Gifts for Christmas 2020 are of crucial importance after sourdough took a starring role this year. Here are some innovative gifts to consider for that hard to buy for person or maybe even to treat yourself. No matter the budget, from trendy tech to timeless pieces and stocking fillers extraordinaire, Luxuriate Life present gifts for Christmas 2020.
Festive Wishes from The Savoy
Festive Wishes from The Savoy will grant wishes rewarding kindness and in doing so support two key charities. All you have to do is nominate a friend or family member who has been particularly kind or helpful in 2020 for the chance to gift them a unique Savoy experience of their choice from a night in a suite, creating afternoon tea cakes through to spending a day creating flowers with the lovely Belinda.
Making a wish requires a minimum donation of £5 with proceeds being shared equally between two charities that are particularly important to The Savoy; Hospitality Action and The Connection at St Martin in the Fields. 25 Savoy wishes will be randomly selected every day in December and announced on the hotel’s social media channels. Wishes will then be granted during 2021 so make a wish today.
To make a wish, visit: savoychristmas.com/wishes
HIVE Restaurant at Selfridges
GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2020: FESTIVE SHOPPING PIT STOPS
HIVE Restaurant at Selfridges
Brand new and in the tranquillity of the third floor at Selfridges is a new and exciting restaurant that revolves around one of earth’s most powerful natural treasures, honey. The menu incorporates a feast of bespoke cocktails and honey inspired food from breakfast onwards using the highest-quality natural mono-floral honeys from France (from Le Miel des Français) as well as honey that will be harvested on-site from the restaurant’s own rooftop hives.
Whatever time you take a pit stop from your festive shopping, there is al all day cheese and honey pairing including Comte with chestnut honey and the powerful Fourme d’Ambert with a nutty buckwheat honey. HIVE will also be offering an EIGHT cheese and honey afternoon tea experience with a choice of ten honeys. The tea also includes scones and expertly crafted honey desserts created in conjunction with several Michelin starred chefs like a buckwheat honey madeleine, Japanese honey matcha cake and honey chocolate rochers. For dinner, scallops stole the show as well as a brilliantly constructed Niçoise salad with seared tuna that had the marbling of Wagyu.
To discover more, visit: hiverestaurant.uk
Festive Afternoon Tea at JW Marriott Grosvenor House
All you Christmas shoppers are invited to come in from the cold and indulge in Grosvenor House’s views overlooking London’s Hyde Park, whilst enjoying an afternoon tea selection of artfully-crafted festive sweets and savouries.
Created by Grosvenor House’s head chef Robert Stephens and pastry maestro Anthony Hurst, sandwiches includes: roast Aberdeen Angus beef with horseradish, honey roast Yorkshire ham, North Atlantic cold water prawn with Marie Rose sauce, a smoked salmon open sandwich and a Burford Brown Clarence Court egg sandwich served on golden brioche. The savoury course will be followed by a range of tantalising pastries including freshly baked buttermilk scones, caramelised apple and roast chestnut Mont Blanc Christmas tree, and a Jivara milk chocolate and spiced gingerbread tart laced with silver and gold leaf.
The Festive Afternoon Tea is available daily 12:30-6pm until 7 January 2020 from £55 per person. Book this festive tea here: parkroom.co.uk
Read more: The Luxuriate guide to: Foodie gifts for Christmas 2020
GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2020: TRENDY TECH
Apollo Air Services mince pie in the sky helicopter flights
Research suggests that mince pies could be one of the best in-flight snacks due to the spicy and intense flavours with Apollo finding the optimum altitude to enjoy the mince pie is 3,800 feet. The package includes a 30-minute flight on a festively decked out Agusta Westland 109 chopper across the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. Yuletide additions include a Christmas hamper filled with mince pies and mulled wine, decorations in the cabin and (optional) Christmas songs on the sound system.
apolloairservices.com
Price depends on the flight take-off/drop-off locations. Call 01228 573004 for a quote.
Ekster Parliament Wallet
Ekster is known for its voice-activated trackable wallets which let you check your wallet’s whereabouts on your phone. The credit card-sized tracker is also solar-powered, so you don’t worry about charging yet another device. The Parliament wallets have a signature pop-up card feature to ensure easy access too. Smart and much needed tech.
ekster.com
£70
QDOS UV Gadget Sanitizer and Wireless Charger
Bang on trend, this is the must have gadget to keep your coveted devices in tip top hygienic condition and has in built wireless charging. The QDOS UV sanitizer not only disinfects your phone in super quick time, but you can also include watches or earphones et al simultaneously. At the click of a button, 99.99% of common surface bacteria is eliminated in three-minute rapid or 10-minute intensive sterilisation.
