How to Pick the Perfect Festive Gift for Someone You've Just Met

Buying for your best friend is easy. Buying for the colleague who started in September, the neighbour who took in your parcel or the person you've been on three dates with? That's harder. Spend too much and it's awkward. Go too generic and it looks like you grabbed the first thing at the till.

Our Christmas gift experiences take the guesswork out. Rather than guessing their size, taste or perfume, you give them a couple of hours doing something fun. Even better, you can book one for yourself and go together. Below, we've broken down how to pick a festive gift for someone you've just met, recipient by recipient, with classes across the UK to suit every budget.

Why an experience works when you don't know them well

• You don't need to know their taste. Most classes are beginner-friendly and appeal to almost anyone.
• It feels thoughtful without being too personal. A pottery taster says "I thought of you" without the pressure of a pricey jumper.
• It supports local makers. Most ClassBento teachers run their own small studios, so your money goes straight to independent artists.
• It's easy to get right. If you're stuck on a festive gift for someone you've just met, a gift card lets them choose for themselves.

For new friends

• Keep it low-key and low-cost. A short taster class says "let's hang out" without feeling over the top.
• Pick something you can do together. Booking two places turns the gift into your next catch-up.
• Go for a skill neither of you has tried. Being equally rubbish at something new is a great way to bond.

Our picks:

• Pottery throwing taster class, Park Royal, London NW10 (£33pp). In one hour at Blanc Ceramic's new, bigger and brighter studio near North Acton, they'll throw a bowl, cup or vase on the wheel. The studio has plenty of extra equipment and a 5.0 rating from 550+ reviews.
• Bendy boy candle making workshop, Vauxhall or Spitalfields, London (£40pp). They'll twist and paint five wonky dinner candles.
• Mini wreath making workshop, Kelvin Street, Manchester (£25–35pp). They'll make up to three mini candle wreaths for the festive table.

For someone you've just started dating

• Make it a date, not just a present. A class for two gives you something fun to do on your next evening out.
• Choose something sociable. Tastings and cooking classes leave plenty of room to chat.
• Don't overspend. A shared experience feels thoughtful without the pressure of an expensive gift.

Our picks:

• Sake tasting masterclass with cocktails, Hackney, London (£40pp). You'll taste sakes and sake cocktails at La Bibliotheque on Kingsland Road.
• Spanish foodie experience on a boat, Canary Wharf, London (£85–90pp). You'll cook paella and tortilla together on a Dutch houseboat.
• Christmas calligraphy workshop, New Town, Edinburgh (£45pp). You'll each personalise three glass baubles, ready for your first tree together (or your own).

For new faces at work

• Stick to the Secret Santa budget. Most office budgets sit around £15–30, and there are classes in that range.
• Keep it neutral. Crafts and food are safe bets for someone whose tastes you don't know yet.
• A gift card is always welcome. If you're unsure, it lets them choose something for the new year.

Our picks:

• Bookbinding taster workshop: saddle stitch notebooks, Deptford, London (£15pp). They'll make two handmade notebooks, which are handy for the office.
• Lino cutting and printing workshop: Christmas gnome, Quinton, Birmingham (£18pp). They'll carve a festive stamp for cards and wrapping paper.
• Make a fabric Christmas star workshop, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh (£30pp). They'll make a no-sew star from fabric offcuts.

For new neighbours

• Think local. Choose a class close to home so it's easy for them to get to.
• Pick something for the house. A plant or a wreath suits someone who's just moved in.
• Add a personal touch. A handwritten card with a "welcome to the street" note goes a long way.

Our picks:

• Kokedama plant workshop, Edgbaston, Birmingham (£42pp). They'll make a moss ball plant for their new windowsill.
• Christmas wreath workshop, Mere Green, Birmingham (£25pp). They'll make a dried floral wreath for their new front door.
• Willow winter wreath, garland and crown making workshop, Lesnes Abbey Woods, near Abbey Wood (£40pp). They'll weave willow by a woodland fire, which is a lovely welcome to south-east London.

Suggested experiences

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For your new partner's family

• Go classic, not quirky. First impressions count, so stick to something most people would enjoy.
• Choose something they'll keep or use. Candles, chocolates and tea all go down well.
• Consider a gift for the whole household. A class for two makes a thoughtful present for a couple.

Our picks:

• Aromatherapy candle making class, Whitechapel, London (£47pp). They'll blend essential oils into their own candle.
• Chocolate truffles making class, Salford, Greater Manchester (£48pp). They'll hand-roll truffles to share.
• Tea blending workshop, Park Street, Bristol (£45pp). They'll create three signature tea blends with Bird & Blend.

For new housemates

• Pick something you can all do. A group class is the quickest way to feel like a household.
• Food always works. Everyone eats, and you'll all have a skill for future dinner nights.
• Keep it cheap and cheerful. Split the cost and it's a festive night out for the whole house.

Our picks:

• Indoor pizza oven experience, Holloway, London (£42pp). You'll make pizza from scratch and take home extra dough.
• Pints and pottery: clay workshop, central Manchester (£25pp). You'll sculpt air-dry clay in a brewery taproom.

For someone new to the city

• Help them explore. A walking or market class shows them a part of town they might not find alone.
• Introduce them to local makers. Small, independent studios are where they'll find the city's character.
• Offer to go with them. It's a friendly way to say "welcome" and help them feel at home.

Our picks:

• Smartphone photography class: London Bridge, London Bridge (£55pp). They'll learn to shoot the city on their phone while seeing the sights.
• The Secret Beer Mile: craft beer tasting experience, Bermondsey, London (£26pp). They'll discover the brewery taprooms hidden under the railway arches.
• Pressed flower Christmas decoration workshop, Easton, Bristol (£39pp). They'll make stained glass decorations with a local artist.

Which festive gift suits them?

Still unsure? Use this table to find the perfect festive gift for someone you've just met.

Make a great first impression this Christmas

You don't need to know someone well to give them something they'll love. A festive gift for someone you've just met works best when it's fun, low-pressure and easy to share. A class does all three, whether it's a pottery taster in Park Royal, a wreath in Mere Green or a craft beer crawl in Bermondsey. Pick a class from the list, or send a ClassBento gift card. It's emailed instantly, lasts three years and lets them choose from 17,000+ experiences.