UK souvenirs ideas for children, ages 6 and 3
April 15, 2010 6:57 AM Subscribe
Looking for gift suggestions for me, the "cool" aunt in the UK (ha!) to take to my 6 year old niece and 3 year old nephew back in the USA.
I went through this question and have bookmarked the London Transport Museum. That's the sort of thing I'm looking for - fun and quality toys, clothing, or games that are unmistakably British.
I'd love to find more sites like this that are less London-centric, and more overall English. I'm travelling to see them this summer, and want to have some fun presents for them.
Thanks!
I went through this question and have bookmarked the London Transport Museum. That's the sort of thing I'm looking for - fun and quality toys, clothing, or games that are unmistakably British.
I'd love to find more sites like this that are less London-centric, and more overall English. I'm travelling to see them this summer, and want to have some fun presents for them.
Thanks!
Best answer: As one "cool" aunt to another - don't focus on the obvious "This is THE UK" items, like red telephone boxes and bears-in-beefeater-costumes and all that.
Go for things that are a bit weird to you, but are utterly awesome to small children. Like used train tickets (which my 4-year-old nephew loves to get in the post, for some ungodly reason). Pick up a couple of Oyster cards in London - that way, if they ever come visit, they'll have something to use.
Top Trumps - focusing on some of the weirder non-US-based ones (like sharks. Or cars. Or airplanes. Or whatever other ridiculous thing you can find.)
If they're of a nerdy bent, all things Doctor Who, especially anything with the 11th Doctor, will be gold.
Kinder Surprise, to prove that American children are just as smart as British children when it comes to not choking.
And, finally, something that I know just blew my mind when I first moved over here, and there doesn't seem to be anything like it in the States - children's magazines. Just pick up a few dozen of the various titles (especially those with weird free items attached) - things like Doctor Who Adventures or Simpsons Magazine or Hello Kitty Magazine. It's a quick gift to pick up in the airport on your way to the States, and they're surprisingly enjoyable.
(I secretly buy the Hello Kitty one all the time - the last issue I bought came with a free Hello Kitty mousemat, and a poster inside where Hello Kitty was dressed like Sally Bowles from Cabaret. Yes, it was that awesome.)
posted by Katemonkey at 7:35 AM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Go for things that are a bit weird to you, but are utterly awesome to small children. Like used train tickets (which my 4-year-old nephew loves to get in the post, for some ungodly reason). Pick up a couple of Oyster cards in London - that way, if they ever come visit, they'll have something to use.
Top Trumps - focusing on some of the weirder non-US-based ones (like sharks. Or cars. Or airplanes. Or whatever other ridiculous thing you can find.)
If they're of a nerdy bent, all things Doctor Who, especially anything with the 11th Doctor, will be gold.
Kinder Surprise, to prove that American children are just as smart as British children when it comes to not choking.
And, finally, something that I know just blew my mind when I first moved over here, and there doesn't seem to be anything like it in the States - children's magazines. Just pick up a few dozen of the various titles (especially those with weird free items attached) - things like Doctor Who Adventures or Simpsons Magazine or Hello Kitty Magazine. It's a quick gift to pick up in the airport on your way to the States, and they're surprisingly enjoyable.
(I secretly buy the Hello Kitty one all the time - the last issue I bought came with a free Hello Kitty mousemat, and a poster inside where Hello Kitty was dressed like Sally Bowles from Cabaret. Yes, it was that awesome.)
posted by Katemonkey at 7:35 AM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Maybe books that you can't get in the U.S.? I'm still heartbroken over the loss of an Enid Blyton book a friend brought me back from England when I was 9. Not only did I love the book itself, but it was such a delightful revelation that there was a whole world of books waiting for me in other countries.
Bonus: books are easy to pack.
posted by corey flood at 7:38 AM on April 15, 2010
Bonus: books are easy to pack.
posted by corey flood at 7:38 AM on April 15, 2010
Oh, and most local museums (or the British Museum) will have wacky little souvenirs for children - things like replicas of Roman English coins, World War II ration books, that sort of thing. So if you're doing anything touristy, hit the gift shop display consisting of mostly pencils and brightly coloured things. There should be something awesome there.
posted by Katemonkey at 7:39 AM on April 15, 2010
posted by Katemonkey at 7:39 AM on April 15, 2010
KINDER SURPRISE!!! My family spent a good part of last summer in London and I indulged my childrens' every request of Kinder eggs - mostly because I was nostalgic for them from our time in Germany, years before. We came home with loads of the little toys that come in them and they are some of my kids' favorite souveniers of our time there.
I bet your niece and nephew would like some real British money, too. My son insisted that we save some pocket change for his friends and they were just thrilled with it. My daughter kept a few coins and has them arranged on her bookshelf.
