23 Unique Christmas Presents For Puzzle Lovers

If you know someone who is willing to put in the hard yards to solve a problem, chances are they’ll jump at the chance to tackle a puzzle box.

With secret compartments and hidden openings, these tricky teasers are more than they seem.

This birch wood creation from Escape Welt requires 96 individual pieces to be correctly combined to complete the puzzle.

Puzzles and a cuppa often go hand in hand, so why not surprise your favourite solver with something they can savour?

A gift subscription from Bird & Blend Tea Company will see three different flavours of loose leaf tea delivered to your loved one’s door each month.

With 3, 6 or 12 month plans available, they could still be appreciating your generosity by the time next Christmas rolls around.

However you refer to the period between Christmas and New Year, chances are something to occupy the time wouldn’t go amiss.

A jigsaw can be mulled over alone (with mulled wine, potentially) or got to grips with as a group. There are a plethora to pick from, but maybe something with a personal angle is the way to go.

This one is created using the area of your choice as the theme. A house-shaped piece in the middle completes the puzzle.

Get a puzzles event in the diary for your chosen person with the help of an escape room.

These immersive adventure games see competitors locked in a room and given a series of tasks that will help them to puzzle their way out.

Some are themed, including this Lewis Carroll-inspired experience from Escape Hunt. They have 19 UK locations to choose from. Do you know someone brave enough to take on the Queen of Hearts?

Stationery can hold a special place in a puzzle solver’s heart — misplace their favourite wordsearch pen at your own risk.

Some items are particularly useful when it comes to a specific puzzle. Sudoku addicts might benefit from an eraser pencil, for instance.

If their stash of highlighters needs some rearranging then this charming magnetic organiser could be just what they’re looking for.

Once they have their pens and pencils sorted, they’ll want to put them to good use.

Some puzzle magazines will focus on a single puzzle type, while others will offer a variety of teasers to while away the hours.

Puzzle Selection provides the latter, and with a subscription your gift recipient will be able to look forward to a new set of puzzles every month.

Any crossword lover will know the niche knowledge required when taking on a cryptic clue or a particularly tough general knowledge puzzle.

A comprehensive reference book definitely comes in handy and Penguin have one which doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Which, incidentally, is one of the idioms a puzzles fan might want to look up.

From a Rubik’s Cube keyring to a mini games console, there are plenty of puzzle gifts small enough for a Christmas stocking.

And if you know someone who simply can’t take a break from puzzling, there’s even a sudoku toilet roll...

You’ll have to spend more than a penny, but not much more.

For a gift to remember, you might want to consider a weekend away.

As the ‘Queen of Crime’, Agatha Christie is beloved by plenty of puzzle solvers. Do you know one who would get a kick out of staying in the former home of the best-selling fiction writer of all time?

She adored this Georgian house with its views of the Dart estuary. What will you make of it?

The earliest known disentanglement puzzle is thought to date to the 16th century.

Although they can cover a wide range of designs and materials, the object remains the same — disentangle one piece or set of pieces from another. It’s this deceptive simplicity which means they can continue to intrigue puzzlers of all ages.

Twiddlers have created 36 metal puzzles, with difficulty levels ranging from ‘beginner’ to ‘ninja’.

What’s a festive gathering without a game or two?

Board games cater to a host of tastes, from horror to wordplay and everything in between.

For a spin on a classic (which might capture the attention of younger members at a Christmas Day bash), Monopoly have released this Squishmallows edition.

Discover more about the nation’s favourite board game here.

What about giving a game show fan the opportunity to step into their favourite series?

Several have made the move from TV to a live setting including The Cube and Total Wipeout.

But for those who want to hear the famous ‘start the fans, please!’, there’s The Crystal Maze Experience. Time to throw on a bomber jacket and make your way through the Industrial, Medieval, Futuristic and Aztec zones!

Christmas inevitably brings with it festive clobber, but the newest addition to the wardrobe could be a nod to a favourite hobby.

Take these Wordle-themed creations, for instance. We all know someone whose love of the 2021 smash hit persists, and it’s surely time the rest of the world knew too.

If you’re going to fall back on the fail-safe gift of socks, make them memorable.

Challenge your loved one to put their detective skills into action and crack a case.

It’s now possible to solve a murder mystery from the comfort of your own home, but if you want them to get the full experience then they can don their deerstalker and pick up a magnifying glass...

This premium break for two is available at 46 UK locations.

It’s fun for a crossword fan to find a clue with a special significance, but what if the whole puzzle was about them?

That’s what this bespoke crossword promises. Pick clues and answers relevant to the recipient and it might end up hanging on their wall for years to come.

Puzzlers often have a love of reading, and books with an enigmatic element tick both boxes.

Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes in 1887 and the adventures of the detective continue to delight.

This collection of stories could prove to be the perfect solution to your present conundrum...

For more book recommendations: Best Mystery Books For Crossword Solvers

Get to watch your handiwork come to life with a mechanical puzzle.

A present for the patient, the parts need to be put together to build a 3D object. Those who make it to the end are introduced to an extra component.

In this case, the 233 pieces combine to create a marble run with a stair lift, spiral track and s-rail.

A day out broadening horizons can still satisfy a puzzles itch.

Many museums have introduced a gaming element, and a visit to a castle will often come with a handy quiz for kids.

Why not plan a trip to Blenheim Palace (where Winston Churchill was born) and challenge friends or family to find their way out of the hedge maze?

Discover more mazes here.

Most video games are puzzles. From Tetris to Tomb Raider, it’s all a case of problem solving.

A recent release packed with puzzle quests is Hogwarts Legacy.

With ‘Arithmancy Doors’ and ‘Merlin Trials’, there’s plenty here to engage the inquiring mind in your life.

A great game to play can also be a beautiful thing to look at.

This wooden compendium from Manopoulos includes chess, backgammon, ludo and snakes & ladders. Plus, you can add a personalised engraving.

Accessories provide another chance for someone to wear their puzzles passion with pride.

This example comes in the form of a vintage letter tile necklace. Perfect for any Scrabble superfans.

Tell your preferred person to get their walking boots on as you take to the streets for a scavenger hunt.

For one which takes you through London, there’s this. A trail of riddles sent to your phone allows you to adventure across the city, discovering hidden sights along the way.

Christmas means that another year is nearly upon us, and with it a brand-new calendar.

Several offer the opportunity to provide someone with a puzzle every day, be it a card game of various teasers or 365 pencil and paper favourites.

This tile puzzle version from Genius Gifts requires the solver to arrange the pieces so that only the date and month remain visible.