Best gifts during lockdown

It’s difficult to feel connected with family and friends at a time when we are restricted from visiting.

So if it’s not possible to visit in person, why not send a present instead? We’ve compiled a list of the best gifts during lockdown. These can all be safely delivered to their door to show you care.

Flowers are a wonderful way to let someone know you are thinking of them. Many supermarket chains offer services that do home delivery of flowers. But if you want something even more special then these companies might be for you.

Floom uses your postcode to source flowers from nearby independent florists. They have also set up contact-free delivery and are committed to hand-delivering unique bouquets that support your local florists. The Real Flower Company uses flowers from its own Fairtrade, sustainable farms in the UK, keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum. If you don’t know whether the recipient will be home for delivery, try the letterbox-friendly bouquets from Bloom and Wild.

The options for food deliveries really are endless, but here are our top picks. If the recipient of your gift has a sweet tooth then check out Sweets In The Post, which does what it says on the tin. The London-based company Doughnut Time has developed DIY doughnut decorating kits which are fun for all ages. Betty’s tea rooms might appeal to a more mature audience with their traditional cakes, handmade chocolates and bread delivered from Yorkshire.

Savoury surprise

If you would rather send a savoury treat, we’ve got you covered. Both Hay Hampers and Yumbles deliver letterbox hampers that can be posted to your loved one without any face-to-face contact. Their boxes are filled with various assemblies of quality produce, including cheese, charcuterie and alcoholic drinks.

Alternatively, you can go to the Letter Box Hamper website to create a personalised box that is beautifully wrapped by hand. If you want to really splash out on a special treat for a foodie, Fortnum and Mason hampers are a wonderful gift. Not only will they get a selection of luxurious food and drink, but the items are also delivered in the coveted F&M wicker hamper which they can keep forever.

Some companies specialise in letterbox gifts. These are ideal at the moment as they enable contact-free delivery of your carefully selected present. Postboxed has ready-made boxes that cater to a variety of recipients, but the website also allows you to put together a box with a selection of gifts of your choosing.

The companies IzzyBee and Bear Hugs also allow you to make-your-own box and both have a selection of vegan gift options too. If you want a gift that keeps on giving, check out uOpen which suggests subscription boxes of all kinds to be delivered on a monthly basis, giving the recipient something to look forward to!

Gifts aren’t just for family. When we wanted to show the Merrick team some appreciation for their commitment to home-working, our friends at Hatters helped us create these fantastic care boxes.

Baby bounty

Know someone who is expecting? There are many ways you can say congratulations without having to meet face-to-face. All the letterbox companies above have curated boxes that celebrate a new baby and many gifts can be personalised. For something truly special, check out Ruby and Freddies, a family-run business designing and manufacturing its own beautiful baby clothes in Britain. Its letterbox hampers are ideal at the moment.

best gifts during lockdown

If you want to give a gift that is completely hands-free, there are still lots of options. Television subscription services like Netflix, NowTV, Prime Video and the new Disney+ can all be gifted. With almost everyone spending more time at home, getting new TV shows to watch could be very well received.

Alternatively, send something more personal by writing your loved ones a card or letter. Paperless Post helps you to send beautiful designs via email by previewing the animation your friends and family will see. All of their cards are fully customisable for you to add your own message. Want to send the real thing? Hop on MoonPig or FunkyPigeon to select a design that will go straight to their door.

So if you are missing your nearest and dearest, why not treat them during lockdown to show you care? With so many options out there it should be easy to find the perfect one for your friends and family!

PS. Books always make good presents as well. Here are seven inspiring reads for you, your family and friends.

I WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. AMANDA MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HER ONLY CLIENT AND HOLDS YOUR HAND TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH