British museum shops are a treasure trove of souvenirs! 12 recommended photogenic items

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Sphinx Duck | A British Museum specialty and a hot topic due to its cute appearance

The ancient Egyptian Sphinx transformed into a duck!? The "Sphinx Duck", which is extremely popular at the British Museum, is a catchy item that will put a smile on anyone's face when they receive it.

The contrast between the plump form and the sharp expression that seems to reflect the profound image of ancient Egyptian civilization is irresistible, and floating it in the bath makes your daily bath time just a little more special. Although it is a bath toy for children, it is so cute that adults will want to pick it up too.

In fact, these "bath ducks" are popular as humorous gifts in the UK! Locally-designed bath ducks that reflect famous places or characters associated with the area are sold in various tourist destinations, and there are even some "duck collectors".

Here at the British Museum, there is something called the "Museum Duck," which has a diverse lineup ranging from "Ancient Roman Warriors" to "Samurai." From what I could see, there were five different items.

According to the store clerk, the characters change from time to time, but the most popular one, the Sphinx, is a "standard" and is always available. It's nice to collect a few for yourself, or you can buy a few different ones and give them to your close friends, saying things like, "Let's bring these to the next hot spring trip!" It seems like it would be fun.

Available to buy at the British Museum (they also have an online shop)

Rosetta Stone Relaxation Toy | Relieve stress by squeezing a stone?

The Rosetta Stone, one of the highlights of the British Museum, is a famous stone monument that was the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs (pictographical characters), and is said to have been engraved in 196 BC. Here are some healing items designed with the Rosetta Stone as a motif.

At first glance it looks like a hard ornament, but it is actually made of a soft grey sponge material, and it is said that just squeezing and kneading it will bring relaxation to your mind and body. When you hold it, you will certainly feel its soft and comfortable texture, which will somehow soothe your mind!

It's a great item to easily relieve stress and tension anytime, anywhere if you keep it on your desk or in your bag, but the idea of making a miniature version of a huge rock historical relic out of fluffy sponge and a cloth cover is something you can only get from overseas! It's a souvenir that's become a hot topic on social media, perhaps because it's full of British-style jokes. The original stone monument is enshrined in the center of Room 4 on the first floor, so be sure to check it out.

Available to buy at the British Museum (they also have an online shop)

Egyptian Blue Bes Statue | Displaying it in your home may bring you good luck

Here's another souvenir with an ancient Egyptian theme. This is a small replica of a statue of the patron god "Bes," a striking item with a vibrant blue color created by applying a beautiful glaze to the pottery. It looks like a dog standing on its hind legs, but it is not modeled after any specific animal. Statues of Bes have been found that show him sticking out his tongue or dancing with a musical instrument, giving him a somewhat humorous personality (or deity?).

In ancient Egypt, this god was considered the "guardian deity of the home," associated with celebrations, safe childbirth, and healthy growth of children, and despite his cheerful expression, he was revered and loved as a talisman that wards off evil. His unique blue color is often seen on ancient amulets and ornaments. This is because, in addition to being the color of the sky and the water of the Nile, it is said to be a color that symbolizes "death and rebirth" and the "afterlife," and has the power to connect to the "power of the gods," the source of life.

Displaying this figurine somewhere in your room will not only add an accent to your interior, but it may also bring you good fortune. Unfortunately, the original statue of Bes is not currently on display, but you can purchase a souvenir from the Great Court Shop on the first floor of the museum, which has a collection of Egyptian-related goods.

Available to buy at the British Museum (they also have an online shop)

Van Gogh's Sunflower Socks | Dress up your feet with this masterpiece

Located in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London, the National Gallery is one of the world's leading art museums, housing a collection of masterpieces of Western painting. How about buying some socks that recreate paintings as a memento of the many masterpieces you've seen? There are eight different socks available, including Impressionist master Seurat's "The Bathers at Asnières" and Cezanne's "The Bathers," but if you prefer bright colors, we recommend Van Gogh's "Sunflowers."

The cotton and synthetic blend is soft to the touch, but also extremely stretchy. They come in one size for both men and women, so they make great gifts for loved ones and friends. It's fun to have matching pairs, or to have different designs on each one!

