What should I buy in London that I can’t get in the US?
December 9, 2019 9:49 AM Subscribe
Heading back to the states Tuesday evening from a wonderful trip to London. Are there any special items you might suggest buying here to bring home that I can’t find in the US? Often on trips abroad I’ve brought back liquor that’s not exported to the US, so any thoughts in that realm would be great, but open to any ideas. Thanks!
My USA-based friends always tell me the chocolate tastes better here (London). I don't mean fancy chocolate, but things like Cadbury's. YMMV?
posted by unicorn chaser at 10:01 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by unicorn chaser at 10:01 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
British book covers tend to be different from the US, so if you're a book nerd, they're sometimes worth hunting down.
posted by bl1nk at 10:03 AM on December 9, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by bl1nk at 10:03 AM on December 9, 2019 [7 favorites]
Sometimes books come out in the UK months before they do in the US, too - if you have any favorite authors that happen to be British (or Irish, or Canadian), it might be worth checking on.
posted by something something at 10:09 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by something something at 10:09 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
My list always includes: Colmans English Mustard, hard fruit candies, almond biscuits from M&S, magazines (Good Food especially), Chomp bars, and Cheese &Onion Chips (Crisps).
Also, perfect souvenirs for many people- the Harrods small shopping bags (which I think you can find at Heathrow too). Perfect bags for lunches. Westie
If I could, I'd bring bacon, cheese, butter, and lettuce too. Alas.
posted by Ftsqg at 10:18 AM on December 9, 2019
Also, perfect souvenirs for many people- the Harrods small shopping bags (which I think you can find at Heathrow too). Perfect bags for lunches. Westie
If I could, I'd bring bacon, cheese, butter, and lettuce too. Alas.
posted by Ftsqg at 10:18 AM on December 9, 2019
Airwaves menthol gum and Percy Pig gummies from M&S.
posted by not.so.hip at 10:45 AM on December 9, 2019
posted by not.so.hip at 10:45 AM on December 9, 2019
Things from Cuba are available in London. E.g. Cuban rum.
posted by Obscure Reference at 10:49 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Obscure Reference at 10:49 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Żubrówka vodka.
Really popular vodka here in Europe. As far as I know, it is still banned in the US.
(Tip: If you want to sample Polish vodkas before you leave, head to Bar Polski, a small place in an alley off Holborn)
posted by vacapinta at 10:52 AM on December 9, 2019
Really popular vodka here in Europe. As far as I know, it is still banned in the US.
(Tip: If you want to sample Polish vodkas before you leave, head to Bar Polski, a small place in an alley off Holborn)
posted by vacapinta at 10:52 AM on December 9, 2019
For liquor, if you like gin, there's a number of Cornish gins that are made almost exclusively for domestic consumption and don't get exported. Tarquin and Curio have been generally great and reliable.
Also, depending on budget and how rainy home is -- consider a hand crafted umbrella from Smith & Sons
posted by bl1nk at 10:56 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also, depending on budget and how rainy home is -- consider a hand crafted umbrella from Smith & Sons
posted by bl1nk at 10:56 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
There's a beer that I really like called Kilkenny (made by the Guinness folks). It's not exactly unavailable in the US, but it is pretty rare.
posted by Ragged Richard at 10:57 AM on December 9, 2019
posted by Ragged Richard at 10:57 AM on December 9, 2019
You can get HobNob cookies here in the US -- yummy oaty biscuits with a layer of chocolate on them. But I only ever see the milk chocolate version here, but the dark chocolate ("plain chocolate") in the red package are available there and I think even tastier!
posted by mccxxiii at 11:01 AM on December 9, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by mccxxiii at 11:01 AM on December 9, 2019 [5 favorites]
Right now I'd opt for British Christmas stuff - mince pies, crackers, pudding etc. (Żubrówka isn't British, but is delicious with apple juice.)
posted by I claim sanctuary at 11:01 AM on December 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 11:01 AM on December 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
I'm a big fan of the dehydrated soup packets and stock/bouillon cubes everywhere I travel. I just got back from the UK and have my usual huge stash of these Kallo tomato stock cubes.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:06 AM on December 9, 2019
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:06 AM on December 9, 2019
I usually bring back weird candy - Roundtree’s randoms, wine gums, Cadbury double decker bars, flake bars, violet crunchie, and jelly babies are all a bit different from US candy. Marmite, if you like it. Prawn cocktail flavoured crisps/chips.
