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-   -   What to buy from London? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/what-to-buy-from-london-725375/)

fnarf999 Aug 1st, 2007 12:07 PM

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.

EnglishOne Aug 1st, 2007 12:07 PM

Youngtom, do you mean Twix?

bfrac Aug 1st, 2007 12:08 PM

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.

Liam Aug 1st, 2007 12:25 PM

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.

Liam Aug 1st, 2007 12:26 PM

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

bfrac Aug 1st, 2007 12:37 PM

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.

prue Aug 1st, 2007 02:30 PM

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

hypatia Aug 1st, 2007 02:55 PM

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

Carrybean Aug 1st, 2007 04:37 PM

<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.

cigalechanta Aug 1st, 2007 05:01 PM

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.

bfrac Aug 1st, 2007 05:03 PM

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

dgg Aug 1st, 2007 07:08 PM

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!

nbujic Aug 1st, 2007 07:16 PM

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!

audere_est_facere Aug 2nd, 2007 12:56 AM

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.

Carrybean Aug 2nd, 2007 02:49 AM

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.

sashh Aug 2nd, 2007 10:44 AM

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.

canadianfamily Aug 2nd, 2007 01:19 PM

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.

audere_est_facere Aug 3rd, 2007 12:54 AM

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.

fnarf999 Aug 3rd, 2007 01:02 AM

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.

MissPrism Aug 3rd, 2007 05:03 AM

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.


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