The No-Stuff Gift Guide

A list of intangible presents that will actually improve their life.

Up until a couple weeks ago, I had a pretty big gift guide sitting in the drafts that I’d been working on for some time. Then I moved house, and let’s just say there’s nothing like having to pack up the entire contents of a two-bed flat to make you re-evaluate your relationship with stuff. I used to be a devout minimalist until lockdown happened and then I suddenly decided I needed lots of pretty things in my house to look at and play with. Now I’ve ended up feeling a bit suffocated, and to be quite honest, the thought of acquiring anything else while I’m still working through all my boxes makes me anxious.

It really made me reconsider my approach to gift-giving and sort of wince at the excessive consumption that we tend to indulge in this time of year. I absolutely love giving presents, but the reality is that even a thoughtful gift can still be a bit burdensome: more stuff to make space for on a counter or in a cabinet or eventually pack in a box. It dawned on me that Christmas presents don’t actually have to be things – they can be experiences. And don’t they say spending money that way makes you happier anyways?

In that spirit, my philosophy going forward is to give no-stuff gifts, so I’ve ditched the original list entirely and instead curated some non-tangibles: subscriptions, dinners, memberships, classes and other such things that won’t contribute to clutter or eventually make their way to a landfill.

FYI: This post contains affiliate links.

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£50 and under

Credit for Enmei Studios from £35

For the person who spends half their take-home pay on fitness classes

Gift cards get a bad rap, but as I see it there’s a difference between a department store voucher and credit towards an experience you know they would love or already do. Even better if you’re doing it with them. One option is ClassPass credits – although I asked my sister, who has tried out pretty much every fitness studio in London, which one she would specifically recommend for a gift and her immediate answer was Lagree at Enmei’s Marylebone studio. In her words: ‘It’s non-stop and tough, but you feel amazing at the end. Just make sure you say it’s not for beginners.’

Beata Heuman’s course on BBC Maestro on sale for £47.40

For the person who’s just moved into a new flat

I occasionally get ads for BBC Maestro (the BBC’s version of Masterclass), and this course immediately jumped out to me. I’m a big Beata fan – I received her Rizzoli book a few Christmases ago, and her revamp of Adwoa Aboah’s house is the best thing on Architectural Digest. She’s all about adding a touch of joy and whimsy to your home, but still with a sort of clean, Scandinavian sensibility and in a way that doesn’t feel silly. This four-hour course is usually £79, but it’s currently on sale for Black Friday. (Or you can grant them access to all the courses for one year for £72.)

£100 and under

Photograph courtesy of the Barbican Centre

Tate membership from £78

For the person who needs to get out the house more

London has dozens of world-class museums and galleries, and Tate membership gets you access to two of them. I’m personally more of a fan of Britain, but I love Modern’s members’ spaces (including the rooftop) – great for freelancers who spend too much time in the house, but also for taking friends and dates. Next year’s exhibitions include Frida Kahlo, Tracey Emin and a retrospective of iconic 90s photographers, as well as the ongoing Lee Miller, Nigerian Modernism and Picasso shows, so lots to dive into.

A pasta-making class with Darling’s Eatery on sale for £55pp

For the person who’s always up for hosting

I can personally vouch for this pasta-making workshop because I did it two years ago after a pretty heavy night out, and I found it be the most wholesome and nourishing way to nurse a hangover. The classes, which take place at Egle Loit’s restaurant in east London, are intimate and hands-on, and I love the sense of camaraderie as you all sit around a big table and eat your wonky pasta shapes together. It’s pretty well-priced too considering some cookery schools charge three times this.

A subscription to Feed Me £60

For the person with a cool job

I subscribe to a bunch of Substacks, and Feed Me is among the best value for money (£8 a month or £60 a year for a newsletter every weekday). It’s as much about ‘business’ as it is what’s hot in New York: restaurant openings, beauty brand launches, startup hires, media layoffs – plus Q&As with interesting people shaping culture (from Rhode’s CMO to Keith McNally). In short, if your recipient’s job requires them to have their ‘finger on the pulse’, then they should be reading Feed Me.

Barbican membership £59

For the person who works in the City – but is cultured and interesting

For £59, members get entry to all the Barbican exhibitions, access to the members’ lounge and members-only events (including film screenings for just £6), 20 per cent off general tickets, and a handful of other discounts. Considering there is something going on at the Barbican almost every day of the year, this seems like a steal. (P.S. If you know someone who’s 16 to 25, then tell them to sign up for free Young Barbican membership immediately.)

£250 and under

A subscription to Puck

Rita Konig’s interior design course on Create Academy on sale for £103

For the person who’s embarking on a renovation in the new year

Another interior design course for you. I did this one over lockdown and it completely changed how I look at a home. Rita Konig is not only a world-renowned decorator (fun fact: she worked on San Vicente Bungalows in LA) but also an incredible teacher and the sort of person who has a clever reason for every design decision. Her taste is much posher than mine, but I still took away plenty about room layouts and paint colours and how to buy good-quality second-hand furniture. It’s super comprehensive and if you know anyone who’s about to embark on a big renovation and actually cares about making things look nice, then I’d highly recommend it. (If they already know their stuff, then she’s done a second, more advanced course for the same price.)

