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10 Absolutely Brilliant Gifts To Bring Back From London

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Umi A •  Jan 18, 2017

Looking at all these lucky Londoners, you miiight just feel jealous that you’re only visiting.

Credit: Giphy

Here are 10 brilliant things that you can bring back to remind you of amazing London!

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[Planning a trip to London? Make sure to get your travel insurance beforehand! For Singaporeans,  MSIG offers two plans to cover all your needs. The TravelEasy plan includes comprehensive coverage with over 50 benefits (including medical expenses, personal accidents and travel inconvenience) while the TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan also covers pre-existing medical conditions and has no upper age limit!]

1. Teas and Biscuits

The British have turned tea into a national drink and an art form. Tins of tea make a delightful English souvenir. Why not consider tea strainers, tea pots and tea towels that suit your cuppa too? Some popular brands include Whittard, Fortnum & Mason and Twinnings.

Credit: Tastea.cz on Flickr

Now you’ll never settle for normal tea bags in a mug again!

Credit: Flood G. on Flickr

[P.S Have your afternoon tea in these 5 Muslim-friendly places in the heart of London!] 

Few Brits would exclude their ‘brew’ with a biscuit. Luckily for us, the best and most British biscuits are the cheapest! Pick up a packet of custard creams, chocolate bourbon and Jaffa cakes. Despite the names, these are all typical British biscuits. You can easily find them at Marks & Spencer or John Lewis.

Credit: Smallbrainfield on Flickr

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#HHWT Tip: Unique flavours include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, fruit infusions and flowering teas. If you’re not a big tea drinker, there’s a wide variety of coffee and hot chocolate with creative flavours like strawberry and salted caramel!

[P.S Discover more sweet treats in these 8 hidden Muslim-friendly bakeries in London!]

2. Fandom Merchandise

This one's for those in fandoms like Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes or Game of Thrones. Camden market sells all sorts of accessories and t-shirts belonging to these fandoms! It’s time to fangirl/fanboy ?

Credit:Katherine Halaon Flickr

[P.S. Check out London’s delicious Fish & Chips in the area too!]

Forbidden Planet

This store sells all kinds of comics and collectibles. It’s time to unleash your inner geek! Look forward to merchandise from Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who and even Breaking Bad. Forbidden Planet is one of the best-known retailers for the world of science fiction and fantasy.

Credit: jmm on Flickr

#HHWT Tip: Check out the smaller version of Forbidden Planet too. The Cinema Store may offer some of the items at a cheaper price!

Credit: jmm on Flickr

Address: 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm on Mon and Tues, 10am – 7.30pm on Wed, Fri and Sat, 10am – 8pm on Thurs, 12pm – 6pm on Sun

Website

The Who Shop

If you’re not satisfied with the Forbidden Planet, you can get gifts from The Who Shop too. This store/museum has everything from magazines and posters to duvets and bathrobes – all dedicated to Doctor Who! You can also take pictures with the props that were used in the show. Hope your fangirl hearts are able to take it ?

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Address: 39-41 Barking Road, Upton Park, London, E6 1PY

Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 9.30am – 5.30pm, Bank Holidays 10am – 4pm, closed on Sundays, Christmas Day & Boxing Day

Website

The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾

How can we ever forget about Harry Potter? Naturally, at Platform 9 ¾, you just can’t help but get excited and giddy with happiness!

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There are so many Potter merchandise you can get here! Buy your own wand, Quidditch jerseys, house scarves and more ☺️ Another perfect souvenir for yourself would be getting a picture taken at the platform outside the shop.

Credit: nashtravels on Instagram

[P.S These 4 magical places in London are a sure-visit for every true Harry Potter fan!] 

Address: Euston Rd, Kings Cross Station, London, N1 9AP

Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm on Mon to Sat, 9am – 9pm on Sun, Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Website

3. Famous Local Brands from London

London’s Scent: Jo Malone

Perhaps… you would like to bring home the scent of London. Jo Malone London will be the right choice! It is a well-known British perfume and scented candle brand. They are known for their luxury candles, hand cream and room scents.

