The Best Subscription Boxes In The UK: Gift Guide

So you’re stuck thinking about what to buy for that person’s birthday, or for Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Maybe you’ve left it so last minute you’ve woken up on the morning of the day itself and realised, in a blind panic, that now might be too late to get them anything at all. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Frantically running to the shops to find anything remotely close to what that person might want on their special day will leave you with a mediocre gift at best, and an awkward empty handed greeting at worst. So why not give them a gift that they can joy every month of the year?

Subscription boxes are taking the world by storm and it’s easy to see why. Many include monthly gifts for the recipient to discover new and interesting brands, products and snacks. Here you’ll be able to find a list of the best subscription boxes in the UK, and I’ll be constantly updating it with new finds. Get ready to find the best subscription boxes for geeks, beauty lovers, foodies, book lovers and more!

The Best Subscription Boxes In The UK

Feel free to send me any reviews, or opinions on any of the subscription boxes below and I’ll add them in with a credit to you.

Best Clothing Subscription Boxes

There aren’t too many of these around that I could find, but I’ve listed an affordable favourite which really appeals to my inner child.

Whether you’re male, female, young or old – The Monthly Tee Club will bring a smile to your face month after month. You’ll get between 1 and 4 t-shirts delivered monthly, depending on the package size you select at checkout. As well as offering the first shirt for free + P&P, the subscription is a very reasonably £9.99 monthly. “But how do they know which t-shirts I want?” Well, by specifying your interests at the checkout, you’ll receive a unique tee every month with a design you’ll love. Not only that, but the generous guys at the MTC will donate an item to charity for every tee you buy, as part of their #Tee4aTee project.

Check out the Monthly Tee Club

The Best Beauty Subscription Boxes

Beauty subscription boxes seem to be one of the most popular kinds right now, thanks to their promotion in big UK beauty magazines. A quick Google search will give you tons to choose from, but these two are undoubtedly still the best of the best.

Latest in Beauty – The best choice if surprises aren’t your thing or if you’re picky about what you like. The Latest in Beauty box allows you to set your preferences, and then curate your monthly box from their choices. Pick either three, six or nine products, and save on delivery costs if you subscribe.

Not a fan of subscribing? You can choose a one-off box. But as you can cancel at any time, you may as well get all the benefits that come with a monthly sign up, including the lower price.

Check out Latest In Beauty

Glossybox – The monthly beauty subscription box which brings you 5 beauty products to try each month. You can get money off each month by opting for a 3, 6 or 12 month plan too. You can get anything from makeup, to skincare products, and the boxes are usually highly rated.

Check out Glossybox

Birchbox – the monthly beauty subscription box which brings you 4-5 beauty products based on what you’ve told them you already like. Just like the Birchbox you get money off for longer plans, and you can expect makeup, skincare products and even food like chia oats if they think you’ll like them!

Check out Birchbox

The Best Food Subscription Boxes

There’s such a variety of food subscription boxes in the UK right now, so I selected my favourite few. Here you’ll find boxes for all types of food, snacks, chocolate (the best of the bunch, if you’re asking me) and more.

HelloFresh began in 2012 but has quickly shot to fame and has the backing of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The Hello Fresh subscription service takes all the hard work out of your weekly shop by providing you with fresh ingredients (measured out in exact quantities for your convenience, I should add) in their chilled ‘recipe box’ for you to enjoy cooking at home. Inside you’ll find great quality ingredients from premium suppliers with the option for either 3 or 5 meals every week for the whole family; the larger box brings the cost down per meal. You can also choose between a set classic and veggie option, and with the ability to specify your preferred recipes there really is something for everyone.

Check out HelloFresh

The Degustabox comes with 10 – 15 surprise food products, some which aren’t even in supermarkets yet, for much better value than you’d get each of them separately for in shops. These could be cooking supplies, drinks, full packs of new snacks etc. (with free delivery woo!). Check out Degustabox

Even if you know next to nothing about subscription boxes, you probably know Graze thanks to their TV and magazine ads over the past few years. With Graze, you can choose from over 100 different snacks and get them delivered as often as you want (every week, 2 weeks, month etc.) You can get either the Variety box where you can pick any of their snacks, the Light Box specifically for healthier stuff, or the Kids box for children.