qdossound.com
£59.99
Twelve South PlugBug Duo
Rapid technology changes can often lead to expensive headaches – PlugBug Duo to the rescue. This all-in-one charging solution adds back two traditional USB-powered charging ports. Able to charge 3 devices from one outlet, this handy space saver comes with 5 international adapters for over 150 countries.
amazon.co.uk
£44.99
Volter Series One Electric Scooter
2020 – the year of sourdough and the electric scooter. Volter is an e-scooter brand committed to taking some of the legwork out of living your life. Weighing in at just over 15kg with a 350W motor that can take you up to 15.5 MPH, Volter is also compact and portable. Fold it up and put it behind the sofa, or take it with you on the train and one charge can take you 25 miles. Best of all, the scooter was designed in Britain, for British Weather.
volterelectric.co.uk
£435
Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera
The new outdoor security camera joins Arlo’s family of award-winning devices, allowing users to cover their basic security needs with clear video recording and motion notifications direct to their smartphone. 100% wire-free, the Arlo Essential is simple and easy to install in minutes – connecting directly to W-Fi with no base station needed so you will be able to spot Santa coming.
arlo.com
£129.99
SpotClean Pro
The most thoughtful present you can give, especially if you have children, animals or love red wine and curry. Bissell’s new SpotClean Pro combines powerful vacuum suction, brushing action and cleaning solution to remove dirt and stains on carpets, rugs, upholstery, cars and more. This portable washer comes with three years warranty and will protect you from those little disasters. It is one of those presents that will last for years and years and you’ll be glad to have in the cupboard.
bisselldirect.co.uk
£149.99
ION-Sei Sonic Electric Toothbrush
With a holistic approach to oral care and dental hygiene and using the most advanced technology to guarantee a superior clean, the ION-Sei ceates ions using patented technology to control the bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease and also works with your body’s natural electrical charge producing an opposite weak charge that inhibits bacterial growth. Expect 31,000 strokes / min sonic vibrations that are gentle-on-gums with a smart 2 minute timer that lets you know when to brush a different part of your mouth.
amazon.co.uk
£129.99
Laptop Cover
Award-winning, sleek and stylish is all we need to hear. Speck products have gone one step further with their 4-metre drop protection and antimicrobial protection with Microban. From rose pink, steel to teal, your individual personalities can be reflected with this smart shell protection.
speckproducts.co.uk
£44.95
Urbanista London
Drown out everyday city life with Urbanista’s most advanced noise cancelling wireless earphones. Dynamic and fresh, the London buds come in four trendy colours – choose from White Pearl, Midnight Black, Rose Gold and Dark Sapphire for a modern vibe with customisable silicon tips. With 5 hours playtime, the ‘London’ offers superior precision and a new ambient sound mode enforcing and defining outside voices without the need to hit pause or lower the volume. The coordinating self-charging stylish case provides an additional 4 charges to keep you on the go.
Read more: The ultimate Luxuriate Christmas 2020 drinks guide
GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2020: TIMELESS PIECES
Bark & Rock journal
Connoisseurs of true nature will appreciate the craftmanship of these luxurious journals from the family-run, Bark & Rock. These handmade wood veneer journals take over four days to create and last a lifetime. Luxuriate Life’s choice is the Truly British Brown Oak Burr wood. Crafted in their Surrey workswill using wood that can only be found in the Home Counties. This highly desirable gift is distinctively unique. Special editions include silver and 24-Carat gold personalisation and wood inlaying – perfect for someone who has lived and seen it all.
barkandrock.com
From £250
Fairfax & Favor Gilet
Ambassadors of town-meets-country chic, luxury footwear and accessories brand Fairfax and Favour has the ultimate gilet to effortlessly transform your winter wardrobe. Handmade in England from plush soft Toscana sheepskin, the ‘Elizabeth’ is designed with simple lines, has a tapered waist for a desirable silhouette and waist, and bust hook and eye closure for secure fastening.
fairfaxandfavor.com
£475
Linea Azzurro Men’s Cashmere
Designed in London and made in Italy from 100% two-ply fine cashmere, Linea Azzurro’s garments use the finest fibres sustainably sourced from carefully raised herders. Give a cashmere jumper to treasure. The Cherry Red Crew Neck Jumper is soft, luxurious and can be worn all year round – an essential to any man’s wardrobe.
lineaazzurro.com
£129
T.M. Lewin Half Zip Merino Wool Jumper
This 100% merino wool jumper comes in a number of colours and has a half-zip neckline that nods towards countryside style, adding an easy-going undertone to any outfit. It is crafted from pure Merino wool, a natural fibre blessed with numerous qualities that make it ideal for transitional layering. Able to wick away moisture and regulate temperature, it is as comfortable on warm days as it is Christmasy ones.
