Christmas gifts for grandparents

By the Great Gifts team · Updated 5 October 2026

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A grandmother in a Santa hat smiling with her grandson by a Christmas tree

Ask most grandparents what they want for Christmas and they’ll say “just to see everyone”. Take that literally: the best gifts for grandparents are about the family — photos, time, and things the grandchildren have made.

A Christmas star certificate, “The Family Star”, framed among fairy lights and pine

We make this

A star named for Nan and Grandad

Name a real star. A heartfelt gift they’ll cherish forever. Our sister company, The Star Naming Co., dedicates a real catalogued star to the name you choose — “Nan & Grandad’s Star” works beautifully — with a certificate for the mantelpiece, a sky chart and a live viewer the grandchildren can use to find it. It’s symbolic rather than official, and a lovely thing to give from the whole family.

£9.99 delivered in minutes, or £19.99 as a printed Gift Pack posted free in the UK.

See Christmas stars

From the grandchildren

Handprints and drawings, made permanent

Turn a child’s drawing into a printed mug, tea towel or cushion; frame a set of handprints with the date. Grandparents keep these for decades.

Handprint frame kits on Amazon · Drawing-to-mug gifts on Etsy

A digital photo frame, preloaded

Load it with photos before you wrap it, and set it up so the family can add new ones from their phones. It turns into a constant stream of the grandchildren — with no technology for them to manage.

Browse Wi-Fi photo frames on Amazon

Keepsakes for the family story

A “Grandma, tell me your story” journal

A guided book of questions about their childhood, how they met, what life was like. Give it with a promise to sit down together and fill it in over the year — the conversations are half the gift.

Browse grandparent memory journals on Amazon

A family tree, framed

Research a few generations back with the help of the grandparents themselves, then have it designed and framed. It’s a project that brings everyone together.

Family tree prints on Etsy

The gift of time

A monthly date: twelve envelopes, each with an outing — lunch, a garden centre, a film — with a grandchild.
Practical help: a day of gardening, decorating or sorting the loft, done for them.
A family video call set up properly: a tablet with everyone’s contacts ready, and a lesson in how to use it.

If they’re living apart from family

Things that arrive regularly bring the family to them: a monthly letter from the grandchildren, flowers every few weeks, or a subscription to something they love. A gift that keeps arriving says “we’re thinking of you” all year.