Tea at Claridges?
August 30, 2010 8:58 PM Subscribe
Dear me, I'm from the colonies and have no idea. Elegant, interesting, London-based giftcard (or somesuch) for an online friend's wedding. Suggestions?
A writer, she works a day job at an international publishing house we've all heard of. An Aussie living in London, marrying a Brit. Youngish (younger than me), late 20s I'd say. Don't know her that well (never met IRL), but she followed my blog for a long while and now we're on Twitter, FB, etc.
I've had John Lewis gift vouchers suggested, and I was considering Oddbins for a few bottles of wine, but thought I'd throw it to the hive mind. Let's spend less than £60 ($75Cdn).
A writer, she works a day job at an international publishing house we've all heard of. An Aussie living in London, marrying a Brit. Youngish (younger than me), late 20s I'd say. Don't know her that well (never met IRL), but she followed my blog for a long while and now we're on Twitter, FB, etc.
I've had John Lewis gift vouchers suggested, and I was considering Oddbins for a few bottles of wine, but thought I'd throw it to the hive mind. Let's spend less than £60 ($75Cdn).
Best answer: It depends whether you want to give her something that's going to be of general use, or something that encourages her to get something a little unusual. I'd agree on Fortnum's if you're looking for the "unusual" angle; Liberty might also fit the bill.
(The Londoners won't be awake yet, though.)
posted by holgate at 10:13 PM on August 30, 2010
(The Londoners won't be awake yet, though.)
posted by holgate at 10:13 PM on August 30, 2010
Best answer: Selfridge's? They have a really nice selection of stationery - pens etc. - if your friend is into that kind of thing. They also have just about everything else - women's clothes, electronics, the list goes on. I'd say that it's a little on the posh side, but your friend could definitely pick up something nice for £60.
posted by analog at 10:46 PM on August 30, 2010
posted by analog at 10:46 PM on August 30, 2010
Response by poster: True 'nuff, posted at the wrong hour for those in Blighty. Have looked at the suggestions, and will also wait it out another 24 to allow our friends in Great Britain to weigh in. Thank you, so far!
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 10:47 PM on August 30, 2010
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 10:47 PM on August 30, 2010
Best answer: 60 gbp is 98 Canadian dollars ATM, apparently. FYI
posted by man down under at 11:57 PM on August 30, 2010
posted by man down under at 11:57 PM on August 30, 2010
Best answer: Oddbin's is a downmarket wine chain where you can buy cheap bottles of wine to get drunk on.
Wine is not a bad gift, but if you do so, may I suggest Berry Bros & Rudd.
posted by vacapinta at 5:14 AM on August 31, 2010
Wine is not a bad gift, but if you do so, may I suggest Berry Bros & Rudd.
posted by vacapinta at 5:14 AM on August 31, 2010
Best answer: Liberty. LOVE LIBERTY!! Not just clothes but adorable stuff for the home, paper goods and sationery and beauty items. MMMMM LIBERTYYYYYY I looove youuu.
posted by like_neon at 6:27 AM on August 31, 2010
posted by like_neon at 6:27 AM on August 31, 2010
Best answer: £60 won't go far in either F+M or Liberty, so if your friends are not big spenders I'd go with John Lewis or Selfridges. Another option would be to see if the Wolseley do gift vouchers - I took my mum there for afternoon tea and it came to well under £60. IT was a nice treat and not something I'd normally have done.
posted by mippy at 6:44 AM on August 31, 2010
posted by mippy at 6:44 AM on August 31, 2010
Best answer: For relatively upmarket I'm seconding Fortum and Mason, Liberty, and Selfridges (although Selfridges basically sells everything, so that's a good gift in itself). As mentioned, £60 won't go too far, but there are plenty of nice luxury gift type items that are affordable. Personally I'd skip John Lewis, it's just a department store, very practical but nothing special.
Heals I'd say is a classier option for kitchenware and stuff like that for the home. Or if you think they like minimal Japanese style, £60 could be well spent in Muji.
Memberships are really nice gifts in my opinion, but will cost more than £60 - Tate is more like £75 for member + friend, Royal Academy is more than that.
posted by iivix at 10:34 AM on August 31, 2010
Heals I'd say is a classier option for kitchenware and stuff like that for the home. Or if you think they like minimal Japanese style, £60 could be well spent in Muji.
Memberships are really nice gifts in my opinion, but will cost more than £60 - Tate is more like £75 for member + friend, Royal Academy is more than that.
posted by iivix at 10:34 AM on August 31, 2010
Best answer: Thinking about other art type memberships, I'd be jolly happy to be a member of any of these:
South Bank membership (which includes free entry to the Hayward Gallery, which is one of the few London gallery to charge for entry as it doesn't have a permanent exhibition) looks to be the best value, at £75 for full joint membership.
Or, a bit cheaper, Barbican membership seems to only be £20 per person, and gets you discounted entry to things plus members events and stuff like that.
It's broken in my browser, but ICA membership looks to be £60 for dual membership, with similar benefits to the Barbican membership.
posted by iivix at 10:47 AM on August 31, 2010
South Bank membership (which includes free entry to the Hayward Gallery, which is one of the few London gallery to charge for entry as it doesn't have a permanent exhibition) looks to be the best value, at £75 for full joint membership.
Or, a bit cheaper, Barbican membership seems to only be £20 per person, and gets you discounted entry to things plus members events and stuff like that.
It's broken in my browser, but ICA membership looks to be £60 for dual membership, with similar benefits to the Barbican membership.
posted by iivix at 10:47 AM on August 31, 2010
Response by poster: For the record, a few close-out notes:
I get that £60 doesn't go far, but I don't know her IRL and it would be (from a Cdn pov) inappropriate to give more.
After much thought on your suggestions I kind of realized that if I didn't know enough about both her and London to know what to buy, I should probably go with a Cdn gift. In the end I purchased her a gift subscription to The Walrus.
Thanks again!
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 2:52 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I get that £60 doesn't go far, but I don't know her IRL and it would be (from a Cdn pov) inappropriate to give more.
After much thought on your suggestions I kind of realized that if I didn't know enough about both her and London to know what to buy, I should probably go with a Cdn gift. In the end I purchased her a gift subscription to The Walrus.
Thanks again!
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 2:52 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
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posted by parmanparman at 9:43 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]