Check out Graze

The Goodness Project (formerly known as Flowbox) is a healthy lifestyle subscription box designed for the health-conscious customer. Alongside their classic box, they offer vegan and gluten-free boxes too. Every month you can expect treats such as superfood chocolates, raw muesli, organic protein bars and you never get the same product twice.  1% of their profits also go to charity! Check out The Goodness Project

And finally, the one we’re all secretly lusting after, the Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club subscription box. The Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club delivers one of 5 chocolate boxes for you to try each month (every 8 weeks for their coveted Rabot 1745 Selection). Honestly, paying for a 2 or 3 month subscription of this for someone’s gift would be incredible; especially when they forget you’ve got them that and get home to a box of premium chocolates through their letterbox.

Check out Hotel Chocolat

Cure and Simple – Morning fry-ups are a tradition for a lot of households around the UK, and if bacon is the central aspect for you then this box will make it even better. All of the water is removed before vacuum packaging, so you avoid any of the mess which comes with frying supermarket rashers.

Choose your flavour, plan and delivery date and let the artisan bacon come to you. There are three plans available – once a week, once a fortnight and once a month, all costing pretty similar to supermarket prices anyway. And with a much better company name.

Worried about your dog getting to the box before you get home from work after it is delivered? Just let them know, and they will use a natural deterrent on the packaging.

The Best Subscription Boxes For Geeks

Geeky subscription boxes are on the rise in the UK it seems, and I sifted through a lot of them to bring my top picks. The first is My Geek Box, which brings you a surprise box with a theme every month that includes at least one t-shirt. You can see some of their past boxes here, which will hopefully convince you that this is the perfect nerdy subscription box gift for any geeks in your life. Check out My Geek Box

Now, you might be wondering why I included an American subscription box in this, when there were a few more UK exclusives I could have chosen from. And that’s because I’m subscribed to the Lootcrate myself. They seem to have been around a lot longer than the UK geeky boxes, and they’re always quality for around the same price. I honestly love them (and they’ve supplied with at least 6 of my regularly worn t-shirts).

Lootcrate picks a theme each month and sends you t-shirts, exclusive gear just for them like one-off comics and prints, and geeky figures. The monthly price drops if you sign up for 6 or 12 months. And to be honest, when the amount in the box is worth much more than that and you get international shipping included, it’s well worth it. Check out Lootcrate

Zbox – bag yourself a geeky surprise every month with the Zbox subscription box. By far this is one of the best subscription boxes around, and it is picking up traction over the past year. For those that subscribe to this geeky box, you will receive a variety of unique one-of-a-kind items to enjoy, depending on what theme the box is covering that month. Inside the box you will receive a T-shirt and a box containing merchandise, which is the perfect treat for yourself, or friend or family member that loves all things geek.

Check out

Infinity Crates – With a monthly theme, the Infinity Crates come with a guaranteed POP and t-shirt included. You can also get a kid crate for the same price, if you have any little ones who are following in your footsteps with a passion for all things geek.

The price of the content regularly hovers around the £35-£40 mark, so it is a great way of getting some products which few people will have, for less than half of the RRP

The Best Book Subscription Boxes

If the person you need a present for gets through books quicker than you get through your weekly food shop, then a subscription box for books is what you should get them.

The Willoughby Book Club is the best book Subscription Box service for variety; you can sign up for different ages of kids books, the best contemporary books (all the best rising book stars), the best cookery, garden, natural history and even couples books. The price for all of these ranges. Check out The Willoughby Book Club

You might think that’s expensive, considering most of the books you’ll be sent are usually worth around £7-£8. But what makes this unique is that the gift is unique to the person you order it for; you tell The Willoughby Book Club what genres of books they like, what they have already, and they’ll hand pick books for them. And let’s be honest, they’re probably a lot more knowledgeable about that kind of thing than you…

Prudence And The Crow are the best book Subscription Box service for vintage books. Tell them the genre you like, eg Science Fiction, and they’ll send you one book a month. Not only that, but you’ll get some lovely little presents alongside it, like tote bags, bookmarks etc.