Corey Flood, my daughter discovered Enid Blyton while we there there. She's nine and we just had to buy every book in The Naughtiest Girl in School series! She lost one on the way back home and she's still sick about it!
posted by cooker girl at 8:05 AM on April 15, 2010
I bet your niece and nephew would like some real British money, too. My son insisted that we save some pocket change for his friends and they were just thrilled with it. My daughter kept a few coins and has them arranged on her bookshelf.
Corey Flood, my daughter discovered Enid Blyton while we there there. She's nine and we just had to buy every book in The Naughtiest Girl in School series! She lost one on the way back home and she's still sick about it!
posted by cooker girl at 8:05 AM on April 15, 2010
As yet another "cool" aunt, I think whatever turns on British kids of the same age would be very welcome to your niece and nephew. The very fact that they actually own something that kids in England love will be cool beyond belief.
posted by DrGail at 8:28 AM on April 15, 2010
posted by DrGail at 8:28 AM on April 15, 2010
It would be remiss not to take Creme Eggs. That is all.
posted by MuffinMan at 8:28 AM on April 15, 2010
posted by MuffinMan at 8:28 AM on April 15, 2010
As a child, I remember being intrigued by traditional British boiled sweets, things like acid drops and humbugs. Even better if you can buy them from an old-fashioned shop with big glass jars, and bring photos to show the kids. The shop at the Natural History Museum in London also has a fantastic range of toys, a nice mix of semi-educational stuff and simple widgets that delight 3-year-olds by going "squick" or "boing".
posted by embrangled at 8:30 AM on April 15, 2010
posted by embrangled at 8:30 AM on April 15, 2010
They'll probably be fascinated if you throw in a £1 coin with whatever you give them (although IMHO, the 50p and £2 coins are prettier, the £1 is the most "distinctly British" coin in circulation)
Seconding the recommendation for odd UK-specific books or magazines. A quick google search shows that there's a Region 1 release of the Sarah Jane Adventures, which might be a bit more age-appropriate than Doctor Who. There are also all sorts of yummy, non-candy foods that are only available in the UK -- biscuits are wonderful. I've never been a huge fan of British chocolate.
Although it's definitely more of a Scottish thing, and probably not appropriate for kids this young, I used to bring back cans of Irn Bru to give to friends.
(Also, give the marmite a pass)
posted by schmod at 8:39 AM on April 15, 2010
Seconding the recommendation for odd UK-specific books or magazines. A quick google search shows that there's a Region 1 release of the Sarah Jane Adventures, which might be a bit more age-appropriate than Doctor Who. There are also all sorts of yummy, non-candy foods that are only available in the UK -- biscuits are wonderful. I've never been a huge fan of British chocolate.
Although it's definitely more of a Scottish thing, and probably not appropriate for kids this young, I used to bring back cans of Irn Bru to give to friends.
(Also, give the marmite a pass)
posted by schmod at 8:39 AM on April 15, 2010
Screw Kinder surprise. Those can be found in the US pretty easily.
• Tunnock's Tunnock's Tunnock's. Tea Cakes and Caramel Wafers and the coconut-covered caramel wafers and anything, everything else. I have looked, lord have I looked, but I've never seen them in the US. There's one place in NYC that has them sometimes but never when I've tried.
• Doctor Who is for kids -- kids who like to hide behind the sofa. I think a region-1 box set of a Tennant season? My three-year-old Scots/American niece in London is in love with Tennant. A sonic screwdriver toy would be fun even if they don't know who Doctor WTF is.
But those are things that I want now, as a 31-year-old frequent UK visitor.
• As a 6-year-old boy who'd never been outside the American Southwest, I would have wanted castles and knights and swords and stonehenge and faeries and chainmail.
• At that age, and still now, I always loved foreign comics/gag magazines -- a few Beanos (or something) could be awesome.
posted by xueexueg at 8:40 AM on April 15, 2010
• Tunnock's Tunnock's Tunnock's. Tea Cakes and Caramel Wafers and the coconut-covered caramel wafers and anything, everything else. I have looked, lord have I looked, but I've never seen them in the US. There's one place in NYC that has them sometimes but never when I've tried.
• Doctor Who is for kids -- kids who like to hide behind the sofa. I think a region-1 box set of a Tennant season? My three-year-old Scots/American niece in London is in love with Tennant. A sonic screwdriver toy would be fun even if they don't know who Doctor WTF is.
But those are things that I want now, as a 31-year-old frequent UK visitor.
• As a 6-year-old boy who'd never been outside the American Southwest, I would have wanted castles and knights and swords and stonehenge and faeries and chainmail.
