London advice please!

[londonadvice2]

Hey really hoping someone can help!

I’ve family members going to London for 3 days from ireland for a short city break. I’m looking for something I could give them as a last minute gift- ideally vouchers I can pop in a card for them to open on the way there. I just cannot for the life of me think of what to get them!

I thought of west end tickets but they actually mentioned in unrelated conversation that they don’t want to spend a night going to see a show when they’re only there for 3 days. Then I thought about maybe vouchers for harrods cafe or something for a cream tea but had no idea where was good, and also don’t want to book them somewhere you have to dress fancy and they’d feel not dressed up enough (we’re very much country people and I know they’re not taking clothes to go anywhere extremely fancy if you see what I mean).

They love touristy things and could walk and walk for miles so mobility not an issue. Basically I just have no clue ha, just wondered if anyone on here has any knowledge and could recommend anything? Thanks so much.

I think vouchers are a bit of a rip off here to be honest (though I’m happy to be proved wrong by other posters!)

My suggestions would be looking at pretheatre and lunch set menus, museum special exhibits.

You can sort them free or low cost tickets to eg sky garden or horizon 22 maybe coupled with city or east london walks. The tourist info at St. Paul’s has a load of self led walking routes too on a whole host of topics.

if they want to lean into Irish experience in london there is (was?) some stuff around the London Irish Centre and the Museum of the Home which is q interesting.

I was given afternoon tea at the British Museum and it was lovely - that might be one idea.
A walking tour perhaps? are very good.

Sorry - url didn't show up London Guided Walks dot co dot uk are very good.

Just revolut them the few bob and say lunch on me or something similar.

Why don’t you just offer to pay towards a nice meal then they might feel they can’t afford otherwise. Or if they are going to a particular attraction offer to pay. If I went on a short city break I wouldn’t want the pressure of having to use a voucher if it didn’t fit in with what I was doing.

If they are only there for three days, they might not like something very specific which takes up time in their itinerary…?

Maybe send them £100 and suggest a couple of nice cocktail bars they could spend it in…?

Why not give British pounds? Wanting to give vouchers is a bit controlling and they won't appreciate it. What you book could be a distance away from what they want to do.

i think controlling is a bit harsh! Yes, I think I’ll probably just send them money. Although I know they like receiving vouchers and gifts because it has a bit more thought than just money but it’s difficult when I don’t know their exact itinerary and what they’ll be up to! Money will probably just be easier

@londonadvice2

It's a lovely thought but do you know what plans they already have or even where they are staying?
I think the problem with giving them a voucher or booking something is that one thing starts to dictate the rest of the trip.
So unless it's something you know they really want to do or see I wouldn't.
What about a gift card for somewhere like Starbucks or Costa - coffee/tea stops always welcome on London trips

I think I was sort of looking for something that didn’t have a set in stone slot- ie, I remember they once got in Edinburgh a voucher for a tour and then when they were there they could use it when they wanted whenever there was a tour on, it was just already paid for IYSIM, but from looking online everything I’ve seen seems to need to be booked for a specific time and obviously I don’t want to restrict them. Or something like a voucher for a nice cafe that doesn’t have a time slot, but I appreciate in London it might be so busy that without it being booked they might not have on the day availability to just book in wheneve

Ah well, if not then yeah I’ll just send over 100e for them and they can treat themselves to whatever they wanted

Most of the afternoon tea places are not very dressy so that sounds like a nice idea. Almost all hotels do them or look on Groupon for deals. However they might need to book in advance so giving the vouchers last minute might not work.

I hadn’t actually even considered a voucher for Costa/starbucks but actually that seems perfect, that way they can get cups of tea whenever they want! I actually think I’ll go ahead with that. thanks! Would it be better to get Costa or Starbucks for London or both equally available? I don’t know exactly where they’re staying but it’s close to Trafalgar Square so very central

https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/afternoon-tea-in-london

All around Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden area there are Costas and Starbucks everywhere so either would be fine. Theyre also only a very short walk from the ticket booth in Leicester Square where they can same-day theatre tickets if they do fancy that.

there are also great Spanish, Thai and Indian restaurants within easy walk. And pubs, and cocktail bars depending on what they prefer.

London’s so big. Do you know where they are staying?

Just send them money. Buying vouchers so they can get tea from Starbucks or Costa just means wasting a lot of money on overpriced hot water and teabags that I’m sure they could put to better use.

Another vote for cash with a note saying please spend this on a nice meal or anything else you'd enjoy.

How much are you spending? How many cups of tea are they likely to buy? Maybe a £30 Starbucks card but if it's more, cash.

Anything you get will limit what they do. How about creating a nice pack with say 10 different options for spending their day, so they can pick an itinerary that comes with lunch stops, bus options etc? It's thoughtful and shows you care, but everything is still their choice. Send some money on top to contribute as well by all means, but not vouchers.

I’d do Costa over Starbucks but I’m a Pret person myself, better food than Costa. Or even better, one of each.

I think this is a really good idea!

Without knowing the people well it is a bit difficult to know. In terms of ideas, you could give vouchers for the walk over the O2? On a good day that is fabulous for an outdoors sort of person. Afternoon tea as suggested (would recommend Browns or the National Theatre).

I'd give them money with a list of independent pubs/cafés which they may like. I wouldn't recommend a chain they are so soulless.

Another vote for just cash. A voucher to Costa seems like a waste of money and they'll end up having more coffees just to try and use it up, and anything else specific limits what else they might want to do that day/could mean a lot of travel back and forth.
Cash is great because London is pricey as it is(especially where they are staying!) let alone being a tourist!
If you do do the tea/coffee thing though, most Londoners would probably go to Pret more than Costa/Starbucks though tbh and there's loads and loads of prets everywhere plus more food options so they can get lunches/sarnies too

Agree with this, if time is already tight then I wouldn't get them something that is going to eat into their schedule.

Some cash or tickets for the London Eye?

Afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason, Thames River Cruise or London Eye?

Don’t do Costa / Starbucks, it’s better to do cash and then they can do somewhere quirky or independent!