Available to buy at the National Gallery (and online shop)

V&A AZ Tote Bag | The ultimate British souvenir

The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), one of the world's largest museums of decorative design and fashion, has a shop that is just like a boutique. It's filled with sophisticated lifestyle items that will leave you wanting more. The Bawden AZ Tote Bag, which is only available here, is a must-have item that is truly London, England!

The print is the cover of the first edition of the London guidebook "AZ" published in 1953. The design was created by renowned illustrator Edward Bowden and features famous landmarks such as the Statue of Admiral Nelson, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Statue of Eros above the River Thames.

Originally, LondonA-Z was an alphabetical atlas that made it easy to find the streets of London, and was a standard map that was loved by both locals and tourists until the advent of smartphones. A guidebook that used the same title and introduced London's famous places with a humorous and sharp observational eye also became a bestseller. This tote bag features the cover of the first edition, published over 60 years ago. This is a masterpiece that can be called "The UK".

As a bag, the warm colors and retro feel of the London AZ title text match perfectly with the rustic off-white cotton fabric! It's made quite sturdy, so it's sure to be a great addition to your travels and for everyday use when you return home.

Available for purchase at the Victoria and Albert Museum (also has an online shop)

V&A Kilburn Tea Towels - Bring a touch of British elegance to your kitchen

Designs featuring nature themes such as flowers, plants, and animals became popular during the Victorian era, giving rise to famous art movements such as Art Nouveau in Europe and Arts and Crafts in Britain.

This V&A exclusive tea towel features a botanical print by the 18th century master William Kilburn. The pattern was so popular that it was once worn by Queen Charlotte of England, and is said to have been highly popular among royalty and the wealthy.

The tea towels come in a total of 12 different designs, including botanical patterns and designs with old London map motifs. The pattern introduced in this article is "extremely popular with buyers of all ages," says the store clerk. It's clear that this is a timeless design.

The delicate and beautiful British botanical pattern is large enough to be used as a scarf. Bring it into the kitchen and make your daily cooking more lively. Made from 100% organic cotton, it is not only beautiful but also highly absorbent. Another nice thing about it is that it becomes softer after washing once, making it easier to use.

Available for purchase at the Victoria and Albert Museum (also available at their online shop)

Beer glass with geological timeline | Cheers while feeling the history of the Earth!

The Natural History Museum, located on a street known as "Museum Street" where three large museums come together, is a place where you can learn interactively about everything from the origin of life on Earth to dinosaur fossils. Every exhibit in the large museum evokes the passion and curiosity of the British people, who wanted to know everything about the world's nature, which reached its peak during the British Empire. It is a space that captivates visitors from children to adults.

The perfect souvenir for such an intellectual space is the "Beer Glass with Geological Timeline." On the outside of the glass, there is a table that summarizes the 4.6 billion year history of the Earth by geological era, along with illustrations of events such as prehistoric life and the extinction of the dinosaurs. When you pour beer into the glass, the eras and illustrations appear, making you feel like you've traveled back in time to ancient times.

Of course, you can put iced tea or juice in it, but please note that adding ice will make it difficult to see the illustration. This is a fun gift for science lovers and for yourself.

Available for purchase at the Natural History Museum (also has an online shop)

Subway map mug | A must-have for train lovers

Located in the heart of Covent Garden, one of London's busiest areas, the London Transport Museum is a must-see for transport enthusiasts, where you can learn about the history of transport, including the subway and buses, in a fun way. One of the most popular items at the museum's gift shop is a mug designed with an actual train route map. Printed with a colorful map of London's famous "Tube" (subway), this item is a hot topic among subway drivers, as it is a favorite of many.

These "route maps" are now seen in Japan, but in fact, this map of the London Underground, devised nearly 100 years ago, is its "ancestor." Designed in the same way as electrical circuits and complex mechanical system diagrams, it is a must-have souvenir for railway fans. It is also said to be the forerunner of "infographics," which users can understand intuitively at a glance.

It's a stylish item that can be used as interior decoration such as a pen holder, so it will be a souvenir unique to London that will be appreciated by both men and women. If you buy it for yourself, you can have fun planning a repeat trip to England while looking at the subway station names and lines.

Available to buy at the London Transport Museum

50 Years Brass Calendar | A small but luxurious souvenir

The National Maritime Museum is located in Greenwich, a little east of central London. It is a place where you can learn about maritime history, including the Age of Discovery, when Britain conquered the seven seas. The famous observatory is located on the same premises, and Londoners lie down and bask in the sun in the green space overlooking the Thames and the city of London.

