loveyblue

I will be in Manchester and surrounding area for 12 days in mid April and would love to hear of some of your 'must bring home' items. In the past I have bought home Molton Brown hand lotion and lip gloss, Ibuprofen Gel and garden gloves. Please share some of your ideas. I love antiques, gardening, cooking and reading.
Thanks for you thoughts
loveyblue

annhig

Marmite?

Underhill

Elastoplast bandaids are the best!

BigRuss

Nurofen Plus or the paracetamol equivalent -- analgesic plus codeine.

I'll second underhill: Elastoplasts are better than Band-Aid or Curad or the new 3M brand too. We have some Elastos from Australia we bought in 2004 that are better than the Band-aids we've purchased from Target just months ago.

For food: lemon curd, Fortnum & Mason biscuits, Cadbury or chocolate bars of various sorts (esp. Flake, Aero, Kitkats that don't have equivalent flavors in the US).

For cosmetics -- Taylor of Old Bond Street, Trumper, Truefitt & Hill, Penhaligon, D.R. Harris and others have various offerings that will be less costly in the UK.

gillybrit

Since you will be there around Easter, I have to vote for Cadbury's mini eggs - the ones you can get in the States are made by Hershey and nowhere near as good. I have a long list of groceries that I pick up when I go "home" to visit my mum in England but so much is personal preference and what you are used to. Marmite would definitely NOT be on my shopping list though. On a practical note the best stain remover ever in my opinion is vanish - it's like a bar of soap that you rub on to clothes. Works wonders, easy to pack, and lasts ages!

loveyblue

I did try marmite on my last trip and although I somewhat enjoyed the salty flavor it will NOT be on my list.

Thank you for such great ideas. I am making my list and can't wait to start shopping. Last time I was there I bought some amazing sponges...I know how odd that may sound but they were really different and I use them on a daily basis. Everytime I do the dinner dishes I am reminded of my week around Manchester. Sometimes the little things are as fun to have as the wonderful antique items I have shipped home.

Would love some more ideas.

loveyblue

tuscanlifeedit

Ah, we are going in May and I can't wait to get Elastoplast bandages. I cut and burn my fingers often, and US brands never stick. I'm excited.

One of my favorite things are Duchy brand biscuits in a chocolate/orange flavor. I'll be looking out for them.

We have antique doorknobs from England that my husband has fitted to our inside doors. They look so fabulous.

Underhill

Bendick's bittermint chocolates are terrific and hard to find in the U.S.

My husband, knowing my love of Elastoplasts, gave me a big box of them for Christmas.

And, of course, books from Hatchards.

FoFoBT

Visit the charity shops. You never know what you'll find (correction: You WILL find Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, you'd be hard pressed to find a charity shop in the whole of the UK that isn't flogging several copies).
If you like Molton Brown, check out Jo Malone and Penhaligon.

tarquin

Our American friends take home vast quantities of Marks and Spencer teabags.

Lifeman

Instead of the Duchy brand biscuits, (I hate putting money more money into the already swollen Royal pockets), try Borders Chocolate Ginger Biscuits. Much nicer than the Duchy ones, from all good supermarkets.

I remember back in the early 70's, selling a "Black Cab" to an antiques dealer in San Diego who visited Manchester. He wanted it to advertise his business there and shipped it out to California. I think they were called Ray and Trudi? Or maybe not, it's a long time ago.

alihutch

All the profits from Duchy go to a charitable foundation, not Royal pockets.

tarquin

Isn't Duchy now owned by Waitrose? There was a puke-making plug for the shortbread on The Archers when the duchess of Cornwall visited, I will never buy it again.

alihutch

They have invested and have some exclusivity, but it's still owned by the Charitable Foundation http://bit.ly/3e6W5r

annhig

There was a puke-making plug for the shortbread on The Archers when the duchess of Cornwall visited, I will never buy it again.>>

that whole plot line made me want to throw up. though i have to say that camilla sounded somewhat more natural than some of her royal predecessors on the show.

SueHuml

I always take along several large sized ziplock bags and fill them with P.G. Tips tea Bags, or, Yorkshire Red (or Gold) tea bags. Though these are "ordinary" British Teas, there is nothing to touch them in the U.S. I also buy Heinz Salad Cream, (esp now that it comes in plastic bottles) though it is an aquired taste. I used to bring back Bovril, (similar to Marmite but beef based) but I don't think they allow meat based products back into the US. Also, on my last day in the country, I visit a supermarket and buy LOTS of really great sharp English Cheeses, (precut and packaged). I keep them cold until my ride to the airport, I wrap them in foil and pack them in my checked luggage (it's very cold in the airplane hold) the cheeses always last at least a couple of months once home and they are such a treat.(regretfully I forgot about my cheese and left it all in my sisters' refrig the last time I was home Another favorite is McVitties Chocolate Digestive Biscuits (plain or Milk Choc) Just wonderful and less than 1/3 the price that you pay for them in the U.S., if you can find them. I also buy a couple of jars of Blackcurrant Preserves or Conserve, a true taste of England that's often hard to find in the U.S. Or, you can try Gooseberry Jam.
I also vote for the Ibuprofen Gel, not available here in the U.S. but works wonders on achy muscles/arthritis.
Another "condiment" type purchase is tubes of tomato puree' it's inexpensive and really concentrated flavour. England is also a good place to buy all types of curry powders, madras, vindaloo, etc. usually found in small tins. As you might be able to tell I usually take an extra foldable zippable huge bag to check just for my food purchases. The ziplocks full of tea bags act as a nice protective packing material too!
You like cooking so you might want to check out some English Cook Books. I got a Jamie Oliver cookbook and a Delia Smith Cookbook called Delia's Complete Cookery Course - good and tasty recipies.
Hope this helps.
Sue

palmettoprincess

I ditto stopping by some charity shops. There is so much made in China merchandise at tourist shops. I found real lace, hand painted china and wool jumpers for pence at thrift stores and all was made in the UK.

hsv

"I can't wait to get Elastoplast bandages."

While I agree it's a good product, it isn't English - Elastoplast is German. Brought to you from the people behind Nivea: Beiersdorf.

FoFoBT

Elastoplast is German? (Why am I not more surprised ;-) )
Then on behalf of all the American fans who mistakenly thought it was British, danke!

MissPrism

A friend of ours went back with Marks and Spencer (what they insist on calling) cookies.
She especially liked the blueberry and oat and the chocolate chunk, but she took a varied selection.
She also took rabbit flavoured cat food for her cat ;-)