For the Anglophile

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last five months, you know that there is this little event that happened in London last Friday. The media has gone crazy over the announcement that William and Kate were finally tying the knot, and all eyes have been on the great city of London.

But for some people, interest in the UK is nothing new. These Anglophiles appreciate the Queen's English, follow the royal family, and have an all-around uncanny fondness for the US's closest ally. If you have one of these people on your gift list, consider giving her a British or British-themed item. Fortunately, there is no shortage of such products, so you will have plenty of options to choose from.

You can find British products in many stores, but there are some sellers who specialize in items from across the pond. Some of my favorites are Aspinal of London, Highgrove Shop (Prince Charles's store that benefits his charities), Not on the High Street (like a British Etsy), the British Museum gift shop, Emma Bridgewater, the London Transport Museum, and Liberty of London.

In honor of the marriage of two people none of us know and will likely never meet, here are some gift ideas for the Anglophile in your life:

Map Products: Maps are one of the most recognizable representations of a city and make a great gift. For fans of the London Tube (Underground), choose from a vintage London Underground poster, Underground carriage maps, a Tube map mirror, a stainless steel pocket Tube map, a reproduction of Tube map using tubes of paint, films of London Underground maps, or an image of your chosen section of the rail or Tube maps. Other great London maps include one that uses place names to create the map, this original London print (an outline of London with place names marking their spot), these London transit and cycle maps, a map tracing the city's expansion, and a Map of London mug. My favorites are the London cityscape coat hanger (pictured below) and the UK counties jigsaw puzzle. Check out the London Transit Museum for more great options.

London cityscape coat hanger (photo courtesy of HookPegSupport)

Transit Blinds: A great way to bring home a taste of the UK is with transit blinds from the Underground, buses, or other forms of public transportation. You can buy vintage blinds or customized ones with destinations of your choosing. Lots of shops sell these blinds, but Not on the High Street has a great selection. They offer blinds from London and other UK cities, vintage London bus blinds, and rare London Underground and bus blinds, as well as the option to choose your own destination (both single and multiple locations). Pedlars also has a good selection of special destination blinds and vintage Notting Hill gate enamel signs (square or skinny rectangle).

Vintage London Underground blinds (photo courtesy of Not on the High Street) 

Books: Nothing transports you to another place like a good book. Send your recipient on a discount voyage with a book about or set in the UK. This vintage "This is London" book is a cool memento, while art and history lovers will appreciate the Masterpieces of the British Museum book and DVD. The London Transport Museum offers wide variety of transport-related books (along with DVDs), and the London Moleskin city notebook is a great gift for anyone planning a trip to the UK. You also can't go wrong with a work of fiction set in the UK, such as a classic like Pride and Prejudice (my personal favorite) or Great Expectations, or a modern book like Atonement or the Harry Potter series.

Keep Calm and Carry On: Originally conceived as a motto to help the British people through the German blitz in World War 2, this phrase has recently seen a surge in popularity. There is no shortage of "Keep Calm" products on the market today, so you have your pick of these gifts. One of my favorites is a print that features the saying in Welsh (pictured below). You can find a wide selection at the Keep Calm Gallery, Keep Calm and Carry On, Keep Calm, and Zazzle. I especially love the travel card wallet, notebook, wall decals, band aids, book, cufflinks, and wall clock.

Welsh Keep Calm and Carry On print (photo courtesy of Bouf)

Home Decorations: The UK is known for many icons, and lots of them come in desk-sized forms. The famed red phone box is available as a K2 bookend (also available in The Gherkin, double decker bus, and black cab), the black taxis and double decker buses also exist as ceramic planters, and Big Ben has been shrunk down to a desk sculpture. You can also decorate your Anglophile recipient with a Troika Ocean Liner desk organizer, rustic topiary crown, non-London bus models, Little London bobbles (choose from London bus, taxi, phone box, soldier, and Big Ben, or get the complete set), and cute model toys from the London Transport Museum's children's line. For fans of Her Majesty, go with these vintage Queen Elizabeth II jewelry boxes, featuring the Queen's portrait and on horseback.

Home Goods: Add a touch of British charm to your recipient's home by giving her a home accent piece. For a die-hard Anglophile, consider a wall decal of a famous British scene, such as a phone box, double decker bus, postal box, London skyline, Big Ben, street sign, or lamp post. For a frequent entertainer, choose a serving tray with various London images or with rows of British guards (pictured below). A tea drinker will appreciate a Britannia Royal Stafford or London Icons mug, especially when paired with a Union Jack porcelain milk jug and a blue toile tea cosy to keep the kettle warm. For a uniquely British touch, choose this Highgrove cockerel chopping board or this sheep Southdown Face egg cup, a Highgrove check rug in the traditional Prince of Wales check, London Underground map or Buckingham Palace pillow covers, Queen Elizabeth II enlarged stamp rug, transit travel card cushion, British Museum classic tray (featuring images of the Museum), or a vintage-style Union Jack throne chair.

Royal Guards London tray (photo courtesy of  Liberty of London)

Union Jack: For the clearest image of the UK, you can't beat the Union Jack. Emma Bridgewater has a great selection of Union Jack and saltire items, and there is no shortage of these products on Etsy. Some of my favorites are this Union Jack throw pillow cover (also available in the Scottish saltire), dress form, and biscuit barrel tin (pictured below). For portable British love, check out these Union Jack high heels, scarves, and travel card holders. You can also bring the Union Jack home on coasters, magnets, frying pans, vintage pillows, illuminating coffee tables, personalized wooden cutting boards, and pillow covers.

Union Jack biscuit barrel tin (photo courtesy of Emma Bridgewater)

Art: Works of art are a great way to demonstrate a fondness for the UK. The British Museum offers many reproductions of items in their collection, including fine art, historical objects, and jewelry. A Keep Calm print (see above) is a great choice, as are these patchwork prints of the Liverpool skyline and Anglican cathedral, the "Quintessentially British" print (featuring 244 British icons, people, places, and things), and this God Save the Queen print. The London Transport Museum also offers a wide choice of London and UK prints.

Royal Wedding Commemorations: If your Anglophile is a big fan of the royal family, you might consider a gift related to the recent royal wedding. You could make a donation in her name to one of William and Kate's designated charities or give her one of the many wedding-related products. There is a wide variety of gifts, including official royal wedding commemorative items like china patterns, as well as not-so-official products like the royal couple refrigerator. Lots of stores currently carry these products, but you can find great selections at Highgrove, Emma Bridgewater, and Not on the High Street.

Official royal wedding commemorative plate (image courtesy of Highgrove Shop)

Miscellaneous: There are so many great British gifts, but these recommendations wouldn't be complete without including the rest of my favorites. For a recipient who lives in a rainy climate (or would enjoy a reminder of London's weather), go with the Prince of Wales check umbrella from Highgrove or this color changing umbrella featuring London landmarks that appear when wet. For a frequent traveler, I love this vintage tartan plaid suitcase and vintage suitcase featuring Queen Elizabeth, and this 5 pound note travel card wallet. Gamers and sports fans will love a UK version of Monopoly (available in Aberdeen, Bath, Birmingham, Blackpool & The Flyde Coast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London Underground, and Manchester) or vintage Wimbledon and football (US: soccer) items. You can also find London Tube cufflinks, reusable bags featuring various shopping areas (link: High Kensington), and blitz and wartime reproduction items. The London Transport Museum also has a great selection of souvenirs.

What are your favorite British products?