Gift ideas for a teenage super nerd? UK specific?
October 16, 2016 1:07 PM Subscribe
I'm getting a Christmas gift for the teenage (14ish) daughter of a friend who lives in the states, and am wondering if there is something that I can get here in the UK (London, specifically) that she wouldn't be able to get herself at home?
She is a loud and proud nerd, really into Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Avengers, Star Wars, etc. I know that the shop at the Dr. Who Experience is a possibility for special stuff. Any UK-based mefites have ideas for extra-nerdy gifts that one can only get here, or have recommendations for London-based or UK online shops for same?
She is a loud and proud nerd, really into Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Avengers, Star Wars, etc. I know that the shop at the Dr. Who Experience is a possibility for special stuff. Any UK-based mefites have ideas for extra-nerdy gifts that one can only get here, or have recommendations for London-based or UK online shops for same?
Best answer: There is a fairly big (and busy) Harry Potter shop at King's Cross Station that may have things that would be (at least) hard to get in the United States. I took an American visitor there in the summer and she seemed pretty excited by the range of items on sale.
Another very good (if fairly obvious) option is the Forbidden Planet London Megastore.
You could also send her a copy or two of Doctor Who Magazine. That should be fairly easy to find at newsagents and supermarkets.
posted by sueinnyc at 1:30 PM on October 16, 2016 [1 favorite]
Another very good (if fairly obvious) option is the Forbidden Planet London Megastore.
You could also send her a copy or two of Doctor Who Magazine. That should be fairly easy to find at newsagents and supermarkets.
posted by sueinnyc at 1:30 PM on October 16, 2016 [1 favorite]
MeFi's own ™ cstross provides signed copies of his books via a couple of bookshps in Edinburgh - see the bottom of this page on Charlie's site. Which of them is appropraite for a 14yo may be a different question...
posted by Jakey at 1:33 PM on October 16, 2016
posted by Jakey at 1:33 PM on October 16, 2016
What about annuals? You can get them in the US, but you have to know about them already (eg last year's Doctor Who annual).
posted by mogget at 1:58 PM on October 16, 2016
posted by mogget at 1:58 PM on October 16, 2016
I don't know what kind of geek/nerd stuff is available in the UK that isn't in the US. But, if she's into Dr. Who and Harry Potter, anything particularly British that isn't in circulation here could go over well.
A friend who fits the description of your giftee recently got a gift of a calendar with pictures of those red British phone booths for each month, and a box of English Breakfast Tea with Douglas Adams directions for making the perfect cup printed out and taped on.
posted by ethical_caligula at 2:15 PM on October 16, 2016
A friend who fits the description of your giftee recently got a gift of a calendar with pictures of those red British phone booths for each month, and a box of English Breakfast Tea with Douglas Adams directions for making the perfect cup printed out and taped on.
posted by ethical_caligula at 2:15 PM on October 16, 2016
The people at Minalima designed a lot of stuff for the HP movies and are selling reproductions both online and at their London shop.
posted by brujita at 3:21 PM on October 16, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 3:21 PM on October 16, 2016 [1 favorite]
Came in to mention Doctor Who Magazine. It comes with cheap little toys that are, for Whovian geeks, quite a treat. My SO's Whovian sister in Cardiff has sent some over to much delight from the household Whovian.
Also, purple candy here is 'grape.' Most unfortunate. Send blackcurrant everything to munch on while enjoying the geek goodies? It is also my view that the UK has superior candy in general (Rowntree Pastilles! 'Frutips' here but I think very hard to find in the US) -- we get a bit of it in Canada but not enough -- and that the UK does a better job with white chocolate. You also do more interesting chip flavours there -- pickled onion, yum -- so if there's room in the box, a sack of mixed flavour crisps? American friends get very excited over Coffee Crisps, Aeros, have no idea what to make of sherbet fountains (or Parma Violets)...
