We're traveling to London soon and I have a number of gifts to bring. Most things are not wrapped, but a few are in boxes. My question is: Should I unbox the items in my luggage? I want to use the boxes to gift wrap them later. We don't want to spend all day having customs look through the luggage.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Customs in London won't bother you...just go thru the Green Lane..Nothing to Declare. You might run into trouble at your US airport security checkpoint depending on the contents of the boxes.

You could keep the presents in the boxes, just DON'T gift wrap them. It's not the UK customs that you have to worry about much, it's the security check before the flight. If they see something "funny" in one of the boxes they need to check it and they will make you take the gift wrapping off.

My sister often travels with gifts. Her solution is to keep the boxes unwrapped and to have gift bags on the bottom of her suitcase with lots of tissue for filler.

Thanks for the info and suggestions.
I had thought of the gift bag and tissue thing and that's that way I'll
go. Thanks again.

Hi sbeau, when I travel with several gifts I pencil in the initials or the name of who the gift is for on the box, so that I know who is to receive what. And I pack some tissue and gift bags also. I have never had a problem with gifts in boxes (unwrapped of course). You should be fine.

Don't gift wrap anything. If you are taking the gift in your hand baggage, make sure you don't seal the boxes.
I was on a flight where all hand-luggage was inspected for all passengers (yes, it took a REALLY long time). The person doing the check opened all of my gift boxes.