Christmas Gift Guide for Adults
We're giving you a helping hand this festive season. Here's our round-up of some inspiring gifts to give (or receive) this Christmas.
Buying Christmas presents is an art form in itself. You need to pay attention to that person's interests, make thoughtful choices, and avoid the minefield of buying someone something they already have, or worse still, don't like. Hopefully this list will help to make the whole process a whole lot easier.
Giving someone the gift of cheese is a beautiful thing. Undoubtedly, they will love you for it (providing they're not lactose intolerant, vegan, etc). There's nothing better than bringing out a delicious and well-balanced cheese board during the festive season. This is why we'd recommend gifting your food loving friends/family with this treat. If you're searching for high quality produce with great advice, then look no further than Neal's Yard Dairy (https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk).
There's no better time to enjoy a good film than in the festive period. There's always a plethora of films to watch in the build-up to the Academy Awards, plus it's a great way to take refuge from the cold winter nights. Picturehouse has nine cinemas in London alone, so your loved ones will have a local wherever they go. It specialises in both blockbusters and thought-provoking art house films/documentaries. A membership is perfect for any film buff.
London is full of beautiful lidos, which are open all year round. There's nothing better than diving into a beautifully heated pool in the depths of winter. It's invigorating, refreshing and you don't have to worry about overcrowding. You'll often get a whole lane to yourself. Plus, there's always an all-year-round community who are doing the same thing. London Fields Lido is a great place to buy a gift membership.
For the artisanal arts/crafts advocate
Support your local designer-maker community by buying their beautiful unique pieces. There are plenty of Designer-Maker markets his winter to help you get inspired, from the Old Truman Brewery to the London Design Museum. You can choose from screen prints to jewellery, lamps to soft furnishings. Alternatively, they also offer you the chance to buy online. This is 2016 after all.
Do you have an art-loving friend who is always in-the-know of the latest exhibitions? If so, then the National Art Pass card is a must. It gives recipiants free entry to over 240 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK, as well as 50% off entry to major exhibitions.
Tis the season to be jolly, after all. If you've got a friend who knows their Malbec from their Merlot, Syrah from their Sangiovese, then this is the perfect gift. Don't worry if you don't know where to begin, you can visit the vino experts at such places as The Sampler (http://www.thesampler.co.uk/store/), Bottle Apostle and Berry Bros & Rudd. They will help you find the perfectly paired wine to drink with your homemade mince pies, Christmas turkey or Boxing Day roast ham.
What do you buy the home cook who has it all? Well, you pack them off to a cooking class, of course. Turn them on to something new and choose a cuisine that they've yet to master. Plus, it's the gift that keeps on giving and you'll reap the rewards at the dinner table. Why not try South East Asian, Japanese or Moroccan.
A gift for the home is the perfect present for someone who is a recent first time buyer. To avoid buying your loved one their second toaster, umpteenth bath towel or a food processor they'll never use, why not buy them some artwork. The likelihood is that it's the last thing you focus on when purchasing a new home, also you can never have too many. We'd recommend checking out Print Club London for beautiful and affordable screen prints by talented artists.
Are you looking for a stylish affordable home?
Southern Home Ownership is dedicated to providing stylish, high quality and affordable new homes for sale on a shared ownership basis. If you're a first time buyer and interested in owning a shared ownership property in London and the South East then visit the SHO website to view our latest developments.