If you like shopping then you will love London. From the big department stores that line Oxford Street to hipster boutiques, independent designers and creative weekend markets, this is one of the best cities in the world to go shopping, not to mention find a genuinely unique gift.
London is packed with shops you won’t find anywhere else, many of them are ideal for tracking down that perfect British souvenir.
So, forget the souvenir shops selling Union Jack hats, Big Ben fridge magnet and Notting Hill tote bags, and take a look at our pick of the best souvenirs from London instead.
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The following list is not exhaustive – see the full list below for 30+ more ideas across every budget.
| Souvenir | Where | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty print gift | Liberty London | £15–£60 | West End |
| Food Hall treat | Harrods | £5–£50 | Knightsbridge |
| Tea in a tin | Fortnum & Mason | £10–£25 | Piccadilly |
| Everyday English tea | Tesco / Sainsbury’s | £1.50–£4 | Anywhere |
| Craft gin | Sipsmith / Beefeater | £25–£40 | Chiswick / Kennington |
| Umbrella | James Smith & Sons | £45–£300+ | Bloomsbury |
| Personalised necklace | Tatty Devine | £30–£60 | Covent Garden |
| Arthur Bear | Hamleys | £20–£30 | Regent Street |
| Paddington teddy | Paddington Bear Shop | £15–£35 | Paddington Station |
| Wizard wand | Harry Potter Shop | £30–£45 | Kings Cross |
| Football shirt | Club shop (Emirates/Stamford Bridge) | £60–£90 | Varies |
| V&A art print | V&A Museum | £20–£40 | South Kensington |
The best souvenirs from London
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for a unique gift from London, here are some ideas to get you started.
Department stores & Historic shops
Liberty London
You should start your search for unique souvenirs in Liberty, one of the best shops in London. This designer department store first opened its doors in 1875 and its worth visiting for the architecture alone. The grand Tudor revival building was constructed from the timbers of two ships – HMS Impregnable (formerly HMS Howe) and HMS Hindustan – with the ships’ decks used as flooring for the store.
It’s particularly famous for its miniature floral, paisley and abstract prints, known as Liberty prints, that are available to buy as washbags, notebooks, dressing gowns and more.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 8pm Sunday: 12pm – 6pm | Oxford Circus | ££ – £££ |
Selfridges
You’ll find Selfridges on nearby Oxford Street, an emporium of fashion, homewares, make-up, kids’ goods and much more spread over nine floors. This, the flagship store, is the second largest shop in the UK and opened in 1909.
If you’re visiting with kids then head to the 4th floor where the toy store is located. This is also the Fish & Chips by Jellycat store. If visiting London at Christmas then make sure to stop by their enormous Christmas shop located on the lower level.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Fri: 10am – 10pm Saturday: 10am – 9pm Sunday: 11.30am – 6pm | Bond Street | ££ – £££ |
Harrods
Which leads me on to Harrods, the largest shop in Britain and a brilliant place to buy unique gifts from London.
The famed Food Hall is a fantastic place to buy unique London souvenirs for foodies. In 2021, Harrods opened its Chocolate Hall, which features creations by some of the best chocolatiers in the world – as well as Harrods’ own-brand chocolate range – as well as live demonstrations from Harrods’ in-house chocolate masters.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 9pm Sunday: 11.30am – 6pm | Knightsbridge | ££ – £££ |
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is most famous for its luxury hampers but the long-standing department store is a treasure trove of goodies, all of which would make an excellent gift to take home.
I’m a big fan of their biscuits, that are not only delicious but come in elegant tins in the stores signature Eau de Nil colour. They also stock a wide range of teas that also come in pretty collectible tins (we particularly like their Earl Grey tea). These make great gifts and are a fun piece of London to take home with you.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 8pm Sunday: 12pm – 6pm | Piccadilly | ££ – £££ |
London’s Markets
London’s many local markets often hide the best London souvenirs.