Credit: frie.Mo on Flickr

London Fashion: Liberty

Liberty London is home to their infamous English floral prints! Their prints come in all shapes and sizes – wallets, greeting cards, passport holders and clothes.

Credit: Alvin Leong on Flickr

Their items are so hot that even brands like Nike and Dr Martens are collaborating with Liberty. For anyone who sews or does crafts, Liberty’s gorgeous print fabrics definitely makes for a great gift!

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[P.S For every shopaholic, these 5 shopping streets in London will seem like heaven to you!] 

London’s Print: Cath Kidston

Credit: Cath Kidston on Facebook

Cath Kidston may be easily available today, but you might just find better bargains and varieties in London. After all, Cath Kidston has become a much-loved British lifestyle brand. Their unique modern vintage prints and products would make a great gift for the young ones.

Credit: Bill Hutton on Flickr

#HHWT Tip: An easy way to identify local brands is to look for “London” right below their name.

Credit: Cath Kidston on Facebook

London’s Weather: James Smith and Sons

This shop sells only umbrellas and walking sticks. Their original Victorian shop front remains unchanged till today ? The cool thing about it is that they make most of their umbrellas in their workshop below ground level!

Credit: duncan c on Flickr

Address: Hazelwood House, 53 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1BL

Opening Hours: 10am – 5.45pm on Mon, Tues and Fri, 10.30am – 5.45pm on Wed, 10am – 5.15pm on Sat, Closed on Sun, 25th – 28th  December, and 1st – 3rd January.

Website

[P.S After a full day of shopping and sightseeing, its time to tuck in to London's yummiest eateries!]

4. Practical Gifts from British Department Store Chains

I was always jealous of anyone carrying a Harrods’ good. There’s just something about Harrods that makes London special. That's maybe because they have 330 departments dedicated to the finest food, fashion, homeware and technology! It will be easy to finish up your souvenir shopping for everyone back at home - in one place.

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Visit Boots or Superdrug to get cheap makeup brands for your gal pals! These shops are similar to Guardian or Watsons back in Singapore. Some British specific brands include Barry M, Revolution and Gosh.

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Did you know that even British Youtubers like Zoella have their own product lines here? The fandom life never ends!

[P.S Check out these 5 street markets in London that every shopper truly cannot miss!] 

5. Authentic English Souvenirs

Any items featuring the union flag, Big Ben or the Buckingham Palace makes for a very British keepsake. Think along the lines of t-shirts, fridge magnets, keychains and mugs as souvenirs. Easy to buy for the masses, and definitely easy on the budget.

Credit: transCam on Flickr

Credit: Zhu on Flickr

There are tons of these souvenir shops along the streets of Central London. You can check out the areas around Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Bond Street and Oxford Circus. Last minute buys are also possible, as you can easily get these at any British airport. How convenient!

[Buy sure to buy your travel insurance beforehand! For Singaporeans,  MSIG offers two plans to cover all your needs. The TravelEasy plan includes comprehensive coverage with over 50 benefits (including medical expenses, personal accidents and travel inconvenience) while the TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan also covers pre-existing medical conditions and has no upper age limit!]

6. Sneakers for the Sneaker-heads

If you don’t believe that happiness starts within your sole, you are probably lying to yourself. Pamper your feet with your own personalised Nike sneakers. At Niketown London, they have four floors worth of Nike goodies for any Nike addict!

Credit: Josh Hallett on Flickr

With all the rage about sneakers, it is also worth to buy yourself exclusive pairs for your collection. Size? Footpatrol and Slam City Skates are London’s best known stops for the sneaker-heads. Size? also has some cool footwear partnerships with Vans and Fila.

Credit: slimmer_jimmer on Flickr

It's sure to turn heads everywhere you go!

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[P.S. The shopping streets mentioned above do have halal food nearby. Hooray!]