Check out Prudence And The Crow

Tea and Book Club – If your aim is to revisit the classics of the past rather than picking up the latest novels on the shelves, the Classic of the Month Club box option from Tea and Book Club is ideal. All you need to do is find the perfect place to settle down and start reading, as Bookishly has done all the hard work for you.

The book comes wrapped in an exclusive dust jacket, with a pack of Jenier tea. They also have a Tea/Coffee and Vintage Book Club, where you won’t be the first person to read the book if you love that idea.

The Best Tea And Coffee Subscription Boxes

Coffee subscription boxes seem to be much more common (and affordable) than their tea counterparts in the UK. Either way, I’ve picked out my two favourite coffee subscription services, and one incredible tea subscription service to show you.

The first coffee subscription box is Pact Coffee. I spotted these guys about a year ago when they had some offers on for your first box. When you start the sign-up process they ask you what you make your coffee with normally, then some other questions to find your perfect blend. You can choose to have the same coffee sent weekly or bi-weekly, or to try a different coffee each time.

The London Tea Club asks you multiple questions to find out your ‘flavour profile’, and sends you customised loose leaf tea they think you’ll like. You get enough tea for 6 – 8 cups, or 3 small pots. Check out The London Tea Club

Whittard Tea Club – A Tea Club membership from this well-known luxury brand is a first-class introduction to all things tea. Each month, three different blends of loose-leaf tea arrive on your doorstep, with approximately 6-8 cups per tea. You get a free tea measuring scoop with your primary box. Your subscription automatically renews and you get free postage.

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VITL deliver vitamins and supplements in a format designed with convenience in mind. If your diet has ever suffered as a result of your lifestyle (let’s face it, we’ve all been in that position) then surely having a regular vitamin supplement intake can’t do any harm.

The VITL Nutrition Box (Supplement package) arrives in a beautifully designed package containing 28 x tear-off strips of 4 pills, which are all based on natural ingredients. You’ll get a daily multivitamin, COQ10, Krill Oil and Supergreen antioxidant capsule which certainly saves you having to juggle numerous bottles and varying quantities of pills on a monthly basis. These are available as a one-off, as a monthly or three-monthly subscription with big savings to be had by paying in advance for the quarterly package. Deliveries are made on a monthly basis so you’ll never go a day without.

You can also opt for a VITL greens package, which consists of 19 ‘superfoods’ in a convenient powdered form. These are easily added to food or a drink (I personally think a smoothie would be the best option) and the vegan friendly, high protein formula will appeal to almost everyone from Yogis to bodybuilders. These are available as one off packs of 6, 14 or regular fortnightly deliveries of 14 sachets.

Very convenient, highly recommended. Grab a free 2 week trial here:

Check out VITL

The Goodness Box is full of little guilt-free pleasures and is the perfect gift for a vegan loved one or to treat yourself. Goodness Boxes contain vegan and gluten free food and even lifestyle products. They will offer new and quality healthy alternatives for you to try that are better for your health and are exceptional value for money. They offer three subscription boxes, the classic goodness box, containing healthy snacks for the whole family to enjoy. They also offer the vegan goodness box which includes vegan alternatives to the most popular foods and sources them from the international market so you can try a variety of products. Gluten free goodness boxes offer gluten free alternatives for subscribers to try. This is by-far the most comprehensive healthy eating subscription box on the market.

Lifebox – A great way to discover the latest in healthy food and nutrition, for both those with a long-term healthy lifestyle and those wanting to start out on their journey. There are two choices – the Classic box or the Energy box, depending on your exact aims and requirements.

The products range from snacks and drinks to wellness products, supplements and beauty products. Everything chosen is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, so you can start to live the raw food lifestyle without any effort at all.

