London

1 Football shares
For the man who has everything, how about a share in his favourite club? You can choose from Celtic, Charlton Athletic, Manchester City, Millwall, Queen’s Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur or Watford. The recipient gets a presentation certificate, club and share information and a registration card. Once they register their share they will be entitled to all the regular shareholder benefits including an invite to the AGM as well as annual reports. £29.95.
(0870 122 1007/www.prezzybox.com).
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2 Tank paintballing
Taking it in turns as part of a three-man crew, your recipient (kitted out with tank radio headset, Kevlar helmet and tank suit), will be able to drive the 17-tonne FV432 armoured personnel carrier, load the breach with 40mm paint rounds then aim and fire the cannon at an opposing team. £79 per person.
(020 8203 6333/www.gift-heaven.com).

3 Skiing/snowboarding tuition
A white Christmas is guaranteed in Milton Keynes at the Xscape SNO!zone . The vast, hangar-like building is home to a 170-metre piste with real snow that lends itself perfectly to learners. For £165 your favourite adrenalin junkie can spend a day learning to ski or board. The price includes clothing and equipment hire, lunch, drinks and tuition.
(0871 222 5670/www.xscape.co.uk).

4 A year’s education for an African child
For £25 at goodgifts.org you can pay for an African child’s education for a whole year – offering real potential for a better future. The site has loads of other great ideas including the gift of clearing 40 square metres of minefields (£60), buying an acre of rainforest (£50) and sponsoring a tea dance for the elderly (£45).
(020 7794 8000/www.goodgifts.org).

5 Membership to the London Library
For the unashamedly bookish, buy an annual membership for the world’s largest independent lending library since 1841 – the London Library at 14 St James’s Square, SW1. For £210, enjoy access to 1 million dusty tomes including fiction, biography, art and more. Past members have included Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf, and contemporary advocates include Tom Stoppard.
(020 7766 4720/www.londonlibrary.co.uk).

6 Adopt Violet the orangutan
Orangutans all over Borneo, Indonesia and Sumatra, Malaysia are increasingly under threat due to deforestation. Violet – a baby orangutan – lost her mother before she was found by villagers only to be kept in a cramped cage and fed leftovers. Rescued by the Orangutan Foundation and now in long-term care, she and other sick and orphaned primate friends are being looked after with the aim of making it back to the wild. A year’s adoption costs £24.95.
(020 7724 2912/www.orangutan.org.uk).

7 Oyster Card
Apart from cheaper access to the capital, you’ll be entitled to a string of discounts at restaurants, shows and exhibitions, a LoveFilm offer, or the potential to join Virgin Active for free. Either buy one and put as much as you can afford on it or set up a monthly direct debit.
(www.tfl.gov.uk).

8 Royal Horticultural Society Membership
Gardens come at a premium in this city – but for £47 your recipient gets a year’s free entry to the four RHS gardens, free entry into 140 RHS-recommended gardens, subscription to The Garden magazine, privileged entry to the Chelsea, Hampton Court and Tatton Park flower shows as well as use of their gardening advice service – the equivalent of having Titchmarsh on tap.
(0845 260 5000/www.rhs.org.uk).

9 The Album Club
London-based Rough Trade is the definitive record store for music connoisseurs. Membership of its Album Club means your recipient will be mailed one of the must-hear albums every month, and with previous tip-offs including Ray LaMontagne, The Gossip, The Go! Team and Antony & The Johnsons, it would seem that these guys have a great ear for new talent. Twelve months’ membership is available for £129.60.
(www.thealbumclub.com).

10 Racehorse ownership
For as little as £85 your recipient can see their nag in the parade ring, meet the trainer, get free or discounted racecourse entry and (best of all) if the horse wins they’re entitled to a share of the prize money. Either you or they can choose the horse.
(0845 838 1532/www.ownaracehorse.co.uk).