60th present

What about buying a ticket for a show and one for yourself and have a lovely day out together.

How about a charity donation in your friends name? I ask family and friends for this for Christmas and birthdays. I really don't need any more stuff, and I suspect this is true of many of us on here, but £30 could make a real difference to someone in dire need. A charity which helps women and girls perhaps?, eg Water Aid, Doctors Without Boarders, Save the Children, one of the charities trying to help refugees, mothers and children in war zones, eg the Yemen.... or support for a local food bank or homeless charity in the UK .... sadly the list just goes on and on....
Most organisations will send a card to acknowledge and send appreciation for a donation in sometime else's name I think

Theatre token. They can be used at many provincial theatres as well as London theatres.

I just bought sil a box of selected British grown teas from Tregothnan online, which was much appreciated. If she drinks tea.
Have also sent vouchers for ordering a meal from Pasta Evangelists in recent months, to be used at recipient’s leisure

I was looking at this website for a similar birthday : valentte.com/organic/home-fragrance-gift-box/#configuration
or I guess if I was attending in person something could be made up like that from local shops

What about a nice swarowski pen. I had one bought for my 60th and love it. Afteenoon tea is always very nice or a nice vase or wine glasses.

Not for a birthday but someone kindly sent me a beautiful gift box from Bettys of Harrogate. It was a lovely treat.

I think taking your friend out for a meal sounds like the best idea.

You can commission maps of where they were born with the name and birthday written in calligraphy on them.
A newspaper for the day they were born and something advertised in it as a small present, like jacobs biscuits or soap that was around at the time.
A recipe book from the year they were born Bero comes to mind.

I write poetry, so depending on how close you are, I'd need a few details about her and I'll happily write one free and email it to you then you can get a nice frame to pop it in. X

Something personal to them, or as others have suggested, afternoon tea, book tokens, vouchers for shop she shops at, eg M&S, Next, Amazon

I've just had a 60th birthday and my favourite gifts were a 1961 lucky sixpence necklace and bracelet which I love . I also had an engraved trinket box and a glass vase engraved . Hope this helps

I wouldn't want any stuff, was bought a dome with imitation small bouquet on a wooden base under it. made by 'shirylzee' not my thing at all not into ornaments of anytype at all. It sits on the side and I wish they'd saved their money but had to pretend to like it.

I have just bought a friend a bottle of flavoured gin with a glass, silent pool, I think.

A delicious bottle of wine from Fortnum and Mason. They can deliver either to you or to her.

No more stuff - a day out with a picnic please!

I'm with NotAGran - really don't like stuff, but afternoon tea with a lovely friend and a long natter would make me very happy indeed

My friend for her 60th was given a gift token for a Tattoo... And she went for it now has Bird on her butt!

If I was your friend I wouldn’t want any of the things suggested.
I would much prefer a coffee and scone one afternoon and your company .

I received (and appreciated) lots of alcohol for my 60th. The best was a magnum of wine my son bought en primeur when I was 50 and laid down for ten years so we could open it on my 60th.

Bottle of bubbly?

I've just found a wine tasting group near my friend, each session costs £20. I'm going to find a pretty wine stopper and hide the voucher in the box.

When in doubt, IMO, M&S or John Lewis vouchers will never be wasted, or end up in charity shops, which I suspect is the fate of a good many presents.

I recently sent M&S vouchers for a niece’s 50th - I stopped sending birthday presents years ago but a 50th is special. Had a lovely card thanking me for the unexpected present.

If I was the friend, I would like a M and S voucher but then I am pretty boring!!

At our age I always think we have enough “stuff” so, as others have suggested, things like subscriptions to local gardens, magazines etc?
Although I have a friend who still writes letters so lovely stationery is always welcomed-or a box of assorted greeetings cards for all occasions