London Souvenirs: 18 Distinctively British Products for Travelers

A great way to own and wear a fabulous Liberty fabric is with this modern multi-colored Liberty print knot watch. Stylish yet eye-catching in a range of contemporary designs it is a great way to give a truly British gift from this iconic London landmark store. Built in the 1920s from timber from HMS Impregnable and HMS Hindustan, the Liberty building is now as much a London icon as Harrods. Liberty prints continue to be developed by up and coming London designers and are instantly recognizable. The Liberty print knot watch is made from a twist of fabric and has a small circular gold watch face with neat gold fingers. It can be twisted, tied or doubled up, however you wish to wear it, and it looks stunning with a matching Liberty scarf or coordinating outfit.
Price: £55

These classy cufflinks are actually made in Deptford, Southeast London and exude a touch of classic luxury and sophistication without being flashy. They feature a beautifully detailed photographic image by Allison Wiffen of the iconic Tower Bridge. These contemporary ceramic accessories make a beautiful fashion statement with their subtle black and white image and glossy finish. The cufflinks are entirely hand-crafted and measure 0.7 inches square. Suitable for any age of recipient, they will add a finishing touch to any dress shirt. The cufflinks are made from lightweight white earthenware clay with nickel plated backs to make them light but durable. They are easy to pack in their beautiful black velvet presentation box, which features the maker’s signature inscribed on the white satin liner.
Price: £55

This tastefully designed and decorated pillbox is part of a collection of items produced by Buckingham Palace to celebrate the wedding of Prince William to Katherine Middleton on April 29, 2011. The official Royal Wedding china collection is only available from the Buckingham Palace shops and makes a very special souvenir and collectible gift. The pillbox measures 2½ inches in diameter and stands one inch high. The removable lid has the couple’s initials entwined in gold and silver with the royal coronet above. The collection is handmade in the Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent using methods unchanged for over 250 years. After being decorated and embellished, the pillbox has several layers of burnished gold and platinum added before a final layer of 22-carat gold is applied by hand. For safe keeping, the box is supplied in a presentation box and wrapped in tissue with designs inspired by wall hangings in Clarence House, one of the royal households. This lovely piece makes a thoughtful souvenir which is sure to become a family heirloom.
Price: £25

Boys of all ages will love this die cast metal Mini Cooper model which comes in racing red or black. Just like the original, it has a union jack painted on the roof and on both the driver and passenger doors. This scale model is 1:36 and is highly collectible. The model car measures 4½ inches long and the doors really open. It also has pull-back-and-go action wheels for even more fun. First produced in 1967, the Mini Cooper has been a favorite with the British public ever since, being both economical and fun. The sportier full-size version of the classic Mini even won the Monte Carlo Rally four times. The car marque was reintroduced by BMW in 2000 and continues to be a British symbol. This model makes a novel gift to take home as a souvenir of London’s crazy traffic and narrow streets.
Price: £4.16

Novelty teapots, decorated with images of London, are a great souvenir idea. They can serve as an ornament, a novel collection of London images and a practical tea pot for tea drinkers, as well as being a great talking point. There are numerous designs to choose from on the various London markets, although they're made by slightly flawed “seconds”, so check them carefully. This one is made by the Great British Pottery Company. The teapot is decorated with a montage of colorful London landmarks, such as the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It is finished with a gilt knob which matches the decoration on the spout and handle. The teapot is 6 inches high and 8 inches from the handle to the tip of the spout. It is designed to make two cups of tea. Even on the market, the traders will box the teapot for you to ensure it arrives home intact.
Price: £25

To celebrate its 150th anniversary in business, Harrods Emporium has produced a fine ground Blend 49 coffee in a heritage gold and green tin. As you would expect from this high-class grocers, the coffee is blended from the very best pure Arabica beans to produce a rich and aromatic coffee with a smooth nutty finish. Ideal for cafetieres and percolators, the coffee comes in a 250g size. Only available at Harrods, the Heritage collection tin is one in a series of favorite food and beverage gifts from Harrods' famous Food Hall. The dark green design on the front of the tin shows the Harrods building, inspired by the extensive archives. It sports the words “Purveyors of Fine Coffee since 1849”. This lovely tin of coffee will make a high-quality gift to take home and the sought-after Harrods carrier bag, provided with your purchase, will be equally appreciated.
Price: £10.95

