The 20 Best Christmas Crackers of 2024

The 20 Best Christmas Crackers of 2024: From Luxury to Traditional Favourites

Handpicked and thoroughly tested, here’s our ultimate guide to the best Christmas crackers of 2024. Whether you’re after luxurious designs or charming traditional choices, these crackers are guaranteed to impress - no plastic novelties included!

The perfect Christmas cracker for your family is the one that adds a festive spark to your holiday dinner. Whether you prefer formal, whimsical, vintage, luxurious, or traditional styles, there’s a cracker to match every taste and budget. This year, manufacturers have stepped up their game, so how do you choose the best one for your table? Crackers filled with games are always a fun and engaging option!

This year Marks & Spencer’s range includes crackers with family games inside. Crackers containing foodie treats – such as those from Melt – are easy crowd pleasers, while it pays to give children crackers with a treat worth keeping. 

I remember, in the past, crackers were often far from eco-friendly, but that’s no longer the case. This year’s top choices are largely glitter-free or feature eco-glitter, with recyclable materials taking center stage. Even the bows can often be reused. Instead of disposable plastic trinkets, today’s crackers are filled with practical, high-quality gifts you’ll actually want to keep and use.

I’ve reviewed all this year’s best crackers and you can read my reviews below, followed by a guide to how to make your own (it’s quite easy). If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

Which are the best Luxury Christmas Crackers of 2024?

• Best overall: Sock Geeks Hand Made Jumbo Christmas Cracker 
• Best Value Marks and Spencer Star-Shaped Christmas Crackers
• Best Price: Dunelm Luxury Winter Starlight Crackers
• Best luxury Christmas crackers: Harvey Nichols Luxurious Christmas Crackers
• Best beauty crackers: L’Occitane Festive Crackers collection

How We Selected the Best Christmas Crackers of 2024

When choosing the best Christmas crackers, I focused on those made from recyclable, plastic-free materials, ensuring that they contain meaningful and reusable gifts instead of disposable "tat." Retailers have been stepping up their sustainability game, and this year’s crackers reflect a growing commitment to eco-friendly celebrations.

To make sure these crackers were truly crowd-pleasers, I enlisted the help of my family - including my husband and my girl - so every choice comes with their seal of approval. From crackers filled with games to luxury gifts, this year’s selection is wonderfully diverse. While some crackers can cost upwards of £ 500, this guide focuses on options under £60, with a few exceptions for reusable high-end crackers that offer long-term value.

If you're planning your Christmas celebrations, don’t miss our other holiday guides to the best advent calendars.

Best Christmas Crackers for Every Style

1. Marks & Spencer Star-Shaped Christmas Crackers

Price: £20 for six
Why We Love It: The star-shaped design doubles as table decorations and is entirely plastic-free.

• For ages: 14+
• Includes: Wine charm, hat, joke, and charade
  Buy at Marks & Spencer

2. Sock Geeks Christmas Crackers

Price: £25 for six
Why We Love It: Add a quirky twist to your table with these crackers filled with high-quality, stylish socks. Perfect for spreading festive joy with a practical gift.

• For ages: 8+
• Includes: Hat, joke, a surprise pair of vibrant socks
  Explore Sock Geeks

3. Harvey Nichols Luxurious Christmas Crackers

Price: £65 for six
Why We Love It: These crackers contain premium foodie gifts like Champagne stoppers and raspberry jam, making them a gourmet treat.

• For ages: 12+
• Includes: Hat, joke, and Harvey Nichols Foodmarket gift
  Shop at Harvey Nichols

4. L’Occitane Festive Crackers Collection

Price: £22 for four
Why We Love It: Beauty lovers will appreciate these crackers with mini shower gels and hand creams in recyclable packaging.

• For ages: 12+
• Includes: One shower gel and one hand cream per cracker
  Discover at L’Occitane

5. Shelter Fill-Your-Own Christmas Crackers

Price: £15 for six
Why We Love It: Support a great cause while customizing your crackers for your guests.

• For ages: 5+
• Includes: Hat, joke, quiz question, and conversation starter
  Support Shelter

Christmas crackers are the heart of holiday table decorations, combining tradition, fun, and festive surprises. Whether you're after luxurious designs, eco-friendly options, or crackers filled with games or edible delights, this curated list of 20 crackers has something for everyone. Let's dive into the best of the best, complete with links to bring these crackers to your table!

6. Jo Malone Christmas Cracker

• Price: £38
• Gift Selection: Mini perfume, 30ml body wash, 15ml hand cream
• Recyclable: Yes

This luxurious cracker is perfect for gifting. The trio of Jo Malone’s signature scents, including the popular English Pear & Freesia, adds elegance to your table.
Shop at Jo Malone

7. Bamford Christmas Cracker

• Price: £33
• Gift Selection: 5 mini body washes
• Recyclable: Yes

Ideal as a gift or a table centerpiece, these crackers feature luxurious body washes inspired by English gardens.
Shop at Fortnum & Mason

8.

