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Products to get in London

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GfPQqmcRKUvP

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Sep 29, 2005
3,294
768
Terminus
I'll start this post out with saying, yes, I am a bit superficial. I like material things; I'm a sucker for great looking clothes, I love fast/expensive cars, etc. That being said, I have a question to ask of you all (or at least the MacRumors UK Contingent).

I have the good fortune of being in London for three weeks. I'm starting my second week tomorrow, and want to buy some things to take back home with me for the states. I don't mean a shirt with a red bus on it, I mean things that are rather unique to London. I don't mind whether they are pretentious, but something that will remind me of this amazing city. To be sure, I've made many friends here and am having loads of fun, but I really haven't bought anything that I haven't immediately consumed (food, cell phone minutes...errmm...water).

So, what do you all suggest that I buy before I leave? An idea I've gotten so far is venturing into Soho and looking around at a couple stores that only sell canes and hats. This is the exact kind of suggestions I'm looking for, and any information would be great. Also, I heard there are some wonderful vintage bookstores around the area that carry some wonderful, old books (when they really knew how to bind and publish them). Any info on that would be good, too.

I don't mind too much about the price (within reason), but please don't suggest cars or anything like that.:p. For the purposes of this thread, let's put a limit of 175 pounds.


Thanks everyone!
 
mpw said:
Isn't everything made in China today?
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Which is precisely why I'm looking for products that are unique to London/England. Perhaps they're old traditions, or even new products that are very distinctive. I don't mind.
 
Could you pick me up a Fulton umbrella please? Mine was stolen. The Open & Close 11. Thanks. :)
 
It's London. Fashion is either 5 years behind or ahead of the US (depending on who you ask) and all the products are made abroad anyways. I'm sure whatever you buy will either be made in Italy or China.
 
You probably already bought something London already, A Travel Card. Pretty cheap and has the date imprinted on it for free as well.
 
In London these days you pay very high amounts for these kind of things because of rich foreigners coming over and pushing up prices but I'd suggest:

Tailor made suit from Saville Row
A nice map of london? theres a few nice map shops about, something like that.
Not **** or something thats mass produced.

:)
 
Maybe you should take a trip to Harrods. It's probably the most famous shop in England and I'm sure they have some nice English products.
 
richardjames said:
Maybe you should take a trip to Harrods. It's probably the most famous shop in England and I'm sure they have some nice English products.
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Most of which is, as said before, made in China :p

"I don't mind too much about the price"

In which case, please guinea pig this for me. I'm interested in it but £2200 for a notebook case leads me to look for actual owner experiences before taking the plunge.

calderag5.jpg

(www.calderoriginals.com)

They're actually based in Devon but you can order (and apparently demo - I haven't been to the store yet) a Calder Originals carbon-leather notebook case at this shop in Notting Hill Gate.

http://www.billamberg.com/cm/wheretobuy.htm
 
great English products

Ok,

Having lived in the US for nearly 4 years if I were in London I would buy.

Marmite.....love it or hate it...

Cadbury Chocolate....much nicer than hersey muck (I know, there are better chocs but for day-to-day)

Twiglets (same as the marmite)

Churches shoes...made to last by craftsmen

BBC dvd's.......just like watching the channel....

a wallet....just so your dollar bills won't fit (they are the wrong shape)

An English dictionary.....go-on, learn to spell.

I am sure more will come to me....
 
cleanup said:
I bought a Fulton umbrella at Shoppers Drug Mart on the corner of Bay & Charles in Toronto a few months ago? :confused:
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Well I can't find them through a US online shop or anywhere physically. Only place I've bought them before is an umbrella shop in Manhattan (where they cost almost 3 times what they do in London). :p
 
Hmm, something quintessentially British, cheap, long-lasting and few people have it in America... easy! Go to a big department store and buy yourself a top-of-the line electric kettle!

And to go with it, a supply of decent old Builder's Tea - none of that posh stuff. Make it PG Tips.
 
benmrii said:
Well I can't find them through a US online shop or anywhere physically. Only place I've bought them before is an umbrella shop in Manhattan (where they cost almost 3 times what they do in London). :p
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My Fulton cost around $30 in Manchester. It's fantastic. Keeps you very dry :)

A box of PG tips isn't a bad idea. Alternatively find a really nice tea pot and some good leaves. People mock the UK for their love of tea, but it really is fantastic!
 
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