13 of the best Mother's Day gifts

With Mother's Day right around the corner - on Sunday 10 March - we've put together 13 ideas that will suit all budgets.

Whether you're buying for your mum, stepmum, grandma, aunt or simply something special for a loved-one, Mother's Day is an opportunity to say 'thank you'. 

While the very best Mother's Day gift will depend on the recipient's tastes, our experts have put together a list of quality products that would make any mum feel chuffed.

From scented candles that reminded one senior editor of holidays in the Mediterranean, to top-of-the-range headphones, tips from our gardening editor and chocolate treats, we've combined our rigorous testing with first-hand recommendations.

Take a look at our Mother's Day guide below – just don't forget the felt tips and paper, she'll still love that handmade card.

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Best Mother's Day gifts

Tony's Chocolonely bars

• 180g bars
• Vegan options available
• Fairtrade-compliant

We like: Lots of flavours

Watch out for: Uneven bars can be a bit tricky to break apart

Lisa Barber, mum, computing expert, and senior editor of Which? Tech, says:

'I regularly get given Tony's Chocolonely for Mother's Day and really look forward to it. The chocolate's gorgeous plus I love the thickness of it. I have a small(ish) piece with my coffee, every day, and it makes me smile as I think of the kids when I have it. Lads, if you're reading, a fry-up wouldn't go amiss, either.'

From Ben & Jerry's white strawberry cheesecake to dark pretzel toffee, Tony's Chocolonely has a mouth-watering array of flavours and bundles of bars. There are also options for you to customise the packaging so that mum can read your message every time she snacks on something sweet.

You can buy bars direct from Tony's Chocolonely or compare prices on a regular bar of milk chocolate below:

A trip to one of the UK's best gardens

• Some have entry fees
• Plenty of gorgeous gardens across the nation

We like: Gorgeous arrays of colour and plants

We don't like: Spring rains ruining a day out

While some mums might enjoy a gift, for others it's more about spending time with you.

Depending on the weather, visiting a garden is a great way to get out of the house and feel a little closer to nature. Across the UK, there are some excellent locations such as the Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries and Galloway – our top-scoring garden.

If mum's a lover of foliage and is in need of a relaxing day out, you've got plenty of options, including botanical gardens, massive estates and popular destinations such as Kew Gardens. 

If mum has made enough packed lunches in her time, most of our top-scorers have cafes or bistros onsite – perfect for treating her.

You can read our survey results on the UK's best gardens to find one closest to you.

We've asked our experts for their picks for the best gifts for women

A 'Mum in a Million' rose bush

• Plant in full sun or light shade
• Very fragrant
• It's all in the name

We like: Flowers last long

We don't like: Watch out for blackspot when growing

Ceri Thomas, mum, gardening expert and editor of Which? Gardening, says:

'Mum will enjoy roses for years to come if you give her this to plant in her garden. As well as the perfect name, this variety offers scented flowers and disease resistance. Plant it in full sun or light shade, feed with rose food and mulch with a soil improver.'

These roses make a great gift for green-fingered gardeners – especially when paired with a subscription to Which? Gardening. The leaves are glossy and should be fairly resistant to common growing problems such as blackspot. Mum can also follow our month-by-month steps on how to grow roses so they flower by the summer.

Be sure to read our guide on how to grow roses and the best varieties. 

You can pick up a four-litre pot from Crocus for £26, or you can get it bare root or potted from Eastcroft Roses from £15.

Valentte candles

• Made in the UK
• Gift boxes available

We like: Several scents and glass options to choose from

Watch out for: Pricing is somewhat confusing on its website

Senior editor at Which?, responsible for ensuring we test the newest gadgets, Daniella Delaney Mendes, likes the candles from Valentte:

'I received a Valentte white neroli and lemon candle and diffuser set for my last birthday. The fragrance is lovely – reminds me of a Mediterranean holiday – you can smell it without going looking for it but it's not overpowering. I was so impressed, I've gone on to buy the jasmine and rosewood diffuser (less intense but perfect for my bedroom) and gifted another of the neroli and lemon candles as I loved it so much. Definitely a brand I'll buy more from.'

If mum doesn't have time to head to the spa – or it's a little out of your price range, scented candles and diffusers can bring a bit of relaxation home.

