13 best letterbox gifts to make someone's day
Letterbox gifts reign supreme in gift-giving for busy people. We get it, gift giving can be a lot. Coordinating your gift list – whether that's Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, Eid or graduations – can get pretty overwhelming. And sometimes, you just don't have days to traipse up and down Oxford Street to start ticking off your list. Enter: letterbox gifts.
Letterbox gifts are a gift from the Gods – pardon the pun – for when you can't see your loved ones in person or need something sent speedily. They are affordable and reliable gifts for her and gifts for him to beat all others. Simply choose your favourite, add-to-basket, and before you know it it arrives, pre-wrapped, through their door. The easiest way to make someone's day.
Though they are small, letterbox gifts are mighty – and despite what you might first believe, there's a gorgeous and huge range of letterbox gifts on the market for you to choose from. M&S letterbox gifts are a go to thanks to Colin the Caterpillar for birthdays (duh) and afternoon tea treats. But there's plenty more for foodies like Pasta Evangelists subscriptions or a NIO Cocktails box.
Elsewhere, there's lots for the make-up lovers in your life. We have to give our very own GLAMOUR Beauty Box a shout out. Get a selection of products handpicked by our own editors, what more could a GLAMOUR girl want? Cult Beauty also has lots to offer from haircare sets to pamper boxes. If you have someone you want to spoil, look no further.
How we chose the best letterbox gifts:
Our shopping editors stay in-the-know with the hottest new products across fashion, beauty and lifestyle, by chatting to our favourite brands, visiting press days and testing products where possible. We want to recommend the best gifts out there.
Ahead, our pick of the best letterbox gifts to add to your checkout and brighten their day.
Sometimes the best way to say thank you is with flowers. Bloom and Wild get floral gifting right every time and you can even opt to buy your loved one a flower subscription so they can enjoy florals on repeat. The Liberty wrap on this bunch makes them an even prettier gift.
- Best for: Saying ‘thank you’ to your mumma.
- Number of items: One bouquet but a subscription is also available.
- What’s included: 20 stems, including roses, chrysanthemums, stocks and asters. You can also choose a free gift card for your recipient.
- Delivery cost: Free delivery options available.
- Next day delivery available: Yes.
Know a cocktail lover? Surprise them with six of NIO’s best-selling cocktails so they can discover their new favourite tipple. All they have to do is tear away the corner and pour the contents of the pouch over ice – and they've got a pre-mixed cocktail ready to go.
- Best for: Cocktail lovers.
- Number of items: Six cocktails.
- What’s included: Negroni Cocktail, Cosmopolitan Cocktail, Old Fashioned, Tommy's Margarita Cocktail, Gimlet Cocktail, Manhattan Cocktail.
- Delivery cost: Free delivery options available.
- Next day delivery available: No.
After something else? Shop wine gifts and gin gifts.
We all have that friend who seems to have everything. When you aren’t sure what to buy you can’t go wrong with a gift voucher, and one from Selfridges is a failsafe whether they're a fashionista, interiors lover or they’ll be spending it in the food hall.
- Best for: The person who already has everything.
- Number of items: One gift card.
- What’s included: One gift card, option to have digital or physical copy.
- Delivery cost: Free delivery options available.
- Next day delivery available: Yes for digital version.
If you know someone who deserves a relaxing night in they’d love the Cult Beauty The Play & Pamper Edit through their letterbox. The box includes a range of Cult Beauty faves like the Grown Alchemist Polishing Exfoliator and OLAPLEX Volumising Blow Dry Mist so your giftee can indulge in some well-deserved skin and hair TLC.
- Best for: Someone who needs some TLC.
- Number of items: 11 products.
- What’s included: Grown Alchemist Polishing Exfoliator (deluxe size; 20ml), Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner (full size; 75ml), Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Eye (deluxe size; 5ml), Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream (deluxe size; 7.5ml), Philip Kingsley Elasti-Styler 5-in-1 Treatment (deluxe size; 40ml), OUAI Anti-Frizz Crème (deluxe size; 30ml), OLAPLEX Volumising Blow Dry Mist (full size; 150ml), NARS Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer (deluxe size; 9ml), By Terry Cellularose CC Serum in ‘Apricot Glow’ (full size; 30ml), Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm in ‘Peach’ (full size; 10g), plus receive either Benefit They're Real Lengthening Mascara in ‘Black’ (deluxe size; 3ml) or Benefit Roller Lash Lifting and Curling Mascara in ‘Black’ (deluxe size; 3ml).
- Delivery cost: From £3.95.
- Next day delivery available: Yes.
If you can’t make the next party or gathering let your friends know you’re thinking of them with a Cutter and Squidge sweet treat. This London-based bakery delivers a host of cakes nationwide. We have our eye on the brownie box.
- Best for: friends with a sweet tooth.
