Scrambling around for last-minute Christmas gifts? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our rundown of the best last-minute gift ideas. Everything from food & drink to literature, fashion, and one-of-a-kind presents you’ll only find in Norwich.
Food & Drink
There’s one gift you can always rely on when you can’t think of anything else to buy – and that’s some good quality food or drink. For the person who has everything or is a bit difficult to buy for, you can’t go wrong with some great local goodies! At The Goat Shed at Fielding Cottage you can buy a smorgasbord of local produce to build your own hamper or you can buy hampers already made up. The same can be done at Jarrold and Norwich Market. Think delicious jams and chutneys, local cheese, cured meats, and artisan chocolates. And if you’re looking for something a little stronger, The English Whisky Company have an amazing range of award-winning single malt whiskies to choose from. Or try Gyre & Gimble for the Gin-enthusiast in your life.
Bread Source
Gifts unique to Norwich
This Christmas, many of us are doing our bit and supporting independent businesses as much as we can. So why not treat a loved one to a gift that can only be found on the streets of Norwich? The Bear Shop on Elm Hill has a huge choice of unique handmade teddy bears – big and small, for children and the young at heart. And in a year where we’ve all missed out on hugging our loved ones, a soft cuddly toy isn’t a bad alternative! If you’re looking for something with a little wow-factor, we’d recommend Sonkai. Their stunning range of hand-crafted earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings make for a truly beautiful Christmas gift. We’d also recommend checking out The South Asia Collection, which is home to stunning oriental rugs, hand printed tables, bedlinen, and clothing from South Asian designers. The building itself is stunning too – think Liberty in London!
South Asia Collection
Looking for more unique Norwich gifts? Check out our guide to the best independent stores in the city
Fashion
Okay, so buying last-minute fashion gifts might sound like a daunting task. But with so many amazing designer stores and unique independent brands on offer in Norwich, you’ll soon find what you’re looking for! Head to Philip Browne for the best in hard-to-find menswear. They’ve got everything from Maison Margiela to Fred Perry and Vivienne Westwood, as well as an incredible range of men’s trainers. Norwich is also home to brilliant menswear stores like Dogfish (stocking big brands like OBEY and Adidas), and The Drug Store. We’d also recommend: Ginger for high-end women’s clothing, Flicka for new-borns and toddlers, Lady B Loves for vintage pieces, and Main Source for limited-edition sneakers and apparel. You can also enjoy high street favourites at our two major shopping centres, Chantry Place and Castle Quarter.
Drug Store
Discover shopping in Norwich
Music
Norwich is renowned for its thriving music scene, with incredible music venues and events, and a history of welcoming artists such as Oasis, Nirvana, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran. It should come as no surprise then, that Norwich is home to some amazing music stores. Soundclash on St Benedicts street specialises in new releases, independent, and underground music from around the world on vinyl and CD. Everything from indie rock, techno, and Ska, through to rhythm & blues, funk, and Motown. You’re sure to find plenty of gems hidden amongst the racks! And if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, check out Circular Sounds, Fine City Sounds, or Press to Play.
Soundclash
Literature
As the City of Stories, and the UK’s first UNESCO City of Literature, we’d be wrong not to mention books! Norwich has a rich literary history and is home to many award-winning authors and poets, as well as plenty of beautiful bookstores. The Book Hive is a firm favourite amongst residents, and Stephen Fry even referred to it as “the kind of place I dreamt of existing in Norwich when I was growing up”! This truly is a book-lovers paradise, stocking everything from cookery books and guides, to fiction, autobiography’s, and the best in Children’s literature. If you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, The Book Hive have a great range of hand-picked book packs, as well as book vouchers, and monthly memberships which make for the perfect Christmas gift. We’d also recommend Bookbugs & Dragon Tales for amazing books for kids, Tombland Bookshops for hidden gems, and Dormouse for hard-to-find reads.
Bookbugs & Dragon Tales