There are a variety of scents available, including orange and chamomile, lemon and nutmeg, or jasmine and rosewood from £11. You can also buy a pre-made gift box or create your own.

You can view Valentte's entire candle selection or create a gift box from their site.

Anker 321 Power Bank PowerCore 5K 

• Claimed capacity: 5,200mAh
• Weight: 130g
• USB-A and USB-C ports

We like: Compact two-device charging

We don't like: No pass-through charging

If the outlets at home are always taken up by the kids' iPads, or if your mum finds herself often needing a quick charge on the go, this petite power bank should top up her tech while being light enough to slip into a purse or handbag.

It's not often that a power bank this size can charge two devices at once. Its 5,200mAh capacity should be able to charge a typical smartphone, with a little left over for headphones, AirPods or other devices.

You can read our Anker 321 PowerCore 5K review, or you can compare prices below: 

Better sleep: Loop Quiet ear plugs and Mavogel Cotton sleep mask

• Earplugs made of silicone
• Eye mask made of soft cotton
• Both available in multiple colours

We like: Earplugs are reusable and easy to wear

We don't like: Some may find the adjustable nose bridge of the eye mask uncomfortable

Whether it's days of juggling tasks or always being on the go, the last thing anyone needs is a night of tossing and turning – so why not help her get some serious shut-eye with a pair of earplugs and a sleep mask? 

The Mavogel sleep mask is adjustable and won't slip off her face in the middle of the night. The Loop ear plugs shouldn't easily fall out or feel too bulky, as they're designed to sit on the external ear canal.

You can read our review of the best earplugs or our guide on the best eye masks for sleep. 

Pick up the Loop Quiet ear plugs direct, or compare prices on both below:

If you want to blow the budget, you could also consider picking up a silk eye mask or a silk pillowcase, too. 

Our baby and child expert and senior editor, Alison Potter, says: 

'Silk is more gentle than cotton, so there's zero frizz and tangled hair to deal with in the mornings, plus I don't have crease marks on my face. It feels nice and cool on my skin, and silk also has natural temperature-regulating properties that help keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. I find it a struggle to sleep without my silk pillowcase now.'

We particularly liked the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask, as it was the only silk sleep mask we tested that's adjustable.

You can pick up silk pillowcases from retailers including John Lewis, Dunelm or Marks and Spencer. 

Read our Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask review, or compare prices below:

Harvey Nichols English sparkling wine

• 12% ABV
• 75cl bottle
• Made by Digby Fine English

We like: UK-made fizz

We don't like: Not the cheapest available

A bottle of sparkling wine is always a nice gift, and Mother's Day is no exception. This wine is made using chardonnay and pinot noir grapes from vineyards in Sussex and Hampshire.

Jess Carson, our food and health editor, says:

'English Sparkling wine is still less well known, but the best bottles can absolutely hold their own against more traditional champagne, with the added benefit of being a home-grown option. It's a great choice if you want to give something a little different this Mother's Day.'

Our taste-testers thought it had a nice balance of fruity, floral and nutty flavours. 

How did it fare in our testing? You can find out by reading our review of the best English sparkling wines. 

If you want a bottle, you can pick one up from Harvey Nichols for £30.

If you're after champagne, reds or other English wines, be sure to read the results from our taste tests.

A Which? Gardening subscription

• 10 magazines throughout the year
• One-to-one gardening advice

We like: 25% off year-round expert gardening advice

If your mum is green fingered – or has had grand plans for the back garden since forever – a subscription to Which? Gardening could be just the ticket.

She'll get 10 copies of our magazine, plus she can call in or email our gardening advice lines for bespoke tips on how to get the most out of her green space.

In the magazine, there's advice on what to grow, how to tend to flowers and veg, plus reviews of plants, compost and much more.

You can get 25% off a subscription until 11 March. 

You can send a subscription as a gift online.

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Remington Curl and Straight Confidence hair dryer

• Three temperature settings
• Two speed settings
• Cable length: 2.4 metres

We like: Lightweight

We don't like: Loud

Whether she's looking to blast her hair before the school run or just wants to switch up her styling routine, this affordable hairdryer was one of the cheapest models we tested.

At around £34, this hair dryer comes with a barrel brush and three styling attachments – a smoothing nozzle, diffuser and curling nozzle. 

