yarn and wide knit socks that will fit a UK 4 -7. The chunky knits are ideal for temperamental spring weather; cosy, comfortable and guaranteed to add a splash of colour to any outfit (useful if they usually live in head-to-toe black).
From £12.50.
Buy now £12.50, Sock Sisters
