'Panties' is a porno word.

It's only ever used in pervy stories about 16-year olds getting seduced by middle aged maths teachers.

Westaway and Westaway are no longer in Great Russell St. They have an online shop and their only retail outlet according to the website is in Spain!

Thanks, Helen. Somehow Spain wouldn't seem the same. I guess I didn't drop in often enough to keep them in business.

I love National Trust shops

Well what do you call a bint's shreddies then?

I just came back with about 10 different types of cadbury's chocolates. My family love them, they are completely different
from what we have here in the US. But, it does make your luggage heavy. I also bought my friends, reusable shopping bags from the grocery stores and some from the palace gift shop.

Knickers.

I remember somebody saying that Prince Charles is the sort of bloke who calls knickers panties.
It's also an American word.
Can CW be a closet seppo?
Say it isn't so!

I like to bring back:
Pencils from museums
Scarves from Fortnum&Mason (London)
Tea
Boots own spa (The Sanctuary) salt scrub available at Boots
Books
Something from Top Shop
Stationary from Paperchase

All these items remind me on my trip and are something I really use- I do not like to buy things that I have no real use of.

More likely CW is secretly Prince Chas. I think the septic theory has been ruled out.

Boots' salt scrub has shown up on my local US supermarket shelf.

Knickers.>>>

Are you 12?

I bet you none of the British fodorite females say 'panties'.

Hi teach905,

Buy TEA! The tea you buy in England tastes different than the tea the English export to the USA. Really! It's richer and more satisfying. My favorite are the Twinings blends. You can't get them here, and they are delicious. Another idea is to buy socks at Marks & Spencers. Actually practically anything you get there is beautifully made and reasonably priced. Their socks last forever (well, almost) are are excellent. They have great lotions, too. For a really inexpensive but practical gift to yourself or someone else, go to one of the shops in a tube (subway) station and get a t-shirt with the map of the tube routes on it. They also have "mind the gap" t-shirts and mugs. I agree with the suggestions for Lush products, too. Their solid shampoo is fabulous and easy to fit into a suitcase. Have a great trip!

You people are giving me way too many wonderful ideas! My son and I are traveling from London to York to Edinburgh by train, dragging our luggage all the way. Where are we going to put all of this stuff?!!:-D

Nelson's Grasmere Gingerbread is my favorite British purchase, available in Grasmere and online but don't know if available elsewhere. Completely different from our U.S. kind of gingerbread and completely delicious.

Beware of buying the little recipe book that purports to have the Grasmere Gingerbread recipe, though. What it produces is <b>nothing</b> like the real thing, which, I agree, is wonderful.

I saw this on Samantha Brown this AM:

http://www.urbanpath.com/london/deli...ens/a-gold.htm

CAPH, while in Edinburgh, I bought NINE wool blankets, of various tartans. They make great gifts...

I've been wondering what to bring with me on my first trip from England to Canada next month for family I'm visiting, lots of great ideas, thanks!

Someone asked about marmalade : I recommend Cooper's Oxford marmalade (try Waitrose) rather than the ubiquitous Robertsons Golden Shred (the one with the non-pc golliwogs) unless you have a terribly sweet tooth. Or anything (food/socks/undies)from Marks & Spencer, as mentioned already, is virtually guaranteed to be tasty (food!) and good quality, if a little on the pricey side.

Did any news about "No 7" wrinkle cream ever get to the US. Last year someone like Cosmo did a search on wrinkle creams and discovered the only one that worked (yes only) was No 7. Next day the queues had to be seen to be believed.

Can you buy No 7 in US?

Culpepper the Herbalist for their Elizabethan potpourri blend(just a personal preference)- but youcan order on in-line(but then you miss the trip to London)
McVities chocolate whole meal biscuits- I think the ones sold here in the US sit on the shelves as they are so pricey(I will also buy them at M&S)
I think No. 7 is now sold at Target but not the Boots lip salve(yes, it is just a form of "chapstick" but one I grew to love over the years)
Oatcakes- again not so available here and quite pricey and possibly old because of the price.
I used to buy books that were not readily available here- I suppose the internet has changed that.
I also go to Liberty to look for sale Liberty print items. I've gotten some really nice PVC carry bags and small cotton fabric items cheaply. Plus I really just like the Liberty store(although I have never gotten over my disappointment at the redecorating of the Pre-Raphaelite tea room)