tmlewin.co.uk
£54.95
Daniel Footwear – EMPORIO ARMANI: Anthracite & Black Grab Bag
This new season lightweight style is crafted from premium PU in a pebbled design with gold-tone accents. The secure magnetic snap fastening reveals the spacious main compartment and features a handy inner detachable pouch. The bag is created in a colour perfect for all year round, and a size that makes it both useful and stylish – an ideal present for a lady in your life. Daniel Footwear sells an extensive variety of luxury shoes and accessories.
danielfootwear.com
£150
Regency Tassel Pouch in Zebra
Hip with the touch of yesteryear, Noble Macmillan’s Regency Collection is wild. Timeless but fresh, one side is made from Pale Blue Chelsea leather and the other new hair on calfskin leather with zebra print patters. Alphabet keyring attachments are available for that extra touch or add initials or a name for personalisation and a guaranteed kiss under the mistletoe.
Lizzie Owen Illustrations
A fashion illustrator, Lizzie creates pieces inspired by fashion, yoga, activism and feminine power. Her illustrations such as Wild Things, Namaste, Dom Bunny are created using a fine calligraphy pen with black ink with sometimes a watercolour wash. Each print using archival quality, Fine Art Trade Guild approved printers, inks and paper. For an extra special gift, she is more than happy to discuss any creative ideas you’d like to see come to life for a unique piece of art.
lizzieowen.co.uk
Prints £45 and bespoke commissions available
BBC Maestro
The new BBC Maestro offers never before granted access to the minds of revered creative talents and the most passionate people in their field. These exciting online courses cover a diverse range of subjects in the form of inspirational, intimate videos, explained with engaging, beautifully filmed, and easily digested content. Accompanied by downloadable workbooks, these are created and delivered by the Maestri themselves. The perfect ‘experience of a lifetime’ gift to give a loved one (or yourself) this Christmas, granting unique opportunities to reignite a personal interest or explore a long-held dream or aspiration.
The talent involved include Helena Bonham Carter, Sir Tim Rice, Gary Barlow and David Walliams.
bbcmaestro.com
£80
GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2020: STOCKING FILLERS EXTRAORDINAIRE
Murdock London grooming products
Murdock London’s barber-created and curated grooming range has everything a man needs for Christmas. They also have many gifts for under £30 – perfect for stocking fillers for your favourite man. This includes their bestselling beard and hair products like the sea salt spray (£24) or bear oil (£18). They also have Barber Shops in London where you can have a proper haircut as well as specialist beard grooming, trimming and styling.
Charles Tyrwhitt England Rugby gifts
British menswear retailer Charles Tyrwhitt are one of the sponsors of England Rugby and they have created the Tyrwhitt Supporter Collection full of casual, high-quality menswear. The iconic English Rose as well as various rugby-inspired motifs are emblazoned on a range of shirts, cosy soft Merino wool jumpers and polos alongside socks, cufflinks and dainty pocket squares.
charlestyrwhitt.com
From £18
Barista in a Box
Great coffee anywhere – the solution to many festive dilemmas when staying at your mother in law who only drinks instant coffee. The Barista Box will achieve a delicious silky smooth espresso from anywhere. Each box contains high quality ground coffee, an AeroPress Go travel coffee maker and coffee masterclass via zoom, hosted by a top barista.
Nostara
Nostara luxuriously packages these uber chic candles and reed diffuser from British luxury home fragrance brand create ambiance beautifully. Effortlessly adding long lasting fragrance developed by an award winning perfumier using real essential oils they make a stylish gift. There are 8 divine fragrances to choose from including their latest ‘Winter Wonderland’ – a traditional Christmas scent launched to radiate homes with a rich medley of winters spices and fruit, clove, ginger and cinnamon with a backdrop of jasmine.
nostara.com
Candles start from £35 and the reed diffusers start from £39
El Camino
Simply the hippest travel inspired gift you can give. Create a map around your arm or neck with these beautiful, handcrafted necklaces and bracelets. Precious memories can run amok with this most sentimental of unisex gifts. Remember that gap year, honeymoon, trip of a lifetime or future bucket list? Bespoke inscriptions can be commissioned to build this unique diary of life’s travels by adding a step charms of your adventures.
elcaminobracelets.com
From £21.99 for a bracelet and step charms from £8.49
Billy Ruffian Socks in a Box
Show your personality in these fun loving 12-gauge, quarter-hose colourful socks. Not for bores, stand proud and gift these socks in a box. Its comfortable, durable and will be sure to brighten up a day.
billyruffianshoes.co.uk
£27.95
Sisley Eau de Soir Limited Editon
Created by Hubert d’Ornano, Sisley’s signature Eau de Soir fragrance is a gift exquisitely presented in a limited-edition box made in partnership with French-American artist, Sydney Albertini. Reminisce a stroll through the gardens of Alcazar in Seville. A balance between the freshness of citrus, the sensuality of florals and the warmth of chypre notes, topped off with intensity from amber and musk.
sisley.com
£213
Sculpted by Aimee – Full Face Edit
New to the UK, makeup artist brand created by top Irish MUA Aimee Connolly. Her Full Face Edit palette consists of glowy, everyday formulas for eyes, cheeks and lips that streamline your daily makeup routine. It’s the complete palette with everything you’d need to look your best for the festive season.