Read our review of the best hairdryers or compare prices below:

Cut flowers and a vase

We like: Lots of varieties to choose from

Watch out for: Flowers that wilt too quickly

We spoke with the British Florist Association about best practices when buying cut flowers. It told us:

'Be wary of some sponsored adverts that pop up on Google, and scroll down the page to choose a local florist. Check websites and order online, or alternatively ring the florist. This ensures your floral arrangement is uniquely crafted to your preferences and guaranteed when you order through your local florist.'

We also asked them about which in-season flowers are good in vases:

'Tulips come in a range of colours and symbolise the arrival of spring. They are excellent for vase arrangements and add a vibrant touch to any bouquet. Both hyacinths and freesias offer a sweet fragrance and can come in an array of colours. Anemones feature delicate petals and come in shades such as red, purple, pink and white. Ranunculus also have a charming, layered appearance resembling small roses.'

If you're after cut flowers, check out your local florists using the British Florist Association's site.

Some florists also offer vases, but if you need help choosing one that will fit mum's sense of style, home editor and expert Victoria Purcell says: 

'A vase is a gift that keeps on giving long after the flowers have wilted. Look to Zara Home for a great selection of rustic, earthenware pieces, or H&M Home for something more contemporary and monochromatic. If your mum loves colour, Oliver Bonas has a wonderful selection of ceramics with spots, stripes and playful patterns.'

We particularly liked these three from H&M Home, Zara Home, and Oliver Bonas.

Book afternoon tea in London

• You can add extras, such as champagne
• Ranges in price from £38 to £90 per person

We like: Lots of choices – even ones that are less than £50 per person

We don't like: You might need to book for another weekend, since Mother's Day may be fully booked

If your mum has been cooking your dinners for longer than you can remember, perhaps it's time to treat her to something delicious. If you're not the best cook, an afternoon tea is a luxurious way to spend some quality time together. Luckily, we've already scouted out some of the best spots.

We liked Harrods for the price, and it's themed depending on the time of the year. It's among the cheapest afternoon teas we tested, at £55 per person when you book from a third-party site such as Virgin Experience Days. You'll get a savoury course, patisserie, scones, and there are several teas to choose from. Read our full review.

If you're looking for something a bit different, we also liked Brigit's Bakery afternoon tea bus tours. It might sound a bit chaotic trying to sip tea on a bus, but you'll get to see iconic sites across London while you enjoy your food and drink. You can read our review to see what we thought of the food and – most importantly – the tea.

Read our review of the best London afternoon tea before booking.

You can get tickets to the Harrods Tea rooms from Virgin Experience Days or Buyagift for £110 for two people (£55 each), where we saw it cheapest. 

If you'd like the bus tour tea, you can book from Brigit's Bakery from £45 per person.

Knoops 70% extra dark hot chocolate flakes and Lavazza MilkUp frother

• Knoops flakes are vegan friendly
• Hot chocolate flakes are tastiest in our testing
• Frother hot chocolate capacity: 180ml

We like: Frother foams fast

We don't like: Smaller capacity than other hot choc makers

While she will always appreciate someone flicking on the kettle, make mum's next cuppa extra luxe with these Best Buy hot chocolate flakes and a milk frother to heat it up in.

The chocolate flakes were the top scorers in our taste test – tasters loved the flavour and found the chocolate strength just right. 

The Lavazza MilkUp is much more wallet-friendly than the coveted Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser (£55 rather than £110), and it whips up hot chocolate quickly – perfect for busy mums.

To compare the MilkUp and the Velvetiser, read our review of the best milk frothers. 

If mum isn't a fan of dark chocolate, check out our other top-scorers in our test of the best luxury hot chocolate.

You can buy the flakes from Amazon or Knoops for £11 and compare prices for the Lavazza MilkUp frother below:

Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones

• Claimed battery life: 30 hours
• Can connect to two different devices at the same time
• Noise cancelling and ambient sound

We like: The sound is very customisable 

We don't like: Touch controls may take some getting used to

From podcasts as clear as crystal to work calls without distraction, Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones are a fantastic gift if you're looking to blow the budget this Mother's Day.

Sony claims that the active noise cancelling features eight microphones that allows the headphones to optimise it in real time. These headphones also have an ambient sound mode that lets you hear your surroundings while also listening to music.

They're good, but how good? Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review to learn more. You can compare prices below: