London souvenirs that aren't tacky (from someone who sells them)

Walk down any street near Leicester Square and you'll see the same shop fifty times: Union Jack mugs, plastic phone boxes, fridge magnets of a bus. All made somewhere that isn't London. You buy one, you give it away, it lives in a drawer.

I'm Luis, an artist with a stall at Jubilee Market Hall in Covent Garden. Every weekend, visitors from all over the world stand at my stall and say the same thing: "I want something from London that isn't tacky." Here's how to find it, whether you buy from me or not.

What makes a souvenir not tacky?

Visitors tell me what they want, and it's always the same list:

• Made in London, ideally by someone you met.
• Something you'll display or use, not hide in a drawer.
• A story, so when someone asks "where's that from?" you have an answer.
• Easy to get home: flat, light, or shipped.

Option 1: art by a London artist

Art is the ultimate non-tacky souvenir. It goes on your wall, it reminds you of the trip every day, and it was made by an actual person in the city you visited. My work is pop art: big, funny slogans hand-painted on antique book pages.

• London or Nowhere is the obvious one for anyone who fell in love with the city.
• This Ain't the Ritz and This Ain't the Savoy are love letters to London's grandest hotels, from someone who can't afford to stay in them.
• Please Don't Do Cocaine in the Bathroom is the one visitors photograph at the stall and send home before they've even bought it.

Prints are £20 in A4 and slide flat into a suitcase. Ask me for card backing so it doesn't crease.

Option 2: something British with a twist

Want something royal without a tea towel of the King? My antique images are portraits from antique art books that I've hand-painted over, so every one is unique.

Queen for a Day is Queen Anne, who ruled from 1702 to 1714, finally given the colour scheme she deserved. I Just Farted is a solemn old portrait with a confession. They're £25 each, and nobody back home will have one.

Option 3: things you'll use every day

Totes (£25) and notebooks (£12) are the souvenirs that get used. Carry a "This Is Not a Louis Vuitton" tote round your home town and every time someone laughs, you get to say "I got it in London". They're made to order and ship in 7 to 10 days, so if you're only in town for a weekend, order online and have them sent home.

Option 4: the once-in-a-lifetime souvenir

For a honeymoon, a big birthday trip or your first time in London, buy an original. Mine are hand-painted on antique book pages and signed, and each one exists only once. Small originals start at £55.

Getting it home

This is the bit tourists worry about, so here's exactly how it works:

1. Carry it. Prints and antique images are flat and light. Ask for card backing at the stall.
2. Ship it. Order online and I'll post it to the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands, with the shipping price shown at checkout before you pay. Anywhere else, message me for a quote.
3. Pay in pounds. Prices are in GBP and your bank converts them. You can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
4. Order after you get home. Forgot to buy something? It happens. Everything on my stall is online.

Where else to find good London souvenirs

I'm biased, but I'm not the only good option. Museum shops are excellent for posters and books. Independent shops around Seven Dials and Neal's Yard are great for gifts. The London Transport Museum shop in Covent Garden sells brilliant prints of classic Underground posters. And markets everywhere in London are full of makers. My guide to the best art markets in London will keep you busy for a weekend.

Visiting Covent Garden?

My stall is in Jubilee Market Hall, 1 Tavistock Street, WC2E 8BD, every Saturday and Sunday. Covent Garden station is a few minutes' walk away. See the visit page, or read my guide to the Covent Garden Christmas market if you're here in December.

Shop every souvenir in one place: London souvenirs.

London souvenir questions