Chocolate and other United Kingdom Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Thornton's

The chocolate in England may not be in the same class as Belgian or Swiss chocolate but it's pretty damn good. It beats the run of the mill stuff over in North America by yards! Even the everyday Cadbury's chocolate is creamier. Green and Black, found in Tesco's and Sainsbury's is organic and wonderfully rich as well.

If you really want sinfully good chocolate, go to a Thornton's store. Thornton's is a chain of stores around the U.K, that specializes in Chocolate like Laura Secord in Canada. They specialize in Chocolate and toffee goods and while a little more expensive than Cadbury's they are more than worth it for the rich cocoa-y melt in your mouth product.

What To Buy: My favourite is the Chocolate with toffee bits in it. They made toffee in a lot of flavours as well and it's buttery and rich. You can get it in the shops and the duty free at the airports generally have it too.

What To Pay: various prices, a bit more expensive than corner shop chocolate.

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: All over the UK
Website: http://www.thorntons.co.uk/

Name of Shop: Past Times

Past Times sells gift items that are based on art and artifacts that were found in the past. They carry jewellry, china, paper products, linen, garden items, music, video, and all sorts of odds and ends. You will not be able to leave the shop without being at least seriously tempted by something. Some of the periods represented are Roman, medieval, Tudor, Elizabethan, Georgian, Regency, Baroque, Victorian, Art Deco, and into the 20th century. They also carry items based on the far east, India, Egypt.

What To Buy: I've personally bought jewellry, Christmas ornaments and cards, craft items, linen goods. I make a point to shop there every time i visit, and there's a store in Terminal 3 Heathrow :)


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Theme: Gifts
Directions: There are Past Times all over the UK. London stores include Brompton Road, Covent garden and there's one on i think Bond Street near Liberty. They are usually in city center shopping areas.
Website: http://www.pasttimes.com/

Name of Shop: Various

All over the UK, various regions may be known for certain types of crafts or the area is known for a product.

For instance, Wales is traditionally a coal and slate mining country. Therefore you can get items made of coal and slate in the gift shops. Another item unique to Wales is the wooden carved "love spoon".

Scotland in particular is famous for woolen and whisky. Ireland also as well as the claddagh symbol and Irish linen and crystal.

What To Buy: When you're traveling around, find out what the area is known for and there will usually be some good shops that have good prices on local specialties, be it food, drink, clothing or some other special type of item. These often will make the best souvenirs as well.

I also like to go to art galleries and museums, especially small unusual museums that might focus on something local. I like to get postcards from museum and gallery shops of some of the art works that i particularly liked.

Recently i was in a gift shop in Iona Abbey and saw a liqueur that was new to me. I was given a small sample to taste when i asked what it was like and it sold me then and there. Be forward, talk to the shop assistants about their goods.

Tea towels are also a good and cheap souvenir. I have started collecting them and i use them as well so i can remember places i've visited when i'm doing the dishes, brightening up an otherwise dreary task.


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Theme: Other

Name of Shop: Past Times

Quite possibly my favourite shop in the UK, Past Times is a chain of stores found all over the UK and features gifts of all sorts. They focus on reproductions and stylings from various historic eras. There is jewellry, stationary, books, music, ornaments, garden things, clothing, scarves. Find items reflecting such eras as Tudor, Medieval, Roman, Egyptian, Art Deco, Victorian and Georgian/Rococco.

What To Buy: I love the jewellry. They also have wonderful Christmas ornaments and cards in the fall. Their garden ornaments are quite unique as well.

What To Pay: all prices

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Theme: Other
Directions: In London there are shops in Covent Garden and Regent Street. There used to be one in Brompton Road but i'm not sure if it's there anymore.
Website: http://www.pasttimes.com