Ever since the romantic comedy movie "Notting Hill", starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, Notting Hill has become the cult place to live, shop and eat. The film featured the Notting Hill Travel Bookshop among other local scenes, which are now immortalized on a number of trend-setting Notting Hill shopping bags. The idea captured the eye of global style network Lookbook who have created the practical shopping bags. They have since become must-have items. The bags come in a variety of designs drawn by local school children. A particular favorite is this bright pink and yellow cupcakes design by Natalie Imbruglia with the notation “Cupcakes in Notting Hill” in girly pink script. The durable and sustainable shopping bags are made from 100% cotton, which is ethically sourced. It makes a lightweight souvenir of the area and a welcome gift for those who prefer to have reusable eco-friendly shopping bags, rather than plastic supermarket carrier bags.
Price: £5

This distinctive dry gin is made to a secret recipe by Berry Brothers and Rudd, London’s oldest wine and spirit merchant. Established in 1698 at No 3 St James’s Street London, hence the No. 3 in the name, it is the perfect spirit for making the ultimate dry martini. Made from juniper berries with three fruits and three spices and distilled in the age-old traditional method in copper stills, the gin makes the perfect souvenir of London quality for a spirits connoisseur. It has an unmistakable hint of orange citrus with a zingy edge from the grapefruit peel. Moroccan coriander seeds add a slightly peppery bite along with the earthy angelica root and aromatic cardamom pods. The set includes a 700 ml green glass bottle of No.3 London Dry Gin with a 46% volume. It is fittingly paired with a half bottle of Dolin’s premium Vermouth which is 17.5% volume. The bottles are gift-boxed for safety and are the ideal gift to make the perfect classic martini - the most British drink for cocktail hour.
Price: £50

This signature zip wallet is created by London fashion designer Stella McCartney, daughter of musician Paul McCartney. Simple yet chic, the eco cotton fabric is beige with a simple monogram design. Bound with a faux leather trim, it will look good with any outfit. The zip is finished with a logo disc with the designer’s name embossed around it. Once unzipped, the brown interior opens flat to reveal a credit card organizer for up to 9 cards. It has a further zip interior pocket and a gusseted wallet for tucking other essentials. This Pembridge zip wallet measures 8 inches by 5 inches and is less than one inch deep. Spot cleaning is recommended for the eco cotton fabric exterior. This is a beautiful gift from an established London designer which would look great when teamed with the matching Monogram tote bag.
Price: £335

Unfortunately, London gets more than its fair share of rain showers, so this umbrella may find itself being put to good use before it gets a chance to be given away. Sporting the neat logo "I love London" with a bold red heart and white letters, it is made of black nylon. This quality umbrella has a chrome telescopic handle, making it ideal for folding up and tucking in a pocket when not in use. It comes with a matching sleeve and has a cord carry handle. The compact-size umbrella has a lightweight frame and collapses down, folds neatly away and is secured with a wrap-around Velcro fastener. Weighing just 1.3 pounds and suitable for men or women, this London umbrella is a perfect accessory for tourists and makes a great souvenir of your trip.
Price: £5.21

British Wedgwood is a classic gift of good taste, but taking a piece of bone china home may be a little tricky. This set of four Wedgwood Grosgrain napkin rings, designed by Vera Wang, may be just the answer. Vera Wang dinnerware is highly collectible and reflects the attention to detail used in her world-famous bridal gown designs. These contemporary rings are made from sterling silver and intricately detailed with beading and reeding to match the Grosgrain dinnerware collection. They are sure to be a talking point and make an elegant yet stylish accessory to any dinner table. The highly polished, gleaming silver will look perfect with any color table linen. The set of napkin rings are gift-boxed for easy packing and would make a lasting souvenir gift from London or the ideal wedding or housewarming present.
Price: £42.40

What could be a better souvenir and a more useful gift than this red telephone box bookend? Designed in the 1920s specifically for the London area, the K2 telephone box was commissioned by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, better known for designing London buildings, such as the Bankside Power Station, now housing the Tate Modern. This London icon is now recreated in a two-dimensional design to secure books against a wall or shelf end. The bookend is made from red powder-coated steel and the footplate slips beneath the books which hold it securely in place. This is a great novelty gift for men and ladies of all ages and is sure to look good in any contemporary or traditional setting. The bookend stands 7 inches high, 5 ½ inches wide and 4 ¾ inches deep, and is very lightweight and easy to pack.
Price: £20

