What to buy from London?
 

Hi there! Husband is going to London for the 1st time and I'm preparing a shopping list for me and the kids (3y, 2y) LOL!. What does everyone stock up on or buy when they go to London (I've read the great cosmetics thread already)? Anything that can be packed into a suitcase is of interest to me (ie. gourmet food stuffs, toys, clothes,...) Besides some tailored shirts, London scented soaps, I've asked him to get a Manchester football/soccer top for the kids. Maybe even a Beefeater hat haha. Also having him look into Burberry kids to see if it's cheaper there. I'm open to all suggestions. Thanks!
(FYI - The last time he went to Paris he bought back salts, foie gras canned, Loccitane soaps, dpam clothing for the kids, a nice LV purse for moi :)

Penhaligan fragrances, Moulton Brown cosmetics, Liberty of London scarves or fabric (I bought a paisly oilcloth tote) Mulberry handbags.

Jelly babies!

My son has just returned and brought his 2YO son a Paddington Bear duffle coat - very smart and practical.

Sealed crocks of Stilton. Harrods has them. Lots of nice mustards available also. I bring back tea from Whittard's because I love their original blend. There is no shortage of all kinds of teddy bears for the children. My friends want me to bring them Smarties. :)

Mousepads with the London Underground (Tube) map on them. Have sent them to most of our friends planning visits to London. They can glance at the map while swanning around the Internet checking locations of hotels, restaurants, sights. Cheap and very easy to pack.
Jo Malone candles.
Moorcroft pottery.

Along the lines of Paddington Bear, I once found in the basement book department of Selfridge's, a beautifully illustrated book with all the Paddington Bear stories. I bought it for my niece. I think that particular edition may be out of print, but if you can find it, worth picking up.
P.S. Wouldn't hurt to remind him that a nice piece of jewelry from Asprey will fit easily into his carryon ;-)

In one convenient neighborhood, you can do a lot of shopping.

Start him on Regent Street, where Liberty, whose scarves are always popular, is near Hamleys, an absolutely fabulous toy store.

Around the corner on Jermyn Street are the best shirtmakers in the world, and for many years I have bought shaving soap from Floris, also on Jermyn Street, more affordable than bespoke shirts!

This is all just around the corner from Fortnum and Mason at 181 Piccadilly (Canadian owned).

If he hasn't spent enough money, direct him through Burlington Arcade toward Asprey's on New Bond Street. Pray that the Canadian dollar keeps rising.

Ohmygawd Btilke...what a great gift!
Thank you, we have a special Christmas party (10 tight girlfriends)...perfect idea since we keep the price at under $15 each.

I always buy Mustard and other condiments from Harrods and shirts from Curtis and Hawes shirtmakers.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful posts! I'm adding them all to "the list".

Just wondering what are jelly babies and where does one purchase the Paddington Bear duffle coat (is it a particular Paddington Bear store or department stores?)

Keep the posts coming - thanks so much again :)

I think the poster meant a duffle coat like Paddington wears - in which case any clothes shop.

You can buy paddington bears at Paddington station (obviously)

you guys are shameless!!

Paddington at Paddington:

http://www.paddingtonbear.co.uk/en/1/colbuyuks.mxs

and in person:

http://content.answers.com/main/cont...ingtonBear.jpg

Jelly babies are sweets (candy).

Carrybean - they've done something to Smarties. They've gone all pale and pasty and taste vile now!

I always stock up on Paracetamol with codeine at Boots pharmacy. No prescription necessary, just ask for it at the pharmacy counter.

I just returned and bought various candy bars at Boots for sampling in the US. Cadbury milk chocolate is the current winner. Trix not bad too.

what is this? Paracetamol with codeine

Paracetemol = Aceteminophin = Tylenol.

You can get it with a bit of codeine in it in Britain, Canada, and other places. Dreadful stuff, I'd rather drown than take codeine.

Youngtom, do you mean Twix?

It is the UK brand of Tylenol with codeine or Tylenol 3. We need a prescription for it in the US. It never hurts to have a mild pain killer on hand.

IMO, buy candy, especially Cadbury chocolate. It is totally different than the Cadbury you get in the US b/c in the US it is really just a repackaged, waxy old Hershey product. Cadbury chocolate is so much better, IMO, much more rich tasting.

