If you’re someone who likes to plan ahead and stay organised, you have likely already done most of your Christmas shopping, with gifts wrapped and exchanged. However, if you’re realising that, somehow, we’re already 2 weeks into December and there’s an increasing sense of panic over what to get for people, this gift guide is for you.
Perhaps you’ve got a loved one that’s tricky to buy for, or a work Secret Santa where you don’t want to gift ‘bath stuff’ for the third year in a row. If you’re looking to buy a present for a Geographer/Analyst/GIS geek but struggling for ideas, check out this list of 10 great gifts!
1. Books
Books about maps, geography, and travel are usually good options to go for, though you might want to subtly check that they don’t already have a copy!
- Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall (£9.99)
- The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall (£9.99)
- Atlas of the Invisible by James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti (£25)
- Lonely Planet: Best Road Trips Europe (£17.99)
- Lonely Planet: Food Trails (£19.99)
- Lonely Planet: Epic Hikes of the World (£24.99)
2. Maps
Maps make great gifts – they can be personalised, memorable, and displayed as art prints! Map-related gifts I’ve given in the past include city underground style maps, a map of the Yorkshire three peaks with trek date and completion time, and a flight routes world map!
Other great ideas include:
- Scratch Maps! There are so many scratch map options now by the official brand, but the Scratch Map® Original is available from £20.95
- You can create custom-made, personalised maps from The Ordnance Survey
3. Eco Friendly Gifts
If your friend/colleague/loved one is very environmentally conscious, these eco-friendly gifts are a great way to go.
- Tote bags (great for shopping) – with so many options, Etsy might be your best option here, such as this London map tote bag (they do lots of other cities too!) from £10.49
- Metal straws – lots of supermarkets and shops sell these; here are some from Amazon (£3.99 for a set of 8 with 2 cleaning brushes)
- Coffee cups – Black and White Cork Keep Cup from WWF (£24)
- Water bottle – lots of great options available at Wearth London
4. Clothing
Either to keep warm during these cold winter days, or to brighten up your work outfit, here are some clothing gift options:
- Hats – I own 2 of these OutsideIn hats already! At £24 each, for every one you buy they donate a Thermal Beanie to someone experiencing homelessness.
- Socks – there’s nothing like a pair of fun festive socks to brighten up your outfit, or perhaps a pair of thick fluffy socks to stay warm and cosy. Next often have a great selection, such as these Fairisle Pattern socks for men (£20) or these Thermal Wool Blend Ankle Socks for women (£14)
- Whilst you’re on the Next website, there are a great selection of plain and patterned ties, great for a smart work outfit or Christmas event.
5. Planners and Notebook
If you know someone who always likes to write things down or be organised for the year ahead, then a nice planner, notebook, or journal is a fantastic thoughtful gift.
- WHSmith have hundreds of diaries, planners, and journals, such as this 12 Month Travel Themed Weekly Diary (£12.99)
- Paperchase is another great shop with some lovely designs, including the Agenzio Wild Waves Notebook (£12)
- The Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change (£27) is perfect for someone who wants to introduce more gratitude and personal growth into their lives through daily guided journaling
6. Coffee Lovers Gifts
Take your friend’s/colleague’s coffee obsession to the next level with these gift ideas:
- Portable Espresso Maker, like this WACACO Minipresso on Amazon (£55.90), perfect for a mid-hike refreshment or when camping
- Coffee subscriptions – there are lots of great ones out there for the coffee connoisseurs among us, and Batch Coffee Club have compiled this list of 23 Best Coffee Subscriptions to help you decide
- Espresso cups are lovely little gifts to make the morning coffee a touch more enjoyable, like this ceramic set of two from Etsy (£15.50)
7. Christmas Decorations
Ornaments and decorations can make love stocking fillers or secret Santa gifts.
- Gold Planet Earth Bauble from Stanfords £5.99
- Hanging Ceramic Map Decoration from Etsy (from £12) available as a star, circle, or heart, this would make a lovely personal gift since you add the specific map location
- If you feel like getting crafty, here are some map Christmas decorations you can make (or even to create wrapping paper & tags for your other gifts) from the Ordnance Survey
8. Travel Accessories
Chances are, lots of people are already thinking about their next holiday away to escape the cold, dark gloom of winter. Get ahead of the game with these geography-inspired travel accessories:
- World Map Luggage Tag (£5.99) and matching Travel Card Holder (£5.99) from Stanfords
- Stitch Your Passport and Luggage Tag set from Letteroom (£19.95)
- Silva Pocket Compass (£10.99) from Ordnance Survey
9. Board Games & Puzzles
There are so many board games and puzzles to choose from nowadays, such as Chess, Dobble, Flags of World, and so on. Whether its a relaxing (if at times difficult) jigsaw puzzle or a competitive game among friends, here are just a few ideas:
- Mapominoes – they have so many editions out now, but here’s the Mapominoes Europe edition for £8.49
- Again there are lots of editions of this game now, but you just can’t beat Monopoly Classic (£14.99)
- Jigsaw puzzle – this Gibsons Wanderlust Jigsaw Puzzle (£15.99) from John Lewis would make a lovely gift for a geographer
10. Work Accessories
Finally we’ve reached number 10, with some great little ideas to improve your friend’s/colleague’s desk setup or make working from home even better!
- As a more practical gift, this Wireless Ergonomic Mouse (£19.99) on Amazon to help those that spend long hours at their computer
- These Personalised Location Map Coasters (£14) from Pushka Home would be a great thoughtful gift to keep on your desk
- A super soft Teddy Hot Water Bottle (£7) from Dunelm will keep your WFH friends/colleagues toasty during these colder months
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