With the end of the summer not too far away and kids heading back to school, now is the time to get them kitted out with the essentials - and a school lunch box is definitely on the checklist of things to buy. There are so many fun styles on the market right now, and thanks to the array of durable and efficient designs around, parents will love them too.
RELATED: Best school uniform deals: Where to buy reasonably-priced school uniform for kids
MORE: The best Back to School tech deals & gadgets for students
What else, besides lunch boxes, are must-haves for bringing lunch to school?
Personalised Bumble Bee Drinks Bottle, £9.99, Ryman
SHOP NOW
Think outside the (lunch) box! Bento boxes and container sets with compartments are perfect to keep each lunch item sealed and separated. Depending on the size, these types of handy snack and meal containers can be easily packed into kids' lunch boxes or tucked into a school bag. Flasks, many of which come with utensils included, will keep soups, pastas and stews hot, while an insulated water bottle will keep drinks nice and cold.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a handy edit of school-ready lunch boxes, flasks and containers, from cute picks for young children to cool ones for teens, that your kids will love and you will, too. So get ready for back to school!
Best fun lunch boxes and bags for kids
Our selection of lunch boxes and lunch bags younger boys and girls will love, from Disney themes and unicorns to Minecraft.
Lion Face Lunch Bag, £6, John Lewis
SHOP NOW
Boden Mini Unicorn Lunch Bag, £19.00, John Lewis
SHOP NOW
Lightweight Dinosaur Lunchbox, £12, Marks & Spencer
SHOP NOW
Mei Lee and Red Panda Lunchbag, £15.00, Disney Store
SHOP NOW
Star Wars Lunchbag, £15.00, Disney Store
SHOP NOW
Minecraft lunch box, £17.68, Amazon
SHOP NOW
RELATED: The best vegan school shoes for kids: From Kickers, Superga and New Look
Best lunch boxes and bags for teens
We know teenagers are looking for something cool – and parents want something durable and functional. Here are our top picks for teen lunch boxes and bags that make the grade.
Hype Lunchbag, £14.99, WHSmith
SHOP NOW
Kate Spade Lunch Tote Bag, £28, House of Fraser
SHOP NOW
Daisy Lunchbag, £15, Paperchase
SHOP NOW
Jansport Big Break Insulated Lunch Bag, £35.36, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Marble Print Lunch Box, £12, Marks & Spencer
SHOP NOW
Best bento boxes
These gloriously efficient Japanese-style containers have compartments to keep mains, side dishes, snacks and desserts handily separated.
Campus bento box for kids, £10.50, KIDLY
SHOP NOW
Bento Lunch Box, £6, Paperchase
SHOP NOW
Sistema Slimline Lunch Box, £6.49, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Bamboo Lunch Box, £6.50, Etsy
SHOP NOW
Stasher Silicone Stand-Up Mega Bag, £28.07, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Best insulated food flasks
Of course, lunch isn't just about boxes! Complete your child's handy meal set with insulated jars and water bottles that are great for school
Keetan vacuum insulated food flask with folding spoon, £15.90, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Thermos Food Flask, £20.24, Robert Dyas
SHOP NOW
Thermos FUNtainer Food Flask in pink, more colours available, £18.47, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Best drink bottles and flasks
Contigo sip kids drinking bottle, £18.09, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Keetan water bottle, from £18.90 in various sizes, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Jumkeet Double Walled Vacuum Cup Flask, £12.99, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Football themed Thermos bottle, more themes & colours available, £17.23, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Waterdrop Tiger Bottle, £30.99, Selfridges
SHOP NOW
Where to buy personalised lunch boxes, water bottles and flasks
With sharing now a no-no, make sure your kid's lunchboxes and flasks are instantly identifiable with a personalised touch.
Personalised lunchbox, more designs available, £22.95, Not on the High Street
SHOP NOW
Personalised Lunch Box, from £15.33, Etsy
SHOP NOW
Personalised Water Bottle, £12.50, Not on the High Street
SHOP NOW
KEEP READING: A Norland Nanny shares her expert tips to make back to school easier for the whole family
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.