British Isles

My Family and I have shopped and spent a lot of money at this store for MANY years! That is over, I bought a cup for a lot of money more than that cup would cost elsewhere. Once home with it I tried to use use it for my morning tea. It had a hair line crack and pour hot tea all over me. I called the British Isles store. The man I spoke with said just take pictures of the cup email them him and he would send me new one. This was in November I called to find out when my new cup was coming today and I was told they would not be replacing the cup. Because they only guarantee their merchandise for 30 days even though it was less than two weeks before I discovered the hairline crack. He remembers I called in November and that I sent an email per his request. To say this is a bad business decision on their part is an understatement.
I have been recommending this shop to people for years this will also stop. The cup was expensive and should have been useable.

Nestled in Rice Village, this is a unique store carrying items imported from England, Ireland, and Scotland. Food, books, tableware, décor, all of it from across the pond and ready for purchase. The owners are very friendly and more than willing to assist you in your search. Need something they don’t have? They’ll order it for you if it is available in their catalogs.
They have a lot of BBC merchandise in stock, which makes perfect gifts for fans of Downton Abbey and Dr. Who. I’ve picked up many hostess gifts at this store. Professors/​loved ones/​co-​workers can’t say no to Cadbury chocolates, or a tin of imported tea. At Christmas they have a wide selection of «British» themed ornaments that are hand sewn; along with traditional English decorations. Do you collect teapots, salt and pepper shakers, or kitchen linens? Every season they have different offerings for the special collector in your family.
Personally, I love this store! This has been one of my favorite stores ever since I got to college. When I say the owners are lovely, they really are lovely. Stop by this place whenever you are in the Village. You won’t be disappointed.

I really wish things were not quite so expensive; HOWEVER, I still come back for specialty items like teas, chocolate, and porcelain. VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE and helpful staff … very personable, even amid hectic holiday shopping.

I go to the store often, but the gentle at the register seems very rude. I said this was my last time there.

I have been going to British Isles for years. Guy has expanded the shop and added so much more. I love to see what is available and find things that are only available in the British Isles. It is easy to feel like I’m back in England.

Proper bacon, black pudding and tayto crisps. yay!
Excellent service and hard to find food.
Next time I’ll actually shop the rest of the store. The gifts and teas look so tempting.

Love the selection but don’t like the fact that prices go up a lot and very quickly. I buy Farley’s Rusks for my daughter and in less than a year, the bumper packs went from $ 9.95 to $ 13. Not too happy about that. One star for ridiculous price increases.

My wife and I love this place! They have an amazing assortment of teas, jams, cookies, scone mixes, short breads, and other British edibles. They also have all sorts of non-​edible goods but I can’t say much about that because we don’t really go there for anything but food: P. Still looks cool though!!!

Lovely and quaint little shoppe tucked in Rice Village. I had always wanted to visit this shoppe and finally made the time to do so. Upon entering, you will notice many gifts and novelties of all sorts. As a big tea drinker, I absolutely enjoyed the selection of tea’s offered at British Isles. I also adored the many colorful teapots scattered around the shoppe. All sorts of mugs and canisters were lined against the shelves as well. As far as the snacks and treats go. there are many here. There are various biscuits, jams, syrups and fruit curds. I picked up a package of custard biscuits, Lyle’s golden syrup, and cadbury hot chocolate mix. As someone who bakes often, I know that i’ll be putting Lyle’s golden syrup into good use. There is even a section of frozen items in a little freezer in the corner. Although the store isn’t massively large, but somehow they were able to truly create the British essence here with quality products. I could spend hours in here curiously exploring through all of the products. Its a nice spot to get a thoughtful gift for a loved one, or just for yourself!

British Isles is one of the best stores in Houston!
I am a straight razor shaver and you can find most of the UK/​International brands of shaving soaps, aftershaves, pre-​shave oils and colognes as well as a vast amount of shaving accessories. There is no other place in Houston that can compare for the small niche wet shaving community. HE doesn’t sell any straights, but, does sell a DE or two.
I was amazed by the UK/​British candy there. This is what real chocolate should be everywhere in the world! I have turned family members and friends on to it and they love it! I haven’t ventured off into the many teas or other food items yet, but, it is only a matter of time before I indulge.
The selection of stoneware/​china and other trinkets and international items is amazing. Anyone that may have traveled to the UK or once lived there can find something that reminds them of home in this place.
I am going by there today to get some shaving items and candy! I don’t have a problem with minimally higher pricing as you clearly get what you pay for. I have never been disappointed one bit with anything I have purchased there!!!
And for those saying Guy and his staff aren’t friendly is down right nuts!!! Guy stood up with me to talk shaving products for wayyy too long!!! He should’ve been doint other things. Instead he was talking with me and the other customers that needed help or just to say hello! His staff is amazing.
Bottom line: This place is gold! Its a must shop for those with a british fancy!

