Best gifts for mum 2024: Thoughtful and personalised present ideas for Mother's Day

Gift ideas as unique as your mum

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Proud mum: Victoria Beckham with sons Romeo and Cruz
Dave Benett

Mums: where would we be without them?

Whether she’s the one you run to in times of trouble, she’s a pragmatic soul full of practical advice, or she’s the only one who shares your belly laugh, we can all agree that mums are the undisputed VIPs in the guest list of your life.

That’s what makes buying them the perfect gift so challenging. What gift can best convey what she means to you?

It’s not just mums that are difficult to buy for either. It’s a shopping conundrum that can be applied to any mother figure in your life: think grandmothers, aunties, close family friends, mentors. And there’s usually little point in cutting to the chase and asking what they want outright: most will likely bat you away, telling you to save your money.

When it comes to shopping, ES Best has your back. We’re here to help with an edit of the best mum-friendly gifts to help you hit the mark on Mother’s Day and for any other important occasions like Christmas, anniversaries and birthdays.

We’ve got the lowdown on the very best gifts to spoil her rotten, from hampers heaving with indulgent treats to luxury beauty she would never dream of splashing out on for herself.

Mother may know best, but we’ve got the right gift to bring her joy and happiness in our roundup.

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Best tech gifts for mum

A gift designed to make her life easier: who can say no to that? From smartwatches designed to help her monitor her fitness to wine gadgets that’ll keep her vino tasting bottle-fresh, we’ve got the best in tech to have her beaming with joy.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6

Samsung

With a longer battery life - going up to 40 hours if you turn the display off - Samsung’s latest update of its smartwatch is its best yet. The Watch6 offers fitness monitoring for all sports including swimming with a water resistance of up to five metres.

The 1.5-inch display manages to feel generous yet unobtrusive at the same time. This means that rolling through all the features - and there are many - is quite intuitive. As well as activity tracking, fitness and sleep monitoring, event alerts, alarms and social media notifications, the Watch6 will prompt you to move if you’ve been inactive for too long (easily done when you’re focused on a deadline).

Buy now£289, Currys

Roberts Revival iStream 3L

Roberts

A retro design with contemporary functions, this Roberts radio is the perfect gadget to keep you company around the house. The vintage 50s-look body is armed to the teeth with the latest tech, including a smart radio that can broadcast web radio as well as DAB+ and FM stations. It can transform into a Bluetooth speaker and play her favourite tracks from Spotify and Deezer, all with crystal clear audio.

Available in a range of bright and muted shades to best suit your style.

Buy now£199.99, John Lewis

HONOR Magic V2

Honor

Treat your mum to the latest foldable to enter the mobile phone arena: the Honor Magic V2. Slimmer than many competitors and with a larger screen size to boot, the phone-to-tablet hybrid is jam-packed with features that will make most recipients squeal with delight. We're talking high-spec cameras, supercharging and split-screen function, so she can use multiple apps on one screen simultaneously. The future is here, and it's folding.

Buy now£1699.99, Argos

Coravin Pivot

Coravin

How many times have you wanted just one glass of wine but wound up drinking the whole bottle for fear it will ‘go off’ from oxidation? We’ve all been there.

Thanks to innovative wine tool Coravin Pivot though, your mum can enjoy as much or as little as she likes, and keep the rest for up to four weeks, when it will taste just as fresh. Not only does it preserve wine, but it aerates as it pours too, so her vino will taste just as the producers intended.

There’s also the Coravin Sparkling, which can preserve Champagne and other sparkling wines for up to four weeks. No longer will she have the excuse of waiting for a special occasion to sip something extraordinary. This little gadget will allow her to enjoy a little luxury, every day.

Buy now£129.99, Amazon

Theragun Mini 4th Generation Percussive Therapy Massager

Theragun

Whether they’re into their fitness or suffering from muscle pain, give the gift of relief and recovery with Theragun. The Mini is the smallest and most portable of all the devices with a hand-held size.

It uses the same percussive massage therapy as the more costly devices with vibrations of short pulses of pressure. There are three speeds and the option to customise treatments. It’s also quieter than the previous generation models.