Portobello Road Market
Set on one of London’s most famous streets in west London, Portobello Road Market is always fun to wander with dozens of antique shops selling everything from antique maps and silverware to books, crystal and collectibles. Although open Monday to Saturday, Friday and Saturday are when the market is busiest. Saturday is full market day – my advice is to head early and be prepared for crowds.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Wed: 9am – 6pm Thurs: 9am – 1pm Friday: 9am – 7pm Sat: 9am – 7pm | Ladbroke Grove & Notting Hill | ££ – £££ |
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road Flower Market is one of my favourite London markets. It’s mostly a flower market but there are lots of small independent shops lining the road where you can pick up a unique British gift. The market is held on Sundays from 8am to around 3pm. It does get very busy so either time your visit for the morning or near to when the market is closing when you can typically pick up some good bargains.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Sun: 8am – 3pm | Bethnal Green & Old Street | £ – ££ |
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is a great place to visit, particularly with teens. This cool corner of East London is home to the Brick Lane Vintage Market held at The Truman Brewery with boutiques selling vintage clothes from across the decades as well as vinyl records and an electric array of accessories.
There are other independent shops in the Brick Lane neighbourhood selling vintage threads including ATIKA, which specialises in unique pieces from across the decades. The market is open daily but Sunday is the busiest day.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Fri: 11am – 6.30pm Sat: 11am – 6pm Sun: 10am – 6pm | Shoreditch High Street | £ – ££ |
Camden Market
You could spend days exploring the many stalls and stores at Camden Market in Camden Town. This is your one-stop destination for vintage fashion, graphic tees, hand-crafted accessories, second-hand books and more. It’s a great place to buy a souvenir from London and an especially fun place to discover with teens.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sun: 10am – 7pm | Camden | £ – ££ |
Royal & Iconic London
Buckingham Palace Gift Shop
The Buckingham Palace Gift Shop lies just a stone’s throw away from the King’s residence on Buckingham Palace Road and sells the official merchandise of His Majesty and the rest of the Royal Family. From a portrait of The King and corgi-themed items (including stuffed corgi toys) to aprons, teddy bears, cookbooks, and even shower caps, there’s something for every Royalist in your life.
If you can’t get to the store itself then take a look at the website.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sun: 10am – 5.30pm | Victoria | £ – ££ |
London Transport Museum
One of my favourite souvenirs from London has to be the vintage London Underground posters sold by the London Transport Museum. They also sell cushions made out of the iconic moquette fabric – the exact same fabric used to upholster London’s transport vehicles – bedding decorated with the London Underground map, model buses and train sets, and much more including a great range of gifts for children.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sun: 10am – 6pm | Covent Garden | £ – ££ |
Houses of Parliament Shop
Some of the best souvenirs from London can be found in the Houses of Parliament Shop. This is where you can pick up ties, notebooks, mugs and more, themed in House of Commons Green or House of Lords Red. You’ll also find Big Ben souvenirs, Palace of Westminster books and stationery and a range of homewares such as tea towels and themed socks. My favourites are the original encaustic floor tiles.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 6pm | Westminster | £ – ££ |
Tea, Food & Drink
Tea from Twinnings
There’s nothing quite so quintessentially British as afternoon tea. Give the gift that keeps on giving with a selection of teas from the flagship Twinnings store on the Strand. With over 300 years of history, this is the oldest tea shop in London.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Wed: 11am – 6pm Thurs: 11.30am – 6.30pm Fri – Sun: 11am – 6pm | Charing Cross | £ |
Supermarket Tea
When we lived overseas, I would always ask visiting family and friends to bring English tea with them. Some good options if you’re looking for a budget-friendly London souvenir are Yorkshire Tea and PG Tips. Head to Tescos or Sainsbury’s, and pick up some digestive biscuits while you’re there.
Gin and Spirits
For something a little stronger, pick up a bottle of London gin to take home with you. Beefeater London Dry Gin is perhaps the most famous gin that is distilled in London but Tanqueray and Gordon’s are other options. One of my favourites is comparatively new on the gin scence; Sipsmith was founded in 2009 in Chiswick and uses traditional copper-pot distillation. Their distillery is open for tours if you fancy a look around.
Wine from Berry Bros & Rudd
Founded in 1698, Berry Bros. & Rudd is the oldest wine and spirits merchant in Britain and one of the oldest family-run businesses in the UK. It’s located in a Grade II* listed building on St. James’s Street and boats a distinguished pedigree of clients; it’s been the official wine supplier to the Royal Family since the reign of King George III.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Tues – Fri: 10am – 7pm Sat: 10am – 6pm | Green Park | ££ |
Cheese from Paxton & Whitfield
You’ll need something to go with the wine you pick up from Berry Bros. & Rudd so head to Paxton & Whitfield, one of the oldest cheesemongers in the UK.
