The best gifts for teens that they won’t have to pretend to like

Antler Chelsea Backpack

The capacious bag that sold like hot cakes for Christmas 2023, Antler’s ‘Chelsea’ is a multi-pocketed rucksack for the commuting student. GSCE, A Level or university…this is an essential available in multiple different colours that fits all student lifestyles.

Autofocus Digital Camera

The resurgence of the mullet ought to have told you that trends are cyclical, and next on the list is that relic of noughties clubbing: the digital point and shoot. Let’s just hope that there’s no Facebook renaissance to go along with it.

Cutter & Squidge Biskie Box

Cutter & Squidge can make one hell of a cake. Or, as in the case of this biskie selection box, six hell of a cakes. A biskie is a special Cutter & Squidge invention combining cookies and buttercream; they’re handmade in London and have flavour names like Billionaire Dreambar and Brownie Caramel. Grab a gift set the week of the occasion so they’re ripe for birthday morning gorging.

Dickies Full-Zip Hoodie

Something about a new hoodie is exciting to pretty much every subset of giftee you can think of, but teenagers especially love them. You already know about Nike, Gap, Gymshark and Adanola, but Dickies ought to also be on your radar. Buy oversized.

Stanley Tumbler

Many TikTok trends might be baffling, but in this instance it is not your job to understand…only provide. One weirdly covetable item they’ll love to get for their birthday this year? A giant reusable water bottle by US camping experts Stanley. Blame social media, not us.

Gold Name Necklace

Give them their name on a golden chain and the power to embody the sticky sweet style of the 1990s. Abbott Lyon’s designs are classic as it gets, won’t break the bank, and allow you to choose style and length of chain, plus the metal it’s cast in.

Glossier You Perfume

Like every eau de parfum, Gen-Z makeup brand Glossier’s production, You, smells different on everyone who wears it. There’s something about this , though, that has teens clamouring for a bottle. We’re far beyond adolescence but we still afore this sweet (but not too sweet) spritz. A definite recommend from us.

Lenco MP4 Player

One can certainly have too much of a good thing, as evidenced by the youth's sudden interest in analogue and older forms of digital. Let them listen to their favourite music without being chained to their phone with this blast from the past MP4 player by Lenco.

Stackers Makeup Organiser

There's rarely a grey area between organised and chaotic, particularly during adolescence, so if your offspring falls into the former category then something like this ultimate makeup organiser from Stackers ought to hit the mark.

New Era NY Yankees Cap

New Era mightn't have actually invented the baseball cap but it’s now the most famous brand in the world making the headwear. Start them on a journey of collection with the most recognisable model in the world: the NY Yankees cap.

Choc on Choc Ice Lollies

These Choc on Choc ice lollies look so realistic that there’s even a sheen of “freezer burn” to be found on each. Impressive, considering this Twister, Fab, Rocket and Strawberry Split collection are all actually made from Belgian chocolate. A novelty and a food gift in one for just under 12 quid. Bosh.

Odeon Limitless Pass

Just as vinyl is continuing its triumphant return to lounge’s and bedrooms around the world, so is the cinema getting a look-in again. Sick to the back teeth of digital, or at least so saturated with it that more analogue alternatives are suddenly looking rosy, teens are making the big screen a priority over the little one once again. Buying an Odeon Limitless pass is extremely good value for money considering a single adult recliner seat costs more than the monthly direct debit, so it could even be a good purchase for the whole family.

Drool Art Print

For when the urge to plaster their walls in posters and magazine cut-outs turns to coveting framed pieces, Drool and its endless collection of prints such as this collage design by Caitlin Flood-Molyneux. Add a frame and grab a two-picture or entire gallery wall deal if they’re clamouring for a more grownup update on their bedroom.

Apple AirPods Max

AirPods falling out of their ears willy nilly? Sick of replacing the stupid cordless things? Good news: fashion is swinging back towards over-ear headphones. The most covetable of them all? Unsurprisingly, they’re by Apple. Add engraving for an extra special occasion.

Dinosaur Trinket Dish

One of several present ideas racking up millions of views on TikTok, the animal-centric ring dish is growing in popularity. The cat has been one of the most coveted iterations, but we’re shouting this dinosaur example for a proud place on their dressing table.

Oodie

They may not be the most visually-appealing thing in the world, but that's because Oodies are all about comfort. Soon, you'll be hard-pressed to find a British household that doesn’t contain at least one of these wearable duvets, and a large reason for that is the nation’s youth, who are invoking the gods of chilling out for one.

Jellycat Razor Fish

A one-stop shop for teenage pressies, Jellycat makes squishy versions of everything from teddy bears to croissants, with many people starting out on collecting as we once did with Beanie Babies. Whether it’s a one-off or part of a growing set, this razor fish is suitably random and unique.

Dr Martens 1460 Boots

Will the classic Dr Marten 1460 boot ever go out of fashion? Perhaps, but it’ll be no time soon. The sub-culture icon is still highly popular with teens who love music, as well as those who are serious about their personal style. Classic black is the no-brainer way to go, but if your giftee already has — and loves — this colour, consider getting them another pair in cherry red or vibey white. And if it’s their first pair, make sure they know that at the end of blister-related suffering, they’ll be in possession of the comfiest pair of shoes they’ve owned since nursery.

