Easy Thoughtful Gifts You Can Post for Christmas or Birthdays

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Easy Thoughtful Gifts You Can Post for Christmas or Birthdays

Published on September 16, 2025

3 min read

Why Send a Card When You Can Send a Personalised Map?

Looking for a meaningful gift that’s easy to post and guaranteed to make someone smile? Ordnance Survey’s Folded Custom Maps are a beautiful way to show you care, whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday, or just because.

The tradition of sending Birthday and Christmas cards is fading. These days, many of us rely on a quick social media update to send our best wishes. But there’s still something special about receiving a physical item through the letterbox, something personal, something unexpected.

Have a Mappy Birthday and a Mappy Christmas this year!

Many of us choose not to send cards because we’re trying to be more eco conscious, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to be more intentional, and more thoughtful in how we connect. So when it comes to small gifts for the people who really matter, why not send something that’s more meaningful than just a card, a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates? Send them a personalised map they’ll cherish forever, It’s a card, a gift, and a memento all in one.

A Personalised Marauder’s Map!

I bought the personalised map as a birthday gift for the 12 year old daughter of close friends. She’s a massive Harry Potter fan so I centred the map on her new school and called it her personal marauder’s map. Together with the map I’ve given her a compass so she can learn a new skill alongside her map! Andrew R

A Postable Personalised Gift from just £7.99 with Free Delivery to your recipient!

Prices start from just £7.99 for our small personalised maps and standard UK postage is free. You can even have it sent directly to the recipient. Our small personalised maps are one of the most affordable, thoughtful gifts you can give and they’re really easy to create.

Our mini maps are just £7.99 with free standard UK delivery

You don’t have to be an avid walker to love a map. People connect to places for all sorts of reasons, maps of where they were born, where they fell in love, where they raised a family, or where they simply feel most at peace.

A Personalised OS Map can be:

A nostalgic nod to a childhood home.

A celebration of a new chapter, like a first house or a big move.

A reminder of a favourite holiday, university town, or family tradition.

Maps tell stories. And when you give someone a map of their special place, you’re giving them a piece of their story to hold onto.

OS Custom Made Maps are:

Personalised to your recipient – you choose the location that means something to them, an image and the text for the front cover.

Emotionally meaningful – it could be where they grew up, got engaged, or love to walk, or simply centred on their home.

A lasting keepsake – our customised maps are something they’ll treasure, use, or display for years.

A thoughtful, affordable gift that can be posted direct

And because it’s made by Ordnance Survey, you’re gifting something backed by over 230 years of trusted mapping expertise. OS Maps is a British company and has been helping people explore and stay safe outdoors for generations, so your gift comes with a legacy of care, craftsmanship, and adventure.

Gifts that are easy to post and easy to create (but way more meaningful)

Here’s how easy it is to make your own OS Map:

Head to OS Custom Made Maps (it’s a better experience on desktop)

Choose the folded map option, small or large

Zoom in on any UK location that’s meaningful to your recipient and choose the scale you like the look of best.

Add a personalised image for the front cover (if in doubt add a pic of their favourite pet!)

Add a personalised title.this appears on the front cover.

Preview your map and place your order, have it delivered to you or your loved one.

That’s it! You’ve just created a unique, thoughtful gift that fits through a letterbox and is guaranteed to make them smile.

Start making a map!

Mappy Christmas Card Ideas

This year, why not send some Mappy Christmasses to just a few of your favourites! Save up to 30% on bulk orders.

A map of your recipient’s hometown with a festive title.

A favourite winter walk or holiday destination.

The place you’ll be spending Christmas together.

The place you’ve decided to meet up finally next year – no excuses if you all have a map!

Mappy Birthday Cards That Go Beyond

For birthdays, folded maps make unforgettable gifts:

Celebrate a milestone with a map of where it all began.

Send a map of a dream destination or bucket-list walk.

Invite someone on an adventure “Let’s walk this together.”

A folded custom map from Ordnance Survey is a thoughtful gift that fits through the letterbox but leaves a lasting impression. It’s a way to say “I know what you love, and I wanted to give you something that reflects that.”

Start making a map!

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