The best Valentine's Day gifts 2018: great ideas for her and for him

If chocolates and a bunch of supermarket flowers aren’t going to cut the mustard this year, or you fancy spoiling your better half (or yourself), there’s a host of techie treats, unforgettable experiences and luxurious pressies out there that are perfect for Valentine’s Day. 

Instead of a soppy cuddly toy, why not opt for a steamy coffee machine, grown-up slushy maker, or even a sailing day for two to get pulses racing? We’ve rounded up some great ideas to buy you some brownie points in the year ahead, or to cheer you up if you loathe the 14th of February.

Valentine's Day gifts quick links

• Amazon UK Valentine's Day Gifts
• Valentine's Day at John Lewis
• Firebox Valentine's Day gifts
• Debenhams Valentine's Day Gifts
• House of Fraser Gifts for Valentine's Day
• Prezzybox gifts for Valentine's Day
• Not On The High Street gifts for Valentine's Day
• iWoot gifts for Valentine's Day
• Treatwell gifts for Valentine's Day

Flowers for Valentine's Day

• Serenata flowers
• Interflora
• Waitrose Flowers
• Prestige Flowers
• FTD
• 1800 Flowers
• Proflowers
• Teleflora

If you'd rather give drinks than flowers...

• The best vodkas: the ones we like to drink
• The best gin: our pick of the top tipples
• The best tequila: a spirit for every budget
• The best whisky (or whiskey if you're after an Irish)

Or why not give an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime?

Read on for our pick of the best gift ideas for this Valentine's Day.

• Lastminute experiences
• Virgin Experience Days
• Buyagift adventure experiences
• Red Letter Days gift experiences for couples

A good general rule of thumb for Valentine’s Day is that if it’s got a French name, it’s got to be a winner, and this logic certainly applies when it comes to a stay at Raymond Blanc joint Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in rural Oxfordshire. 

This romantic gastronomic experience for two encompasses an overnight stay in one of the country house hotel’s plush Junior Suites, the ideal setting for l’amour, but the big seller is a fabulous, button-bursting five-course meal at the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant. And, as a sweet finishing touch for foodies, you’ll also get a copy of Monsieur Blanc’s Foolproof French Cooking to keep that Gallic magic going all year round. 

If you want to make a bold statement this Valentine’s day, then there’s no better way to say it than with this standout bouquet of 100 Red Roses. 

Okay so flowers might seem like a cop-out, but this massive bunch certainly make for a nicer gift than a wilted garage bouquet you can pick up for a fiver on your way home, and it definitely says you’ve made the effort. Serenata Flowers offer select day delivery at a time of your choice, so you can opt for an exact day and time when your partner is home – how easy is that?  

There’s something ever so nostalgic about listening to vinyl, and if you and your S.O. have a favourite record, then this turntable could make for a grand and romantic gesture you both can enjoy. If you’re not too clued up on turntables, then don’t panic. 

The Rega Planar 1 is incredibly user-friendly and pretty budget friendly, too. Its sleek, glossy finish won’t look out of place in any modern or traditional home, and it features a low 24v motor which reduces vibrations for a refined sound quality like no other. Customers who have experienced the sound of this turntable really can’t fault it (although that also somewhat depends on your taste in music). 

If you’re looking for something a little more unique than just going out for a cheeky Nando’s, then this wood oven would certainly heat things up nicely. This portable pizza oven is perfect for gardens or outdoor kitchens, heating up to 500 degrees Celsius and allowing you to cook fresh pizza in just 60 seconds! 

This is a great gift idea if you’ve recently moved into a new home together and is handy in the summer as a more efficient BBQ. You will need to stock up on wood pellets and make sure you clean the oven regularly for the best results, but if you and your hubby and total foodies, this is the gift that keeps on giving. 

If you want to do something this Valentine’s Day rather than just give a material gift, adventurous experience days have become increasingly popular as a romantic gift idea. This sailing weekend for two is a great way for you and your partner to spend some quality time together, and what better way to do so than on a luxury 40 foot yacht just off the Dorset coast. 

Once purchased, this weekend trip can be booked any time between April and October, which means you can save it for a time when the British weather is most likely to be on its best behaviour. 

You’ll get all your food and drink included, starting with waking up to a gorgeous breakfast on the yacht, followed by an action-packed day of learning how to sail and then a fun evening of dinner and drinks at your chosen location. It’s the perfect romantic getaway. 

Whether they love Bake Off or just have a very specific set of dough-based interests, the Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer is the ultimate baker’s must-have. While many of you might (rightly) tremble at the prospect of buying your other half a kitchen appliance on the most romantic day of the year, this is pretty much as glamorous as they come, in a range of bright shades and more dramatic colourways – all you have to do is pick: are they more of a Noel or a Sandy? 

That they’re pricier than your average mixer also helps, as it’s something they probably wouldn’t think of buying for themselves, even though they’ve almost definitely daydreamed about it. Plus, there’s a chance you’ll get cake out of it, so really, it’s more like a gift for both of you...

Whether your other half has a collection of shiny things to rival Mr T’s or tends to go more minimal on the jewellery front, this sleek bangle by Swarovski is an excellent middle ground. In so-now rose gold, and finished with four lines of silk pave, it ticks a lot of boxes trend-wise, but isn’t so fashy that they’ll be over it by March. 