Erborian CC Creme

Lighter makeup works better for older skin, but the youth are leaning into barely there looks too, focusing more on a flawless skincare base over makeup itself. At the forefront of the trend: Korean brands such as Erborian and its magic BB and CC creams, which blur and tweak without caking.

Uniqlo Bag

It’s the bag that may well put an end to all other bags, ever. Uniqlo’s rounded mini shoulder pouch costs under £15, comes in multiple trendy colours and fits a truly baffling amount of stuff. We even use ours as a gym bag since it fits a mini towel, a water bottle and a iPhone.

This Is Going to Ruin The Tour T-Shirt

The meme bursts free from the phone screen and onto the T-shirt: it’s not a new phenomenon, but this one, inspired by Justin Timberlake’s arrest, is a new meme.

Zodiac Socks

A horoscope-themed gift for the mystically-inclined, these zodiac socks by Happy Socks each depict a star sign in neon, graffiti scrawl. A soft tencel modal piece where skate culture, constellations and comfortable feet meet.

Oodie Sherpa Platform Slippers

You might already know Oodie as the makers of the tent-like poncho your teen is always stowed away inside, but the comfortwear label has just started making slippers too: with arch support platforms and vegan sherpa fluff, you’ll be hard-pressed to stop them wearing these outside.

So Chill Mini Fridge

Back along with the lava lamp and the inflatable furniture, the mini fridge (and even the decal stickers that come with it) screams the early aughts. This USB powered personal refrigerator is ideal for storing sodas and snacks or their ever-growing skincare collection.

Yves Saint Laurent Catwalk - The Complete Haute Couture Collections

A coffee table book may seem extraneous for the family member who doesn’t own a coffee table, but something as beautiful as this reference tome on the catwalk looks of Yves Saint Laurent probably won’t be set down that often anyway. A gift to inspire them.

Marshall Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Their laptop speakers will only do them insofar as casually listening to music while they study goes. For movie nights sans TV and dance parties while they get ready, they might need something with a little more oomph. We like the look, sound and battery life of Marshall’s Willen bluetooth speaker.

DIY Bubble Tea Kit

Milkshakes were the tipple of choice in the 2010s, but Gen-Z are in charge now and they’re fuelling the boom in bubble teas. If you’re budgeting a little too much for your teen to grab one every time they head to the high street, this DIY alternative could briefly stem the flow.

Djungelskog Bear

You’d go viral if you looked like this too… Ikea’s homely bear Djungelskog is a big softie that’s had a moment online thanks to his adorable Swedish name and giant squishy belly. Chocolate-coloured and made for cuddling, Djungelskog is massively popular with children, teens and adults, as evidenced by the adorable reviews attached to his online listing. Back in stock after selling out, you should buy him now before it’s too late…

Belkin Portable Power Bank

Like the latest iPhone, a power bank is a gift for them and for your peace of mind. If they’re taking the means to communicate with you around with them and it’ll never run out of charge, that’s one less thing to worry about.

Hollister McLaren T-Shirt

Hollister looks a lot different from it did when you were a teen, but it’s still a hot spot for kids of today. There’s a lot of potential gifting to be found there, but just one suggestion of ours is for this McLaren tee in vintage cotton.

Eleanor Bowmer Zodiac Mug

There are so many zodiac-themed gifts that we could make a separate guide just for them. In place of that, here's one of the best: Eleanor Bowmer’s outrageously beautiful retro zodiac mug, available in all twelve star signs.

Disney Plus Subscription

Disney Plus doesn’t only screen Elemental and The Little Mermaid — though there are those classics in spades. In fact, this streaming service is competing with the Nows and Netflixes of the world with a slate of films and telly they’ll be desperate to watch, Poor Things and The Bear among them.

Period Faace Mask

A hydrating gel face mask for blitzing the skin problems that can arise from that time of the month, this Faace skincare product in Gen-Z lavender is the product you wish you’d had when you were 16.

Wireless Keyboard

If you’ve cast your eye across this entire guide, you might have noticed somewhat of a theme. Namely, that some pieces you might yourself have coveted back in 1999 are once again the apple of many’s eye. Here’s another example: a pleasingly tactile keyboard inspired by the off-white ones that used to come paired with a dial-up tone.

Asics Novablast

If the running bug has bitten them hard, they’re going to need a proper pair of running trainers. Some of our favourites come courtesy of Asics. Get their gait checked first to make sure they don’t under or overpronate (if they do, they’ll need a supportive kind) then set them going with a pair of Novablasts.

Jellyfish Light

Some living cells short of a real tank full of jellyfish, this atmospheric lamp brings a bloom of jellies right into their bedroom. With colour-changing capabilities, it’s a unique and exciting addition to their kaleidoscopic Philips strip lights.

