Traveling offers the opportunity to create lasting memories, and what better way to capture those moments than through souvenirs? London, a city steeped in history and culture, offers a treasure trove of memorable keepsakes.
So letโs explore the best souvenirs to buy in London, from iconic consumables like tea and gin to traditional mementos like t-shirts and mugs. Discover how these souvenirs not only bring a piece of London home with you but also serve as tangible reminders of your unforgettable journey in this vibrant and historic city.
Souvenirs to Buy in London
Table of Contents
Tea & Teapots
England is famous for it’s tea and tea consumption. Tea-related items are popular souvenirs for tourists in London and can be found across the city. There are a variety of items that you could bring home – from teapots, tea bags, loose leaf tea and tea infusers.
Where to find it:
- Fortnum & Mason, on Piccadilly, offers some of the most elegant tea collections and paraphernalia.
- Supermarkets (Sainsbury’s, Tesco, etc.), spread throughout the city, will have some of the more standard offerings.
- Whittard of Chelsea is a specialty shop featuring tea, with several locations (Regent Street, Oxford Street, The Strand).
London Transport Memorabilia
London Transport is famous across the world between the red double-decker buses and the Tube’s iconic roundels. These make for great distinctive gifts from London and cover all age ranges. If you’re looking for something particularly unique the London Transport Museum has a great shop of items related to London Transport. They even have cushions made of the same fabric that the tube cars use, with the prints specific to your favorite lines.
Where to find it:
- London Transport Museum, in Covent Garden, has the most unique and well crafted items.
- London Tourist Shops will have a variety of paraphernalia featuring the roundels and the iconic buses.
Union Jack Items
The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Union Jack. The design of the flag is made up of the flags of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It’s a well known representation of the United Kingdom and appears on all kinds of merchandise throughout the city. There are tea towels, t-shirts, umbrellas, mugs and so much more. I personally am a fan of the key chains for that little daily reminder of your travels.
Where to find it:
- London Tourist Shops will have a plethora of items covered with the Union Jack.
Camden Lock Market Artwork
The vibrant Camden Lock Market is bustling with hundreds of options of great London souvenirs. It’s home to many local artists and contains a wide variety of unique creations from paintings to prints and beyond. The various markets cover a wide spectrum of interest and style, making it a great destination for all travelers. It has a fun and eclectic vibe.
Where to find it:
- Camden Lock Markets are located near the Camden Town Tube station.
London Gin
London is home to many gin distilleries – from craft distilleries to large globally renowned distilleries. A bottle of London Gin is a unique souvenir to bring back from your travels to London. It is a quintessential British spirit with a rich history that speaks to London’s long standing gin culture. For the Gin fans among us there are several distilleries in London that you can visit for a tour and tasting.
Where to find it:
- Supermarkets (Sainsbury’s, Tesco) and specialty liquor stores (Whiskey Exchange) will have a variety of London Gin available.
- Distilleries are the more interesting place to find your Gin souvenir, some of those include:
- Beefeater Distillery, located in Kennington
- City of London Distillery, located in the City
- Sipsmith Distillery, located in Chiswick
- Jensen’s Gin Distillery, located in Bermondsey
- Little Bird Gin Distillery, located in Peckham
Borough Market Spices
Borough Market is a fantastic place to visit in London and has a lot of unique food oriented shops – with fresh vegetables, meat pies, and all sorts of sweet treats. It’s a foodie paradise! One of my favorite stalls is Spice Mountain, a cute shop with endless options for spices. They have a large variety of organic spice pots, spice mixes, and even baking items. These make great souvenirs and an every day reminder of your travels, and a little added flare to your cooking. Double check that this type of souvenir is allowed back to your home destination.
Where to find it:
- Spice Mountain is located in London’s Borough Market in the main covered portion with a double stall.
Shakespeare’s Plays
Shakespeare’s Plays are a great lasting souvenir from your travels to London. The best place to buy one of these is the home of Shakespeare himself – the Globe Theatre. This recreation of the original Globe Theatre offers fantastic shows throughout the summer months, and have a candlelit theatre as well. They stock all of the major Shakespeare plays and a variety of Shakespeare themed gifts.
Where to find it:
- The Globe Theatre is located on the South Bank in London, near Tate Modern and across the Millennium Bridge from St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Antiques from Portobello Market
Portobello Market Road is a fantastic antiques street in west London that offers a wide variety of souvenir options. It’s a popular tourist destination for good reason, with the colorful homes and fun neighborhood vibe. The antiques makes excellent souvenirs, offering a piece of London’s eclectic history and culture to take home.
Where to find it:
- Portobello Market is located a short walk from Notting Hill Gate Station, on the Central Line.
Liberty Prints
Liberty is one of London’s historic department stores and is particularly famous for it’s luxurious fabrics and prints. Buying one of these famously unique prints, or the fabric itself, makes for a great souvenir when visiting London. Liberty fabrics are available in fashion and home ware both, and it is synonymous with British design. I recommend visiting nearby Carnaby Street too while you’re in the neighborhood.
Where to find it:
- Liberty Department Store is located near Oxford Circus.
British Sweets & Candy
The best souvenirs to buy in London is always the local sweets – from chocolates to cookies and other sweet treats native to your destination. For London those treats range from Cadbury chocolates, Walkers shortbread cookies, and homemade fudge.
From the local supermarkets you can look for staples of British cuisine like: Jammy Dodgers, Jaffa Cakes, Double Decker chocolates, Curly Wurlys, or Wine Gums.
Where to find it:
- Supermarkets (Sainsbury’s, Tesco, etc.), spread throughout the city, will a variety of sweets.
- Marks & Spencer, a specialist supermarket, has the fantastic “Percy Pig” gummies.
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