Boots.com
£32
Amanda Harrington London – The 3-Step Face Set
Missing the winter sun and a sun-kissed glow? Amanda Harrington’s 3-step face kit could be the solution you’re looking for. Housed in a chic reusable mesh bag it includes a facial gradual tan, face mist and a face lifter brush – the key tools needed to create a natural face tan.
Authentic Beauty Concept
A gift of beauty and mindfulness new for Christmas, this premium holistic, vegan brand has launched three new Christmas box sets – suitable for each hair type. Formulated with the purest essence of their key ingredients, free from parabens and silicones, these vegan friendly sets all come with a choice of a shampoo, hair mask and a gorgeous candle, each with their own signature fragrance. Designed to be the perfect way to carve out a mindful moment and give your tresses a luxury treat too!
£57
Winter Wonderland Mini Slant Tweezer
Inspired by the wintery shimmer of fresh snow, this festive mini is a handy travel size in your handbag and makes the perfect stocking or Christmas cracker filler. The Winter Wonderland Mini Slant Tweezer features signature perfectly aligned, hand-filed tips for expert brow shaping. A 25-degree slanted tip is the ideal angle for working against the brow bone, while the perfectly aligned, hand-filed tips close evenly and firmly to remove those irritating and stubborn little hairs.
£15
Sonic Facial Sculptor from K Facial
Designed to carry out lymphatic drainage on the face replicating a deep-kneading professional facial massage, the sonic facial sculptor is battery powered to deliver 6000 vibrations per minute to your face. This little thing lifts and contours the face leaving you looking more sculpted and can reduce the look of wrinkles. This happens via two roller balls which mimic the effect of a deep-kneading facial massage.
kfacials.com
£39.99
Olverum Pillow Mist
Sleep is the ultimate beauty secret and vital to maintaining mood, metabolism and memory in the modern world. Promoting a peaceful and restful sleep, the Olverum Restful Sleep Pillow is a fine mist created from a blend of soothing essential oils. Sensations of calm and comfort in this serene natural fragrance are diffused into a blend of soothing essential oils including relaxing bergamot, amyris to calm the mind and lavender.
olverum.com
£25
A Stylist’s Secret
The 24 Hour Minute range by A Stylist’s Secret has been developed in the salon and is loved and used by professional stylists. These products are a true haircare and styling innovation consisting of a lightweight gel serum styling formula enriched with wheat protein to make all hair types behave, and a volumising spray for thicker and fuller looking hair to give locks an instant boost. Combine the two for salon quality, long professional results for any festive celebration.
astylistssecret.com
£39.95 for the duo
Hur. straighteners
Hur. has used stylist-led innovation and industry professional feedback to curate a collection of tools that bring a new angle to hair styling. Spearheaded by the signature slanted plates, all hur.irons give you the power, freedom and ability to experiment with your festive hair style. Each of hur.’s irons also boasts floating, mineral-infused ceramic plates that seal the hair’s cuticle and locks in moisture, leaving customers with smoother, shinier and longer-lasting results.
hurhair.co.uk
From £129
Waring Brooke Personalised bobble hat
Waring Brooke supports the slow fashion movement, putting the emphasis back on quality and British made products. The collections are made using quality yarns sourced from Leicestershire. There is zero wastage in producing the collections, as everything is made to order. Waring Brooke’s knitwear accessories can be made unique using your initials to create a personalised monogram design too.
waringbrooke.com
£35
Perfume Direct Bvlgari Aqva Homme Atlantiqve
Treat him to the refreshing Aqva Pour Homme Atlantiqve inspired by the strength of the Atlantic Ocean. An energetic aquatic fragrance, this aftershave commands the power and energy of the sea with notes of bergamot, lemon, sage, ambergris, sandalwood and amberwood combined with aquatic and sea notes. Perfume Direct has a huge choice of the current best-selling perfumes and aftershaves with discounts.
perfumedirect.com
£65.99
Bespoke London
This sophisticated fragrance range is known as casual luxury perfume and they are really lovely. Available for men and women, these fragrances wont break the bank and have a broad appeal.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021.
All imagery courtesy of the brands featured. Leading image courtesy of 34 Mayfair.
