Novel layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were prepared by a co‐precipitation method and characterised using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As‐prepared LDH derived catalysts were first evaluated in the gas‐phase conversion of methanol. The results indicate that LDH derived materials act as selective catalysts towards dimethyl ether (DME), methane or light olefins formation, depending on their chemical composition. For instance, CuAlOx showed a high selectivity in DME up to 88 %, whilst CuCoOx converted methanol to CH4, C3H8 and DME. NiFeOx allowed achieving a full methanol conversion selectively into CH4 during at least 1800 min. Besides, Ni and Cu‐LDHs were successfully tested in the liquid phase benzyl alcohol (BzOH) oxidation leading to more than 50 % conversion. NiAl‐LDH appeared as the best catalyst for benzaldehyde production with a 71 % conversion and 100 % selectivity.