Items Worth Buying on a Trip to London

London attracts around 30 million tourists each year. They come from all over the world, but visitors from China and the US are particularly common. If you have a trip to London planned, it’s a great idea to plan your excursions in advance. London has many wonderful attractions, including the Tower of London, the London Eye, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. But before you start buying tickets, it’s sensible to have a budget in mind. After all, you will need to have some money set aside for gift shopping!

Buying fun and meaningful gifts and mementos is all part of the fun of travel. No matter where in the world you go, there is always something worth buying. Sure, we can buy most things online these days, but it’s nicer to shop in person, and some things are only available in the store. Of course, it’s worth making luxury purchases online, as you then have the opportunity to return the item if it’s not as expected.  For example, if you buy a used or new Classic Rolex Datejust from Chronext, the site offers a 14-day returns guarantee. A luxury Rolex would make a great gift to yourself before you travel to London and buying a verified authentic used designer watch is much better than buying one at full price from the airport Duty-Free store.

So, what else should you add to your shopping list when you visit London? Let’s find out.

Harry Potter Merch

The Making of Harry Potter is one of London’s newest and most amazing attractions. If you have booked tickets for the Warner Bros Studio Tour, you will no doubt be looking forward to visiting Hogwarts and seeing some behind-the-scenes glimpses of everyone’s favourite wizard. The gift shop at Harry Potter Studio has three amazing gift shops: the Forbidden Forest Shop, the Studio Shop, and the Railway Shop. You can buy everything Harry Potter-themed, from peppermint toads to replica wands and printed t-shirts.

Buckingham Palace Souvenirs

A visit to London would not be complete without a tour of the Queen’s official residence, Buckingham Palace. The Queen isn’t there all that much as she has many other official residences, but it’s still cool to take a tour of the public areas, where you can admire the finery and opulence. Once you have finished your tour, head to the official Buckingham Palace shop and pick up some cool souvenirs. The shop sells a huge range of items, from chinaware featuring the Queen’s coat of arms to pocket diaries, mugs, pencils, food, and drink.

Fortnum & Masons

The Fortnum & Mason store has been open since 1705. It’s an iconic shop, much like Harrods, and if you have some spare time for a spot of shopping, you should definitely visit the Fortnum & Mason food hall for food gifts. The hampers sold by Fortnum & Mason are legendary. They are not cheap, but if you want a classy gift for a loved one, add a gorgeous hamper to your shopping cart. Since it can be tricky to take such a large gift back home, admire the hampers in person, and then order online. We love the Tea Basket for its quintessentially English vibe. Jam sandwiches anyone?

Museum Gifts

London has a lot of awe-inspiring museums. There are so many you’ll be challenged to visit all of them in a week. Some of the best-known are the Museum of Natural History, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, and Tate Britain. Whichever museums you visit, be sure to pick up a few souvenirs from the gift shop. Postcards and posters are always a good buy if you don’t have much room in your bag and would like a small and inexpensive souvenir.

Tea

England is famous for its tea. For tea gifts, make time to visit one of the many Whittard shops around London for some gorgeously designed tins of tea. Traditional English Breakfast tea is a staple for any serious tea lover, but Whittards also sells a great range of flavoured teas. The packaging is just as lovely as the actual tea, so even if you’re a coffee drinker, you won’t be disappointed.

Finally, everywhere you go in London, you’ll see the iconic Union Jack symbol. It’s plastered over everything, from guidebooks and tea towels to children’s toys, souvenirs, and umbrellas. Buy a cheap fridge magnet or metal London bus with a Union Jack emblem to remind you of your visit.