10 Best Gifts for Lord of the Rings Fans UK | Alan Lee The Noble Collection and More

In the seven decades since its initial publication, The Lord of the Rings has been printed in a variety of editions. If you’re looking for a gift for someone that loves Tolkien's story, what better gift than a beautiful hardback edition?

The 50th anniversary editions feature covers that recreate those of the original publications, and recently a lovely box set was released featuring the gorgeous illustrations of renowned Tolkien artist, Alan Lee. 

If they’re not the perfect excuse for your friend or relative to join the fellowship for an adventure once again, then these books will certainly take pride of place on their bookshelf.

The War of the Rings isn’t the only event to have occurred in Middle-earth. Tolkien created an entire legendarium, full of stories that span several ages, all the way back to the creation of the wider universe in which Middle-earth resides.

Tolkien’s world is so well established that, to varying degrees, connections to The Lord of the Rings can be found in virtually all of his writings. If you’re buying for someone that’ll appreciate learning more about the events that lead to the War of the Rings, The Silmarillion or Unfinished Tales are a safe bet. 

Both feature chapters that directly reference characters and events in The Lord of the Rings, while also including other tales that occur across previous ages and which find themselves echoed throughout much of Tolkien’s famous triptych.

If you don’t feel that the recipient of your gift will want to stray too far from the events of the third age, then there are plenty of books that’ll give them a newfound appreciation of The Lord of the Rings as they enjoy reading it all over again.

The Tolkien estate-approved The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion is designed to be read alongside Tolkien’s books and offers interesting tidbits and deeper information that are sure to enhance any re-reading. 

Illustrated editions, too, can enrich the way in which you envisage Tolkien’s world, while audiobooks can offer a fresh way to enjoy the story while you walk or drift off to sleep.

Just as the books have been re-released in varying editions, the films can also be purchased in several different forms. 

In order to make them suitable for theatrical release, Peter Jackson had to cut down the running time of his original films. These longer versions now exist as the ‘extended editions’. The Lord of the Rings is perhaps the only 9-hour film series that leaves you wanting more, and if your friend or loved one hasn’t seen the extended editions, they’d make a great gift.

Their enduring popularity has ensured that the films have also been released in a variety of formats since their initial launch 20 years ago. The latest to join the family are the 4K Ultra HD editions, released only recently. The trilogy is fit to be enjoyed over and over again, and what better way to see it than in glorious 4K resolution?

Lots of films have some kind of tie-in merchandise, but The Lord of the Rings’ huge and enduring popularity means that all manner of associated toys, figures and artwork can be found.

If you’re buying for someone that likes to furnish their home with evidence of their favourite pop culture interests, then why not look for some LoTR-related merchandise? It’s easy to find and can range from products that are entirely faithful to the films to tongue-in-cheek gifts that are sure to raise a smile.

The clue’s in the name: the plot of The Lord of the Rings revolves primarily around one thing – Frodo’s journey to throw the Ring of Power into Mount Doom. Images of the ring feature heavily in the film, and it makes total sense that any ardent fan would love to get their hands on the precious. 

Luckily, prop replicas allow them to do just that, and while it’s possible to track down solid gold rings if you have thousands of pounds to spare, it’s also possible to find pretty convincing replicas for a fraction of the price.

Rings aside, The Lord of the Rings is full of symbolic and memorable items, meaning that you have a pretty wide range to choose from when it comes to prop replicas. The Elven brooches, gifted to the fellowship by Galadriel, are also a firm favourite that any fan would be proud to own.

After the cast of characters and impressive visuals, perhaps what most people remember about The Lord of the Rings is the music. Howard Shore’s incredible soundtrack won a whole bunch of awards, including two Oscars, and rightly so. His compositions are at the heart of the movie, denoting different locations and characters, and lending emotional heft to many scenes.

They’re that good, in fact, that they can be enjoyed entirely on their own without the film to accompany them. If your Tolkien fan is also a fan of music, particularly classical music or movie soundtracks, then the official soundtrack would make a great gift. 

Soundtracks for all three films can be bought individually or in one convenient box set, which runs to over 10 hours. Perfect for daydreaming about a favourite scene while doing tedious housework!

After film and literature, The Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien’s wider legendarium, has been most widely represented in video games. Be wary, however, because, as is the case with many games based on films or books, some Middle-earth-based games are downright stinkers.

However, some fairly recent releases are definitely worth considering, such as The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar for Mac and PC and 2014’s Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which was released for several consoles, including the PS4 and Xbox One. 

The latter game creates an entirely new story that occurs between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, with Peter Jackson even being consulted to ensure that the tone adhered to that of the films. It’s an entirely new story, and an entirely new way for even the most die-hard fan to experience Middle-earth.

Of everything relating to Middle-earth that one could purchase, it’s perhaps the artwork and sketches of two men, Alan Lee and John Howe that bridge the gap between film and book most effectively.

Both have created stunning depictions of Middle-earth that have inflamed the imaginations of readers for decades – so much so, that both were consulted as lead concept designers on the set of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, and much of their imagery informed the look of locations, objects, and scenes in the films.

For readers or film-buffs alike, a collection of artwork created by either of these unparalleled illustrators would make a wonderful gift.