• At that age, and still now, I always loved foreign comics/gag magazines -- a few Beanos (or something) could be awesome.
posted by xueexueg at 8:40 AM on April 15, 2010
Paddington Bear for the little one?
posted by k8t at 8:52 AM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 8:52 AM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I would definitely go with candy. Even as an adult I'm fascinated by Rock. You can see the lettering no matter where you break the tube! Seriously, it's cool. Also, they sell Smarties in tubes. Please note these are candy covered chocolates (like m&m's) that are sold in boxes in Canada
posted by Gor-ella at 10:25 AM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Gor-ella at 10:25 AM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Friends of mine who live in Israel just sent a gift to my almost seven-year-old son here in the US. They were little "action figure" type things -- but the main thing is that they are something that's not available in the US. My son was THRILLED to have something so new and different, that he had never heard of before.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:43 AM on April 15, 2010
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:43 AM on April 15, 2010
Response by poster: Oooh, Rock. Good idea! There's a local sweetie shop that makes it with the name of my town.
I'll definitely look into the Kinder Eggs and children's magazines, and start picking them up when I'm in town. I have a few months to collect an assortment.
My niece raided my purse when she was 2 and got samples of all my coins (which her mother put away for safekeeping when she was done playing with them). I'll let my nephew do that this trip. Maybe by the trip after this, my niece will have enough math that we can play bureau de change. Teehee!
I'm still hoping for at least one 'durable' souvenir for each of them, so keep the ideas coming!
posted by happyturtle at 10:55 AM on April 15, 2010
I'll definitely look into the Kinder Eggs and children's magazines, and start picking them up when I'm in town. I have a few months to collect an assortment.
My niece raided my purse when she was 2 and got samples of all my coins (which her mother put away for safekeeping when she was done playing with them). I'll let my nephew do that this trip. Maybe by the trip after this, my niece will have enough math that we can play bureau de change. Teehee!
I'm still hoping for at least one 'durable' souvenir for each of them, so keep the ideas coming!
posted by happyturtle at 10:55 AM on April 15, 2010
Screw Kinder surprise. Those can be found in the US pretty easily.
Where? In large cities? Because a lot of us don't live in large cities, or in cities with large ethnic markets. I live in Cincinnati, home of Jungle Jim's. The last four times I've been there, Kinder eggs were not there. They've stopped carrying them. So, no. It's not easy to find them in the US, not for everyone.
I would absolutely love to be proved wrong on this, by the way.
posted by cooker girl at 11:35 AM on April 15, 2010
Where? In large cities? Because a lot of us don't live in large cities, or in cities with large ethnic markets. I live in Cincinnati, home of Jungle Jim's. The last four times I've been there, Kinder eggs were not there. They've stopped carrying them. So, no. It's not easy to find them in the US, not for everyone.
I would absolutely love to be proved wrong on this, by the way.
posted by cooker girl at 11:35 AM on April 15, 2010
Seeing as Kinder Surprise is not legally sold in the US, according to the "1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits embedding "non-nutritive items" in confections" [wikipedia], I think it would make a great gift for someone in the US. As something that isn't available and even prohibited, it becomes even cooler.
And they look really fun!
posted by shesaysgo at 2:13 PM on April 15, 2010
And they look really fun!
posted by shesaysgo at 2:13 PM on April 15, 2010
I was wrong about Kinder Surprise.
I didn't really rhetorically need to insult Kinder just to praise Tunnock's. Tunnock's is so good it doesn't need to step on the necks of other sweets to show that it's good. Tunnock's is the Bruce Schneier of chocolatiers.
posted by xueexueg at 3:26 PM on April 15, 2010
I didn't really rhetorically need to insult Kinder just to praise Tunnock's. Tunnock's is so good it doesn't need to step on the necks of other sweets to show that it's good. Tunnock's is the Bruce Schneier of chocolatiers.
posted by xueexueg at 3:26 PM on April 15, 2010
Kinder Surprise are illegal here but they are still available some places. Probably a big city/ethnic market thing, yes. I know I see them sometimes in Seattle.
posted by litlnemo at 4:00 PM on April 15, 2010
posted by litlnemo at 4:00 PM on April 15, 2010
Kinder Suprise is illegal in the US? The things you learn on Metafilter...
posted by Wantok at 5:43 PM on April 15, 2010
posted by Wantok at 5:43 PM on April 15, 2010
My "cool aunt" got me a handful of foreign change when I was that age, and I treasured it for YEARS.
posted by leafeater at 8:01 PM on April 15, 2010
posted by leafeater at 8:01 PM on April 15, 2010
Definitely Kinder Surprise. Those are rad. (And Rock; never seen that before!)
Are they into tea/tea party things? That would seem a natural.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:59 PM on April 15, 2010
Are they into tea/tea party things? That would seem a natural.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:59 PM on April 15, 2010
Beatrix Potter stuffed animals. I was only able to find a Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle in the UK.
posted by brujita at 11:26 PM on April 15, 2010
posted by brujita at 11:26 PM on April 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
A brand of chocolate bar that you can't buy in the States (I know Cadbury's isn't widely available in Europe)
Toys from classic English kids TV like Postman Pat
A red postbox piggybank
I will have a think and post some more ideas later.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:24 AM on April 15, 2010