Kent Gift Guide: Shop Small This Festive Season (Part 1)
- Katy Mason
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
The festive shopping season is fully underway, and whilst tempting Black Friday offers may have dominated your inbox for the past couple of weeks, at this time of year supporting local, independent businesses has never been more important.
If the idea of hitting the shopping centres fills you with dread and you're struggling to find that perfect gift for the person who you buy the same thing for each year (hello another pair of festive socks and M&S jumper...), this is the guide for you.
Offering bespoke, quality gifts and experiences produced in the local area, you'll both be giving something truly unique and supporting a small business. From outdoor experiences and creative workshops, to bespoke embroidered pillowcases and luxury beauty products, there's inspiration for the most tricky of recipients in our Kent gift guide...
[Part 1 details Experiences and Art & Homeware - read Part 2 for Beauty & Self-Care and Food & Drink]
Experiences
Wild & Free Nature Crafts offers adult and family workshops and events in a private woodland location in Cranbrook, Kent
Run by Forest School and Early Years trained Alex Taylor, her inspirational sessions offer opportunities for those of all ages to experience the great outdoors, led by experienced and qualified staff in a woodland.
Celebrating traditional skills, nature connection, ancient crafts & taking a moment for ourselves, Alex has gift cards which can be put towards one of her many Wild & Free workshops or Wild & Free children’s parties.
For a unique and memorable experience, give the gift of a paddleboarding lesson with Stand Up Paddleboarding with Ana.
British Canoeing Level 3 coach Ana runs one-to-one lessons, scenic river tours, paddleboard yoga and even children’s parties for a wide range of abilities and skill levels.
Combining tranquility, fun and adventure, this is a great gift for a loved one who is keen to get outdoors and try something new in 2026! Vouchers are available via Ana’s website.
What could be better than a day of sampling local wines whilst being chauffeured around the beautiful Kent countryside? If this sounds up your loved one’s street, a wine tour with Wine Tours Of Kent would make for an ideal gift.
Visiting three wonderful wineries in Kent, tours include all transport, tastings and a delicious lunch at a country pub, as well as a friendly and knowledgeable guide.
Potential vineyards to visit include Gusbourne, Balfour, Chapel Down, Herbert Hall and Biddenden, amongst others. Gift vouchers are available via their website.
Creating a sense of calm and order amongst the chaos, Professionally Sorted offer decluttering and organisation services which aim to reduce overwhelm and stress.
Having trained with ‘Sort Your Life Out’s Dilly Carter, Fiona from Professionally Sorted provides help with a supportive but directive stance, by listening to your needs and finding solutions.
With gift vouchers available, give the gift or an organised home this Christmas, starting from £40.
Candice is a Yoga & Qigong teacher and nervous system educator offering grounding, inclusive practices. She teaches weekly classes and retreats, with her approach blending mindful movement, meridian-based Qigong, breathwork, and deep rest.
Treat your loved one to the gift of a full day retreat to recharge, restore and reconnect with her retreat at Chiddingstone Causeway on 7th March 2026. This one-day retreat offers gentle Yoga and Qigong, calming breathwork, Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra with sound, creative reflection, a mindful nature walk, and a nourishing vegan lunch.
Special treat: Book by 24th December for a chance to win a 30-minute massage during the retreat - a gentle, restorative experience to release tension, calm your mind, and renew your energy.
Katie is a local photographer mainly working with small businesses to give them bright, warm and authentic imagery to get them noticed.
Treat a small business owner you love to a 45 minute branding session with Katie with all images included! They will be left with enough content to show everyone just how amazing their business is on their website and social media. Special Offer at just £75 through this gift guide.
Whether you’re a complete novice or secret Mary Berry in the kitchen, Kent Cookery School’s courses make a great gift experience for any foodies. It’s such a brilliant opportunity to learn some new dishes in a fun and lively group setting.
Gift vouchers for either half or full day courses are available on their website and are valid for 12 months. From Thai street food and macaron masterclasses, to doughnut workshops and plant-based cooking, there’s a huge range to choose from.
Nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside, Rachel from The Foraged Flower offers a range of hands-on seasonal workshops to try your hand at creating something beautiful.
Located in her serene and welcoming studio near Ashford, her workshops are designed to foster creativity and mindfulness in a relaxed and luxurious environment.
Details of the upcoming workshops are available on the website, or email Rachel for gift vouchers.
Award-winning rural retreat, The Granary Spa, is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Tucked away down a country lane near the pretty village of Great Chart, the rustic spa offers pamper days, beauty treatments, massage and reflexology and seasonal signature packages.
