As I make my way to the USA for another family visit, I know all too well that I’ll be schlepping a 22 kg suitcase full of all sorts of British gifts for Americans. Without leaving much room for my own things, I succumb to knowing I’ll need to do laundry nearly every day of the week. But at least I’ll score enough points to earn favorite auntie status till the next visit.
Even though most gifts aren’t that widely different from anywhere you live or go, there are certain novelties about Britain that make the simplest thing appear seemingly posh. Or at least I think so.
Though these gifts from England aren’t necessarily a go-to list for any Brit, they make the perfect British gift for an American. 🇺🇸
British gifts ranging from basics found at your local grocery store to the heart of London’s best high streets, here are 15 British gifts to give Americans.
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Table of Contents
15 British Gifts For Americans
1. Tea & Biscuits
You could really get away with sending anything from this category. An American’s bar is set on Lipton, so it can only go up from there. 🤦🏼♀️
And biscuits are what Americans simply refer to as a cookie. 🤷🏼♀️
As an American in the UK, it took me way longer than it should have to figure that out. If there truly is a difference, I don’t quite know what it is. Throw in the word “digestive”, and now it’s all the more mysterious for an American!
My favorite British tea and biscuit gifts are from Fortnum & Mason. Order a Fortum & Mason hamper, or what Americans refer to as a basket, and totally impress an American. Only the British could find a way to turn what Americans consider a place to throw your dirty laundry into something far more luxurious.
For something totally unique from London, specifically Notting Hill, send Biscuiteers. These biscuits are so beautiful they’ll be admired and on display far longer than it takes to eat one. And they ship internationally, too!
Or opt for something lighter on the wallet. Cartwright & Butler sell colorful tins with various biscuits and tea flavors. I absolutely love this salted caramel one.
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Or simply hit the local grocery store and buy Mcvities Dark Chocolate Digestives. Say what? (That’s what they’ll think when they see “digestive”.)
For more tea and biscuit ideas that ship to America, read My Top 6 British Hampers That Ship To The USA.
2. Chocolate: Honeycomb, Sea Salt Chocolate Bars, or Even Fish & Chips
There are loads of chocolate options in the US, but the chocolate from the UK is just better. Embarrassingly, I did not realize until after I moved to the UK that Cadbury is a British brand. I begged for those Easter creme eggs every year of my adolescent life and now I can enjoy flavors that never make their way to the USA.
Like honeycomb? Who knew!
Salted milk chocolate, salted chocolate with caramel wafers, salted chocolate everything…I could go on. And with their cute seaside wrappers, these Kernow chocolate bars make great British gifts for Americans, too.
Or how about Tunnock’s? The packaging alone is curious. So much so that you can even buy a matching Tinnock’s teacake pillow!
Unique gift from Scotland
But if a big pillow isn’t practical for packing, buy a pack of Tunnock’s at any grocery store or petrol station for only £1. They fit in my purse and are a super easy inexpensive British gift to take to the USA.
My favorite discovery is Chococo’s chocolate fish and chips basket. If you can’t send the real British thing for an American friend, this chocolate fish and chips basket is a second-best.
British fish and chips themed gift
3. Tyrell’s Truffle Crisps Or Another Totally Wild Flavor like Sunday Roast
Okay, so the risk here is getting the bag to the USA without the crisps turning into a big bowl of crumbs. Personally, I think it’s worth it.
Tyrell’s puts Doritos and Frito Lay to shame with flavors that are named after full-on meals. You can’t easily get truffles in the USA, but in Britain, you can buy truffle-flavored crisps. How brilliant is that? Totally exotic and 100% British.
Who says you need to go to Italy for an amazing truffle experience? Buy these crisps for your savory American friends. Toss in some chocolate fish and chips, gin, and biscuits and you’ve made your own British hamper.
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And in case you’re wondering, a full-size bag of Tyrell’s made it through Heathrow security in my carry-on purse without a hitch and only a few crumbs later. 😉
4. Flavored Gin Or Gin Adorned With A Union Jack Bow
Gin isn’t necessarily an American favorite. Not going to lie. I swore I’d never drink it again after too many Hendricks poolside in Lake Charles. But, after finally caving in to try this country’s signature drink, I’m a huge fan. And not just the regular old potato gin, but the flavored kind.
With more gin flavors than I can count or possibly try (which I really shouldn’t 🤣), the one that strikes as rare and totally different from what you can buy in the USA is rhubarb gin. My favorites are Foxdenton Rhubarb Gin and Warner’s. For gin to gift to a girlfriend in America, my favorite is this mermaid gin bottle from the Isle of Wight.
But if that’s too over the top, go for the bottle with the cute Union Jack bow. What American friend wouldn’t want to show off Chase Williams sent from a British friend?
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Recognizing that gin, or any alcohol, isn’t an easy gift to give an American if it needs to be shipped overseas, consider the alternative:
- Send botanicals for a wow factor
- And DO NOT FORGET the Mediterranean Fever-Tree tonic. It’s all about the tonic!!!
5. Liberty Print Fabric
From a scarf to custom handkerchiefs, buy an American something made from Liberty fabric. J Crew has a whole Liberty line (including swimsuits), but this Etsy shop sells Liberty hair accessories for less than £25 out of Holmfirth England.
Liberty of London gifts make fab British gifts for Americans
The fabric is incredibly high end and the brand is totally world famous. With nearly 150 years of history decorating London, any American would love a Liberty print.
Van Buck sells an amazing range of Liberty print ties with the matching pocket square in a lovely box for approximately £45. In addition to the Liberty fabric, this brand includes a Union Jack tag on the inside stating “Made in England”. Perfect for an American!