On preview: yes try some mince pies! I usually just eat the crust and discard the filling but I’m a fan of ginger-spicey-pie crust rather than raisins.
posted by Concordia at 11:08 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
On preview: yes try some mince pies! I usually just eat the crust and discard the filling but I’m a fan of ginger-spicey-pie crust rather than raisins.
posted by Concordia at 11:08 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
I love going to Boots and picking up inexpensive things you won't find in the USA. My favorite? Radox shower gels that come in a bottle that have handles that let you hang them inside your shower. They don't exist here in America.
posted by HeyAllie at 11:09 AM on December 9, 2019
posted by HeyAllie at 11:09 AM on December 9, 2019
My items are more practical, Germolene (European phenol-based antiseptics seem more effective than US antiseptics), Tyrozets (antibiotic lozenges that cure a sore throat that's turned bacterial, use only when required), Optrex eye wash.
All are available at Boots the Chemist at the airport on your way out.
Also Twiglets, my favorite snack. You may hate them though.
posted by w0mbat at 11:15 AM on December 9, 2019 [4 favorites]
All are available at Boots the Chemist at the airport on your way out.
Also Twiglets, my favorite snack. You may hate them though.
posted by w0mbat at 11:15 AM on December 9, 2019 [4 favorites]
Pierre Herme macarons. There are a few locations, but I'd recommend getting them at Selfridges because there are tons of other good treats in their Foodhall.
posted by dayintoday at 11:16 AM on December 9, 2019
posted by dayintoday at 11:16 AM on December 9, 2019
Żubrówka vodka.
Really popular vodka here in Europe. As far as I know, it is still banned in the US.
(Tip: If you want to sample Polish vodkas before you leave, head to Bar Polski, a small place in an alley off Holborn)
I just had to look this up but its apparently been legal in the US since 2014. Still very tasty though.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:17 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Really popular vodka here in Europe. As far as I know, it is still banned in the US.
(Tip: If you want to sample Polish vodkas before you leave, head to Bar Polski, a small place in an alley off Holborn)
I just had to look this up but its apparently been legal in the US since 2014. Still very tasty though.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:17 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
My daughter likes Quavers. But she's 8. Your mileage might vary.
posted by samhyland at 11:23 AM on December 9, 2019
posted by samhyland at 11:23 AM on December 9, 2019
OTC medications vary widely in availability from country to country. One of the things I like to keep a little stock of when I visit the UK is ibuprofen with codeine.
Nthing the grocery store chocolate - the labels are similar here but the contents are not.
posted by mce at 11:28 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Nthing the grocery store chocolate - the labels are similar here but the contents are not.
posted by mce at 11:28 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Right now I'd opt for British Christmas stuff - mince pies, crackers, pudding etc.
The TSA prohibits Christmas crackers on flights to the USA, either in checked or carry-on luggage.
But definitely buy Twiglets, which are little twig-like snacks with Marmite on them.
posted by essexjan at 11:49 AM on December 9, 2019
The TSA prohibits Christmas crackers on flights to the USA, either in checked or carry-on luggage.
But definitely buy Twiglets, which are little twig-like snacks with Marmite on them.
posted by essexjan at 11:49 AM on December 9, 2019
Lemsip and Smarties (not to be taken together).
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:22 PM on December 9, 2019
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:22 PM on December 9, 2019
Ibuprofen with codeine, but make sure not to exceed the US import limit (~50, I think). You have to ask for it at the counter.
Hobnobs with the dark chocolate, for sure.
Cadbury low-end chocolate is better in the UK because its first ingredient is milk, not sugar. It's not exactly fancy (not sure I'd present it to Aunt Maureen as a special UK treat) but I rather like it.
The UK edition Harry Potter books have the original puns/jokes, not the ones reworked for American audiences.
posted by praemunire at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
Hobnobs with the dark chocolate, for sure.
