Are you looking for unique gift ideas for someone visiting London in 2025? You’ve come to the right place.
Every year, we publish a guide of creative gifts to give people visiting London the following year and now we’re back with even more fun ideas. So either save this gift guide for when you’re doing your festive shopping, or send it to your friends and family so they know EXACTLY what to get you to make your London trip extra special. If that’s not enough, we’ve also got a gift guide for what to get London lovers if you want some additional inspiration. Happy shopping!
*Some of the links in this article are affiliated, which means if you purchase something after clicking it, we will earn a commission. This is at no extra cost to you and helps to support Love and London’s free content.
Give them a unique London experience
Of course, one of the BEST gift ideas for anyone visiting London is an experience they can do while actually here. People ALWAYS get more out of experiences than actual physical items when it comes to receiving gifts.
There are two ways you can give an experience to someone… book it for them, or give them a gift voucher for it.
Book it for them: Tours and activities
This option is best if you are traveling with the person you’re getting this gift for, as it requires no effort on their part and because well, you probably know their itinerary pretty well if you’re traveling with them.
Book a tour or activity for you to do together, and then pop the confirmation page into a card and BOOM, you’ve got yourself an amazing gift.
Now, because your gift recipient isn’t into those boring ole generic London walking tours, let me help you out with some unique tours and experiences you could book that will impress them with your knowledge of off-the-beaten-path London.
Image courtesy of Tally Ho via Facebook
Landmarks & Gems by Vintage Bike
If your giftee has never been to London, he or she probably has a lot of London’s landmarks on their bucket list, so why not gift this fun tour on a vintage bike?
This award-winning London bike tour will pop you on their very own vintage-style bike and you’ll be guided by your very own “hipster historian”. Get an exciting introduction to London’s most iconic landmarks, Royal Palaces and discover many local gems along the way, all while travelling along on two wheels in a small group, following back streets and dedicated bike lanes.
Not only will you cycle to the major landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, you’ll also stop at hidden gems along the way and hear the stories behind them. And don’t worry, you’ll take a pit stop where you can have a refreshing pint at a historic pub. Oh, and have you ever tried your hand at street art? You’ll get to do it on this tour. You can even book their private tour if you like!
Use code LOVEBIKES25 at checkout for 10% off.
Image courtesy of Take Walks
VIP Tower of London: After Hours Tour & Ceremony of the Keys
Step back in time with an exclusive after-hours tour of the Tower of London. This VIP experience grants you rare access to the iconic fortress without the usual crowds, letting your giftee explore its history and secrets in a uniquely intimate setting. You’ll be guided by a Yeoman Warder, (one of the tower’s iconic beefeater guards) as you browse the Crown Jewels, hear royal tales and witness the centuries-old Ceremony of the Keys — a time-honored tradition where the Tower is ceremonially locked for the night. Perfect for history buffs and curious travelers.
Book VIP Tower of London: After Hours Tour & Ceremony of the Keys
Image courtesy of Take Walks
Exclusive Houses of Parliament Tour with Guided Visit & Skip-the-Line Westminster Abbey Tour
Why just admire the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey from the outside when your gift recipient can explore their fascinating interiors with Take Walks’ Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey Tour? Guided by an expert (not a dull audio track), they’ll uncover the rich history and workings of these iconic landmarks. Inside the Houses of Parliament, they will step into the legendary Chamber of the House of Lords, explore the Upper House and visit crypts where luminaries like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin rest. Afterwards, groups are led over to Westminster Abbey, the historic stage for royal coronations since 1066 and countless royal weddings. Walk in the footsteps of Henry VIII and Winston Churchill, soaking up centuries of history. Pro tip: this incredible tour is only available on Saturdays, so that’s something to keep in mind when choosing this as a gift!
Image courtesy of Take Walks
Tastes, Tales & Traditional Ales: Food Tour of London’s Historic Pubs
Looking for the perfect gift for a foodie or history lover? Treat them to a journey through London’s storied pub culture with this one-of-a-kind pub tour where they’ll be able to savour delicious British bites, sip on traditional ales and uncover the fascinating history of London’s historic pubs, from cosy corners to centuries-old landmarks. With plenty of anecdotes and a pint (or two), this immersive experience is the ideal way to gift them a taste of London’s charm — both past and present.