In fact, I bought and shipped the Van Buck Georgina to Texas. (Royal Mail postage with tracking was £10 and expected to arrive in 8 calendar days, which I think is quite amazing.)
While your best British friend might not care to receive a tie in a designer Liberty print, your American friend will.
6. Cath Kidston
There is something about this flowery-inspired shop that has won the hearts of the nation. Cath Kidson is everywhere you go. It’s at the top of the list when it comes to finding cute children’s gifts, little girl dresses, and even shopping bags. Their super cute London patterns are hard to pass up any day of the year.
Cath Kidston gift from England
Buy a Cath shopper and fill it up with all sorts of goodies to take back to the USA.
7. Premier League Gifts
Match Attax, Premier League jerseys, or football kits for the kids make great gifts for boys or football fans. In the UK it’s incredibly difficult to find and buy a USA football kit. And the same applies to finding a UK kit in the USA.
Match Attax isn’t a thing in the USA making this gift for American kids that much more exciting. Just don’t mention the 100 Club card and you won’t need to buy the whole box.
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8. Emma Bridgewater
This British ceramics designer is known for their polka dot design and specializes in pottery with motifs stretching back over 200 years. My first discovery of Emma Bridgewater was the Union Jack coffee mug. Needless to say, every family member in the USA had an Emma Christmas that year.
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Emma Bridgewater x Royal Commemorative Gifts
For your anglophile American friend, gift a Queen Elizabeth remembrance mug. Emma Bridgewater offers a one-of-a-kind Queen Elizabeth commemorative collection and King Charles III’s line.
9. The Union Jack
Emma leads me to the obvious choice: Union Jack. There’s just something about the design that makes it so cool. From Mini Coopers with the Union Jack roof to bunting hung everywhere for every royal occasion, it’s hard not to be drawn in.
While perhaps less patriotic Brits simply don’t care or notice, you can find Union Jack designed gifts on nearly everything and everywhere in the UK. From notebooks to skateboards or even socks, any American would love it and make great British gifts to send abroad.
Try these lightweight Union Jack-inspired British gifts to send abroad:
- Union Jack with USA cufflinks
- Union Jack Christmas ornament
- Union Jack charm bracelet
- Union Jack oven mitt
A framed Union Jack tea towel by Emma Bridgewater – pretty British gift idea!
10. Vintage Treasures
Oh, how I love thee! Antique shops in the UK and all their vintage glory make the Magnolia line second best. While Americans buy knock-offs at Target, you can buy the real thing in the UK. For half the price.
Vintage cutlery, picture frames, lanterns, crates, and art make great gifts for Americans that love that vintage-inspired look. While it may look like junk to a Brit, it’s gold to any Fixer Upper fan.
Vintage themed gift from England
11. Hunter Wellies
The Pacific Northwest has nothing on England when it comes to weather fashion. ☔️
Hunter boots are all the rage in the USA to simply wear as fashion on a 60% chance for a rainy day while in England they serve a valuable purpose. In fact, Brits keep a pair of wellies in the boot for that walk with the dog, football match, or just because you never know when you’ll need to slip them on.
Hunter wellies are awesome and make a great gift, especially when you can sport Hunters in nearly every color of the rainbow. 👇
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But there’s more.
12. A Good Ol’ English Jacket
Barbour is a fab British outdoor brand, along with Joules and Cornwall’s Seasalt.
Between wellies and jackets, any American would love to sport the James Bond British jacket and boot fashion, even if it is to just walk from the front door to the dryness of a cab.
The Barbour as seen in the Norfolk travel post
13. A Classic British Umbrella
Throw in a Mary Poppins inspired umbrella handcrafted in London and you’ve totally outdone yourself with British gifts to take to America. 🦜
British themed gifts from England
14 – A Scent From A UK County
What better way to share the UK with your American friend other than actually flying them there is to send a scent from where you live. Yes, a bottled fragrance from the county you live in or perhaps your American friend’s most desired place to visit in the UK.
Home County Co offers candles, diffusers, lotions, and even matches that are bottled up in your favorite county’s scent. How cool of a UK gift is that!?
The Hertfordshire smells just like St Albans City!
15 – British Quizzes & Games
Let’s be honest, the Brits are far better at trivia and games than we Americans are. As such, some pretty fun games are on the market that many Americans don’t even know about! And for the most part, this is the easy Amazon button to avoid shipping and extra luggage. A few personal favorites include:
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Final Thoughts On British Gifts For Americans
You can’t go wrong with any of these British gifts for Americans. From food to football and even the Jack, make British gifting for an American as simple as a stop at the grocery store. In fact, I have an entire post dedicated to favorite things to buy from Marks & Spencer. Percy pigs are always on my gift list to take to America.
Do you know of a great British Gift for an American? Let me know in the comments below.
Looking for more gift ideas? Try these.
- British Things You Can’t Get In America
- 11 Awesome Gifts For Expat Kids
- Looking for what to buy/bring from the USA? 👉 TOP 10 American Shopping List
4 comments
Great British gifts! Our County inspired products also make great gifts for anyone Stateside.
Hi Hannah! Oh wow, thank you for sharing. It’s the first time I’ve heard or seen them. A lovely gift idea!! x
As a Brit, I can confirm these are awesome gifts. If you come from America and visit a seaside town, do yourself a favour and get some real Fish and Chips. Mmm-mmm.
Thanks Matt! I seriously can’t wait to have fish and chips on the seaside again soon! xx