Have you spent months planning your trip to London? In all your research on things to do and places to eat, you probably haven’t thought about the best things to buy in London.
Finding souvenirs in one of the most famous cities in the world is not difficult. Each attraction will have a gift shop. Chances are you’ll pass through at least one on your trip to London.
The Most Popular Things to Buy in London
In any big city you can find T-shirts, key chains, refrigerator magnets, snow globes and postcards. In London, popular iconic souvenirs include a statue of Big Ben, a small red bus, a metal telephone box filled with ugly tea bags, something from Harrods, and an umbrella. In Central London, you’ll find countless knick-knacks displaying the Union Jack.
But, why not try something with a more local feel? Consider bringing home souvenirs from London that Londoners commonly buy, enjoy and desire. Or maybe get souvenirs made by local artists?
After living in London for over a decade as an American married to a Brit, I’ve had time to really explore and learn about the best things to buy in London.
Best Things to Buy in London: Tea & Hampers
Tea in England
Drinking tea all the time isn’t just a British stereotype. That’s what people do here. Really. All the time.
But, to be honest, most drink very cheap PG or Yorkshire brand tips on a regular basis. You can pick up a box here or buy something more royal and luxurious like a tea from Fortnum & Mason.
This iconic British luxury department store currently holds a royal warrant from His Majesty the King and the Prince of Wales. Famous British chefs who like Fortnum and Mason include Nigella Lawson and Mary Berry. Charles Dickens was also a fan.
The great thing about choosing Fortnum and Mason tea is that you can find many of their popular products at World Duty Free at Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Keep this in mind if you don’t have time on a short trip to London to go to the main store or satellite store.
They won’t necessarily be cheaper, but you can save them for the last minute and not have to worry about finding room in your checked bag.
Buying bone china teacups made in the UK is an option, but I always worry about them getting too fragile on a long international flight. However, online you can find many beautiful coffee and tea accessories. I have a tea timer and use it every day.
Fortnum and Mason Hampers
The best Christmas gift from London that you can send to yourself or someone else is a Fortnum and Mason basket. They also ranked very high in the Royal list.
Team Scarves and Jerseys
Wearing gear featuring their team’s colors or logo is less common for British people than Americans. But, they were prepared for the game. Rather than wearing a team uniform, most people will probably wear a scarf to put around their neck so they can make sure their vocal chords are nice and warm when they need to sing for their team.
When I visited Madrid, I bought a Real Madrid cap after taking a stadium tour. You can take a stadium tour in London and also pick up some memorabilia at the end.
Stadium Tour
There are several London teams to choose from and several iconic stadiums to visit.
Some that I recommend are:
Regional Restaurant and Chef Cookbooks
Restaurant
Depending on where you eat in London, you might be able to buy one of the restaurant’s or chef’s cookbooks.
Chef
If you haven’t kept up with the development of British cuisine over the last decade, you may not realize how far it has come. London has around 80 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Popular British chefs and restaurants with books are:
Best Things to Buy in London- Travel Gifts
The best gift shop for travel lovers in London is Stanfords in Covent Garden. Inside you can find stationery, globes, notebooks and paper. You’ll find tons of gifts for people who love London, gifts for travel addicts, and gifts for map lovers.
You’ll also notice that they hold events every month for travel enthusiasts.
Christmas Gift from London
Ornaments
If you’re visiting London for Christmas, you’ll know how beautiful it is here. There are loads of souvenirs you can get for yourself or anyone who loves London and Christmas.
The Tower of London actually has a great selection of Christmas decorations. Additionally, Harrods Christmas Shop is one of the first shops to open every year at the start of Autumn. Selfridges and John Lewis also have great ornaments.
Traditional food
If you’re a foodie like me, perhaps the best Christmas food gift is Christmas pudding. However, despite the stereotype here, this is not necessarily what everyone eats.
However, that’s because they don’t know the best places to go in London to enjoy delicious Christmas pudding.
If you can make it to Borough Market, check out McLaren’s Christmas pudding. This can happen at any time of the year. Like fruitcake, Christmas pudding can be stored for a very long time.
You can read about their history as a small, family-owned company and what makes their offerings so different and exciting. Trust me- I didn’t like Christmas pudding until I tried this recipe. And you MUST follow the instructions to eat it properly like the British too. It’s quite spectacular!
Best Things to Buy in London- Most Unique
And there’s one souvenir that no one else is guaranteed to have- yours Photo.
I think the best idea to commemorate your trip to London is to show something yours experience. How about making a calendar of all your best photos? This way, every day you can be reminded of something special you did when you visited London.
London Travel Planner and London Weekly News
If you’re getting ready to plan your trip to London, here are some resources that will help you make it memorable and easy.
My London Travel Guide has prepared an itinerary for you, more on what to pack, pub and afternoon tea etiquette, shopping information, day trips to do and more.
London Travel Planner
1:1 Travel Consultation
Iconic London Trip Planner 3 days 2026
The Ultimate Christmas Guide in London
London Restaurant Guide
Best Things to Buy in London- What NOT to Buy
For shopping, there are certain British brands or clothes, shoes and bags that I recommend in America’s Guide to Shopping in London.
However, I will quickly highlight some things to buy in London that I would MISS! Many websites suggest you go to the M&Ms World store in Leicester Square. That doesn’t make sense to me. You can get candy at any convenience store in America.
Plus, Harry Potter merchandise is easily accessible on Amazon, so I won’t be taking up space in my suitcase buying it either. But, taking this photo on the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Making Studio Tour. or at St. John’s International Station Pancras is one way to include it in the photo calendar that I recommend.
What memorable souvenirs have you bought at a destination? Have you ever taken a photo and printed it to commemorate your trip?
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