Book Tastes, Tales & Traditional Ales: Food Tour of London’s Historic Pubs
Image courtesy of Eating Europe
Borough Market & Bankside Food Tour or Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour
Again, if you’re shopping for a foodie, these two tours make for great gifts and immerse them in London’s vibrant food scene.
By day, the Borough Market & Bankside Food Tour offers a delicious journey through one of London’s oldest and most iconic food markets. They’ll sample artisan cheeses, fresh bakes and street food, while exploring the historic Bankside area, rich with stories and riverside charm.
By night, the Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour lights up the city’s trendiest neighborhood with a blend of bold flavours and lively atmosphere. They’ll sip craft cocktails, enjoy global cuisines and uncover Soho’s hidden gems as they follow in the footsteps of its colorful history and nightlife.
Book the Borough Market & Bankside Food Tour or Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour
Image courtesy of Take Walks
London in a Day: Tower of London Tour, Westminster Abbey & River Cruise
Give the gift of London’s must-see landmarks all in one day. Perfect for first-time visitors to the big smoke, this tour takes them from the storied halls of the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey, with a scenic Thames River cruise tying it all together. It’s a whirlwind day through the city’s rich history and iconic sights, which is the best way to experience London’s magic.
Image Courtesy of Eating Europe
Give them a gift card so they can book their own tour
Let your giftee choose which tour they want to take and when they do it by gifting them a gift voucher from an independent tour company like Eating Europe. We love their food tours, which take place not only in London but in many other major cities around Europe.
Image Courtesy of Ewa Horaczko
London Photo Session
It’s so hard to get decent photos of the whole travel group when you’re dealing with cloudy skies, a stranger holding your (very expensive) camera, and people bobbing in and out of your shots.
If you want to have some professional-grade photos from your trip that you can frame and admire for years to come, gift your recipient a professional photo shoot. A photographer meets you and takes incredible photos of you with the London sights, without you having to worry about anything. Good photos can even make rainy days look beautiful!
We work with a wonderful photographer named Ewa, and if you go through this page, you’ll find out how you can get extra photos by mentioning that we referred you.
Image Courtesy of The Ned via Expedia
Make their flight or hotel stay more special
A little bit of luxury is SUCH a treat for someone with a big trip planned, so it would be such a lovely surprise to be gifted a flight upgrade or a more luxurious hotel stay than was originally expected.
If the giftee hasn’t booked their flight or hotel yet, this is your chance! Just make sure they don’t book anything before you actually get to give your gift.
If they HAVE booked it already, a flight upgrade might be a bit tricky if you aren’t on the booking yourself, but give the airline a call to see if there’s anything they can do to help you pay the difference for an upgrade from say, economy to premium economy.
The hotel is a bit easier, as you can likely call them directly, ask for the upgrade, and pay the difference via a payment form sent to your email.
Do something fun to “gift” this to your giftee… like print out a picture of the view from their upgraded room and put it in the card you give them on exchanging day.
If you want to book the hotel for them, we have some resources to help you find a great one.
Gifts to Get Them Excited About Their Trip
Here are some unique gift ideas for anyone visiting London to help build anticipation for their trip.
London-y books
No, not just any old guidebook for London… a beautiful coffee table book filled with both beautiful images and London info will help build the excitement for what they will see when here. It can then sit on their coffee or bedside table ready for them to browse as they wait for their trip to happen.
We’ve got a great list of the best London-related coffee table books, have a read and you’ll find at least a couple of lovely options for your giftee.
Or if you think they’d prefer something with less pictures and more words, there are tons of fiction and non-fiction books that are based in London and the UK that would be great to gift a bookworm. Give them a goal to finish them all before they head to the airport… book nerds love that kinda stuff.
We have two lists to help you with this:
Luggage
It’s one of those things that no one enjoys to buy it for themselves, but they truly appreciate it as a gift. keep in mind what kind of luggage they might need, if it’s just a quick trip, a carry-on could work perfectly, but if they’re planning to stay longer, a checked bag would definitely come in handy.
Check out Away’s suitcases—super cool because they have charging ports for electronics, plus, they have some smaller accessories like packing cubes and toiletry bags.
