60th present

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

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

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

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

Beauty voucher for a really nice wellness place, a really nice book on something she likes or a photograph in a lovely frame of grandchildren, pet, a place she loves.

Why not ask her what she would like to receive as a present.

I got my friend a voucher for clay pigeon shooting she hated it ! But we went for lunch afterwards and had a great time

My friend and I always treat each other for lunch on our birthdays. We each try to find somewhere new where neither of us have visited before.

A silk pillowcase or a bottle of expensive bath oil that I’d never buy for myself

I'm closer to60 than 50 and would hate afternoon tea flowers chocolate hampers etc Champagne gin booktokens craft vouchers and lovely lunches with friends for me

Meal out just you two and a good natter over a glass of wine.

How about a cream tea hamper by post? My daughter sent me one for my birthday and it was a real treat.

Granless this is what i did for my friend's 60th a lunchtime meet up as its better to have the company than an undesired gift... can't stand parties...or even Surprise ones..?

On EBay someone is doing sterling silver necklace with a sixpence of year you were born. Only about £15 if I remember right. I thought what an different idea. I was looking for a special gift for someone. Then you could get her a balloon or something to go with it in a nice gift box

Or a personal photo book of all your good memories together so you can look back on all you have done together. And it’s a keepsake

A STONEGLOW Mist Diffuser £60 plus essentials oils from around £7. Morley's or Ely's. I have one and it is very relaxing. STONEGLOW Candles London

How about asking her / asking her family?
If she has organized a party, she will have thought about people wondering what to buy. She may have a favourite shop for beauty products/ shoes/ clothes ...she may like a particular drink,have a particular past time / be saving up to buy something ...

Afternoon tea at a lovely venue if you live by one another, or afternoon tea hamper from Betty’s of Harrogate if you are miles away. I also don’t like excess stuff I don’t need. I’d hate anyone to give me costume jewellery as non precious metal earrings turn my ears inside out ( even posh crystal ones) another great suggestion is the National Trust membership, if they like to get out and about. A friend gave my daughter a wedding gift of something she’d bought as an extra one along with her own. My daughter hated it and begged me to donate it to a charity shop in another town. If they have absolutely everything- maybe sponsor her a donkey for a year. I have done this in the past.

Money towards their dream holiday or a voucher for National Trust. No chocs or biscuits or anything foodie as we have an obesity crisis on our hands. Maybe a voucher for the gymn

My two lovely long standing friends treated me to a lovely lunch in an indian restuarant, then an afternoon tour of a winery and a tasting session for my 60th. It was a lovely day out.

I gave my friend a basket I made up of pamper things like bubble bath, body cream, face cream, face mask, chocolates and a miniature of gin. Etc etc She absolutely loved it and said I had obviously thought about what she likes.

To echo the idea of a charity gift, I recommend goodgifts.org. You can choose from a wide range of gifts for lots of different causes, at a wide price range too. You could pick a cause that you know your friend cares about. For instance, you can buy a week's hot meals for a hungry child in the UK, clothes for a street child in a poor country, operations to save people's eyesight in India, various gifts for animal charities, hedgerows to be planted to help the environment, a week's supply of food for a pensioner living below the poverty line... It would be a nice way to mark a special birthday by helping others at the same time.

@Witzend

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.

That's not always the case. I've had people buy me gift cards from both of these stores several years ago, I've still got the little plastic cards but they're only valid for 2yrs and I've never bothered using them because I never go into either store.

Give me a Tesco or Sainsbury's gift card I'll be far happier.

I'm not into gardening but I really loved the fragrant rose bush I was given.
Imo a big birthday deserves a present for memories. If you have photos of her happy memories, they can be digitised and put into a book
Boots certainly do different sizes/prices
www.bootsphoto.com/photo-books.html?cref=ref_sem_goo_-VT!106003049260!kwd-18392332120!451366125344!!c_28243_x&s_kwcid=AL!6025!3!451366125344!b!!g!!%2Bphoto%20%2Bbook&keyword=%2Bphoto%20%2Bbook&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv5uKBhD6ARIsAGv9a-xYkXoCIV4EOnivVcDW7eZa_L_pFZcxgFGoGi-0N6bF85HB3qqtP3caAlGUEALw_wcB

I have a big Birthday coming soon,I hate parties ( used to love them when I was young) and really only want my children and Grandchildren here on the day.I have like most others, enough"things" I dont need anything, but afternoon tea with someone would be lovely.
Gransnet have come up with some lovely ideas, I make take them as inspiration for my future Birthday if anyone asks.