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British gifts to take abroad

36 replies

SoTiredNeedHoliday · 02/12/2025 10:16

Looking for some British themed or at least made gifts to take abroad for nice and nephews 6-11 and for their parents.
Any ideas?
It used to be so easy when 'shopping' wasn't so global!!! But now you can get most brands all over the world

OP posts:
LegoLandslide · 02/12/2025 18:52

I would hit M&S for some nice tins of biscuits. I was there doing exactly this today. They also have some nice London themed Christmas tree decorations (despite the M&S I was in being several hundred miles from London).

Depending on where you're going, Christmas or Arran/Fair Isle style jumpers can be hard to get so might be fun.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 02/12/2025 18:55

My visitors from the UK bring my kids, skips, prawn cocktail pringles, cadbury's fudges, and eccles cakes. My kids are all about the snacks.

Genevieva · 02/12/2025 18:58

I used to buy Ribena before they changed the recipe to avoid the sugar tax. Now I buy Pixley Berries blackcurrant cordial from Waitrose. And any blackcurrant flavoured sweets.

Proper fudge or Scottish tablet. Kendal mint cake. Grassmere gingerbread. A tin of decorated biscuits by Biscuiteers.

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CharlotteStreetW1 · 02/12/2025 19:02

I'm clueless about books but I recently took a pair of Emma Bridgewater mugs to family in Canada.

JDM625 · 02/12/2025 19:05

Are they British people that have moved abroad or non Brits? Where do they live?

Without knowing the above, some ideas:
-Twinings (My American friend always goes to the Twinings shop in London when visiting the UK)
-Cadburys chocolates
-Old school sweets like saucers, fudge, lemon sherbets
-British themed socks. Thomas the tank Engine for the youngest?

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 02/12/2025 19:19

JDM625 · 02/12/2025 19:05

Are they British people that have moved abroad or non Brits? Where do they live?

Without knowing the above, some ideas:
-Twinings (My American friend always goes to the Twinings shop in London when visiting the UK)
-Cadburys chocolates
-Old school sweets like saucers, fudge, lemon sherbets
-British themed socks. Thomas the tank Engine for the youngest?

It’s a kind thought with the Twinings and Cadbury‘s, but if the friends are in mainland Europe both brands are widely distributed and available. The packaging is different but the same products. If someone gave me a box of Lady Grey I‘d be very grateful for the present, but it wouldn‘t be anything unusual or special.
A few people have mentioned shortbread: our local supermarket in Germany is full of Walker‘s products so again, nothing too special.

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 02/12/2025 19:21

MrTiddlesTheCat · 02/12/2025 18:55

My visitors from the UK bring my kids, skips, prawn cocktail pringles, cadbury's fudges, and eccles cakes. My kids are all about the snacks.

Yes! Those are things we would appreciate.

JDM625 · 02/12/2025 19:37

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 02/12/2025 19:19

It’s a kind thought with the Twinings and Cadbury‘s, but if the friends are in mainland Europe both brands are widely distributed and available. The packaging is different but the same products. If someone gave me a box of Lady Grey I‘d be very grateful for the present, but it wouldn‘t be anything unusual or special.
A few people have mentioned shortbread: our local supermarket in Germany is full of Walker‘s products so again, nothing too special.

Hence I asked what country they live in? 🤷‍♀️

RedToothBrush · 03/12/2025 00:22

Mince pies, chocolate orange, crumpets.

I'd say Cadburys cream eggs but they are out of season and some airports won't let you take them in hand luggage because they look like grenades on scanners! (Yes I'm serious).

realsavagelike · 03/12/2025 00:38

SoTiredNeedHoliday · 02/12/2025 10:16

Looking for some British themed or at least made gifts to take abroad for nice and nephews 6-11 and for their parents.
Any ideas?
It used to be so easy when 'shopping' wasn't so global!!! But now you can get most brands all over the world

I hear you. Schlepped several bags of Sour Patch Kids from Canada for my nephews when we visited the UK recently, only to see them at the local Tesco 2 minutes down the road from their place...

DisruptiveCumin · 03/12/2025 10:02

A calendar with photos of local places that look nice? Not tourists attractions, but something specific to your particular location. Here is a guide on making a photo calendar yourself or you can contact local photo stores or printing shops to see if they do this kind of work.

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