7. Yummy Chocolates!

If you’re on the budget side, chocolates can never go wrong for anyone! It is no secret that the British are in love with sweets as much as teas and biscuits. Their famous British Cadbury chocolate bars taste A LOT better than the reformulated ones back at home.

Credit: JCDecaux Creative Solution on Flickr

And it comes in all shapes and sizes! Remember to bring back the Londoner’s favourites – Dairy Milk and Wispa.

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M&Ms World in London is another delightful option. It is the only one in Europe! You can choose an endless range of M&Ms merchandise like soft toys and bedding. Why not personalise your M&Ms too? That will definitely impress all your fellow chocolate friends.

[P.S For anyone who loves sweet treats, these 5 halal desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth!]

Credit: Chris Sampson on Flickr

Disclaimer: While UK Cadburry’s Dairy Milk and Wispa are Halal certified, the M&Ms are not. Do look out for those with ‘Suitable for vegetarians’ instead but at the same time, we advise you to consume at your own discretion. There is a UK Halal Food Guide available online.

8. Museum Merchandise

Museums in London are extra special. The British Museum, as well as Victoria and Albert Museum, offer more than just your regular souvenirs. They commission limited edition pieces based on their exhibits. This means that they have their own line of accessories, homeware and jewellery!

Credit: Pablo Fernandez on Flickr

Locally made by UK-based artists, the pieces are exclusively available at these museums. How’s that for a unique gift?

[P.S Check out these 7 unique museums you should definitely visit when in London!] 

Credit: Annie Mole on Flickr

The London Transport Museum also sells distinctive memorabilia. Loved by visitors and locals alike, their items are characteristically British. Many of the items here are made of moquette. It’s actually the fabric used on the Tube and bus seats! Alternatively, you can consider purchasing some original 1960s luggage racks from decommissioned trains.

[P.S. We’ve covered some of the best museums in London to visit here.]

9. Luxury Brands

Whenever someone travels to Europe, there will always be that one aunt who passes their credit card so that others can help buy some high-end goods for her. That aunt is smart. Be like that aunt?

Credit: Mulberry_Pics on Flickr

This is because British lifestyle brands like Mulberry and Burberry are significantly cheaper in London as compared to other countries. They have at least a 15% to 60% discount at the Burberry outlet near Angel station! Cashmere scarfs from Burberry or beautiful Mulberry bags would make great gifts for anyone.

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#HHWT Tip: For last minute gifts, Mulberry has stores in Terminal 3, 4 and 5 at Heathrow.

10. All things royal at the Buckingham Palace Gift Shop

Even if you come back from London without a title, feel like you’re knighted with the Queen’s items. Show off the soaps and fluffy hand towels of Buckingham Palace. They are embroidered with a gold lion and unicorn emblem. Even their crown pencils and gold key chains have a classy feel to it.

Credit: @thesilverbirdcage on Instagram

Credit: jojo-bean on Flickr

For all the princesses-to-be out there, the Queens’ gallery gift shop also sells rings inspired by Kate Middleton’s engagement ring. I mean, who doesn’t want to be part of royalty? The selection of elegant, royal-inspired gifts and souvenirs are perfect for the royal watcher!

Address: 7 Buckingham Palace Rd, Victoria, London, SW1W 0PP

Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm daily

Website

Credit: @abbeyroadframing on Instagram

So there you have it! There are so many things that you can splurge on when exploring London. This list is by no means exhaustive! Let us know what other cool things in London that will make interesting gifts for your loved ones?

[Get your travel insurance before you fly! For Singaporeans,  MSIG offers two plans to cover all your needs. The TravelEasy plan includes comprehensive coverage with over 50 benefits (including medical expenses, personal accidents and travel inconvenience) while the TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan also covers pre-existing medical conditions and has no upper age limit!]

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[P.S Wish to conquer London in one week? Our 6D5N itinerary to UK's coolest capital will help you!]