Check out Lifebox

MyJackedBox – For all of the gym-obsessed protein powder fans out there, this monthly box contains all of the nutritional good you could want. From protein powders, pre-workouts and fat burners to one premium product per month (such as shakers/apparel or training equipment).

Shipping is always free, and you can cancel the subscription at any time. As with most boxes, the longer you sign up the less you have to pay per month, and the value always exceeds what you pay.

Primal Snack Box – The UK’s first monthly paleo box subscription, with three different boxes to suit your diet. The Savannah, The Forest and the Barrecore Box all contain goodies without grains, soy, gluten, refined sugars and dairy.

You can choose to subscribe, or purchase a one-off box to see what all of the hype is about.

The Best Subscription Service For Flowers

This is one of the best gifts for a loved one in your life, especially for something like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Bunches flower subscription service comes in three tiers; Simply Thoughtful which is a bouquet from the classic value range, Utter Indulgence which is a bit more stunning a bouquet, or Truly Exquisite which is the best you can get.

You can keep the subscription for 3, 6 or 12 months, and it’s a lovely way to remind that special someone how much you love them long after they’ve forgotten about the day you were meant to buy it for! Check out Bunches

Bloom and Wild – Specialising in letterbox flowers, Bloom and Wild send their flowers via Royal Mail’s Tracked service for next day delivery. They are delivered along with all of the rest of your morning post, so you don’t have to wait in all day and you’re ready to make the most of them immediately.

If you’re thinking that flowers in a letterbox-sized box sounds like a very bad idea, don’t be put off. They arrive with no problems at all, so much so that you wouldn’t be able to tell how they got to you. As well as their subscription service, they also offer one-off orders, which is great for any last-minute birthdays or anniversary presents which may have slipped your mind.

Royal Bloom – Want flowers which look like they have come straight out of the most expensive florists in town? The Royal Bloom collection suits its name, with luxury bouquets named after places such as Kensington, Hampton and Eton.

As with Bloom and Wild, the flowers come in a box which is able to fit through 95% of UK letterboxes, so there is no waiting around or ruining a surprise by having to tell a loved one to expect a delivery before it arrives. You can choose monthly or weekly deliveries.

The Best Premium Subscription Box

There were a few choices I was mulling over to win this spot, but I chose Not Another Bill as the best premium subscription box because it’s truly unusual, and the things you’re sent will honestly be a surprise.

You can only sign up to a minimum of 3 months, and if you’re wondering what kinds of things you’ll get, past boxes have included gloves, soaps, cufflinks and more. Check them out on their past box section if you’re curious. Everything they send is about style and quality, so you truly get your moneys worth.

Check out Not Another Bill

Best Alcohol Subscription Box

Bottle in a Box 

No matter what your tipple is, Bottle in a Box has a Gin, Vodka, Whisky and Rum club to choose from.Decide whether you want it monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly, and they build a box with a blend of your chosen drink with some mixers and delicious treats.

The alcohol comes from local microdistilleries and worldwide newbies, so there is a really good chance you’ll have never had it before. Gin is the cheapest option, with whisky the most expensive and vodka and rum falling in between. For what you get, the price is very reasonable.

MicroBar Box

Maybe you’re more of a prosecco person, in which case this box will surely take your fancy. Become a Cocktail Club member, and your boxes will contain a whole host of spirits and mixers to bring you new tastes. There are instructions which will make you feel like you’re a professional mixer, as well as ideas of how to spruce up your cocktail.

Each box contains approximately 8 units of alcohol – enough to get your taste buds tingling and know whether you’ve found your new favourite tipple.

Craft Gin Club 

A full bottle of one of the of the world’s smallest-batch gins, delicious mixers and tonics and tasty treats are all included in every box by the Craft Gin Club. There is also the glossy 36-page in-house ‘Ginned!’ magazine included, so you can stay in the know about the latest industry updates.

The monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly options are all the same price, with the RRP at least £55 meaning you save a fair amount of money.

