A good Airbnb welcome basket gives guests a small, useful arrival treat without creating a complicated shopping and restocking job. For a London flat, a modest selection that fits the space and the booking is often easier to deliver consistently than a large hamper.
Start with what you can reliably provide, then decide the contents, cost per booking and person responsible for the final check. The ideas below are suggested setups to adapt, rather than a list of items every host must supply.
What should you put in an Airbnb welcome basket?
Choose a few items with a clear purpose: a first hot drink, a small snack and a short welcome note. Keep the basket separate from the practical guest welcome pack, which should explain access, Wi-Fi, appliances and contact details.
- Tea or coffee: choose sealed products that work with the equipment available. Ground coffee is little help if there is no way to brew it.
- A small packaged treat: biscuits, crackers or another snack can work, provided the original ingredients and allergen information remain available.
- A personal note: welcome the group, identify what is complimentary and point them towards the house guide.
- An optional local item: choose something easy to replace and check the supplier's current details before describing its London connection.
There is no need to fill every corner of the tray. Avoid adding items simply to make a photograph look generous. Guests also need somewhere to put their own food and belongings.
Three basket ideas for different arrivals
A simple first-evening basket: a small sealed tea selection, compatible coffee portions and one packaged snack to share. This suits a host who wants a repeatable setup with few product lines to manage.
A local-treat basket: the same basic drinks setup with one labelled product from a supplier you have checked. Keep a standard substitute available so a stock shortage does not turn into a last-minute shopping trip. If the exact local product is promised in the listing, agree any necessary change with the guest rather than silently swapping it.
A longer-stay arrival basket: a starter selection for the first evening or morning, with a note explaining what is supplied once. Distinguish this from routine kitchen consumables and any ongoing replenishment included in the booking.
For each option, adapt quantities to the guest count. A single small packet intended for two people may look accidental in a six-person booking. These examples are planning ideas, not descriptions of baskets supplied at StayinLondon properties.
Set a cost per booking, including preparation
Calculate the full cost of the gesture: products, packaging, purchasing time, assembly, checking and anything discarded. A cheap product can become expensive if someone has to make a special journey to buy it before every arrival.
Illustrative calculation: if products cost £6, packaging costs £1 and the allocated preparation cost is £3, the basket costs £10 per booking. Across 12 arrivals that is £120. These figures are an example budget, not market prices, a recommended spend or a claim about our operating costs.
Use a reusable tray where practical and standardise a short shopping list. Review unused items and waste before increasing the budget. A basket cannot guarantee better reviews or a higher nightly rate; judge it alongside the basics of a clean home, accurate listing and reliable arrival.
Keep food information with the products
Leave food in its original packaging and keep ingredients, allergy warnings, date marks and storage instructions readable. Do not decant snacks into unlabelled jars for presentation. GOV.UK's allergen labelling guidance explains that regulated allergens in prepacked food are highlighted in the ingredients list.
Do not describe a mixed basket as suitable for an allergy or dietary requirement unless you can substantiate that claim for the actual products and handling. If a guest raises a requirement you cannot reliably accommodate, offer to omit the food items. Do not assume a vegan label settles an allergy question.
For a simpler routine, choose products whose storage instructions suit the arrival setup. Chilled items need arrangements that work with delivery, housekeeping and the guest's arrival time. Follow the product instructions and check dates before placing anything out. The official food labelling guide explains the information consumers should check.
Alcohol need not be the default gift. A non-alcoholic setup avoids guessing guests' preferences. Keep food and drinks separate from cleaning products and other supplies.
Make the promise easy to keep
Decide whether the basket is a regular inclusion or an occasional extra. Airbnb's ground rules for hosts require listing information and host statements to reflect the features and amenities available. Photographs and messages should match what the booking will receive.
Use a short note such as: “Welcome to London. The items in this tray are complimentary arrival supplies. Please check individual product labels before use. You can find the house guide and our contact details beside the tray.” Adapt the wording to the actual setup and avoid suggesting that supplies will be replenished if they will not.
Check the kitchen equipment too: clean mugs, a working kettle and the right coffee accessories turn the contents into something guests can use.
A repeatable restocking checklist
- Check the incoming guest count and any agreed changes to the standard selection.
- Clean the tray and inspect each product's packaging, dates and storage requirements.
- Place the agreed quantities with their original labels accessible.
- Add the welcome note and leave useful worktop or table space clear.
- Record completion and flag shortages to the person responsible before check-in.
Add a short basket section to the property inventory checklist. Specify countable units and acceptable substitutions, then assign one person to order reserve stock. Remove opened, damaged or unsuitable leftovers from the next guest's allocation.
StayinLondon handles guest communication, housekeeping and day-to-day property operations through its London Airbnb management service. Request a property assessment to discuss a manageable setup for your home.
Official guidance checked on 26 October 2026. Basket ideas and budgets are illustrative suggestions. The cover is an original illustration.