Perfect as a treat for busy mums who deserve an hour or two of pampering this festive season! Vouchers are available via the website.
Local family photographer Lucy is passionate about capturing beautiful, natural moments that you will no doubt treasure forever.
As a parent herself, she’s great with children and her friendly, warm approach puts even the most nervous of subjects at ease.
Whether you’d like photos as a family, a couple or with your fur babies, give the gift of a photoshoot to someone special this Christmas. Gift vouchers are available via Lucy’s website.
Healing through horses is an equine facilitated service which works with people alongside horses. As an equine facilitated practitioner, Kerry helps people improve their mental health through guided interactions with horses.
It is a unique way to find out more about yourself in experiential learning environment. No experience with horses necessary and it all takes place in the ground. As a gift option, Kerry is offering a 45-minute taster session for £50. Get in touch directly to book.
As 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, Kerry is also offering 17% off courses of 6 or 8 sessions block booked between 1st January and 17th of February when the Chinese New Year begins.
The Parent Peninsula
Louisa Connolly of The Parent Peninsula is passionate about creating a new culture of empowerment within Neurodivergent families. As a Neurodivergent woman herself, raising two incredible Neurodivergent children, she has lived experience of the chronic stress that can be placed upon Neurodivergent families.
Louisa offers 1:1 EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) sessions and group workshops, to enable parents to release stress, anxiety & overwhelm. Also coming in 2026: sessions for children & young people. Contact Louisa for gift vouchers.
Based in Pembury, The Candle Sanctuary creates beautiful scented candles and offers the memorable opportunity to create your very own, in a 2-hour candle making workshop.
Learning about the history of candle making and selecting your scent from a wide range of fragrances, the workshop gives the chance for the recipient to make a bespoke soy wax candle as a special addition to any home. They run on select mornings and evenings with refreshments provided at The Candle Sanctuary’s studio.
Gift vouchers are available on the website, as well as candle making gift sets to make at home.
Art & Homeware
Ruth is a nature artist and willow weaver who specialises in detailed portraits of animals and plants, and traditionally woven baskets and containers using UK-grown willow.
This Christmas, Ruth is offering vouchers for pet and plant portraits in watercolour or pencil. Starting from £50, these vouchers are the perfect gift for pet lovers and gardeners alike.
For the friend who loves to make and craft, Ruth is also offering gift vouchers for her 2026 Willow Weaving Courses which are suitable for all levels and start at £30.
Established by designer Em Royston, Chasing Treads is inspired by a passion for both travel and crafts.
Selling a wide range of stitch-at-home designs including passport covers, floral tote bags, luggage tags and notebooks, this gift is ideal for those with both creativity and a sense of adventure.
Gift sets and vouchers are also available via the website.
Celebrate all things Garden of England with Kent-based graphic designer and illustrator Debbie Lee’s beautiful illustrations of local areas.
Offering giftable homeware items feature locations such as Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Bromley and Folkestone, with gorgeous art prints, tea towels, magnets, mugs and puzzles available to purchase.
Indulge in luxury with SewSisters, a charming embroidery business nestled in Lamberhurst, Kent. Specialising in beautifully embroidered linens, personalised pillowcases, bespoke napkins, and one-of-a-kind gifts perfect for any occasion.
Offering custom embroidered drawing cushion covers, it’s a wonderful chance to transform your child's artwork or writing into a personal keepsake that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Creating luxury, hand-poured candles in a range of fragrances, The Wells Company’s elegant candles and reed diffusers make an ideal gift.
Based in Tunbridge Wells and run by Leila, the company was ignited by her passion for fragrance. Popular aromas to choose from include pomegranate, cassis and fig, white christmas and peony. Gift boxes are also available via the website.
If your loved one is looking to inject some flair into their interior design and soft furnishings, then a gift from Queenie & Judge may be just the ticket.
Specialising in luxury, handmade cushions crafted in Kent using the finest designer fabrics. With designs from the likes of Sanderson, Morris & Co and Ralph Lauren, these artisan cushions will be sure to add a splash of style to any home.
A gift from Oast & Rye offers an upmarket and high quality gift for those who want to add a bit of sophistication to their home.
Paraben-free and vegan friendly, Oast & Rye sell a beautiful range of candles, diffusers, room sprays, homeware and bath products.
Stylish and elegantly designed, they boast 14 fragrances including Bay & Rosemary, Black Rye and Winter Solstice. All candles are individually hand-poured in Kent.
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