For me, even looking at the candy displays in markets in England conjures up a different feeling. The packaging of candy in England is much more interesting, using different colors and fonts and it almost creates a sense of wonder. It's odd to say it, but even as a 40 year old, looking at British candy makes me feel like a kid hoping his Wonka bar has the last golden ticket inside. US candy packaging seems to appeal to the "TOTALLY EXTREME!!" crowd -- all sizzle and no steak.

Sorry -- didn't see you were from Canada, in which case you probably already get better candy than we do here in the US!

fnarf, it really isn't dreadful for someone that suffers from severe headaches. As in all things, it is a matter of opinion. I certainly wouldn't prefer to drown.

The Paddington Bear Coat came from the Paddington Bear Shop at Paddington Station!

I always go to the grocery and buy mango chutney,trifle sponges,gingernuts (snaps) sooo good,Walkers Sensations flavored chips(crisps).. like lamb and morrocan spices,chunks of hard cheese,tea,lemon curd.I just didnt spend anything in the stores like Harrods and Marks and Spencers it was soo expensive!! 700 for a scarf?... I did buy some stuff in the H and M down the block from there...decent quality and cheap..We just didnt have time on a blitz trip to shop boutiques.Books you can buy on the net from London they weigh too much too carry

<i>Carrybean - they've done something to Smarties. They've gone all pale and pasty and taste vile now!</i>


RM67, I agree with you but several people I know beg me to bring them. I have to pack cans of mushy peas for another friend, an ex-pat Brit. /:)
I finally steeled myself to taste them this last trip &amp; they were worse than I expected. Pretty color, though.

Cadbury is different. I remember my friends in Liverpool bringing me to a tourist town and we got seperated. I bought a huge Cadbury bar, thinking to save most of it because I thought it like in the USA. Well, I sat on a bench on the main street where we were seperated, knowing they'd find me if I stayed put. I ended up eating this huge bar-it was so good compared to what I had in the USA. When they finally found me, they had to stop the car so I could eliminate my over-feast of chocolate.

Don't forget Heinz tomato soup, Bisto gravy mix, Thornton's chocolates and toffee.

We just got back from London a few days ago. A word to the wise is that it's terribly expensive for North Americans at the moment. I wouldn't buy anything that you could get your hands on at home. Since you're a little more heavily taxed in Canadan than we are in the US, there may be a few deals, but the exchange rate was very painful at times. I stopped to pick up doughnuts at a tube station and they were about $30 US for two dozen. At our hotel, the Continental breakfast was about $40 US per person if that gives you any idea. There are seven in our family...Ouch!

agree with PP.
If you leave in a major Canadian city , you can find a lot of the same merchandise at home.
The prices in London are about the same as here - only in pounds!
We did not bring a thing back!

You can't buy Tylenol in Britain - it's banned for some reason.

However you can buy all sorts of things that are prescription only in the USA.

True, including the nicotine inhalers that are useful for those who still smoke to make it through the long trans-Atlantic flight smoke-free.

BTW, those helped me quit smoking over 2 years ago.

Tylenol isn't banned it's called panadol. But that's just a brand name - the unbranded is cheaper.

BTW being a brit this is fascinating.

fnarf999 - if you'd rather drown you have never really felt pain.

Thanks for the heads up nbujic and dgg! I guess I shouldn't get myself too excited to see the loot my dear husband brings back LOL. I was hoping that for the London local brands would be cheaper than in Toronto but I guess not :(
I didn't know they had donuts in London - thought it was a North American thing haha. Can't believe how expensive it is ouch! Originally I was supposed to be tagging along with the kids (probably too young to appreciate it anyways) but hotels and transportation just got too expensive.

Them expensive doughnuts are American - Krispy Kreme. British doughnuts cost about 30p each (jam or custard).

Actually there are lots of things that are cheaper overhere, but you'd need to specific.

I've felt all kinds of pain, but Tylenol never did anything for it. I've had a tooth abcess the size of a pencil eraser, which is plenty painful. But codeine just makes me woozy.

That was something that I missed when I lived in the US, real jam and custard bakery type doughnuts, just a nice jam or custard filling with no glazes of &quot;bits&quot; all over them.