9 of the best virtual gifts to give this festive season

If you’re looking for the perfect gifts for your friends and family, you can find some imaginative options online, from the comfort of your own home.

Better still, you can choose something that your loved ones can enjoy beyond the festive season, like a monthly subscription.

If you don’t know where to start, here are some ideas for both kids and adults.

1. Easy green

House plants make great gifts for all ages, but not everyone manages to keep plants healthy and alive. Thankfully, there’s a solution: the Urban Botanist specialises in providing subscriptions for deliveries of potted plants that are low maintenance and should survive even the most forgetful of gardeners. You can send either succulents or cacti with a monthly, quarterly or yearly gift subscription, costing £30 per month[1].

2. Budding scientists

Hands-on, curious kids can be wowed by home science kits, and learn a thing or two in the process. Letterbox Lab provides colourful, fun children's science kits as subscription boxes. There are a couple of options, among them the Explore Box, which is aimed at kids aged six and above. You can pay monthly and it costs £12 per box. Each one comes with enough materials for three to four science experiments, activities and projects[2].

3. Daily brew

Give a loved one their morning caffeine fix with a monthly coffee subscription. RISE Coffee Boxes showcase independent and sustainable coffee. This is a good fit for coffee drinkers who want to taste new roasts from all around the world. Each monthly coffee box includes two 220-250g bags of speciality coffee and other goodies. A three-month gift subscription will cost £49.99[3].

4. Disney magic

From Toy Story to Frozen, a Disney+ gift subscription offers hours of entertainment for little ones. Their parents might thank you too, as a subscription includes plenty of grown up- choices, such as National Geographic shows and the Star Wars films. Annual gift subscriptions cost £59.99[4].

5. Classic flicks

If you have a cinephile to buy for, then consider a subscription to BFI Player, which offers critically acclaimed and classic movies handpicked by the British Film Institute. At £49.90, a gift subscription offers 12-month, all-you-can-watch access to subscription-only titles on BFI Player[5].

6. Little chefs

Why not help inspire the children in your life in the kitchen?  Little Cooks Co supplies monthly cooking kits, which are designed to be easy, fun and healthy. Each kit includes organic ingredients, recipe cards, a record book so they can track their baking journey, and other goodies. For £35.99 you get a three-month subscription[6].

7. Doughy delights

Any pasta lovers in your family? If so, how about a gourmet pasta subscription. Pasta Evangelists delivers fresh pasta meals, ranging from popular Italian classics to lesser-known regional dishes. With a gift subscription, the recipient can choose the dishes they want. Three-month plans cost between £51.00 and £153.00, depending on how many servings you order for each delivery[7].

8. Easy listening

Audio books can be great for people with busy lives, who may not have as much time as they’d like to sit down and read. With Audible, you could either gift an audio book you’ve really enjoyed or treat your loved one to a subscription plan starting at £7.99 per month[8]. They get credit every month and can choose the book themselves.

9. Healthy glow

After all that Christmas food, sometimes it’s nice to feel healthy and pampered. You could help someone in your life do exactly that by signing them up to a subscription for Natural Wellness Box. They will receive at least six items in each box, which consist of natural health, beauty and wellness products and treats. You can choose to send a one-off box for £42 or pre-pay for six or twelve boxes[9].

Do any of those ideas take your fancy? With gifts that can suit everyone’s taste, this Christmas, there are plenty of online options to help you treat and entertain your friends and family.