Top 20 Christmas gifts Brits would love to receive - from abroad

17 December 2023 , 09:00

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Swiss chocolate has topped the wish list of Christmas gifts from overseas this year (Image: Michele Limina/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Brits have revealed the top 20 Christmas gifts they would love to receive from abroad – with Swiss chocolate coming out as the firm favourite.

The tasty treat was followed by Egyptian cotton bedding, perfume from France, or a nice leather handbag or wallet from Italy.

Norwegian knitwear, a Spanish olive oil set, and Indian spices or a cooking set, also ranked among the top 10, while one in five (21%) are keen to unwrap some New Zealand manuka honey on December 25.

It comes as a survey of 2,000 adults, who celebrate Christmas, found that 88% would love to be gifted something international this festive season – with half saying that these presents feel more unique, or more fancy (43%).

And it seems many could be in luck, as three in 10 plan to wrap up something from abroad to gift to a loved one on the big day this year.

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The top countries they plan to buy these presents from are France, Italy, and the USA – with shoppers spending almost £90, on average, on items from abroad.

The research was commissioned by HSBC UK, as Global Money data from the bank shows customers have been spending the most money on online purchases from the USA in the 12 months since it launched – followed by Spain, France, and the UAE.

Pella Frost, head of everyday banking at the brand, said: “During the holiday season, there's something truly magical about receiving gifts from abroad.

“It's not just about the contents of the parcel – it's about the sentiment behind it, and the effort the gift giver has put into sourcing something extra special for a loved one.

“As an international bank, we know consumers have more international tastes and interests than ever before, which is why so many are eager to experience something truly authentic from the countries we love.”

The study also found that 43% of Christmas lovers have gifted presents from abroad in the past, with 82% of these picking them up on their travels. However, 45% went online to find that special something, according to the research, conducted via OnePoll.

But many have encountered barriers when it comes to shopping abroad – with 73% finding the cost of delivery restrictive, while 64% worry about the time it takes to arrive.

And 45% were unsure if sites were trusted retailers, with a further 38% having encountered additional charges because they haven’t paid in the local currency.

Pella Frost, from HSBC UK Global Money, which allows customers to convert, hold, or send money to more than 200 countries and regions worldwide, without paying the bank’s fees, added: “It’s clear from our research that customers love the idea of giving and receiving gifts from outside the UK – but typically, there are cost barriers.

“At a time when every penny counts, we want to make sure shoppers can spend their money globally, without facing additional fees at the checkout.”