Our selection of unique gifts for retirement: retirement gifts such as a pair of secateurs, a smart bird feeder and a Kindle. See our range of gifts perfect for the person in your life who loves having time for their hobbies.
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1FELCO 2 pruning secateurs
If they prune their garden regularly, these are a substantial tool to give. The blades are hardened steel and the handles are aluminium, and worn parts can be replaced. This is the right-handed model for medium to large hands, so check which hand they prune with before you buy.
Pros
Hardened steel blades and aluminium handles.
Worn parts can be replaced.
Sap groove and cushioned handle stops.
Cons
Right-handed model only.
Sized for medium to large hands.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
2Birdbuddy Pro Solar smart feeder
A camera feeder brings the birds right to their phone. Birdbuddy snaps photos and video of every visitor and sends an alert, and its app helps name the species. The solar roof keeps the camera charged, so it rarely needs taking down. It works without a subscription, and a paid plan adds automatic identification.
Pros
Close-up photos of every visitor.
Solar roof keeps it charged.
Works without a subscription.
Cons
Needs home Wi-Fi to reach the feeder.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
3Kindle Paperwhite (2024), 16GB, black, without ads
A Kindle suits book lovers who get through a lot of books or read on holiday. The 2024 Paperwhite has a 7-inch glare-free screen that's easy to read in sunshine, and one charge lasts up to 12 weeks. There are no notifications or apps to distract them, and this version has no ads on the lock screen.
Pros
Glare-free 7-inch screen.
Up to 12 weeks per charge.
No lock screen ads on this version.
Cons
Some readers still prefer paper.
No charging plug in the box.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
4Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolour sketchers' pocket box
This pocket box has 12 Cotman half pans and a travel brush, so they can paint wherever they stop. The colours are a mix of warm and cool shades, including ultramarine, sap green and burnt sienna, and it all folds down small enough for a coat pocket.
Pros
12 half pans and a travel brush.
Small enough for a coat pocket.
Cons
Only 12 colours, so mixing is needed for more.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
5AncestryDNA test kit
History gets personal when it's your own family. AncestryDNA is a simple saliva test that maps their origins across thousands of regions and links them with DNA relatives who've also tested. Results arrive in about six to eight weeks, and it's often the start of a family tree project.
Pros
Shows where their family came from.
Finds DNA relatives.
Simple home saliva test.
Cons
Some features need an Ancestry subscription.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
6LEGO Botanicals Tiny Plants 10329
Nine small brick-built plants in pots, from a cactus to a succulent. They sit on a shelf and need no watering.
Pros
Nine plants in one set.
No watering needed.
Cons
Small models, so a quick build.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
7LEGO Botanicals Bonsai Tree 10281
A brick-built bonsai tree that you can set up with green leaves or pink blossom. It is a calm desk or shelf model.
Pros
Two looks in one set.
Suits a desk.
Cons
One of the older Botanicals sets.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
8Burgon & Ball Sophie Conran Precision Secateurs
Bypass secateurs with a gift box, designed by Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball. They are made for a gardener who wants a nicer pair.
Pros
Comes gift boxed.
Smart design.
Cons
Sold by a third-party garden retailer on Amazon.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
9Ravensburger Zugspitze at the Eibsee 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle
A 1000-piece landscape puzzle of the Eibsee lake and Zugspitze mountain in Bavaria.
Pros
1000 pieces.
Photographic scene.
Cons
Large areas of water and sky are hard.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
10Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe Qi2 charging stand
A desk stand that charges an iPhone and AirPods at the same time with Qi2 magnetic charging. It tilts the phone upright for use at a desk.
Pros
Charges phone and AirPods together.
Magnetic Qi2 hold.
Cons
Made for Apple devices.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
11eufy SmartTrack Card Bluetooth item finder
A thin card-shaped tracker that fits in a wallet and works with Apple Find My. It rings when the wallet is lost.
Pros
Wallet-sized.
Works with Find My.
Cons
Needs an iPhone to find it.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
12eufy Security Video Doorbell C31 with chime
A 2K video doorbell that runs on a battery or mains power and comes with a plug-in chime. Footage stays on local storage.
Pros
2K video.
Battery or wired.
Cons
Installation takes some effort.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
13Steiner BluHorizons 10x26 compact binoculars
Compact German binoculars with 10x magnification that fold small enough for a pocket.
Pros
Compact.
10x magnification.
Cons
Small lenses gather less light than full-size binoculars.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
14TEMPUR Original ergonomic pillow
A memory foam pillow shaped to support the head and neck.
Pros
Supports the neck.
Holds its shape.
Cons
Firm feel.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
15Kikkerland 50-year calendar paperweight
A glass-style paperweight with a calendar that works for 50 years. It sits on a desk as a small ornament.
Pros
Looks good on a desk.
Low price.
Cons
Not a practical diary.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
16Waterman Expert fountain pen, Gloss Black with gold trim
A fountain pen with a lacquer barrel and gold-plated trim, sold in a gift box.
Pros
Gift box.
Classic design.
Cons
Needs ink cartridges.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
17Fiskars PowerGear II bypass geared lopper
A bypass lopper with a gear mechanism that adds cutting power for thick branches.
Pros
Geared for extra power.
Non-stick blades.
Cons
Long to store.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
18RSPB hanging seed feeder with cage
A caged hanging seed feeder that lets small birds feed while keeping out larger birds.
Pros
Keeps larger birds out.
Easy to clean.
Cons
Needs filling often.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
19iRobot Roomba Plus 515 robot vacuum and mop combo
A robot vacuum and mop that empties itself and washes its mop pad at the dock.
Pros
Vacuums and mops.
Self-emptying dock.
Cons
Costs over £500.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
20Roland GO:PIANO88 portable digital piano
A light 88-key digital piano with built-in speakers and Bluetooth for learning and play.
Pros
88 keys.
Light and portable.
Cons
Stand and pedal sold separately.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
21Molton Brown Woody & Aromatic bath and shower gel gift set for men
A boxed trio of Molton Brown bath and shower gels in woody and aromatic scents.
Pros
Three gels.
Boxed.
Cons
Strong scents.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
22Virgin Experience Days gift card, £100
A gift card for Virgin Experience Days that the recipient spends on activities, spa days and meals.
Pros
Recipient chooses.
Posted as a physical card.
Cons
Needs to be spent on the Virgin site.
View on Amazon UKUK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies.
What to buy someone who loves retirement
The best gifts for retirement give someone new things to do with their time. A smart bird feeder, a set of watercolours or a family history kit suits a person with new free time. A Kindle is easy to take on holiday. Think about what they have said they will do with the extra time before choosing.
How we picked these gifts for retirement
We picked each product for what retirement enjoy and because it makes sense as a present. The order is our own choice. The pros and cons come from published product details, not customer reviews.
Amazon shows the current price and delivery. Where we've checked that the US listing is the same product, the US link goes there. Otherwise you'll get the UK listing, labelled as such. More about our research.