Prices from £175 to £549.

Buy now£155, Therabody

Instax Mini 40 Instant Camera - Black and Silver

Instax

Future forward technology and retro nostalgia come in the same package in this Instax camera. Print images from your smartphone instantly and clearer than ever thanks to updated features on this latest model. It automatically adjusts to your lighting and even has a Selfie Mode.

Easily one of the best tech gifts this season.

Buy now£99.99, Argos

Amazon Fire Tablet HD 10 Plus

Amazon

Amazon’s tablet device has gone through many evolutions and can hold its own against big names such as Apple and Samsung - but all at a fraction of their cost.

The 10th-gen comes is offered both with and without adverts with slightly altered price points depending on which option you choose.

Use the handheld computer to search the web, stream movies and music, and take pictures and record video. You can also download and enjoy apps like BBC iPlayer, 4oD, Instagram, Facebook, Ted Talks, Pinterest, email and much more. The Fire 10 comes with up to 64GB of internal storage and can run for 12 hours, charging wirelessly if you need to.

Available in black, blue, pink, lilac and forest green tones.

Buy now£179.99, Amazon

Best beauty gifts for mum

For fans of lotions and potions, a lavish beauty gift might be just the ticket to present-giving success. Whether she’s got a cabinet dedicated to fragrances, is famed for her lippie collection, or loves nothing more than trying the latest anti-ageing product, we’ve found the best options below.

Elemis x Elizabeth Scarlett The Luminous Skin Collection

Elemis

A haul of top skincare goodies packed in a pretty embroidered washbag won't fail to get the right reaction. Elemis's hero products would cost £139 if purchased individually, making this a bargain for beauty-loving mums.

Buy now£100, John Lewis

Furla Unica EDP 50ml

Furla

A fresh fragrance is just the ticket to blow winter’s cobwebs away. Transport mother dearest to the Italian riviera with Furla’s Unica parfum, filled with lively notes of pistachio, mandarin and vanilla. Shoutout to the bag-like blue bottle too, the new star of her dressing table.

Buy now£52, Fenwick

Kate Somerville Peptide K8 Cream

Kate Somerville

This moisturiser from Kate Somerville is a godsend for parched complexions. Whether it’s air con, central heating or the ever-changing weather that has got your skin dry, dull and down in the dumps, this high-performing cream is on hand to turn it all around. The combination of babassu and hemp seed oils offers nourishment and leaves skin looking bouncy and soft - a feat further enhanced by the complex at its heart.

It has been formulated to be rich in peptides as well as oligopeptides and ceramides to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Each application feels like a luxury experience and the effects speak for themselves - just be consistent with usage. Layer up with SPF and even makeup as it sits nicely underneath without causing pilling and flaking.

Buy now£132, Kate Somerville

Shark SmoothStyle Heated Brush and Comb

Shark

All mums deserve to have good hair days, whether they've got salon booking or not. Shark's hot brush, the SmoothStyle, can be used on both wet and dry hair, using three temperatures to tame locks, add volume and leave it with a mirror shine. The supersized brush means Hollywood-worthy curls are never far away.

The tool is blissfully light at less than 1kg and comes with a carry case so she can take it on holiday too.

Buy now£84.99, Amazon

Harvey Nichols Glow Getters Skincare Hamper

Harvey Nichols

If you’re able to go big, treat them to the Glow Getters hamper from Harvey Nichols. Stuffed with luxury products from Sunday Riley, Pixi and Kate Somerville, your loved one is set to feel like utter royalty, no matter where they are.

Buy now£200, Harvey Nichols

Aromatherapy Associates The Atomiser

Aromatherapy Associates

Regular spa appointments: the heart is willing, but the purse says no.

Good news, then, that you can still create a little R&R moment thanks to Aromatherapy Associates' new waterless ceramic diffuser, The Atomiser.

Using natural essential oils, the gadget radiates the fragrance as a micro-fine mist without heat or water. And with a dual cartridge chamber, you can change between energising and relaxing scents as easily as flicking a switch. 