The shop was first established in 1797 and they’ve been selling all manner of cheeses every since. They were awarded their first Royal Warrant to Queen Victoria in 1850 and today hold Royal Warrants of Appointment granted by Queen Elizabeth II and The former Prince of Wales
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 6.30pm Sun: 11am – 5pm | Green Park | £ |
Biscuits from Biscuiteers
London-themed biscuits from Biscuiteers in Notting Hill make great presents. Hand-iced in London you can choose from the Best of British box, Paddington Bear biscuits, or a Nativity Christmas biscuit tin.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 6pm Sun: 11am – 5pm | Ladbroke Grove | £ |
Fashion & Accessories
An umbrella from James Smith & Sons
James Smith & Sons have been making umbrellas since 1830 and is the place to go for men’s and women’s umbrellas and parasols – as well as made-to-measure walking sticks. Prices range from surprisingly affordable (given the brand’s pedigree) to thousands of pounds for antique and bespoke options. It’s the ideal gift for those who love style and history.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 5.30pm | Tottenham Court Road | ££ |
Jewellery from Tatty Devine
This very British brand started life in London’s Portobello and Spitalfields markets when two art school friends got together and started making jewellery.
Today, Tatty Devine creates fun, colourful pieces using laser cut acrylic packed with personality and a lot of fun – necklaces can feature anything from a giant lobster to an oversized banana. They also make personalised necklaces, which make great souvenirs. You can browse their designs online or visit their small shop on Neal Street in Covent Garden.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 6pm Sun: 11am – 5pm | Ladbroke Grove | £-££ |
A hat from Lock & Co Hatters
Not only is Lock & Co Hatters the oldest hat shop in London, it’s the oldest hat shop in the world! Founded in 1676, Lock & Co have dressed the heads of some of the most famous names in history including Admiral Lord Nelson, Sir Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde. The shop is one of the oldest family-owned businesses still in existence.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 5.30pm | Green Park | ££ |
Perfume from Penhaligon’s
Penhaligon’s shops are fairly prolific these days but the perfume house dates back to the late 1860s when William Henry Penhaligon, a Cornish barber, moved to London. He became Court Barber and Perfumer to Queen Victoria. It’s flagship store sits in Covent Garden but you’ll find other branches across London. Come here for the beautiful scents, the hand wash, the candles or just to browse.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 7pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm | Covent Garden | £-££ |
Books, Art and Stationery
Hatchards
London’s oldest book store opened in 1797, making it almost as old as the USA! Hatchards moved locations in 1801 and has occupied the same 187 Piccadilly address ever since – right near Piccadilly Circus.
It was acquired by Waterstones in the 1990s so the interiors are not quite as historic as you might expect but Royal Warrants are still on display as are historic photographs and old catalogues. They also stock a very good selection of books.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 8pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm | Piccadilly | £ |
Daunt Books
If I had to choose one bookstore to visit in London it would be Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street. This popular book store has several branches around the city but this is undoubtedly the most beautiful. It’s predominantly a travel book store with books organised by country.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 7.30pm Sun: 11pm – 6pm | Bond Street & Baker Street | £ |
Stanfords
The UK’s leading retailer of maps and travel guides since 1853, the travel bookshop Stanfords is a great place to go for a unique London gift. Located in Covent Garden, they have been welcoming adventure and armchair travellers alike for more than 100 years, including adventurer Michael Palin.
For ideas on where to buy children’s books see this list of bookshops.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Fri: 9am – 7pm Sat: 10am – 7pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm | Covent Garden | £ |
Art supplies from L. Cornelissen & Son
L. Cornelissen & Son has been supplying artists with pigments, paints, brushes, boards and more since 1855. Even if you’re not up to the standard of some of their previous clients (Francis Bacon being one), it’s a wonderful emporium of colour to explore. Plus, you’ll find the perfect gift for the artist in your life.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 6pm | Tottenham Court Road | £-££ |
Stationery from Marby & Elm
Marby & Elm is fun stationery shop in Exmouth Market that stocks a range of handprinted cards as well as pencils, week planners and jewellery. They also stock candles inspired by London such as ‘Clerkenwell Blue’, ‘Bethnal Green’ and ‘Shoreditch Orange’. Some might be a little risky for presents – your gran might not appreciated ‘The Smell of Total Bollocks’ for example – but it’s all good fun.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Tues: 1pm – 6.30pm Wed – Fri: 12pm – 5pm Sat: 12.30pm – 5pm | Angel | £-££ |
Museum Shops
A print from the V&A
One of the best museum gift shop in London is at the Victoria & Albert Museum. As well as jewellery, books and homewares, the V&A offer made to order art prints for your home. The perfect original London gift!
