Small surprises sent to you every month, from crafts and books to sweets and stationery.
Subscription boxes were all the rage a few years back, and whilst they’re not quite as popular now as people feel the pinch of the cost of living crisis, there is still joy to be found in these surprise packages of goodies, and some of them won’t break the bank.
We haven’t been lucky enough to test every one of these yet, but we’ve scoured the web for the cutest and cosiest of subscription boxes available in the UK.
Craft Subsription Boxes
Makebox & Co
£25.99 per month
One of our favourite subscription boxes, and one that we’ve tried and tested ourselves, is Makebox & Co. We love the variety of craft kits, and the flexibility to choose to skip any that don’t suit you or replace them with previous boxes you’ve missed. You can choose to receive a box monthly or bi-monthly and if you want to try before you commit, you can order one off boxes too, some of which have big discounts at time of writing.
Past boxes include mosaics, embroidery, polymer clay, paper craft, needle felt and lots more.
Craftiosity
£24.95 per month
An alternative to Makebox is Craftiosity. Each month you’ll receive a craft kit with all the materials and tools you’ll need plus step by step instructions to help you create something new. Past boxes have included a hand bound journal, engraved glasses, woven placemats, soap making, mosaic birds and many more.
Makerly
£25 per month
Our third and final craft box recommendation is Makerly. Like Craftiosity, there’s no way to skip boxes or make personalised choices as offered by Makebox & Co, but if you’re into trying all types of crafts you’ll find a variety including candle making, punch needle, diamond art, macrame and more.
Book Subscription Boxes
Fairyloot
From £20 per month
One of the most popular and certainly among the very first book subscription boxes is Fairyloot. It’s so popular, in fact, that you’ll need to join the waitlist to sign up. You can choose a monthly YA box, a YA book-only box, an adult book-only box or a books-only combo subscription.
The most popular is the YA box, which comes with a hardcover YA book and four themed items each month. It’s £27.50 per month for this option. Often the books have exclusive covers and sprayed edges, and are really beautiful. Additional items include bookmarks and postcards but also items like a tea strainer or cushion cover for example.
Illumicrate
£29 per month
With Illumicrate, you’ll get a newly released hardback book every month, usually an exclusive edition YA fantasy, plus four to six goodies themed around the book including prints, mugs, stationery bookmarks, tote bags and more.
Alongside Fairyloot, Illumicrate is one of the most popular bookish subscription boxes and the exclusive designs for these books are sought after. You can choose to get just the book each month if you’re not interested in the merchandise, and there’s a bi-monthly romance subscription box option too if fantasy isn’t your thing.
Like Fairyloot, Illumicrate is so popular that you’ll need to join the waitlist to sign up. Join the waitlist here.
Bookishly
£10 – £13 per month
Bookishly offers less in the way of fantasy and more classics, tea, vintage – that’s the vibe. You can choose between Tea and Vintage, Coffee and Vintage or Classic of the Month. With the tea and coffee options, you’ll get a surprise vintage paperback in each as well as the tea or coffee and some other bookish goodies, while the Classic of the Month is a new book with exclusive dust jackets plus tea or coffee and some swag.
Other Subscription Boxes
Bloom and Wild
£25 per month
Upgrade your nook by adding a beautiful bunch of flowers each month, inspired by the seasons to bring brightness in summer and cosiness in winter. You can choose from two designs each month, and when you sign up you’ll get 30% off for the first three deliveries, plus a free vase.
Paper Gang
£15.90 per month
Ohh Deer’s Paper Gang subscription is all about stationery. Each themed box contains items such as notebooks, calendars, cards, pens and pencils and lots more. It’s joyful and colourful and you’re likely to find everything you get will come in handy at home or at work. You’ll receive the box through your letter box each month, and you can pause, skip or cancel your subscription at any time.
Treatbox
£18 per month
Last but certainly not least is Treatbox, which lands through your letter box each month and brings with it a bunch of feel-good surprises. Think edible treats, cosy socks, face and body care items, stationery, teabags, keyrings, jewellery and more. It’s a real variety and is sure to bring a smile to your face. This would make a great gift too.
These all look fantastic! I would struggle to choose