From vintage finds to hot air balloons: These unexpected romantic gifts will truly win their heart

Romantic gifts don’t need to follow the script of roses and chocolates. Sometimes, the most meaningful present is the ones that takes your partner completely by surprise with just how personal, imaginative, and deeply thoughtful it is. Whether you’re marking an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or just want to say, ‘I love you’, here are some inspired gift ideas guaranteed to both surprise and delight your significant other.

Shared adventures: Gifts that become stories

Instead of another wrapped box, why not give an experience that you can share? Imagine a connecting over a weekend pottery workshop in the Cotswolds, where you can throw clay together and laugh over wonky bowls. For a more adrenaline-filled option, book a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the rolling hills of Somerset, complete with a champagne toast on landing. If you’re a city-loving couple, then take a private after-hours tour of a favourite London museum, or a masterclass in making pasta from scratch with a chef in Edinburgh. With these experiences, you’re creating shared stories that you’ll remember for years.

Subscription boxes: From gin to greenery on repeat

Why not set up a subscription boxes tailored to your partner’s quirks and passions? If they’ve always wanted to travel around and sample the wares at different gin distilleries across the UK, then a craft gin club brings a different artisan distillery to their door each month, often with mixers and tasting notes for at-home cocktail nights. Plant-of-the-month subscriptions are perfect for green-fingered partners, while gourmet snack boxes deliver international treats – everything from Japanese mochi to Italian truffle crisps – that you can share on movie nights. The best part? Every time they get a delivery, it’s a small reminder that you were thinking about them.

Vintage jewellery: romance with a past

Jewellery doesn’t have to be brand-new to be special. In fact, a vintage piece often has more character and charm. The UK has a thriving market for secondhand jewellery, from Edwardian lockets to retro 1970s gold bangles, each with a backstory. In fact, high quality secondhand jewellery is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give – not only are you finding something unique that can become a cherished heirloom, but you’re also embracing sustainable gifting.

Art from the heart: Handcrafted romantic treasures

Making a gift by hand is the ultimate demonstration of much care and attention. Commission a personalised illustration of where you first met or create a keepsake box filled with ticket stubs and other mementoes from your relationship. Many artisans offer custom ceramics workshops where you can make mugs stamped with your initials, or hand-painted prints tailored to your story.

The romance of the unexpected

When it comes to romance, the most powerful gifts are the ones that reflect exactly who your partner is and how you see them. Surprise them with something unexpected and give them an experience, a memory, or a story that they can retell for years to come.