Abel & Cole Monthly Wine Club

Abel & Cole are best known for their food boxes, featuring fresh vegetables, meat and groceries, but they have ventured into the dedicated subscription box world. Three bottles of organic wine are included, and if there are some in particular you like then you can make them a regular purchase.

You can choose the delivery as a one-off, or every 1, 2, 3, 4 or 8 weeks. The price works out at about the same as you’d pay for three decent bottles of wine in any supermarket or shop.

Flavourly Beer Club 

Discover new craft beers from around the world, with each box put together with your tastes in mind. Hand picked by their team of ‘beer geeks’, you can select a blend of light, dark or both so you always have the beers you love.

If you discover the new beer of your choice, you can reorder it through the Flavourly store. You receive 10 beers with every order, and it works out as cheaper than you’d pay in the pub for them.

Best Subscription Boxes for Mothers, Children & Families

Sassy Bloom is the perfect subscription box gift for soon-to-be or new mothers. They are packed full of personalised baby accessories and gifts for their tot which are age and gender specific to their baby. Sassy Bloom subscription boxes are either a one off box or are delivered every month. Boxes are worth between £40 and £80 and is a great gift for newtime mothers.  Not only that, the Sassy Bloom subscription boxes even extend to kids, offering fun products that the whole family can get involved in.

Fred’s Box is a unique subscription box for children, including custom made figurines that tiny tots can play with and collect. They will send out a one-off gift or monthly subscription boxes to the lucky child who will receive these figurines and a handwritten note ranging from £4.85 to £16.50, depending on your budget. Figurines are suitable to play with other mainstream brands and building blocks and are the perfect gift for the little one in your life.

BKD – For all ‘Buzzy Bees’ out there, this box contains baking and craft kits to keep little ones occupied. Each month has all of the ingredients needed to make the chosen sweet treat, plus recipe cards, craft materials and an activity book.

The boxes are personalised, so even though it is the grown ups doing the ordering and buying, it is the little bakers who get the post. There are 1, 3, 6 and 12 month plans available, and they renew automatically.

Geo Journey – For the ages of 4-10, this box promises ‘Big Adventures for Little Explorers’. It is designed to teach them about the world in a fun way, learning about a new country every month as Geo the owl and Atlas the puppy send them letters, photos and souvenirs to tell your child about their travels.

A 1, 6 month and 12 month option is available.

MamaMe – Catered specifically towards mums, this box ensures you receive a minimum of five treats every month, all beautiful, fun and practical. They are curated to help you enjoy a bit of ‘me’ time away from the everyday strains of mum life, including things such as beauty care, books and edible bites.

You can choose a one-off, 3, 6 or 12 month subscription, and boxes are always worth £40+ RRP.

Art and Stationery Subscription Boxes

Scrawlrbox – The monthly art supplies box which provides creatives with the best pick of premium products. Each box contains a selection of mystery supplies, as well as a write up of how to use them, a featured artist print and a few extra bits and pieces to keep you sweet.

Crafty Creatives – Love crafting but running out of things to actually make? With this box, you get a guide on a product you can make (be it mosaics, needle felting, jewellery or a christmas wreath), and all the products needed.

Under The Rowan Trees – Quality products and well-curated monthly themes mean this box is a must for all stationery lovers out there. Each box supports small businesses and artists, so you are doing your bit to help them along and help them grow. If you want quirky stationery that you wouldn’t be able to find on the high street, Under The Rowan Trees is a great pick.

Papergang – If you love your art and stationery but haven’t seen Ohh Deer yet, take a look at their wonderful range of products. Their subscription box, Papergang, sends you exclusive stationery and desk accessories every month.

They work with a different artist for every single box so you can guarantee something very different to last months items, and for every four boxes sold they plant one tree. So, there is no doubting your subscription is not only doing your work desk but also the planet a whole lot of good.

SEE MORE: 19 Unusual Mother’s Day Ideas You Haven’t Considered >>

Pictures: Kaboompics