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Daily: 10am – 5.45pm Friday: until 10pm | South Kensington | £-££ |
The British Museum shop
For some gifts truly unique to London, head to the British Museum shop that sells a range of themed souvenirs from Rosetta Stone keyring to jewellery inspired by historical items in the museum collection. You’ll also find plenty of books, including ones tied to past and current exhibitions, and a range of homewares.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Daily: 10am – 5pm Fri: Until 8.30pm | Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street Russell Square | £-££ |
The Natural History Museum
If you’re looking for London souvenirs for kids then the Natural History Museum shop is a great option. Here you can buy dinosaur models, soft toys, an Axolotl bucket hat, puzzles, sticker books and more. The museum often does collaborations as well including hugely successful partnerships with PAW patrol and Pokemon.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Daily: 10am – 5.30pm | South Kensington | £-££ |
London souvenirs for kids
Hamleys
Possibly one of the most famous of all the London gift shops is the multi-story toy store Hamleys. this is the world’s oldest and largest toy shop and receives some five million visitors every year. It can be extraordinarily overwhelming but it’s unique to London and a must-visit if you are in London with kids even if you don’t buy anything (it’s not cheap and you can often find the same toy elsewhere for cheaper).
One item you can only buy in Hamleys is the ‘Arthur Bear’. Stocked among the plush toys, this dapper looking teddy bear comes dressed in a red waistcoat and tartan bow tie.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 9pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm | Oxford Street & Piccadilly Circus | £-££ |
Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop
For original children’s gifts from London head to Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop in Covent Garden. The toy store, which specialises in cut-out and make Victorian toy theatres, paper shadow boxes and pop-up theatres, first opened in the 1880s in Hoxton before later moving to Covent Garden. It also stocks a range of books, music boxes and other traditional toys.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10.30am – 6pm Sun: 11am – 6pm | Covent Garden | £-££ |
Paddington Bear Shop
The Paddington movies are some of our favourite family films set in London and now there’s a Paddington shop, too. Located, as you might expect, at Paddington Station, the Paddington Bear Shop is the place to get the perfect present. It’s the only shop in the world which is dedicated exclusively to the famous bear. Pick up up all manner of memorabilia including books, miniature replicas and your very own Paddington teddy bear.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Daily: 8am – 9pm | Paddington | £-££ |
Harry Potter Store
You’ll find Harry Potter merchandise for sale almost everywhere in London but every Harry Potter fan knowns that it’s worth going to the Harry Potter shop in Kings Cross Station as well. Located at Platform 9 3/4, this is the place to come to buy everything related to the boy wizard. Don’t miss the chance to have a photo taken of you pushing your trolley onto the magical platform while you’re here.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 8am – 10pm Sun: 9am – 8pm | Kings Cross | £-££ |
The LEGO Store
The LEGO Store in Leicester Square is officially the biggest LEGO store in the world spanning nearly 10,000 square feet across two floors. There’s a giant Big Ben replica, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and a red double decker bus, all made out of LEGO bricks – the bus took 270,884 bricks to complete! The shop has some great London themed products to take home too including LEGO London Postcards and a London bus.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 10pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm | Leicester Square | £-££ |
Moomin Store
Moomin fans will love the second-floor Moomin Shop in the heart of Covent Garden. Although small, the shop stocks all manner of official Tove Jansson Moon merchandise from ceramic mugs to plush toys.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 10am – 8pm Sun: 10am – 7pm | Covent Garden | £-££ |
London Pop Culture Souvenirs
Sherlock Holmes Museum
The old home of London’s most famous fictional detective sits on Baker Street, around the corner from the tube station. Housed within a Georgian townhouse, the privately owned museum is furnished with Holmes’ personal items and even a handful belonging to Watson.
