Subscription boxes: 10 of the best

(Image credit: Seed Pantry)

published 11 December 2019

There is something really exciting about receiving a subscription box through the post, particularly when it's full of treats. Whether you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift this year for that special someone in your life or just want to find yourself the perfect gift to lift up your day, whether you're a gardener, a baker or a looking to discover a new hobby – we've got the ideal subscription box for you.

If you're looking for some more Christmas ideas, take a look at our other gift guides.

1. A subscription box for stationery fanatics

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If you love pens, paper, Post-Its and all things stationery then Papergang is the perfect box for you. Each month's edition is designed by a different independent artist, giving each month a completely unique style! Papergang also partners with a few different charities each year, most recently raising money for the mental health charity The Blurt Foundation.

Papergang also working with a developmental charity called Tree Aid to help plant trees (one for every four boxes sold), protect the environment and reduce poverty in the drylands of Africa. This month’s box is designed by Amy Lesko with a Groovy-Kawaii theme!

Get your first Papergang Subscription Box for just £14 at Cratejoy

2. A subscription box to delight fans of the past

The Period Living team loves all things vintage and the idea of being able to add to our collection of vintage teacups each month sounds brilliant. Vintage Teatime has combined adorable vintage china tea-cups and saucers, with a selection of teas, biscuits and a good book to help you get a bit more of that all important 'me-time'.

Start building a collection of eclectic vintage china cups, saucers and plates month by month, perfect for displaying in your vintage-inspired dresser or using every day.

Vintage Teatime Subscription Boxes start from £14.99 at Vintage Teatime.

3. A subscription gift interior lovers will cherish

Period Living Christmas Gift Box is the perfect treat for you or a friend

If you don't want to pay for a rolling subscription box but still want a treat box delivered to your door then the limited-edition deluxe Period Living gift box is the perfect solution.

The beautifully presented box includes a recent issue of Period Living, an English Gardens bookazine, Annie Sloan paintbrushes and the iconic polka dot Emma Bridgewater mug, all worth over £42.

Pick up the Period Living Gift Box for just £29.99 this Christmas.

4. Unleash their inner creativity with a crafty subscription box

Inside the needlefelting craftiosity box

If you love creativity and trying new crafts, or want to delight your favourite crafter, then Craftiosity is the perfect subscription box. Each box includes all the tools and supplies you need to discover a new craft.

Previous boxes have included everything from book-binding and linocut print cards to needle-felted birds and clay candle holders. It's a great way to discover a new hobby!

Gift a Craftiosity Subscription Box for just £22.95, from Craftiosity.

5. Give the green-fingered a house plant subscription

We all know that house plants are a positive addition to your home. Bloombox's Classic Subscription enables you to create your own green oasis at home. With each box, receive a surprise plant, a carefully curated ceramic 12cm or 14cm pot and a care card to make your green friend as comfortable as possible in their new home.

Get the Bloombox Classic Subscription for £25 from Bloombox.

Find out everything you need to know about keeping house plants with our helpful guide

6. Great gifts for gardeners? A seed subscription box

The perfect gift for novice and expert gardeners, Seed Pantry's Grow Club lets you pick from a selection of food and flower seeds all in tune with the seasons, helping you to get your garden flourishing.

The box also includes expert 'How to' Grow Guides to ensure even beginners can have an abundant garden. It is the perfect gift for everyone wanting to grow food and flowers, create green spaces, learn to grow, try new plants available on the market and keep up with the latest gardening trends, along with great savings too!

Join The Grow Club for £12.99 per month, at Seed Pantry.

7. Know someone who needs to unwind? Treat them to candles

Often the signal of a cosy evening in, lighting a candle is one of life's little luxuries. Founded by Gemma Beeston and Doug Perry, Iggy Box celebrates natural candles and the effects they can have on your health and wellbeing.

Partnered with UK-based artisan candle makers who only use natural ingredients and essential oils, ensuring no nasties, toxins or chemicals, Iggy Box delivers a fruity, floral or a surprise scented candle straight to your door. Customers can choose from 'The Little One' which has a burn time of 20+ hours or 'The Bigger One' which has a burn time of 35+ hours.

Prices start from £12.95 per a month for 'The Little One' and each box is delivered with the candle, care and instruction card, information on the candle and its maker, as well as branded matchsticks.

8. Give bookworms a subscription box to encourage their habit

Classic of the Month Club Book Subscription

The ideal gift for bookworms or anyone whose New Year's resolution is to read more, Bookishly Editions' monthly subscription box is the perfect way to treat yourself or your friends.

This unique book subscription features literature’s best loved classics, with exclusively designed dust jackets and a packet of luxury coffee or delicious themed tea.

Subscribe to three months of the Classic of the Month Book Subscription for just £39 at Bookishly.

9. A subscription box for star bakers

There's nothing better than a freshly baked sweet treat straight out of the oven. BakedIn has created a time saving baking kit that still gave the full baking from scratch experience but with a little less hassle.

Each month, a delicious and easy to follow recipe, created by Michel Roux, one of the world’s finest pastry chefs, and all the dry ingredients you will need perfectly weighed out plus a few handy extras, arrives at your door, ready to be transformed into a sweet treat. As everyone loves the surprise element of opening the kit, the brand new recipes are a total surprise until they land on your doormat!

Fill you kitchen with tasty treats from just £7.50 per month, thanks to the Bakedin Baking Subscription Box. Cost includes free UK delivery when you take out the 12 month pre-paid option.

10. A subscription box perfect for the eco-warrior and nature-lover

We all know we need to do more to save the planet, from reducing our plastic waste to saving the bees. Nectar & Bumble are here to help, as their name suggests they were created out of a love and passion for bees. Their monthly box is filled with bee based products, from stationery, natural skincare, candles, jewellery, to sweet treats and more, with the aim to raise awareness of the plight of the bees.

It also supports brands who donate to bee charities and conservations as well as donating 10% of its own profits to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Subscribe to the Nectar & Bumble Bee Theme Subscription Box for jut £20 per month.

More Christmas ideas:

Holly is Sub-editor and Features Writer for Period Living. She is busy putting her stamp on a pre-furnished flat by making cushions and upcycling second-hand finds.