The closure of non-essential shops in Tier 4 regions has left many Christmas shoppers scrambling for last-minute gifts.
Click-and-collect and online shopping are still available for some but with order deadlines fast approaching – and the Royal Mail and courier services under strain – there will be many facing the prospect of their presents not arriving on time.
Fortunately essential shops like hardware stores, supermarkets and chemists are still open and offer up a surprisingly good selection of gifts, meaning there is still a way to browse and buy presents in person.
FEMAIL has scoured the high street stores still open to find the best hidden gems on offer.
Highlights include Dobbies, Britain’s largest chain of garden centres, which has everything from Joules clothing to cocktail makers, in addition to the expected tools and planting accessories. Meanwhile Halfords has a fantastic selection of scooters, ride on toys and cycling accessories to suit a range of budgets.
Here, a selection of our favourite finds – although its best to check whether the items are available in your local store before heading out to shop.
BOOTS
Beauty lovers paradise: Forget the department store beauty counters, there are plenty of big name makeup and skincare brands on offer at your local Boots.
Highlights: Makeup, skincare gift sets, children’s bath toys
Opening hours: Open until Christmas Eve. Check local store for details
Forget the department store beauty counters, there are big name makeup, skincare and fragrance brands on offer at your local Boots, as well as a surprising number of children’s gifts. For beauty and skincare lovers there is the Estée Lauder Glam & Repair Collection Gift Set (£37), Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Rosé Cheeks (£24) and the ever popular Olay Total Effects Anti-Ageing 7in1 Day Moisturiser (£9.99). For the man in your life there is the Nivea Men Shave Duo Kit (£8.50) and Paco Rabanne 1 Million For Men Eau de Toilette, 100ml (£69). There are also practical gifts like electric toothbrushes and beauty mirrors if the person in your life prefers a present they can use.
DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRES
Unexpected delights: Dobbies, Britain’s largest garden centre chain, offers everything from barware to family games that you can pick up while stocking up on gardening supplies
Highlights: Family games, hampers
Opening hours: Varies from store to store. Close at 5pm on Christmas Eve
Swing by to pick up your gardening essentials and stock up on Christmas presents at the same time. Dobbies boasts a range of gifts that goes far beyond a new shrub, plant or garden tools. Games like the Roma Folding Football Table (£159.99) and the Pointless Mini Game (£7.99) will bring the whole family together, while cocktail lovers will love the cool, copper-inspired barware on offer. There are also mouth-watering hampers that make gifts for amateur chefs – or those who simply want something festive to nibble on.
HALFORDS
Must-have gifts: Scooters are one of this year’s most popular presents and there are plenty on offer at Halfords, in addition to ride-on toys for children and cycling accessories
Highlights: Scooters, cycling accessories, ride on children’s toys
Opening hours: Halfords will be open until 5pm on Christmas Eve
If there is a cyclist in your life then Halfords is the obvious choice, but the retailer offers so much else, including ride on cars like the Thomas & Friends Engine Ride On (£32.99) and the Paw Patrol My First Ride On (£22). Scooters are one of the must-have gifts of the year and there are children’s and adults versions available at Halfords. There are also lots of cycling and driving accessories, from dash cams to helmets.
MARKS & SPENCER
Highlights: Men’s clothing, women’s clothing, wrapping paper
Opening hours: Some stores operating extended hours, open until midnight 21-23 December. Check your local store for details
In addition to M&S Food stores, Marks & Spencer shops containing food halls remain open. Some of them have kept a floor of the shop open to allow customers to reach the Food Hall, which means there is also the opportunity to buy non-food products like clothing and homeware. Products available will depend on the layout of the store but it will likely have a selection of homeware trinkets as well as clothing.
THE RANGE
Highlights: Home furnishings and accessories
Opening hours: Open on Christmas Eve, check your local store for details.
The Range divided opinion when it revealed it was staying open during lockdown, with some claiming the retailer should not be classed as ‘essential’. However it stayed open and has decided to keep all 180 stores open under the tighter restrictions. The Range is packed with great Christmas gift ideas, particularly for first-time homeowners or people who appreciate little touches for the home. Favourites include an Anala Elephant Geo Cushion (£6.99) and a selection of wall art and prints, with prices starting at just 40p.
ROBERT DYAS
Not just hardware! Robert Dyas has a great selection of toys, as well as gifts for the home
Highlights: Children’s toys, trendy kitchenware, household electronics
Opening hours: Check your local store
Robert Dyas is best known for hardware and DIY essentials, but the retailer also has plenty of options for Christmas presents. Children’s toys including a Smoke Breathing Dragon (£14.99), Frankie the Funky Flamingo (£19.99) and a Maisto 1:14 Remote Control Police Car (£37.99) all make great last-minute gifts for your little ones. For the adults in your life there is the trendy Goodmans Oxford DAB & FM Radio (£53.99), the Nespresso Vertuo Krups Coffee Machine (£189.99) and the Bamboo & Marble Cheeseboard Set (£9.99).
SAINSBURY’S
Big name brands: In addition to own label Tu, Sainsbury’s has big name brands like FatFace
Highlights: Women’s clothing, gifts for teenagers, FatFace favourites
Opening hours: Extended opening hours of 6am-midnight from 21-23 December. Open 6am-7pm Christmas Eve. Check local store for details
In the bigger Sainsbury’s stores, there are great finds from the supermarket’s own brand lifestyle label, Tu. Fashionistas will love stylish clothing like the Black & Gold Front Woven Top (£14) and the Black Strap Detail Chelsea Boots (£25). Sainsbury’s also carries other big name brands like FatFace and VILA, so it is definitely worth having a look. Children are well taken care of too, with clothing available for everyone from newborn babies to difficult to buy for teenagers.
TESCO
The little extras: Tesco is great for stocking fillers, as well as video games and cookbooks
Highlights: Cookbooks, stocking fillers, video games
Opening hours: Check local store for details. Most Tesco Extra, Superstore and Metro stores will close at 7pm on Christmas Eve. Express stores will shot at at 10pm.
Of course there are the groceries, but larger Tesco stores also offer a wide selection of good quality gifts that would go down a treat on Christmas morning. Tesco has stocking fillers galore like tubs of Play Doh (75p), Waddingtons No1 Playing Cards (£1.80) and Vtech Toot Toot Drivers (£7.20) that will provide hours of fun. Gamers will enjoy must-have titles like Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold War for XBox One (£54.95) and Fifa 21 on PS4 (£35). Meanwhile foodies will be delighted with the selection of cookbooks, with best-sellers like Pinch of Nom: Everyday Light (£10) and Jamie Oliver: Seven Ways (£12) available.