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. Perhaps 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 a special occasion, 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 would.
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
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Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema
The Instax Mini Evo Cinema is Fujifilm’s smartest instant camera yet. The clever hybrid combines digital photography, video, and classic Instax Mini film in one compact device that looks like a vintage Super 8 camera. Start by selecting your aesthetic, choosing a decade between 1930 and 2020. Each era-inspired preset delivers a distinct look, from 90s-style light leaks to grainy, high-exposure retro tones. If you enjoy using filters, these presets add the same personality and creative flair without needing external editing.
After shooting, you can preview images on screen and choose exactly which moments are worthy of printing. Fujifilm’s signature pocket-sized Instax Mini Film has always been a hit, so this feels like a genius extension to their range. It’s practical while making instant photography much more economical.
The video feature gives the camera a contemporary edge. It encourages playful storytelling rather than single snapshots, making it ideal for parties, trips, and everyday moments.
Compact enough to slip into a handbag, the Mini Evo Cinema is fun, intuitive, and a much-needed reimagination of instant photography — Katrina Mirpuri.
Buy now £329.00, Jessops
Dre and Snoop Still G.I.N. 70cl
A gin from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg is the last thing anyone would expect to unwrap — in the best possible way. The smooth spirit is housed in this distinctive opaque bottle, ready to steal the spotlight at any gathering.
Buy now £38.00, Sainsbury's
Charlotte Olympia x Madeleine Thompson Cashmere Kitty Slippers
The most darling little slippers to pad around the house in. They come in two sizes and two colours, with a suede padded sole and sweet bow detail above an embroidered kitten face, which fans may recognise as Charlotte Olympia's signature. Too good for anything but lounging — don't even think about stepping outside of the house in them.
Buy now £150.00, Madeleine Thompson
Maya Brenner Endless Summer Necklace - Capri
Fans of jewellery layering 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.
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 crucial shut-eye on the journey, be it plane, road or rail.
We tried it on a 12-hour flight to Cape Town, 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. Yes, it’s on the expensive side - but that’s what makes it such a great gift for a traveller.
Buy now £39.99, Trtl
Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs Gift Pack with 2x Glasses 75cl
Carve out time with someone special - this bottle of Perrier-Jouet demands it. A lovely gift set for parents, newlyweds, or best pals, the box comes with a bottle of the esteemed Champagne houses' Blanc de Blancs along with a pair of decorated flutes to sip from. The gift least likely to gather dust.
Buy now £85.52, Master of Malt
Fortnum's Lobster Bottle Opener
Who doesn’t love a fun bottle opener? Fortnum’s is modelled on its own dancing lobster, which regular visitors will notice appears across its homeware offerings.
Buy now £62.00, F&M
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
Shrimps x Oliver Bonas Striped Glass Coupes Set of Two
The homewares collab that's making my heart sing right now? Shrimps and Oliver Bonas. The two brands have devised an insanely covetable collection, which includes this stripey coupe set made from hard-wearing soda lime glass. Whether you pair it with a bottle of bubbly is up to you (but frankly, rude not to).
Buy now £24.00, Oliver Bonas
Smythson 2026 Panama Weekly Diary
A leopard never changes her spots, but when they're as chic as this - why would she ever want to? Manifest a wild and stylish year for 2026 with Smythson's limited edition Panama diary, now in a statement animal print.
Buy now £90.00, Smythson
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 £50.00, Amazon
BaByliss Air Wand
BaByliss’ latest launch is on hand to streamline your collection of heated tools. Instead of three different devices to dry, straighten and style, the Air Wand does it all with just two attachments. The all-in-one gadget is designed for the time-poor and crucially, does not require skill or extensive know-how to use it.
The speedy wand has your drying needs covered but switch it up and it smooths or leaves your locks poker straight, depending on which of the brush duos that you select. There is the added bonus of a built-in Ultra Care Mode to protect the health of your tresses and the space-saving solution can be slotted into your luggage and used abroad.
Buy now £100.00, BaByliss
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
Craveable by Seema Pankhania
The days of living on beans on toast are over, thanks to viral chef Seema Pankhania. Her first cookbook is full of flavourbomb recipes that fit the bill, however you're feeling - in the mood for savoury, sweet, or just something to soak up a hangover.
Buy now £17.03, Amazon
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 stylish bottle.
Buy now £25.99, The Bottle Club