Bespoke Jewellery Making Kit

One of the most frustrating parts of being (or having) an adolescent is that there are so few places for them to go. Places that serve alcohol are automatically out and cafés are rarely happy to accommodate heaving crowds of youths, so having stuff to do at home is a must. A new opportunity in that department now comes in the form of Cast, which box-delivers all the tools and materials needed to shape a bespoke piece of jewellery. Just send it off when they’re done and it’ll be returned to you in sterling silver.

Kylie Lip Kit

The venture that made a billionaire of Kylie Jenner, The Lip Kit puts its money where its mouth is, deploying genuinely fantastic liner and liquid lipstick duos. Hopefully it'll put your older teens off getting lip filler for another few years.

Ticketmaster Gift Card

Heaven knows it’s too stressful trying to bag actual concert tickets — especially the Taylor Swift Eras tour for a Swiftie. Leave it to them instead with a Ticketmaster gift card; a present that says “I shan’t be queuing behind thousands of fans in an online gladiator battle, but I will give you the money to do it yourself”.

Ugg Sandals

Australia’s summer may come at the opposite time of the year to ours, but that doesn’t mean Aussies Ugg will miss an opportunity to bring out seasonal shoes that your teenager will inevitably want. Chase up the Tasmans you bought them for Christmas with these nineties-tastic lace-up sandals.

Coco & Eve Hair Masque

Got a teen on the beauty side of TikTok? Chances are they’ve heard of — and want — the hair masque by Coco & Eve. The good news is twofold: one, the mask is actually effective, and two, buying it won’t require you take out a loan.

XBox Series S

One of the most affordable consoles on the market right now, the Xbox Series S also has the advantage of actually being available online. Unlike many of its siblings, the Series S doesn't sell out as quickly and still does everything any other Xbox would — just not in 4K. A bonus here is that it dovetails perfectly with Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service, which already counts Deathloop, Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 among its roster.

Adanola Hoodie

A reminder in case you’d forgotten: teens are just adults-in-waiting, meaning that plenty of the pressies on our gifts for women and gifts for men guides would also work for an adolescent. To bring one particular intersectional win to your attention: Adanola and its hyped sweatshirts and sweatpants.

Boo Pillow

There's no getting away from the fact that if your teen is a gamer and/or is addicted to their phone, it'll be a real battle to cut down their screen-time. One thing you can do? Make them more comfortable with one of these highly-coveted “Boo” pillows. This model comes in myriad shades of fuzzy sherpa fleece and can come ASAP if you’re a Prime subscriber.

Converse

In the battle between the two most popular unisex skate shoes, Vans and Converse are historic rivals of Oxbridge proportions. In 2023, the latter is coming out on top. If your teen hasn’t yet owned a pair, get them started with the classic black — or branch out in colour and design if you’re expanding their collection.

Mejuri Titanium Curb Chain

A simple chain necklace will always be a staple jewellery piece on a par with an understated pair of earrings or a sterling silver ring, and this one from Mejuri has particular sticking power thanks to its indestructible titanium composition. Discrete enough to tuck behind a school shirt too.

Emirates Football Stadium Tour

An experience gift is the increasingly popular option, particularly for families and younger kids and teens. Virgin Experience Days is a fount of inspiration for such choices, with its tour of the Emirates stadium for you and an under 16 Gooner particularly popular. (Other football stadium tours are available.)

Santa Cruz Skateboard

Trends may come and go, but skateboarding will always be cool, and if it’s cool then chances are teenagers are first in line. Treat your skater offspring to a new board that’ll have them looking forward to dry days on the ramps.

Emma Weighted Blanket

Anxiety or not, being a teenager has never been easy, and right now might be the hardest it's ever been. If they’re resisting your hugs at the minute, deliver a calming presence in the form of a comfy weighted blanket instead. This Emma super soft bamboo model is a guaranteed stress reliever.

Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle

No birthday is complete without an afternoon activity, and this murder mystery jigsaw ticks all the great gift boxes for its sleek design and genuinely challenging rules. Unlike a normal jigsaw, you won’t receive a picture to reference, but rather build the puzzle based on the clues that have been left from the aftermath of a mysterious crime… Board games and card games are so done.

Lego Table Football

Thierry Henry is the face of Lego’s newest endeavour in play: its build-your-own Fußball table allows you to go beyond the classic arcade game by crafting your own team and even characterising the stands of spectators there to see them put away the goals. One for the whole family.

Tony’s Rainbow Pack of Chocolate

The Netherland’s number one chocolate brand is storming up the equivalent charts in the UK, and for good reason. Tony’s is some of the best choc we’ve had in the office (and we eat a lot of it). Here, a rainbow coloured collection of some absolute favourites.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Whether Hunter Schafer will play Zelda in the forthcoming adaptation of the classic video game or not, the world of Hyrule is hard not to love. If you’ve a Nintendo Switch in the house, this is the video game to buy. A fair warning: so deep and beguiling is this gameplay, you may not see your offspring for a good while.

Phillips Hue LED Strip Lights

The LED light trend continues apace and if your teen still hasn’t gotten a strand for their bedroom then they should be getting one now. Philips Hue makes the best versions: their light strips are smart, with many sets available to be controlled via your Alexa or Google Assistant.