• Price: £5.95 each
• Gift Selection: 3 chocolates, hat, joke
• Recyclable: Yes

These delicious crackers contain a trio of premium chocolates, making them a delightful treat for all ages.
Shop at Hotel Chocolat

9. Sock Geeks Christmas Cracker

• Price: £95 for six
• Gift Selection: Vibrant, high-quality socks, hat, joke
• Recyclable: Yes

Add a quirky twist to your table with Sock Geeks’ festive crackers, which combine style and practicality. The vibrant socks inside are sure to delight!

10. Dunelm Bingo Crackers

• Price: £6 for eight
• Gift Selection: Hat, joke, bingo game card
• Recyclable: Yes

Inject some competitive fun into your dinner with these affordable bingo crackers. Perfect for family gatherings!
Shop at Dunelm

11. ASDA George Luxury Christmas Crackers

• Price: £8 for six
• Gift Selection: Classic trinkets, hats, jokes
• Recyclable: Yes

ASDA offers budget-friendly crackers with a unique diamond design and classic festive surprises.
Shop at ASDA

12. John Lewis Christmas Crackers

• Price: £15 for 12
• Gift Selection: Bottle openers, cards, nail clippers, hats, jokes
• Recyclable: Yes

These premium crackers are made with FSC-certified cardboard and feature timeless festive designs.
Shop at John Lewis

13. Lakeland Symphony Crackers

• Price: £19.99 for eight
• Gift Selection: Musical whistles, hat, joke, conductor's baton
• Recyclable: Yes

Perfect for musical families, these crackers provide whistles tuned to different notes for a night of festive chaos and fun.
Shop at Lakeland

14. MOTH Cocktails Christmas Crackers

• Price: £20 for six
• Gift Selection: Canned cocktails
• Recyclable: Yes

These adult-focused crackers include classic canned cocktails, adding a touch of sophistication to your table.
Shop on Amazon

15. Lakeland Sleigh Balance Game Christmas Crackers

• Price: £24.99 for six
• Gift Selection: Wooden sleigh game, stackable presents, hat, joke
• Recyclable: Yes

Part game, part decoration, these crackers are ideal for families and can be reused year after year.
Shop at Lakeland

Other Types of Christmas Crackers to Consider

Eco-Friendly Crackers

Sustainable brands like The Little Green Cracker Company and RHS offer plastic-free, recyclable, and even plantable crackers, ensuring guilt-free festive fun.

Game Crackers

Add entertainment to your table with crackers that double as games, like bingo crackers or murder mystery sets, perfect for competitive families.

Luxury Crackers

For those who love elegance, brands like Jo Malone and Bamford deliver premium options with high-end gifts.

Supermarket Crackers

Affordable yet stylish options from ASDA and Tesco offer classic designs and festive charm.

Gift-Focused Crackers

For a tailored touch, individual crackers from Sock Geeks, Hotel Chocolat, and John Lewis allow you to match the gift to the recipient.

Eco-Friendly and Reusable Crackers

Sustainability is a key trend this year. Brands like Forever Crackers and Sock Geeks have embraced eco-friendly materials, with some options being reusable. These crackers eliminate single-use plastics, with many featuring thoughtful gifts such as socks, candles, or handmade decorations.

How to Make Your Own Christmas Crackers

For a personal touch, try making your own crackers. It’s easier than you think!

What You’ll Need:

• Kitchen roll tube
• Decorative paper
• Ribbon
• Cracker snap (Buy on Amazon)
• Small gifts (like socks from Sock Geeks)

Steps:

1. Cut the roll into one long cylinder (for the body) and two short ones (for the handles).
2. Wrap the cylinder in decorative paper, leaving space for the handles.
3. Add a cracker snap, paper hat, and a small gift.
4. Tie off the ends with ribbon, cinching the handles for that classic cracker shape.

Personalize your crackers with names or unique gifts to make them extra special!

FAQs About Christmas Crackers

Who Invented Christmas Crackers?

Christmas crackers were invented in the 1840s by London confectioner Tom Smith, inspired by French bonbons. His son Walter added jokes, paper crowns, and novelty gifts to create the crackers we know today.

What Gifts Can You Find Inside?

Modern crackers often contain sustainable, high-quality items like quirky socks, beauty products, and gourmet treats, replacing the plastic novelties of the past.

Are Reusable Crackers Worth It?

Yes! Reusable crackers, such as those from Sock Geeks, are eco-friendly and customizable, making them a thoughtful and sustainable choice for the holidays.

This guide is your one-stop shop for finding the best Christmas crackers of 2024. Whether you opt for the quirky charm of Sock Geeks Christmas Crackers or the luxury of Harvey Nichols, these festive additions are sure to delight your guests!