Slender and delicate, simple and refined, but with just the right amount of bling, it’s the Goldilocks’ porridge of jewellery: juuust right. The only potential issue is its fits-all sizing: because there’s no choice when it comes to dimensions, very petite wrists may have trouble keeping it on, but as it’s engineered to fit most it’s a reasonably safe bet. 

If it’s the only thing that Marilyn Monroe saw fit to wear between the sheets, it’s got to be good. The original go-to for glamourpusses, Chanel No5 is still a great choice for your love, with a timeless scent that’s still as sensual today as it was at launch in 1921. 

Packed with floral notes including heady jasmine and rose grown in Chanel’s own fields in Grasse, and offset by clean, powdery notes, it’s a grown-up scent with a distinct hint of vintage glamour, and we’ve yet to meet a woman who doesn’t like it. Plus, there’s no try-hard arty bottle that you’ll keep accidentally knocking over on the dressing table, just a classic stopper bottle that exudes old school finesse.  

Appliances are often assumed to be off limits when it comes to gifts, based on the fact that most people don’t want something they need, they want something they want. However, we think this Barista Express Coffee Machine by Heston would go down an absolute treat with all the caffeine lovers out there. So, if your other half is always pestering you for change to get their morning Starbucks, this professional style espresso machine will satisfy their daily fix. 

The machine features an inbuilt grinder which automatically grinds the correct dose of beans for your daily coffee, and if a latte or cappuccino is the drink of choice then the high-pressure steam milk frother will ensure barista quality coffees every time. Some users found it a little fiddly to set up at first, but after a few goes, we promise you’ll feel ready to enter the next national barista championships (yes, it’s a thing). 

If you didn’t get a slushy machine as a kid, did your parents really love you? Make your partner’s childhood dreams come true with the Smart Margarator Pro Slush Maker, which can make any frozen drink in minutes, and the best part is, as an adult, this usually involves alcohol. Think Margaritas, Daiquiris and Pina Coladas, all whipped up in around 10 minutes or less. The jug is dual-walled which keeps drinks cool, especially in the summer, and it has an easy-press dispenser so you’ve got cocktails on tap. It’s easy to set up and low-maintenance to clean, but it does make one hell of a racket. Worth it for the delicious slushy though!  

If you ask us (and you kind of did), the Nintendo Switch is a surprising contender for most versatile Valentine’s Day present. If the intended recipient prefers to play solo, they can hole up and disappear into Skyrim or Zelda; if they’re feeling sociable, you can play together in tabletop mode or even beam it to the TV for an old-school vibe. With a variety of games and a huge abundance of minigames to choose from, it really is the gift that keeps on giving, whether you’re having a romantic evening at home pelting each other with blue shells, or hosting a high-tech games night for your most competitive friends. 

Pictures are essential parts of the experiences you share with people you love, whether those images capture time spent at concerts or the destinations you passed through on road trips. 

This sleek photo printer lets you turn pictures you snapped with a smartphone or tablet into physical photos you can put on your wall or desk. 

Upon buying this product, you'll find a power cord in the box, but if you prefer using a battery, it's an extra accessory. Also, when buying ink and paper, you'll need to pick up Canon's dedicated "photo packs" that contain enough supplies for certain numbers of pictures.

If your loved one is an audiophile, these upscale headphones help him or her gain a renewed appreciation for much-adored tunes. The Beats Solo3 Wireless are also great for people who prefer to listen to their tunes in noisy environments, such as while walking to work in a busy city, thanks to their neat noise-cancelling tech.

The ear cups do a nice job of blocking external sounds, although when a person listens to bass-heavy material, the thumping beats are easy for others to hear in a quiet room. The wide variety of colours and finishes makes it easy to bring a stylish element to the gift.

Do you know someone who always loses things? This gift set gives them two different kinds of Bluetooth trackers. It's possible to attach one to a keyring, while the other is designed to stick into something that includes a pocket, such as a wallet.

These gadgets offer maintenance-free use and should work for a full year before requiring replacement.

When that time comes, your recipient can take advantage of a program that allows getting new Tiles as needed for lower than the original price.

Also, the corresponding app shows an item's last location, even if it's not inside Bluetooth range.

Since most smartphones have high-quality cameras, it's easy to quickly accumulate pictures you can't wait to show off.

This digital frame meets that need by working with your memory card or USB drive and displaying all the material on it in a slideshow-like format. It even works with videos. Set this frame on any flat surface with the included stand.

Also, you'll be amazed how easy it is to set up this product, even if you love tech but hate the process required to start using just-purchased gadgets. By using the remote control, you can easily flip through photos, too.

Want a little mood lighting in the bedroom? Look no further than this streamlined lamp. Place it on a bedside table and appreciate how you'll still have enough room for an alarm clock or another crucial item.

Tapping on the base allows you to pick from one of three brightness levels of white light or select from numerous colours. It's also possible to pause the lamp when it changes to a favourite colour.

Consider this gadget an updated version of the lava lamps that became so popular decades ago, and notice how it makes the bedroom more appealing in seconds.

Valentine's Day gifts quick links

• IWOOT Valentine's Gifts
• Amazon UK Valentine's Day Gifts
• Valentine's Day at John Lewis
• Debenhams Valentine's Day Gifts
• House of Fraser Gifts for Valentine's Day