An Inner Circle subscription to Puck $250 (about £190)

For the smartest, most well-informed person you know

Outside of Substack, the best subscription I have by a mile is Puck. For about £13 a month for their standard tier, you can sign up to a selection of insider-y newsletters written by best-in-class reporters and experts on everything from politics to tech to entertainment. I first subscribed for the daily fashion memo from Lauren Sherman that EVERYONE in the industry reads, but I also love the briefings on art and media. And then with Inner Circle, you receive bonus emails (they save the juiciest stuff for these) as well as access to private Zoom calls and merch. To buy a gift subscription, just drop an email to fritz@puck.news.

A tasting menu for two at Counter 71 £140

For the person you should really see more often

Some of my favourite-ever gifts over the years have been friends taking me for lunch or dinner – mostly because I get to spend one-on-one time with them. To me, a chef’s table is ideal for a present because it’s part-meal, part-theatre, and if I had to recommend one I’ve personally enjoyed it would be Counter 71 in Hoxton, which serves ‘modern British’ cuisine with a focus on seafood. I’ve never been a huge wine snob but the pairings here made me ‘get it’. You can either book in a date for the both of you or buy them a £150 voucher, which covers a six-course lunch for two (before wine).

Counter 71 in Hoxton. Photograph by Percy Walker-Smith.

10 classes at KXU on sale for £199

For the person who’s vowed to get fit in the New Year

My favourite pay-as-you-go gym I’ve been to in London is KXU just off Pavilion Road (one of the best shopping streets in London). It’s sleek and sexy and they have a fabulous smoothie-and-snack bar, and everyone there is very ‘my-body-is-a-temple’ in a way that I personally find very motivating. (If you really want to be humbled, I recommend taking a morning Pilates-ballet-barre class with Chelsea housewives.) It’s usually £280 for a block of 10 classes but they’re currently on sale for £199 if you purchase via the KXU app. Or just drop them an email.

10 sessions of laser hair removal at EverySkin on sale for £244

For the person who’s always on holiday

One of the best investments I’ve ever made was getting laser hair removal at EverySkin, and I’ve since decided it’s a genius gift for someone you know really well (i.e. sisters and best friends). What’s great about this place is that it caters to every skin tone – if I can get it, then anyone can. A few things to make your recipient aware of, though. (1) Anyone who says laser doesn’t hurt is lying or is doing something entirely different to what I’ve had. (2) It should really be called ‘laser hair reduction’ – it’ll cut down their hair growth SIGNIFICANTLY but they won’t be bald forever. EverySkin allows you to load custom amounts onto their gift cards, but if you want to take advantage of their Black Friday sale, then you can book 10 sessions of Brazilian and underarm laser hair removal on their website for £244 with the code BF10LASER.

£500 and under

Ricari Studios at the Peninsula in Knightsbridge

Healf Zone membership £289

For the person who’s celebrating a milestone birthday next year

There’s nothing like celebrating a big birthday to make you want to lock in on your health and wellness routine. My go-to gift for friends who are turning 30 is marine collagen powder, just to rub it in, but a much kinder present for Christmas would be a membership to Healf Zone. It gets them two free at-home blood tests a year that check for over 35 biomarkers – if we’re being pedantic, this isn’t entirely intangible – along with one-to-one consultations, personalised recommendations and next-day delivery on anything you order from Healf. I’m convinced this is the perfect gift for your newly health-conscious parents. Also, don’t be afraid to remind them to actually do it.

Dinner for two at Gymkhana £300

For the person who only visits London for special occasions

London is home to some of the best Indian restaurants in the world, and Gymkhana on Albemarle Street ranks highly on the list, with two Michelin stars. I don’t know anyone who’s had a meal there and not raved about it after. A £300 voucher should comfortably cover an à la carte dinner for two, but add extra if they’re into their wine.

Microfusion facial at Dr Karen Doherty £350

For the person whose face is their job

The coolest aesthetics clinic in the world is Dr Karen Doherty’s space in Shoreditch. Alongside her signature polynucleotide packages – i.e. those ‘salmon sperm’ injections that stimulate collagen and juice up your skin without leaving you puffy or frozen – she also offers a bunch of energy devices and facial treatments. Go for the microfusion facial which involves microneedling a cocktail of glow-giving ingredients into the skin before finishing off with a high-powered red light.

Photography courtesy of The Yard in Bath

60-minute ‘Focus’ body massage at Ricari Studios £330

For the person whose body is their job

I had a lymphatic treatment at Ricari Studios a couple years ago when it was based at the Nomad (it’s now in the Peninsula) and I’ve never forgotten about it. Not only was it in the best-smelling room I’ve ever set foot in but it was also the most vigorous, most high-tech body massage I’ve ever had. Lots of clients go for depuffing and debloating ahead of an event, but I found it really relieved muscle soreness too. To book this one, email spapln@peninsula.com.

‘Everyicon’ membership for Everyman Cinemas £300

For the person who could use a bit of escapism

I visited the Everyman at the Whiteley to see Materialists a couple months ago and it’s officially raised the bar for cinemas for me. The decor is glamorous and clubby, with sofas in the screening rooms, and you can order a proper meal (burgers, chips, pizza) which they’ll deliver to your seat just before the film starts. They offer a few membership and gift card options, but I’d go for Everyicon which gets you 24 tickets for the year, which you can share with friends.

A two-night staycation at The Yard in Bath £500

For a couple who still like each other

A few years ago, I stayed at this charming little hotel in an old coaching inn in Bath over New Year’s with a friend, and I vowed that I’d one day take the LOML back there. That’s to say, it’s incredibly romantic and cosy (there’s no restaurant but they drop off breakfast in a basket in the morning and serve antipasti in the courtyard), and a stay there would be a really thoughtful present for a couple. A £500 gift will cover two nights in one of the best rooms.

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