Last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts for him and her

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, with the final countdown to February 14 ticking away. While the super organised among us might have already got their Valentine’s preparations in order, there are those of us who are suddenly scrambling to get the perfect gift before Friday rolls around.

The good news is that there is still time to snap up something special for your Valentine before the day of love arrives. To help you sift through the tat and find something your special someone will love, we’ve asked our editors to share some of the items they’d most like to unwrap on February 14.

Whether you’re looking to splurge on something a little more luxurious or are after a small token of your appreciation, we have gathered a range of items to suit various budgets. While we’ve included the traditional Valentine’s fare, such as flowers and chocolates, we’ve also picked our editors’ brains for their top recommendations on experiences, along with gifts for foodies, tech-lovers and more.

If you’re on a super tight budget, take a look at our top Valentine’s gifts under £30, or if flowers are on the agenda, we’ve rounded up all of our favourite Valentine’s Online Delivery services here.

Flowers are a go-to gift for Valentine’s Day, with the British Florist Association estimating that 250 million stems of flowers are sold for the occasion globally. While you might prefer to head to your local florist or pop into your nearest supermarket if you’ve left things down to the wire, online flower delivery is one of the easiest ways to ensure you get flowers to your loved one on time.  Flower delivery is also a great option if you live far away from your special someone and want something delivered straight to their door, or if you want to send a secret gift to your Valentine.

And when it comes to flower delivery, Bloom & Wild is one of our top picks. Bloom & Wild’s service is a little different to your typical flower delivery service, thanks to its letterbox delivery option. This means that your Valentine doesn’t even need to be home to receive the order as they are packaged to perfectly fit through their letterbox.

If you prefer pre-arranged flowers, Bloom & Wild also has a selection of hand-tied bouquets that can be ordered for delivery.

Head of Affiliates, Sally Newall, can attest to just how great Bloom & Wild’s offering is. She said: “I know some people love a big bouquet on Valentine’s Day but, personally, I like to arrange flowers myself so a letterbox option is perfect. Okay, so the fact they come in bud rather than full bloom means you don’t get the initial wow factor but as long as you follow the care instructions, they last a lot longer.” 

Thankfully, if you’ve little time to spare, the good news is that Bloom & Wild offer next-day delivery and nominated-day delivery. Last-minute shoppers have right up to Thursday, February 13 to ensure delivery in time for Valentine’s Day on Friday. The nominated day delivery option is free if ordering for delivery on Tuesday 11 or Wednesday 12 February, but for delivery on Thursday or Friday, there will be a charge.

Prices vary depending on the product you are buying, but flowers start from as little as £19. 

As well as flowers, Bloom & Wild also has a range of letterbox gifts. In celebration of Cupid’s Day, the brand has released a range of romantic gifts to send straight to your Valentine’s front door, including brownies, candles and hampers. You can also add your own personalised message.

Prices vary, but letterbox gifts start from £19 for goodies including chocolate brownies or a chocolate and socks gift set. Fun additions to the range also include an at-home games night, food and beverage hampers and gift cards for experiences such as afternoon tea. 

We’ve selected just a few of our favourite gifts from Bloom & Wild’s letterbox gift selection below, but you can shop the full range here. 

Marks and Spencer is a go-to for quality, whether you’re after clothes, food or homeware. They also have a great range of gifts that can be delivered with a personal message straight to someone’s front door, which is ideal for any last-minute Valentine’s Day shoppers.

Flowers, plants and food letterbox gifts all enjoy free nominated delivery, and you can ensure next-day delivery when ordering gifts by 8pm on weekdays. That means you can order right up until Thursday, February 13 to get delivery in time for February 14. 

The Marks and Spencer gift delivery service is one of my go-to options for birthdays and special occasions. Since most of my family lives around the country, the Marks and Spencer gift delivery service has been a go-to when I need to get a gift to someone special. There’s a huge range of choices, meaning I can always find something for everyone.

The plant delivery service means I can send something a little different to the usual bouquet that can last a lifetime. The Prosecco and chocolate gift sets are also a big hit, and who can resist a fun Percy Pig hamper?

Debenhams have saved the day this Valentine’s, not only thanks to their huge range of perfumes and aftershaves but also due to its next-day delivery option and discounts of as much as 70% off select brands. Discounts aren’t only applicable to everyday fragrances either but also include luxury and designer names. 

You must order before 11pm on weekdays for UK next-day delivery and will have to pay a next-day delivery charge of £5.99. But, if you have left things down to the wire, it’s a great option to ensure your Valentine wakes up to a gift they love.

Some of our top picks from the current perfume sale include Lancôme La Vie est Belle Eau de Parfum, a classic scent which has been reduced from £69 to £51.75.

Mugler’s Alien Eau De Parfum, known for its iconic purple and gold bottle and uniquely sensual scent, is also included in the sale with 20% off. That means you can get a 30ml bottle for just £55.20 instead of £69.

Our top picks from the Men’s fragrance sale include the classic L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Intense Eau de Toilette, by Issey Miyake, which is currently discounted by an impressive 51%. Usually retailing for £72, the classic fragrance is on offer for just £35.

While an air fryer might not exactly scream romance, it can be a practical gift that shows you care. And, if you don’t have the time to go out for a romantic dinner this Valentine’s Day, an air fryer is the perfect way to speed up the cooking process and bring the romantic meal straight to your table. 

That’s certainly the case for Assistant Features Editor Josh White. He explained: “I’ve got a seven-month-old so won’t make it out for dinner this Valentine’s Day and cooking has gone out the window recently. I’ve been eyeing up an air fryer as they’re so quick. It might not be the most romantic present but it would hopefully mean I could whip us up a few more nice meals – and cut down on washing up.”

There are so many popular air fryer brands out there, but Ninja is without a doubt one of the most popular brands thanks to their diverse range of models. As well as offering a speedy way to cook, Ninja claims that select models from their air fryer range can help households save up to 65% on their energy bills. 

Though there are several to choose from, including a range of sizes and prices, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe is one of the best-sellers on the Ninja website. To top it off, the dual-drawer air fryer is discounted from £269.99 to £199.99 right now. Or, browse Ninja’s full range of air fryers here. 

Ninja offers fast, free delivery on purchases over £30, seven days a week. Typical delivery time takes just two days when ordering between Monday and Friday before 8pm – that means if you order now you could get your air fryer in time for February 14.

Have a beauty lover in your life but not quite sure what the right product is for them? Then a Cult Beauty voucher could be the perfect choice. Not only do you not have to grapple with selecting the perfect skincare or make-up item for your special someone, but you can also get rid of any pesky delivery times and have your voucher sent to your Valentine’s inbox in seconds. 

“I’d love it if my boyfriend gave me a Cult Beauty voucher as it sells those brands that are more of a treat purchase,” said Sally Newall, Head of Affiliates.

“Top of my list? A new Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. A beauty editor pal recommended it to me and it’s the only treatment I’ve ever used that actually keeps the dreaded flakiness at bay.   I’ll be looking out for upcoming sales on some of my fave skincare brands too.”

There’s also a gift voucher to suit all manner of price points, with options available from £25 right through to £500 (if you really fancy a splurge).