The accompanying shop sells Sherlock Holmes themed gifts and souvenirs everything from deerstalkers and themed stationary to the Great Detective’s books.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Daily: 9.30am-6pm | Baker Street | £-££ |
Alice Through the Looking Glass
One of London’s most magical stores is Alice Through the Looking Glass. Located in Cecil Court, not far from Leicester Square, this shop is filled with gifts, memorabilia and rare editions of Lewis Carroll’s stories. It’s the perfect place for that special gift only found in London.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 11am – 6pm | Leicester Square | £-££ |
Abbey Road Store
Whether you’re in the market for a Beatles-theme t-shirt, a replica of the Abbey Road street sign, or even a mixing console custom building set, the Abbey Road store has it. In addition to Beatles-themed souvenirs, they have photos from Oasis recording sessions.
| Opening Hours | Nearest Tube | Price Range |
| Mon – Sat: 9am – 7pm Sun: 10am – 6pm | St John’s Wood | £-££ |
Football Souvenirs
A shirt from a London football club is a great London souvenir for visiting fans. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all run official club shops at their stadiums — the Emirates, Stamford Bridge and their North London ground respectively — stocking everything from match shirts to more affordable scarves, mugs and keyrings. Combine it with a stadium tour for a proper afternoon out.
Modern London Souvenirs
All on the Board Book
Ever wondered who’s behind the clever, funny and inspirational messages that appear on the Underground boards across London?
The duo behind the #allontheboard are Jeremy Chopra and Ian Redpath who first began writing short poems of hope on customer information boards in order to cheer commuters up. Their messages have been so popular that they have an Instagram account with over half a million followers and now a book called, of course, All On the Board.
We Built This City
For London souvenirs with a cool, modern edge look at We Built This City.
This online store – and occasional pop-up shop – brings together some of the best London-inspired goods from the some of the city’s best creatives. There are cool maps, fun ‘Kate Middle-toe’ socks, quirky illustrations of London landmarks, colourful jewellery, and much more.
Gifts from To Home from London
Another fun online store selling quirky London gifts is To Home from London. Come here for coasters, tote bags, placemats, mugs and much more, all with colourful London-inspired designs.
Experiences as souvenirs
Afternoon tea on a double-decker bus
Sometimes the best souvenirs are the ones that you get to enjoy first hand during a trip. One of the best experiences that you can only do in London is to indulge in afternoon tea on board a double decker bus. Brigit’s Bakery run a handful of themed afternoon teas on board their fleet of cherry red double-decker buses, everything from a Peppa Pig and Paddington to traditional afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and scones.
Classic London Souvenirs
Miniature London icons
I don’t normally recommend the souvenir stands outside tube stations but they are a good place to pick up a London souvenir. From a miniature Big Ben or Tower Bridge to a classic red phone box, these are fun gifts to take home with you. Look around Oxford Circus, Bond Street and Covent Garden.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular souvenir from London?
Tea is a classic choice, whether that’s a premium tin from Fortnum & Mason or a simple box of Yorkshire Tea picked up at the supermarket on your way home.
What’s a cheap souvenir from London?
Supermarket tea, biscuits and postcards are all good budget souvenirs from London. For a bit more character without the price tag, look at Marby & Elm’s stationery or a print from a museum gift shop.
What souvenirs can you only buy in London?
A few items on this list are genuinely exclusive to the city: the Arthur Bear from Hamleys, anything from the Paddington Bear Shop at Paddington Station, and the All On the Board book, are all gifts you can only find in London.
Can tourists claim tax back on souvenirs bought in London?
Unfortunately not. The UK ended tax-free shopping for tourists after Brexit, so VAT (usually 20%) is included in the price and can’t be reclaimed at the airport as it once could.
Where’s the best area in London for souvenir shopping?
It depends what you’re after: Covent Garden and the West End for department stores and boutiques, Notting Hill and Camden for markets and vintage finds, and South Kensington for museum gift shops.
What’s a good London souvenir for kids?
Hamleys and the Harry Potter Shop are the obvious picks, but a Paddington Bear teddy from Paddington Station or a dinosaur toy from the Natural History Museum shop are also great options.