Buy now£130, Space NK

Best fashion gifts for mum

If she’s got a thing for threads, a well-selected piece of fashion or a coveted accessory won’t fail to hit the mark. From luxury brands and cult labels to cool indie stores that will raise the style stakes of her wardrobe, we’ve gathered the best options around.

Monica Vinader Paperclip Chain Necklace Adjustable 46cm/18”

Monica Vinader

This dainty paperclip chain is made to be layered. The delicate design makes for an everyday piece that will form the foundation in which other styles can transform it from casual to more formal dress codes. It is made entirely from recycled 14k solid gold so it will wear beautifully.

Buy now£295, Monica Vinader

Bella Freud 1970 oversized wool jumper

Bella Freud

This is one of the signature pieces from British fashion designer Bella Freud's instantly recognisable styles. It is made from merino wool and embroidered with the label's iconic 1970 intarsia, a date to honour the New York punk scene.

While it is available in neutral tones of black and vibrant hues of pink and yellow, our personal favourite is this daring red shade that is eye-catching and scene-stealing.

Buy now£385, Selfridges

Demellier The New York

Demellier

For an added touch of je ne sais quoi, Demellier’s croc-embossed leather tote takes the classic bag to the next level. With gold logo and hardware, a popper closure, and a cotton-lined interior, it’s a luxury purchase that’s totally worth it.

Buy now£520, Demellier

The Original Drowsy Sleep Mulberry Silk Eye Mask

Drowsy

New mums, insomniacs or light sleepers - no matter the sleep concern, we have the solution in the bag. The luxe Drowsy eye mask offers a complete blackout of external light and has a sophisticated and sumptuously soft silk construction. It has a thick band for added comfort and puts next to no pressure on the face.

Buy now£69, Amazon

Completedworks 14ct Gold-Plated Freshwater Pearl And Crystal Drop Earrings

Completedworks

Crafted from freshwater pearl, crystal and 14ct gold, these absolutely stunning oversized earrings would make any recipient feel special. Eternally elegant.

Buy now£195, Liberty

Katie Loxton Fold Out Garment Weekend Bag

Katie Loxton

Proving you needn’t dip into your overdraft to find a thoughtful gift is British lifestyle brand Katie Loxton.

Find this spacious weekend bag in off-white, ready for all manner of minibreaks. The bag unzips flat so she can store garments flat with space to spare for toiletries and tech in the centre. It's on the pricey side, but if you’re clubbing together with siblings, this makes an extremely budget-friendly gift.

You can also get this design personalised on the side of the bag or on the luggage tag, giving it an extra special touch.

Buy now£129.99, Katie Loxton

Best home gifts for mum

A new knick knack for the home that houseproud mums will adore, from candles and glassware to her new kitchen BFF.

PSTR Studio Unframed Flowers In The Park Print

PSTR Studio

An option for lovers of all things bright and beautiful, this unframed print by PSTR Studio will liven up any living space in an instant. Created by Swedish artist Madelen Möllard from PSTR Studio, the primary colours of this print will certainly serve up a pop of Scandinavian style.

Buy now£45, Liberty

Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker

Ninja

It’s no exaggeration to say that Ninja appliances have changed our lives. We first tried its multi-cooker in lockdown; and if we were impressed with its capabilities then, it’s not a patch on what its successor can do now.

The brand-spanking new 15-in-1 Ninja Foodi will practically replace your entire kitchen. It can do a range of cooking functions, from air frying and slow cooking to grilling, steaming and roasting. It can even slow cook, using the same lid (saving you a ton of cupboard space).

Whether your mum loves whipping up family meals or could use something to make cooking easier, this Ninja is the sous chef she soon won’t be able to be without.

Buy now£229.99, Ninja

KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PSBIC Stand Mixer - Ice Blue 

Currys

The ultimate baking companion, KitchenAid’s stand mixer is likely on the gifting wish list for so many people on your ‘to-buy’ checklist. It has a timeless and chic design so will fit seamlessly in kitchens of all aesthetics - particularly as they come in a rainbow array of colours.

The construction is very durable and it comes with 10 different attachments for all your cooking and baking needs. It is reliable and has a far superior and more effortless performance to traditional hand whisks.

This will be the gift that keeps on giving that they’ll treasure for years and years to come.

