Rawk R1 retro drop through complete longboard
Okay, so skating nonchalantly through a park in Guildford isn't quite going to match riding one of these along Venice Beach. But still — very cool.
£79.99, Skatehut — www.skatehut.co.uk
Animambo piano
I think we all know that dad/mum/uncle/aunt/grandma etc will be just as excited to have a go on this as little Jemima. But who knows what you might start by planting this musical seed at an early age?
£69.98, Djeco — www.tickety-boo.co.uk
Personalised Baghera silver ride-on aeroplane
It's a truth universally acknowledged that nothing is as fun as a ride-on, particularly when motored up and down granny's hallway by a toddler fuelled by over-tiredness and chocolate decorations snuck from the tree.
£150, My 1st Years — www.my1styears.com
NASA lava lamp
NASA's recent Artemis launch means space hasn't been more fascinating for decades.
£34.99, Thumbsup — www.thumbsup.com
Hedgehog book cart
Kids really do love this sort of thing. Just don't expect it to be used for books: presents, pets and even baby siblings are bound to end up in this thing.
£48, Great Little Trading Co — www.gltc.co.uk
Red wooden cash register
Let's be clear: in our near-cashless society, and in an era of barcodes which means that cashiers probably key in numbers less than twice a month, your little ones will still get a kick out of playing with this.
£24.95, Le Toy Van — www.letoyvan.co.uk
Lion basket
This probably our favourite thing on the entire list.
£49.99, Bellybambino at Scandi Born — www.scandiborn.co.uk
Spaceman musical box
The happiest astronaut in the galaxy, and he plays on demand!
Childhood Classics read by Alan Bennett
The Wind in the Willows; Alice in Wonderland; Through the Looking Glass; Winnie-the-Pooh; and The House at Pooh Corner, all read by the great Alan Bennett. Perfect for long car journeys to see relatives over the holidays - available as a CD or download.
Childhood Classics read by Alan Bennett, £23.95 – click here to buy.
Dinosaur monopoly
Yes, it's the same old board game. Yes, umpteen million different versions are already available. But for dino-mad kids, this set (made with the Natural History Museum) is fabulous – they also have dinosaur Guess Who and Operation.
Dinosaur monopoly, £35 – click here to buy.
The Beatrix Potter collection
This beautiful gift box contains all 23 original Peter Rabbit books by Beatrix Potter. Each tale is presented in its iconic white jacket and features a publisher's note describing how the story came to be.
The Beatrix Potter collection, £33.99 – click here to buy.
Jungle Friends wallpaper mural
We're not sure if this is for the kids or the parents... but if you're planning redecorating a nursery, it's irresistible.
Jungle Friends wallpaper mural, £39 per sq m – click here to buy.
The Snowman
Made by the iconic Steiff company – made from white cuddly soft plush and is fully jointed and has a big long black mouth and is designed with black shiny eyes and matching three buttons on his tummy.
The Snowman, £59.99 – click here to buy.
Handmade wooden Noah's Ark set
This lovely Noah’s Ark has the usual pairs of animals including giraffes, zebras... but they've thrown a curve ball by — curiously — including dolphins, who we didn't really think would have been too badly affected by The Flood. There's even a little dove to go and find an olive branch.
Handmade wooden Noah's Ark set, £90 – click here to buy.
Oak and Rope Company garden swing
Other names are available.
Oak and Rope Company garden swing, from £245 – click here to buy.
Sumptuous Christmas gifts for foodies, from a chocolate library to a £6,000 hamper
After something special for a person who really appreciates their food? Our suggestions are certain to have something that's just
Christmas gifts for ladies to inspire, delight and entertain
From £50 to £1,280, we've selected some lovely items to help you find the perfect present.
Christmas gifts for men, from beautiful boxers to a classic cocktail shaker
For the man in your life, we've all sorts of things – from simple gadgets to truly magnificent things.
Christmas gifts for nature and garden lovers
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‘To this day, it is as attractive as when Hercules first laid eyes on it’: How to escape the crowds on the Amalfi Coast, according to those in the knowThe Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s most famed holiday destinations, but, in recent years, mass tourism has made parts of it unbearable. Here’s our guide to making the most of it — in peace and in style.
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The garden created by a forgotten genius of the 1920s, rescued from 'a sorry state of neglect to a level of quality it has not known for over 50 years'George Dillistone’s original Arts-and-Crafts design at Knowle House, East Sussex, has been lovingly restored and updated with contemporary planting. George Plumptre tells more; photography by Clive Nichols.
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‘They remain, really, the property of all of those who love them, know them, and tell them. They are our stories, the inheritance of the people of Scotland’: The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales -
‘The perfect hostess, he called her’: A five minute guide to Virgina Woolf’s ‘Mrs Dalloway’To mark its centenary, Lotte Brundle delves into the lauded writer’s strange and poignant classic, set across a single summer’s day in 1920’s London.
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The five minute guide to 'The Great Gatsby', a century on from its publication'The Great Gatsby' sold poorly the year it was published, but, in the following century, it went on to become a cornerstone of world literature.
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When London was beginning to establish itself as modern cultural powerhouse: The 1980s according to David BaileyIn his new book ‘Eighties Bailey’, ‘era-defining’ photographer David Bailey explores a time when London and the UK were at the centre of the fashion, art and publishing worlds.
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The life and times of P. G. Wodehouse, 50 years on from his deathBertie Wooster, Jeeves, Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set: P. G. Wodehouse’s creations made him one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century, but he was denounced as a traitor and a Nazi.
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Christmas gift ideas for childrenFrom adorable booties and cardigans to toys that will keep tiny tots entertained for hours.
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Seven perfect Christmas gifts for people who just love beautiful, functional thingsWilliam Morris famously said to have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. These things do their best to hit both targets.
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Christmas gift ideas for ladiesFrom mothers and sisters to wives and girlfriends, these gifts are sure to bring a smile to the face of the special lady in your life.
