Fossiliam’s Christmas gift guide
Everyone knows that I live my life for shopping. Why would I go out on the wild, wet and cold Yorkshire Coast when I could be knee-deep in fossil-fuelled fast fashion made by children in Chinese sweatshops?
But seriously, rather than buying overpriced, environmentally unfriendly plastic tat with a huge carbon footprint this Christmas, how about supporting British small businesses and authors with some presents from the past? Here are some of my fossil, geology and natural history gift ideas.
(I was going to start with Fossils-UK’s Fossil Advent Calendar, but they proved so popular they’re already sold out. Best get your order in for 2026! Luckily they’ve plenty of other goodies in stock online, and in their Natural Wonders shop in Whitby.)
1. This beautiful book, a collaboration between palaeo-artist James McKay and author Roger Osborne, was published earlier this year. Yorkshire’s Amazing Dinosaur Coast is officially aimed at children, but pretty much everyone should own it. Buy it here.
2. In Whitby, the legendary explanation of ammonite fossils was that they were snakestones. To keep up this tradition, Marcus Cliffe, The Viking Fossil Hunter, has created Whitby Snakestones. Check out his marvellous hand-carved creations here.
3. If you’re not that bothered about ammonites, or indeed fossils, perhaps you’d prefer to read all about volcanoes? If so, I heartily recommend you buy my friend Dr Becky Williams’ new book, Volcanoes: 10 Ten You Should Know. You can buy it here.
4. If you do like fossils, especially ancient insects trapped in solidified tree resin, you could buy a lovely piece of Baltic amber from Mike at The Fossil Shop. The perfect gift to accompany a festive screening of Jurassic Park!
5. If you’re looking for something for the tree, meanwhile, how about a Christmas tree worm bauble? Dr Bryony Caswell is not only a top-notch marine palaeobiologist, she is also a wonderful artist. Why not treat yourself to one of her cards, prints and other marine-flavoured artworks here?
6. Staying with art, but moving across into landscape archaeology, Dr Rose Ferraby currently has her exhibition Downland on display at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes. It explores the relationship between artists and Wiltshire’s archaeology, and the beautiful catalogue can be purchased from St Jude’s Prints. You can also buy cards of Rose’s artworks here.
7. Perhaps, if you’re going for a bracing Wessex walk this Christmas, you might wish you had something palaeontological to fly. Well, you’re in luck, as you can buy your own pterosaur from Jurassic Kites!
8. And when you move back indoors, you can go from kites to kits. My friends Kate and Mihai run Zoic Palaeotech, purveyors of the finest fossil preparation tools on the market. Prep a trilobite with The Trilobite! Blitz some bone with The Balaur! Or pop over to their PaleoFloof sister shop and get a cuddly Kimberella!
9. My next book suggestion would be The Whispers of Rock by Dr Anjana Khatwa. I must confess I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but Anjana is one of the country’s leading Earth science communicators, and the reviews of her debut book have been excellent. You can buy it here.
10. Another book I’ve not yet read, but which looks absolutely terrific, is How The Earth Works by Dr Lucia Perez Diaz. Like James’ and Roger’s Amazing Dinosaur Coast, it is aimed at children but can be enjoyed by all. Lucia is an Earth scientist and illustrator who produces the most beautiful designs. I’ve added her 2026 ‘Adventures In Time‘ calendar to my own wishlist.
11. Talking of the 2026 calendar, if you’re looking for an experience as a gift, how about a family-friendly fossiling trip on the Yorkshire Coast? Natural Wonders/Fossils-UK have just released the first batch of dates for next year, which you can view here. (N.B. I’m leading the Redcar, Cayton and Filey trips, plus the odd Runswick Bay excursion.)
12. And last but not least, if you want a really bespoke palaeontological gift, how about booking me for the day? It’s my new private hire scheme and I’m calling it Pay-Liam-Tologist. I can take you out fossil-hunting or geology-walking pretty much anywhere in the UK (with sufficient notice). I’m also very happy to bring the Museum of Liam to your school, home, or place of work. Just drop me a message and I’ll be delighted to discuss your requirements.
Happy Christmas!