The shop on the first floor is overflowing with sea-related items, from the navy to pirates, making it an overwhelming sight. Among the super authentic items on display, such as a navigator's watch costing over 100,000 yen, the brass "50-year calendar" is an affordable and luxurious souvenir. It is one of the products created in collaboration between the museum and Arthur Beale, a long-established marine equipment manufacturer founded 500 years ago, and is a pocket watch-like gadget with a diameter of about 5.5 cm. Also known as a "perpetual calendar," it is designed to accurately display the date and day of the week up to the year 2074 by simply turning the dial.

Of course, such information is readily available on the Internet these days, so this might be considered more of a nostalgic item, but it's also nice to think back to the days before the Internet or GPS, when the only way to find time and location information while sailing was by using a marine chronometer (a precision pocket watch), compass, map, etc.

Although compact in size, this brass calendar exudes elegance with its sophisticated gold color. It is also a perfect souvenir for sea lovers and fans of retro mechanical devices.

Available for purchase at the National Maritime Museum (also has an online shop)

Leather key ring | Unique and cool design

Tate Modern is a contemporary art museum built in a building that was originally a power station. When you stand in the huge exposed concrete hall, you feel as if you are being sucked in by the endlessly high ceiling. When you step into the large shop facing this hall, it is decorated with large prints of the exhibited works, and the shop itself feels like an art gallery.

The "Leather Key Ring" (leather key holder) featuring the TATE logo is highly recommended for those looking for a stylish small souvenir. It is made from environmentally friendly recycled leather and has a cool design featuring the logo painted using pointillism techniques on vivid orange and green. The shop staff here also love it, praising it highly, saying, "It's a striking color and a large size, so it's easy to find even when it's in your bag!" It's a recommended item for both gifts and personal use, as it will add color to your daily life along with your travel memories.

Available to buy at Tate Modern (also has an online shop)

Samia Halaby's Notebooks: Inspiring Artistic Inspiration

I found a stationery item with an inspiring design, with colorful colors and digital patterns layered on a deep blue background. The "Samia Halaby Fold 2 Notebook" features on its cover "Fold 2," a work by artist Samia Halaby that she programmed herself in 1988 using a computer of the time.

There were also about six different types of notebooks based on works by artists who have had special exhibitions here in the past, and paintings in the Tate Modern collection, but this one stood out the most with its vivid colors!

The pages are lined so you can use it as a diary. It comes with a handy yellow rubber band so you can hold your notes securely, so you can use it like a scrapbook by pasting in tickets and receipts. Even if you're not an artist, you'll be able to come up with endless creative ideas. This notebook is perfect for writing down your impressions of visiting the Tate Modern, known as the mecca of contemporary art, or your travel encounters.

Available to buy at Tate Modern (also has an online shop)

Barbican tote bag | Simple and stylish! Recommended for everyday use

The Barbican Art Gallery is a collective name for a "cultural temple" that encompasses a large area housing a concert hall, gallery, cinema, prestigious school and even a retro residential area.

The shop is located on the first floor and basement floor of the main building where the concert hall is located, but the "Barbican Tote Bag" which can only be purchased here is the perfect souvenir for fans of British art. The simple design is accented with the Barbican logo, making it very stylish. There are six two-tone combinations, such as a yellow fabric with a blue logo and a red background with a mint green logo, as well as seven types in black and white, so you can choose the one that suits your style.

All of the colors are urbane and sophisticated, and as I was wondering which one to buy, the salesperson said, "The type with the lilac logo (see photo) is one of the most popular colors!" My heart was excited by the unique color.

Not only does it subtly add art to your everyday life, but it's also the perfect size to fit an A4 notebook sideways. The handle is long, so it's easy to carry on your shoulder, and it's very practical! It's made of 100% natural cotton, so it won't fade even after washing, making it a great tote bag for everyday use.

Available to buy at the Barbican Art Gallery (and online shop)

Have you found an item that you really want? Museum goods, packed with history and art from the days of the British Empire, make perfect unique souvenirs. Bring home a sense of London and find your favorite item that matches the memories of your wonderful trip.

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