10 British gifts to give Americans for summer

Mention the British summer and you’re sure to inspire a downpour of jokes about the cold weather and rain. That’s part of its charm! In my experience there is something quite special about summer in the UK. Perhaps because the traditional hot-temperatures-and-unending-sunshine thing is a rarity, Brits do summer with a bit of flair.

If you’re visiting during the summer, it’s an ideal opportunity to pick up special gifts for your friends back in the States that embody a certain type of Britishness. Here, the best souvenirs you can find in London, England and the rest of the UK that you should stuff into your suitcase for the trip back home, including some that you can pick up at your nearest supermarket.

Here, 10 ideas for what British souvenir to buy

The best thing? Some of these are high-end and luxury, others you can pick up at a supermarket.

 

1. Bunting

Before I moved to London I didn’t even know those little flags on a string had an actual name. Now I know they evoke homespun British values, a post-WWII aesthetic, a make-do-and-mend mindset. Put them up for backyard picnics or summer parties at home. You can find them in most stylish gifts shops on the high street. Online I found these pictured by The Cotton Bunting Company (yes, there is such a thing!) on Notonthehighstreet.com.

 

 

2. English wine

Thanks to sharing similar soils, climate and, now, grapes to that of the Champagne region, England is producing some incredible sparkling wines these days and you can pick up this great distinctive gift at a supermarket or even corner shops. Names to look out for include Ridgeview, Nyetimber, Wiston, Hambledon, Bluebell Vineyards, Digby and Hattingley among others.

My friend Helen McGinn, aka the award-winning author of the Knackered Mother’s Wine Club blog and book and the wine expert on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show, recommends several houses, including Ridgeview sparkling wine, which she call crisp and elegant. We love the folks at Wiston Estate, whose beautiful bottles are matched by stellar fizz inside. 

 

 

3. A picnic rug

Whether Brits are in a big city dotted with parks or out in the countryside, a green space, a little sun and a patch of grass are an invitation to sit down for a nosh. The only way to do that properly is with a warm and waterproof picnic rug because you can best that into every British picnic a little rain will fall. The best kind of rugs roll up with their own little carry strap and — even better — look smashing as you stride across the fields. This makes a great luxury souvenir; you’ll want to splurge to get one made of real wool with a rainproof backing. Check out the gorgeous versions from The British Blanket Company, that cinch up with leather straps.

 

4. Pimm’s

Sure you can buy bottles of the stuff in America, but better to tote home the real thing, acquired in the land that celebrates summer Pimm’s O’Clock with gusto. Introduce your American friends to this classic fruity, lightly alcoholic drink that’s best when paired with mint, cucumber, sliced strawberries and slices of citrus. To present your gift with pizzazz, pair it with a Pimm’s recipe book, jug for mixing, cool bag, branded stirrers, even a parasol. Advise your recipient that they can enjoy it in 1 of 2 traditional ways — either with elegance at a garden party or with exuberance, so it doesn’t touch the sides on the way down. Available at supermarkets and off-licenses (a.k.a. liquor stores).

 

 

5. A gift set from Daylesford

Daylesford is the high-end organic farm and brand created by Lady Carole Bamford, wife of billionaire industrialist Sir Anthony Bamford and scion of the JCB construction company. It’s also a Marmite to a lot of people. Some love its curated lifestyle offerings, which include farmshops, cafes, food, guest cottages, a cookery school, homewares and a spa; others despise what they see as Marie Antoinette-style farming affectations. Personally, I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to visit the Gloucestershire estate or one of the London cafés for lunch. Their gift baskets are utterly lovely — well-packaged and distinctive and featuring everything from hand cream to food. Visit daylesford.com for locations.

 

 

6. A light, luxurious poncho

They’re not just for ’70s fashion aficionados anymore. Ponchos are perfect for a British summer, when it’s hot one moment then chilly when the clouds appear. Look for them at fairs and fetes that pop up in parks during the summer, where small producers have stalls, or check out high street clothes shop.

 

 

7. A thoroughly English tote or holdall

I love breaking out my summer bags every year and packing them for a day out in town, on the sand, or in the case of some British beaches, shingle (i.e. those tiny little stones). When at home, I love versions that evoke the British seaside or country aesthetic. For a range of stripes, polka dots, florals, seagrass and cheerful English style, check out the bags on Joules.com, found in posh market towns across the country (as well as larger shopping areas in cities). Toss in your sunnies and you’re ready to go.

 

8. An umbrella

Let’s face it, you’re probably going to have to buy one anyway after you leave your accommodation in bright sunshine and experience a cloudburst half an hour later. You might as well earmark it as a “souvenir” and assure the recipient that it has been baptised in real British rain — the most authentic present ever! For provenance, visit James Smith & Sons, a shop near the British Museum that sells gents umbrellas, folding umbrellas and ladies’ versions with animal head grips. Feel like really investing? Swaine Adeney Brigg features its eponymous Brigg umbrellas that run to the hundreds of pounds (it has outfitted James Bond and, more recently, Colin Firth in Kingsman: The Secret Service).

 

 

9. Trench coat

If you enjoy acquiring important wardrobe pieces on holiday for loved ones (or yourself), here’s the place to buy a trenchcoat. It’s the equivalent of investing in boots in Texas or a kimono in Japan. Get serious with a heritage version from Burberry or visit other stylish purveyors Reiss or Aquascutum.

 

 

10. Tea flask

Taking tea is a wonderful ritual in the UK, a kind of social commerce that occurs at any time of day and doesn’t have to involve scones or cucumber sandwiches. You can capture that “tea-time anytime” concept with a tea flask (OK, most flasks will hold any hot drink). Pair it with a package of Earl Grey for real authenitcity.

 

 

Got favourite souvenirs or suggestions for what travellers should take home? I’d love to hear your ideas!

 

Discover 11 more gifts from England to give anytime of year!