We also really love Paravel and Horizn Studios for sustainably-made, beautiful and high-quality pieces that will last them for years.
London Itinerary
Your giftee would probably LOVE for a Londoner to sit down with them and give them a walkthrough of all of the best things to do in the city. You can give them the next best thing with the London Itineraries, a digital itinerary made by a London expert (Jess) with a flexible plan for three to six days in the capital. It’s not completely linear, it has tons of options that will suit various different travel styles, tastes and budgets, so it’ll feel like your giftee has their very own custom itinerary.
Casual Tourist Guide
If your giftee has already been to London, then they probably would enjoy more the Casual Tourist Guides, a bundle of guides to different London areas focusing on hidden gems and the areas where the locals actually hang out.
City Sightseeing Passes (London Pass)
If your giftee is visiting London for the first time, they’re likely eager to check out all the must-see attractions. Even for repeat visitors, there’s always something new to discover. A great gift idea is the London Pass. It can help them save money on entrance fees, and it includes a free hop-on, hop-off bus tour, which makes getting around super convenient. Plus, they can explore sights they might not have considered before.
The best part? You won’t need to worry about booking anything for them or creating any scheduling conflicts! It’s a stress-free way to enhance their visit.
A Really British Guide to English
Our friend Tom, the English teacher behind the YouTube channel Eat Sleep Dream English, has a really fun guide to British English language and culture. It can get them looking forward to their upcoming trip while learning things like “What Brits say and what they actually mean”, British vs American vs Australian English differences, Cockney rhyming slang (VERY London!), and more. There’s even some quizzes to test their new knowledge. Get them the digital version here. Use code LOVEANDLONDON for a 10% discount. (This is perfect for a last-minute gift, as you receive the file immediately.)
Small London guides to help with their trip
London Packing Guide
Need a little extra something to give? The London Packing Guide helps take the guesswork out of packing for such a big trip. It comes with a London weather guide, clothing and shoe suggestions (with links!), printable packing lists for each season, and more. Grab the London Packing Guide.
London Spending Guide
Are your friends struggling to plan their budget for their upcoming trip to London? The London Spending Guide is an excellent tool that can help them with that. It allows them to estimate their expenses for the trip, calculate their budget, and keep track of their spending during their stay in London to avoid overspending.
London Transport Guide
To help them zip their way around London seamlessly, our London Transport Guide is another great way to make sure they know all the ins and outs around using the tube (and paying for it), as well as how to get to their hotel from the airport.
London Colouring Book
There’s also the London Colouring Book, which has a bunch of London-themed colouring pages which can be coloured in by printing them out (you could do this for them!) or by uploading them to your iPad to colour digitally. The colouring book was illustrated by Jen and Jennifer, a local illustrator who’s also a friend of Jess’s. Check out the London Colouring Book.
Image Courtesy of Fortnum & Mason
Make a London-inspired food hamper
Hampers, or you might know them as gift baskets, are very popular to give as gifts in the UK, and you can pick up some very swanky ones depending on where you order from. We recommend making or buying one for your recipient, and filling it with English treats that they can enjoy before they’re able to make it over to London. Hopefully you’ll also get in on some of that snack action…
If you want to make a hamper yourself, find yourself a beautiful basket and load it up with English treats.
We’d recommend (with some links to where to order from if you’re in the US):
- English cheeses like Cheddar and Red Leicester (these links bring you to where you can buy them on iGourmet)
- Cheese crackers, like Chutney. You put the cheese and chutney together on the crackers. YUM.
There are of course many other fun things you could add, like, English Sparkling Wine, English Cider, and more.
If you’re like ermmmmm I don’t want to DIY a gift, iGourmet makes a “British Luxury Gift Box” that does it all for you for $249.99. They have a couple of other British-themed options as well.
Or if you want to go PROPER London and super fancy, you can order a hamper from Fortnum & Mason in London. They are world-famous for their incredible hampers, with ones that go upwards of £1000. Their F&M hampers, the baskets themselves, are also collectors items.
Two Fortnum & Mason hampers that ship worldwide (not the only ones!):
- The Fortmason Hamper (£125)
- The Piccadilly Hamper (£100)
Pin this to your “Gifts to Get” Pinterest board…
