Disclosure: I may earn a small commission from the companies or products mentioned in this post.
As a Londoner, there’s nothing I value more than space! The sad truth is that when you live in Central London you’re highly unlikely to have the luxury of amble square-footage or plenty of storage room. I don’t think I can physically fit any more products into my bathroom or clothes into my tiny wardrobe.
This is why when Christmas comes around, my list to Santa is full of experiences rather than items. For me, experiences and memories are worth far more than material goods anyway.
So if you’re like me, or know someone who is, I hope you enjoy my alternative London gift guide…
London Gift Ideas:
Tickets to a West End Show and Dinner
Price: Dependent on show or gift voucher amount.
Dinner and a show – the ultimate London night out! So for your London-loving friend, what could be a better gift than tickets to one of the capital’s top shows with a delicious meal included?
Theatre Tickets Direct has some amazing package deals which include many top West End shows as well as dinner at a number of London’s top restaurants. Plus you can buy a gift voucher so your recipient can even pick the show and restaurant for themselves.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Price: £85 per person.
If it hasn’t already been done, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is an absolute MUST for Harry Potter fans! Sit on the Hogwarts Express, explore sets from the film such as the Grand Hall, Forbidden Forest and Diagon Alley, sip on butterbeer and admire authentic props and even the original costumes.
London Spa Day and Afternoon Tea
Price: £99 for 2 people.
Is there any better gift for a stressed-out Londoner than a relaxing spa day?
Treat your recipient to a chilled-out spa day at a Virgin Active or Marriott Spa at locations all across the capital, which includes a 50 minute treatment. Then after their much-needed pamper and soak, they can tuck into a luxurious afternoon tea at their choice of top London restaurants including Café Rouge, Patisserie Valerie, Bella Italia and Marco Pierre White.
Plus you never know, you might be the lucky person they choose to share their gift with.
A Helicopter Flight over London
Price: £250 for 2 people.
For that special someone, a flight over the capital in a helicopter has to be the ultimate London experience and the best way to see the city from a whole new perspective. Starting in Essex, this 30-minute helicopter flight takes you on a magical journey over all of London’s top historic landmarks and past the city’s towering skyscrapers.
One of the most elaborate London gift ideas, but one that will certainly leave special memories which are guaranteed to last a lifestyle.
Up at the O2 Climb Experience
Price: £74 for 2 people.
Another great way to experiencing London from above is by scaling the roof of one of London’s most iconic landmarks; the O2 arena in Greenwich.
Up at the O2 is a unique London experience that allows guests to climb a suspended walkway (with a rail and harness system of course) to the summit of the O2 where you can enjoy the amazing panoramic views over London from 52 meters above the ground.
The Slide at The ArcelorMittal Orbit
Price: £33 for 2 people.
One of the best London experience gifts for your dare-devil friend, The Slide at The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the tallest and longest tunnel slide in the world.
Located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the tallest sculpture in the UK and was originally used as a viewing platform during the 2012 Olympics. However, the more recent additions of the impressive 178m tunnel slide, as well as the UK’s highest freefall abseil, has transformed it into an adrenalin-junkies playground.
An Old Fashioned Photoshoot
Price: Depends on the number of people but certainly affordable!
The perfect London gift idea for that person who jumps at any chance for a bit of fancy dress.
Groupon is currently offering a great deal on Tudor, Victorian, Gangster or Wild West photoshoots for 2-6 people at a studio in Knightsbridge. With costume hire, refreshments and your first photo included, the experience is not only great fun but also great value for money.
Gin Afternoon Tea London Bus Tour
Price: £130 for 2 people.
Who doesn’t love an afternoon tea right? Well, how about combining this quintessentially British pastime with two other classic London activities; drinking gin cocktails and a riding a red double-decker bus.
And if you haven’t put all the pieces together yet, I’m talking about an afternoon tea bus tour of London with the one and only Bridget’s Bakery. A fun London experience that will make your gift stand out from the crowd.
Find out more about my experience or book your own afternoon tea bus tour here.
Emily is a born and raised London girl, starting life in the north of the capital then moving down to Fulham in the southwest. She has a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London and now works full-time running this blog and as a freelance travel writer, splitting her life between London and travelling the world as a digital nomad.
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