I usually make an Xmas order from Marks and Spencers; don't overlook them or other dept stores for little giftable what-not that is both amusing and clearly not North American. They do have some licensed characters -- I don't know if you can find them here, but if not, my goodness -- Star Wars Cross pens. (Also a nightie which would fit if she is on the petite side, bubble bath, SW mugs, etc etc.)
posted by kmennie at 5:19 PM on October 16, 2016
Also, purple candy here is 'grape.' Most unfortunate. Send blackcurrant everything to munch on while enjoying the geek goodies? It is also my view that the UK has superior candy in general (Rowntree Pastilles! 'Frutips' here but I think very hard to find in the US) -- we get a bit of it in Canada but not enough -- and that the UK does a better job with white chocolate. You also do more interesting chip flavours there -- pickled onion, yum -- so if there's room in the box, a sack of mixed flavour crisps? American friends get very excited over Coffee Crisps, Aeros, have no idea what to make of sherbet fountains (or Parma Violets)...
I usually make an Xmas order from Marks and Spencers; don't overlook them or other dept stores for little giftable what-not that is both amusing and clearly not North American. They do have some licensed characters -- I don't know if you can find them here, but if not, my goodness -- Star Wars Cross pens. (Also a nightie which would fit if she is on the petite side, bubble bath, SW mugs, etc etc.)
posted by kmennie at 5:19 PM on October 16, 2016
Best answer: The Harry Potter Shop at King's Cross is a tremendously fun place to visit, but FYI, you pay a premium for any item bought there. Just to pick a random example, Harry Potter's wand is £34 there, but £27 on Amazon. You pay about 25% extra for the privilege of buying it in King's Cross. I'm always happy to pay a premium to support a local independent store, but I'm not convinced the Harry Potter Store counts. On the other hand, they do have some exclusives, if you want a true can't-get-it-anywhere-else gift. Of the exclusives, I think the personalized Hogwart's acceptance letter is supercool.
Also, at the moment, London is the only place in the world to see Harry Potter & The Cursed Child. Of course you can't send the whole theatrical production across the Atlantic but it does have an official online store. You could get her a souvenir program, although be warned that it has pictures from the production, which might give away certain elements of the play. If she hasn't read the play, and she's really worried about spoilers, you might want to stay away from that. In fact, I should warn you that if you haven't seen the play and want to avoid spoilers yourself, you may not want to visit the Cursed Child store website at all, because there are one or two things there that are minor spoilers in themselves.
posted by yankeefog at 12:25 AM on October 17, 2016
Also, at the moment, London is the only place in the world to see Harry Potter & The Cursed Child. Of course you can't send the whole theatrical production across the Atlantic but it does have an official online store. You could get her a souvenir program, although be warned that it has pictures from the production, which might give away certain elements of the play. If she hasn't read the play, and she's really worried about spoilers, you might want to stay away from that. In fact, I should warn you that if you haven't seen the play and want to avoid spoilers yourself, you may not want to visit the Cursed Child store website at all, because there are one or two things there that are minor spoilers in themselves.
posted by yankeefog at 12:25 AM on October 17, 2016
Response by poster: Knew you guys would come through! Thanks for the great suggestions, this has given me lots of sort through and work with.
posted by catch as catch can at 5:45 AM on October 17, 2016
posted by catch as catch can at 5:45 AM on October 17, 2016
I wouldn't get anything that can be bought on Amazon, because, well, what's the point? My 14 YO would be more excited over "weird" foreign candy/chocolate/edibles, as those are much harder to come by, even using the Internet.
posted by Mr. Big Business at 9:31 AM on October 17, 2016
posted by Mr. Big Business at 9:31 AM on October 17, 2016
We just came back from London and brought back 10# of candy because you can't get any Cadbury stuff here anymore since that lawsuit brought by Hershey. Yorkies, wine gums, cruchies, Whispas, etc. Just pop around to the local grocer and buy a ton of things we don't have. If she's a Tom Baker fan, she might like jelly babies.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:49 PM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fiercekitten at 7:49 PM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by biffa at 1:19 PM on October 16, 2016