Cadbury low-end chocolate is better in the UK because its first ingredient is milk, not sugar. It's not exactly fancy (not sure I'd present it to Aunt Maureen as a special UK treat) but I rather like it.
The UK edition Harry Potter books have the original puns/jokes, not the ones reworked for American audiences.
posted by praemunire at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
Scotch whisky, of course. It sounds like you're already familiar, but my recommendations are typically: Cadenhead's is Scotland's oldest independent bottler and really lovely. The Whisky Shop is a fairly generic-looking chain but still has a massive selection of drams not available in the US, including a lot of own-bottlings as well.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2019
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 12:49 PM on December 9, 2019
Prawn cocktail crisps, and the hot chocolate cubes from Melt.
Really, anything from Melt, but the cubes travel and keep well.
posted by Kreiger at 12:55 PM on December 9, 2019
Really, anything from Melt, but the cubes travel and keep well.
posted by Kreiger at 12:55 PM on December 9, 2019
Weird crisps, chocolates, and I also buy a bunch of really trashy British magazines (like Heat!) for the plane home. I also like the British fashion mags that are small, like purse-sized. So essentially I make a crazy run at the WS Smith at Heathrow.
I also think British aerosol deodorants are better than American ones for some reason.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:39 PM on December 9, 2019
I also think British aerosol deodorants are better than American ones for some reason.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:39 PM on December 9, 2019
the holiday lines from waitrose and marks& spencer; one CAN bring hard cheese back to the US
boiled sweets
posted by brujita at 2:18 PM on December 9, 2019
boiled sweets
posted by brujita at 2:18 PM on December 9, 2019
Liberty fabric, or items made from it, either from the eponymous dept store or that cheaper place near Brick Lane. Charity Xmas cards from e.g. Oxfam.
posted by runincircles at 2:50 PM on December 9, 2019
posted by runincircles at 2:50 PM on December 9, 2019
A genuine decommissioned Tube roundel from Liverpool Street station - it’s 20% off!
Alternatively, if you don’t have enough room in your suitcase (or a spare two and a half grand), the London Transport Museum shop has plenty of other options - the posters are especially good.
posted by inire at 4:41 PM on December 9, 2019
Alternatively, if you don’t have enough room in your suitcase (or a spare two and a half grand), the London Transport Museum shop has plenty of other options - the posters are especially good.
posted by inire at 4:41 PM on December 9, 2019
Def chocolate. All the Cadbury/Dairy Milk variations. As it is Christmas season, my American family loves it when I bring a box of Quality Street.
M&S food as they make all their own products. My friend who travels here frequently is particularly partial to their crisps/potato chips. The chips here in general have different flavours so that’s fun. I am also partial to Percy Pigs.
All the biscuits. Chocolate digestives and chocolate hobnobs. I also love jammy dodgers and bourbons.
posted by like_neon at 1:14 AM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]
M&S food as they make all their own products. My friend who travels here frequently is particularly partial to their crisps/potato chips. The chips here in general have different flavours so that’s fun. I am also partial to Percy Pigs.
All the biscuits. Chocolate digestives and chocolate hobnobs. I also love jammy dodgers and bourbons.
posted by like_neon at 1:14 AM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]
I found this thread late so you might not see it-- but, my usual gift to Stateside people is Somerset cider brandy. You can get it at the liquor store on Old Compton Street in Soho, or at Borough Market, or at the South Bank food market.
The 3-year-old is bright and appley, and fine for most occasions. For special times and special people, the 10-year-old is lovely and smooth. I wouldn't bother with the 5-year-old.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:32 AM on December 10, 2019
The 3-year-old is bright and appley, and fine for most occasions. For special times and special people, the 10-year-old is lovely and smooth. I wouldn't bother with the 5-year-old.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:32 AM on December 10, 2019
French skincare products from brands such as Embryolisse, La Roche-Posay, Nuxe, and Avène. My favorites are Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré facial cream and Nuxe Rêve de Miel body wash. Large Boots locations often carry them.
posted by neushoorn at 6:36 AM on December 10, 2019
posted by neushoorn at 6:36 AM on December 10, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Duffington at 9:55 AM on December 9, 2019