70th birthday gift ideas: thoughtful presents for mum, dad or grandparents
By the Notre Livre editorial team · · 7 min read
Someone turning 70 in 2026 was born in 1956 and has seen a great deal: decimalisation, the moon landing on a black-and-white set, the first home computers, grandchildren on video calls. A good gift acknowledges that life rather than adding to the clutter.
These ideas work for a mum, a dad, a grandparent or a family friend.
Experiences to celebrate
- A family lunch at a restaurant they love, with a cake and short speeches.
- A day trip back to the town or village where they grew up.
- A steam railway journey, a garden visit or a show in the West End.
- A weekend away with their partner, with the grandchildren's drawings tucked into the suitcase.
Keepsakes from their birth year
- A newspaper from the day they were born, framed.
- A playlist of the number ones from each decade of their life.
- A coin set or stamp from 1956.
- A "70 reasons we love you" jar, filled by the family.
Family photos and messages
- A photo book with one picture from each of their seventy years, as far as the albums allow.
- A video of messages from family and old friends, shown at the party.
- A memory book where each guest writes a page.
- Restored portraits of their parents and grandparents.
A book of seventy years
At 70, many people have stories that nobody has written down: the first job, national service in the family, the house they saved for, how they met. A book of their life keeps those stories for the next generations.
With a life story book from Notre Livre, they tell their memories at their own pace in a guided conversation and receive a hardback written from them. If you want to surprise them, you can tell their story yourself through a book about my dad or a grandparents book. The text is written with AI assistance from the memories shared, nothing invented, and you review every chapter before printing.
To compare it with StoryKeeper, YourStory, Storyworth and others, see our UK life story book comparison.
Practical gifts with a personal touch
- A good reading lamp, with a first book chosen for them.
- A garden bench with a small engraved plaque.
- A tablet set up with the family's photos and video calls ready to go.
How to choose
Start with how they want to spend the day. Some people want a big party, others a quiet lunch. Then pick one gift that looks back and, if you like, one that looks forward. For a parent or grandparent who loves telling stories, a gift that keeps those stories is the one the family will treasure longest.
Where to get a life story book made in the UK
Several services turn memories into a printed book. The main difference is who writes the text. Here are the main options, with the price shown on each website.
Notre Livre
Who writes the text
A narrative book with chapters, written from the memories with AI assistance, nothing invented; you review it all, unlimited corrections before approval
Advertised price
Tribute £55–£95, Memoir £95–£165; hardback plus PDF and EPUB, UK delivery included
StoryKeeper
Who writes the text
The storyteller writes or dictates; phone recordings are transcribed and editable
Advertised price
Classic £79 (1 copy), Plus £99 (2 copies); free UK delivery
YourStory
Who writes the text
The storyteller writes their own answers
Advertised price
£149 including one colour hardback and postage; extra copies £50; 30-day money-back guarantee
Storyworth
Who writes the text
The storyteller writes; built-in proofreader
Advertised price
Plans from £49, one premium hardback included
Remento
Who writes the text
Speech-to-Story turns recordings into editable chapters
Advertised price
Priced in US dollars (99 US dollars); UK delivery available for an extra fee
See the full comparison of 6 services (pages, timing, how the stories are told)
Prices taken from each brand’s public pages; check them before you order. Table written by Notre Livre, not an independent ranking.