Bargain Gifts from London Stores
Phyllis Stoller
The British Pound remains a tad high, but has fallen from its $2 high months ago. 1.67 to the US Dollar. Each time I go to London, I spend some time clearing my head in five stores which sell cheap and fun gifts and food items for my friends back home.
US Customs-www.cbp.gov- will allow all the items mentioned in this article; anything else you adore like English strawberries and double cream, you will need to consume on the spot. Warning if you buy the carton of full cream custard at any store you are likely to drink it all down—big mistake, I’ve done close to that. Anything you are unsure about and is cheap, bring it in your carry on and show it to customs on arrival. The worst that can happen is a confiscation; the best is you get to deliver it to a thrilled friend!
The best known of the five stores is Marks & Spencer, but don't go for the clothes or household items, head straight for the food and cosmetics shelves. Marmalade, jams, cookies in lovely tins, baking items not seen in the US like crystallized flowers , teas, multicolored sugar, and more. Chocolate digestives are scrumptious as are the many other cookies and cakes-ginger lovers are in heaven in all British stores. True shoppers will need one hour to look through all the offerings usually in the basement. And if smoked salmon is your choice, you can ask the hotel to chill it, then pack it in your suitcase, as the airplane hold is colder than the cabin. Historically Marks was the first store to mandate sanitary premises at the turn of the century and many of its internal protocols became the government standards for food purveyors. Prices are fair and packaging attractive, most of your friends will know the name. Plastic bags might cost you a few cents but the store also sells fabric re-usable ones. www.marksandspencer.com
Tesco is the biggest supermarket in the UK, and here again head for non food items, like paper and party goods. Some fun items in Tesco are the colorful plastic champagne flutes, black and odd colored balloons, olive motif napkins ( called serviettes in England). Tesco is usually a large store, but in central London, Tesco is a smaller twin. Both Tesco and Marks sell sandwiches and drinks, so both are good cheap alternatives to eating out. Tesco has been accused of monopolizing the food market due to its size, but that means prices are rock bottom compared to others and you need less time here due to the smaller size of inner city stores. www.tesco.com
My favorite, Waitrose, is the supermarket for the gourmet crowd. The Waitrose on Marylebone High Street is next to one of London's new green markets( Sunday morning only-check out the lavender man). Waitrose is known for the quality of all its goods, and food items of note are the whole grain cereals, Indian spices, paper goods, unusual cooked items in vacuum packaging like grilled vegetables in Italian olive oil ( a no no for bringing back to the US) for cheeses, crackers and cookies. Waitrose has a selection of chips from parsnip, beets, and other root vegetables that are worth the Trans-Atlantic flight. Waitrose fantastic personal products, with soaps, creams, shampoos, perfumes, herbal products from all over Europe at basically the same prices on the Continent. Definitely buy a few of their reusable plastic shopping bags; they are cheerily decorated, hold up for months and carry heavy loads. Some like the Waitrose on Edgeware Road, have places to eat with coffee bars and tables and chairs. It makes it easy for women to eat alone. Waitrose and a large Tesco are worth 2 hours of your time. www.waitrose.com
Boots and Superdrug are the best for cosmetic gifts. Boots manufactures its own goods. All excellent quality. They also carry the popular line, Bourgeois, and their L’Oreal seems more French. Check out barrettes, and creams which are much more in the US: Garnier and pricey Vichy are two names to look for. In Boots, try Evening Primrose products and Boots brand soaps- subtle perfumes. Both sell homeopathic medicines and again lunch-time food. Boots on Oxford Street near Bond has the most fabulous baby section- some US goods sold at high prices so watch the tags. For veteran travelers, I sometimes buy paper panties at Boots for rough hiking travel where I will be burning them after use…
PS You rich gals out there: Neal’s Yard, and the ground floor of Selfridges are your bailiwick.
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Phyllis Stoller has a BA from Tufts University, an MA from New York University and a Finance Degree from the University of the South Bank, London England. Phyllis Stoller founded and managed for 16 years, the largest tour operator for women in North America. She was voted top in women’s travel by Travel & Leisure Magazine,the first to receive this honor. Phyllis has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, Lifetime TV for Women and others. She is a consultant on marketing to women.
Phyllis now resides in New York City and London, England and is affiliated with ECPS Consulting Corporation in New York. She prides herself on her family: husband, Eric, a ‘keeper’, sons Nick (comedy writer and director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Matt , a progressive political strategist who works with liberal Democratic candidates. Phyllis can be reached at Phyllisnycity@gmail.com.
Past Articles
TRAVEL TIPS FOR TOMATOES
For more great tips, visit Phyllis at the Examiner.
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