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The 37 best Christmas gifts in the UK for tweens – chosen by 10- to 12-year-olds

By · Via The Guardian Money · Published by Everything Blog

In short

UK pre-teens aged 10 to 12 provided firsthand recommendations based on items they actively own and enjoy. Their choices span creative hobbies, gaming, and athletic gear, including Martin Smith acoustic guitars and Premier League footballs. These targeted insights offer gift-buyers a realistic snapshot of what truly resonates with this demographic for Christmas.

Key points

  • Direct feedback from UK tweens reveals diverse holiday interests that move well beyond si…: Direct feedback from UK tweens reveals diverse holiday interests that move well beyond simple toy categories.
  • Reading and gaming remain strong staples with specific demand for graphic novels, book se…: Reading and gaming remain strong staples with specific demand for graphic novels, book series, and Fortnite merchandise.
  • Practical lifestyle goods and branded personal care products like Daise cosmetics are inc…: Practical lifestyle goods and branded personal care products like Daise cosmetics are increasingly popular with 10- to 12-year-olds.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Buying for someone in the tweenage years can be a balancing act: while some kids are still crafting, enjoying board games and deep into Lego, others have moved on to skincare and guitars.

So, in an effort to cover the whole range, I spoke to 20 tweens (from 10 to 12 years old) from across the country. But instead of asking what they want, I quizzed them on the things they already have, truly love and use regularly. Here are their tried and tested gift ideas for a range of prices.

The best Christmas gifts for tweens in 2026

Lottie Brooks six-book set

Dance mat

I’ve read all nine of the Lottie Brooks books, and I can’t wait to read number 10, Twelve Disasters of Christmas. I really like them because they are easy to read and teach you about life. They make me laugh out loud. I also think kids my age would love to get a dance mat, they’re loads of fun. Millie, 10

Mini 3D printer

My friend has a 3D printer, and I love it –…

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