Buy now£599, Currys

Graham & Green Indian Hand Black Printed Throws

Graham & Green

A pretty throw promises to liven up her interiors and keep her cosy, making it a win-win for houseproud mums. Interiors store Graham & Green has these beautiful Jaipurian sherpa-lined blankets that are finished with a floral block print pattern, adding a splash of style to a sofa or bed.

Buy now£89, Graham & Green

Georg Jensen Bernadotte Stainless Steel Coffee Press

John Lewis

Georg Jensen’s Bernadotte Stainless Steel Coffee Press is for the coffee aficionados who want to pour their daily mug(s) with the same level of stylish flair that continues through the rest of their day.

This sleek cafetière deserves a place of pride on your kitchen counter - partially because of how frequently you’ll be using it but also because of its classy look. Adding a touch of Art Deco to the table every time you’ve got guests around, this cafetière is crafted from mirror-polished stainless steel and is double-walled to keep your coffee warmer for longer.

Buy now£130, John Lewis

Wedgwood Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile de Jouy Vanity bone china accent plate 20cm

Wedgwood

From one of Britain’s greatest pottery brands comes this stunning accent plate, made with fine bone china which is favoured for the brand. This collab is with NYC-based interior designer Sheila Bridges who has used a Harlem Toile De Jouy design to bring the plate to life. Crack it out for dinner parties where you want to impress, and pop it up on the wall to admire the rest of the time.

Buy now£80, Selfridges

HexClad 20cm Hybrid Stainless Steel Frying Pan with Stay-Cool Handle

HexClad

Best for: cheffy flair

It's the cult US brand gaining serious traction on UK soil: HexClad, dubbed ‘the Rolls Royce of pans’ by none other than Gordon Ramsay and used by every food blogger worth their hand-picked Himalayan salt, is making ripples in the cookware world.

The coveted hybrid pan functions like a non-stick thanks to the hexagonal grid in the pan, yet performs like stainless steel with the robustness of cast iron. We’ve not stopped using ours, from heating refried beans for taco night, whipping up a weeknight stir fry and searing steak before finishing it off in the oven.

For the home chef with Masterchef ambitions, this is the ultimate piece of cookware to add to the kitchen - and it’s completely non-toxic and PFOA-free too. So confident is HexClad in its pan that it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Buy now£94.99, Amazon

La Rochère Abeille Bee Glass Tea Infuser Mug with Bamboo Lid

John Lewis

A two-in-one infuser for lovers of a fresh, daily blend of aromatic tea, this beautiful footed mug by La Rochère is heat resistant up to 120°C and fitted with a large stainless steel infuser for premium brews.

Complete with a bamboo lid to keep your tea hot and prevent spillages when transporting from kettle to table, the lid can also serve as a stand for the strainer once tea has perfectly infused.

Buy now£32.50, John Lewis

Allday Goods Knife range

Allday

If they’re serious about cheffing, introduce Allday Goods into their cutlery collection.

The brand takes a sustainable approach to crafting kitchen essentials by making beautiful knives entirely from waste that would have ended up in a landfill.

The blades are made from scrap metals, while the handles - in attractive hues of yellow, white and green - save 48g of plastic per option. They are made in Sheffield, meaning buying one supports a British business and cuts down your carbon footprint too.

Buy now£105, Allday Goods

National Art Pass

If they love a lazy Saturday stroll through a gallery or museum they will be spoilt for choice using the National Art pass.

With over 240 museums and historic sites to select from they can save 50 per cent on major exhibitions and still have money left over to buy lunch or a fancy art book for their coffee table.

Buy now£59.25, Art Fund

Best food and drink gifts for mum

For a gift that’s guaranteed not to sit in the cupboard gathering dust, food and drink can’t be beat. Treat foodie mums to a taste of something special, be it a hamper stuffed with niche, hard-to-find goodies or a box of her favourite chocolate.

Nespresso x Liberty

Nespresso x Liberty

The latest limited edition release from Nespresso is the result of a spellbinding botanical collaboration with non-other than paragon of London culture, Liberty. Adorned with hand-drawn florals, discrete depictions of coffee beans, citrus flowers, vanilla seeds and berries, the fabulously decorated Vertuo machine is complemented by a duck egg blue extraction lid.