- Number of items: One box.
- What’s included: 12 brownies.
- Delivery cost: From free.
- Next day delivery available: No, but nominated day is available.
Of course we couldn’t forget our favourite letterbox gift of all - the GLAMOUR beauty box. Hand-picked and approved by our own editors, gift an array of the best skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance to your friend’s door every few months. You might want to gift this to yourself, too.
- Best for: GLAMOUR girls.
- Number of items: At least 7 full-sized products worth over £200.
- What’s included: There’s a new box every three months but the current party edit includes; Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Oil in Superfine Suga £21.00, 19/99 Cream Highlight Stick £28.00, VIEVE Modern Matte Lipstick in Cherub’s Kiss £23.00, Hismile PAP+ Whitening Strips £19.00, The Flat Lay Co. Drawstring Makeup Bag £22.99, Sweed Lash Lift Mascara Black £22.00, Avant Ultimate Hyaluronic Acid Resurfacing DUO Moisturiser £99.00, Hero Mighty Patch Duo £4.99, TRESemmé Lamellar Shine Oil £10.00.
- Delivery cost: Free.
- Next day delivery available: No.
Best Letterbox Gift For Teens
Nothing says 'Happy Birthday' like Colin the Caterpillar. Surprise someone on their special day with a variety of Colin-themed treats, like cakes, sweets and fruit gums.
- Best for: Teens and tweens.
- Number of items: Seven.
- What’s included: Mini Colin The Caterpillar™ Cakes (170g), Colin The Caterpillar™ Softies (150g), Colin The Caterpillar™ Rainbow Sweets (150g), Colin The Caterpillar™ Fruit Gums (170, Colin The Caterpillar™ Fruit Sours (170g), 2 x Colin The Caterpillar™ Speckles (30g).
- Delivery cost: From free.
- Next day delivery available: No.
Think your bestie is so Scorpio-coded? Missoma’s range of zodiac bracelets make the ideal gift for those into their astrology. They’ll look great stacked with your friend’s other favourite pieces.
- Best for: Besties at Christmas.
- Number of items: One.
- What’s included: Bracelet.
- Delivery cost: From free.
- Next day delivery available: Yes.
GLAMOUR editors love the Gisou products. What’s better than gifting their Honey Infused Hair Oil? Well, gifting it alongside the Honey Infused Lip Oil.
- Best for: A beauty treat.
- Number of items: Two.
- What’s included: Honey Infused Hair Oil (50ml) and Honey Infused Lip Oil in 'Watermelon Sugar' (8ml).
- Delivery cost: From £3.95.
- Next day delivery available: Yes.
Best Letterbox Gift For Grandmas
Treat family members with a sweet tooth to this M&S afternoon tea. This gift comes complete with Victoria sponge, carrot cake, biscuits and more – the ultimate treat.
- Best for: Grandparents.
- Number of items: Nine
- What’s included: Victoria Sandwich Cake (75g) x 2, Millionaires Shortbread Bar (50g) x 2, Carrot Cake with Walnuts (75g) x 2, All Butter Shortbread Fingers (84g), All Butter Milk Viennese Chocolate Dipped Fingers (135g), Luxury Gold Tea Bags (16 Bags).
- Delivery cost: From free.
- Next day delivery available: Yes.
Want to let your mum or a maternal figure in your life know you appreciate them? This NEOM Moment of Calm set features a scented candle and body milk duo for them to enjoy some unwinding.
- Best for: Pampering.
- Number of items: Two.
- What’s included: A candle and body milk duo.
- Delivery cost: From £3.95.
- Next day delivery available: Yes.
Best Letterbox Gift For Foodies
Who doesn’t want fresh pasta sent straight to their door? The Pasta Evangelists subscription offers up a menu of tasty dishes each month to choose from. They’re super easy to whip up at home and seriously tasty.
- Best for: Foodies.
- Number of items: Enough portions for however many you choose.
- What’s included: Fresh pasta dishes ready to make at home.
- Delivery cost: Free.
- Next day delivery available: No.
After something else? Shop the best meal delivery services.
These Spacemasks begin to heat up once opened as oxygen molecules in the atmosphere meet the mask’s iron particles in a natural heat exchange. Gift these to someone who needs to squeeze in twenty minutes for themself.
- Best for: Gifting relaxation.
- Number of items: Seven every one, two or three months.
- What’s included: 7x Spacemasks, choose from two scents or a surprise.
- Delivery cost: Free.
- Next day delivery available: No.
After more gift guides? We've got gifts for boyfriends, gifts for mums, the best flower delivery services and gifts for teenage girls. Head this way for gin gift sets, this way for beauty advent calendars, over here for travel gifts and in this direction for skincare gift sets
For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx, and freelancer Hattie Cotmore @hattiecotmore.