Another quaint English custom is afternoon tea which can be recreated in style with this English Tea Time gift set. The collection includes three different teas: Earl Grey, English Breakfast and English Afternoon tea with 10 tea bags of each of these classic favorites. They are combined with a 200g pack of scrumptious Walkers Pure Butter Shortbread. Made from the finest ingredients with no artificial color or preservatives, the shortbread fingers are suitable for vegetarians and are kosher. The delicious shortbread is made by Walkers, a company started in 1898 by great grandfather Joseph Walker, whose mission was “to make the world’s finest shortbread”. It seems he achieved his aim as the shortbread was recently awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the fourth time – you can’t get much more British than that!
Price: £6.99

Live like royalty with this Buckingham Palace Hand Towel, part of a range of towels that are all boldly decorated in gold thread with the Buckingham Palace lion and unicorn emblem. This is the official royal coat of arms of the British monarch. The rampant lion with its crown represents England, while the heraldic unicorn comes from the royal coat of arms for Scotland. Made from 100% cotton, this high-quality hand towel is finished to a very high standard with deep plush pile and a woven trim. It measures a generous 33 inches long by 19 inches wide and is sure to add a little touch of elegance to any bathroom. The pure white towel with its regal gold design will match any existing color scheme and makes a thoughtful gift to take home as a souvenir of your trip to Royal London.
Price: £19.95

It is impossible to take in all the exhibits within the British Museum in one visit, as there are over 7 million items! This beautiful set of DVDs allows you to concentrate on some of the highlights of the museum and will be a thoughtful and welcome gift for anyone who loves ancient history and archaeology. Each DVD highlights a particular item, such as the Sutton Hoo Helmet and the beautifully crafted Aztec double-headed serpent which was made of turquoise over 500 years ago in Mexico. Other featured items are the Lewis Chessmen pieces which were carved over 800 years ago from walrus ivory and featured in the film "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone". Durer's Rhinoceros, which is one of the museum’s most famous artworks, is portrayed in another DVD as are the Assyrian Lion Hunt Reliefs, created over 2600 years ago. The final DVD in the set highlights the Head of an Ife King of Nigeria. The DVDs are all formatted to play worldwide and are beautifully gift-boxed.
Price: £35

The ultimate Beer Glass, or UBG for short, is a beautifully shaped glass made by Dartington Crystal, one of the finest crystal manufacturers in England. The classic glasses epitomize the British pub culture and come in their high colorful gift carton which ensures that these fragile glasses will arrive home in one piece. The cartons are decorated with a host of trivia about British beer to delight drinkers of real ale. The glasses have a short stem and are ergonomically shaped to be cupped in the hand while listening to tall stories at the bar. Taller cider glasses are also available for those who prefer a glass of “scrumpy”, as it is known in England. Dartington Glass started manufacturing quality glassware in Torrington, Devon in 1967 and has become one of the leading names in English crystal. Its hand-blown glassware and crystal is highly regarded and very collectible.
Price: £12.77

This clever game in a Union Jack-style box is an ideal gift even for those who have never visited the city of London. The game has 25 pairs of photographic images of London landmarks, such as Big Ben, museums, pubs, bridges and famous architecture. Players have to match the cards into non-identical pairs by theme, such as food, pubs, newspapers or railway stations. Suitable for youngsters as well as adults, it is a great way to enjoy 50 first-class scenes of London while getting to know the city a little better from a local perspective. The game will prove to be a delight to anyone who loves London or who wants to know it better. It is also the ideal gift to share with family and friends back home for hours of fun matching pairs of typical London sights.
Price: £14

Sold as an exclusive gift, these English Butterscotch All Butter Biscuits are deliciously more-ish. They are presented in a souvenir Harrods tin which is ideal for transporting the cookies home safely undamaged. The tin is sure to be useful, once empty, for storing other food items with its airtight seal. The tin is in a classy gold finish with embossed detail, and is decorated with a picture of the Harrods store. It is sealed with a gold lid which is decorated with the Harrods logo. The biscuits are made from the finest ingredients, including cow’s milk, oats, wheat, eggs and gluten with delicious crunchy butterscotch chips in the all butter biscuits. They make a perfect gift for the person who has everything, and the Harrods brand marks it out as a high-quality gift.
Price: £7.95