Sized at 4kg with a 1 litre tank capacity, Nespresso’s classic self-contained Vertuo machine already served as a transformational kitchen accessory before its floral Liberty makeover. Now, a beautifully feminine kitchen aesthetic simply cannot exist without one.

When it comes to functionality, the Nespresso x Liberty Vertuo pre-heats in approximately 30 seconds before producing a perfectly caramel-like stream of hot, aromatic coffee which settles with a delightful haze of crema on top.

The machine produces five different coffee sizes via a one-touch brewing system, and can be connected to your smartphone for updates and descaling alerts. To save energy, the machine automatically powers off after two minutes of idle use.

Additional limited edition accessories include a beautiful, limited edition Vertuo mug for £19 and a frothy Aeroccino3 for £89. Since the set has been designed with the tagline ‘stir your senses’, it certainly fits that a selection of pods housed in the limited edition print would accompany the release.

The welcome pack includes Master Origin Colombia Capsules, Master Origins Mexico Capsules and Vivida Capsules. Teach your mum how to make a festive, spring lavender latte with the help of Nespresso’s brilliant recipe and guide.

Buy now£200

Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Petal Robe

Champagne Laurent-Perrier

It’s a special occasion when a robed bottle of Laurent-Perrier gets placed on the table. The cuvee rose is party-ready, decked out as she is in a rose gold case covered with enamel stokes to create a petal effect. The artistic bottle will delight collectors and new fans alike - and that’s before they’ve even got to the juicy and intense yet fresh flavours within.

Buy now£97.99, Selfridges

Clase Azul Reposado tequila 700ml

Clase Azul

Long gone are the days of tequila with a worm at the bottom of the bottle. Modern iterations of the Mexican spirit are designed to be sipped and savoured, not shot. With tequila enjoying something of a revival in recent years, here’s an excuse to give something really special.

From artisan producer Clase Azul comes this white and blue ceramic decanter, its beauty rivalled only by the liquid within. Smooth and full bodied, the spirit, made from pure weber blue agave, slips easily down the throat, imparting undertones of vanilla and toffee caramel along the way. We had no idea that tequila could be this good. A triumph.

Buy now£250, Harvey Nichols

ADRIATICO Roasted Amaretto

Adriatico

Originating in Puglia, ADRIATICO Amaretto uses almonds hand-picked in the Italian countryside as the base of this floral digestif, which are then roasted, distilled and blended with cinnamon, cocoa, coffee and sea salt. It represents a new generation of amaretto liqueurs that we, for one, welcome with open arms.

Buy now£39.38, Amazon

SodaStream Spirit Sparkling Water Maker

SodaStream

For the fizzy water fan in your life, the addition of a SodaStream to their kitchen appliances will change their lives. Not only is it far more cost-effective than purchasing bottles of the carbonated stuff but it is also better for the planet as you are reducing their single-use plastic consumption - the definition of a win-win.

There are five different models to choose from all of which will create sparkling water in seconds with just the touch of a button. The devices are compact with a sleek, space-saving design and include the glass carafe pictured. You can also add flavours that will give them the chance to create their own kombucha, lemonade, coca cola, tonic and more. Shop more carbonated water machines here.

Buy now£99.99, Amazon

ABBA Voyage

PA Media

It's one of the most talked-about productions in town, with streams of sequinned-speckled party-goers flooding the DLR’s Pudding Mill station for every performance.

Set in a purpose-built cathedral to one of Sweden's greatest musical exports, ABBA Voyage is the party every disco-lover must experience. With incredible lightwork and avatars that will leave you rubbing your eyes to believe aren't real, this is a peek at what the future of gigs could look like. 

If your mum is up for dancing, standing tickets are most budget-friendly (nudge your way to take it all in) while seated options mean you can see the 40-years-in-the-making production in all its glory. Want to make it extra special? Add lounge access for bubbly and nibbles before the show takes off. 

Bookings are available until January 2025 from £104.50.

Buy now£104.50, ABBA Voyage