ALL THINGS BRITISH ARE HERE!!!
If you’re going crazy for british stuff or being swept up in the Downton Abbey craze… Well give your best british accent a go, put on your knickers and get ready for tea time because you’ll definitely have to give this place a whirl.
They have everything from trinkets to snacks and candy, and even the whole Downton Abbey bear family!
The staff is very friendly and can help you locate anything you’re looking for.
The stuff is sort of pricey though… so prepare your wallet.
Overall, it’s just a neat place to explore if you’re ever in Rice village!

Being half Irish, I miss the food that reminds me of my childhood. Whether it’s Barry’s Tea, black pudding, or a bag of Tayto’s (they carry the UK version), they have what I need to bring me back to my summers in Ireland.
My wife likes coming here to pick up clotted cream, and various jams and jellies. Their collection of British foods is unmatched in the Houston area.
With all of the ex-​pats living here, British Isles serves as a reminder of home when it’s needed most.

Typical Snob Brit– I convinced my boss to leave the store on our lunch break and not buy anything when the owner told me I had to run across the street to Ruggles to pee. Be nicer to your customers. Apart for that it’s just a typical nick nack store.

I reviewed this lovely shop on Google+ already, but I love it so, I had to add my words to Unilocal as well.
How I have managed to remain ignorant of your existence for 20-​something years, I’ll never understand. Today, this injustice was remedied. British Isles is my oasis in the sea of typical Texas culture. Thank you! Thank you so much! My favourite teas, my favourite shortbreads, excellent service. The husband and I have decided to make this our weekly Saturday destination. There was so much more I wanted. British Isles, I love you.

I’ve been here twice so far with my friend, and we both love this store! Anything british that you can think of, they heave it: tea, chocolate, chips (or crisps you want to be true to the British way), cookies, frozen foods, all sorts of toys, tea sets, and other little mementos.
Are you into the Beatles? They’ve got something for you. Are you a Whovian? They’ve got something for you. Are your kids (or you) into Thomas the train or Paddington Bear? They’re got something for you. The only British pop culture thing that we couldn’t find in the store is anything related to the show Sherlock. But everything else is fair game.
As far as the food goes, there’s a lot of different snacks to try. They have the biggest selection of Cadbury stuff that I’d ever seen, and they have all sorts of weird (and delicious!) flavors of chips (Roasted chicken chips = surprisingly yummy!). They also have frozen foods in the back, but we haven’t had the chance to actually try them yet. We probably will in the future.
Overall, great store! They have a wide selection of awesome things, and every time you go there, you will find something new. I highly recommend this store, especially if you’re near the Rice College area (PS They purposely stock owl themed things for the Rice students *wink*)

I don’t come here as often as I’d like. The place’s only real downside is that it’s in the Village, which is a traffic and parking nightmare.
Anyway, they have some nice china, glassware, and souvenirs, but I don’t care about that. I come for the food. I don’t know of anywhere else in town now that sells bangers and sausage rolls.
They have a good assortment of chocolate, pies, candy, biscuits, canned goods… more tea than you could ever want. Some of this stuff is available at grocery stores, but a lot of it isn’t. Probably, if British Isles doesn’t have it, no one does. There were a couple things I would have bought on my last visit, but they didn’t seem to be there – a chocolate orange (they only had it as a bar, that I could see) and orange chocolate digestives, but not every store in the UK carries those.

I have always loved this shop, but then again, I’m a huge Anglophile. This shop has beautiful china, stoneware, hand thrown pottery, crystal, little gifty items, plushies, food, drink, all from the lovely British Isles. What’s not to like. Their selection of Portmeirion is the best in town IMHO. The crystal is magnificent. But, what I really like is the TEA. I could spend hours looking at, smelling, and thinking about the tea selection. If you love tea or know someone who does, this is a must-​stop when shopping. Along the way, you’ll also find some amazing jams and preserves and some really fun crisps. Who knows what else you may find? I love this store.

The most interesting and awesome store in Houston. A panoply of everything British (and Irish) for seasoned Anglophile and enthusiast outside Great Britain. It takes love to craft a store like this, with its incredible selection of goods that amaze me every time I visit. The employees are remarkably affectionate and beyond polite. Their memory in remembering me and our previous conversations astounds me; I feel like we’re good acquaintances when I visit from out of town. Quite simply, my favorite store anywhere.

For the queen and well America…
Ok, I went here for shaving products… Very cool shaving products, nothing else.
The products all came from the UK and yep, they are hard to find.
If you are looking for cool shaving products for your self or as a gift, you should go!
They do have some other uncommon, well at least in the US, items.
I’ll be back!

Best tea selection in Houston. My fiancé was looking for straight up verbena tea, not verbena and something else, for months. I literarily stumbled on to it here. TWO AISLES OF TEA.
The store is packed with stuff. Stuff and more stuff. You can spend an hour or two just browsing and you’ll keep finding more stuff. Interesting stuff. Stuff you didn’t know you needed.
They have the full Cadbury line plus lots of other goodies, including every flavor of Aerobar.
Downside? Not enough kitschy corgi stuff. They had a few kitschy corgi things, but nothing that made me go «dawww, I need this now.»