Until our family trip to Europe in September 2026, I had never even heard of Jellycat. It wasn't until we were shopping in Paris that I first discovered the brand, completely unaware that these whimsical stuffed animals would become part of our family's travel memories. What began as an unexpected discovery in Paris would eventually lead us to a special experience at Harrods in London and the beginning of a new family tradition.

By the time we arrived in London, my daughter had decided that she wanted a Jellycat as her souvenir from the trip. I have always loved finding meaningful keepsakes when we travel, especially ones that remind us of a particular place or experience. So we made our way to Harrods in Knightsbridge to explore Jellycat Airlines, an airport-inspired shopping experience that turned an ordinary souvenir purchase into something much more memorable.

Discovering Jellycat Airlines at Harrods

Harrods is one of London's most iconic department stores, and visiting it was already a wonderful opportunity to experience a little of the city's shopping culture. But tucked inside was something I hadn't expected to become such a memorable part of our visit: Jellycat Airlines.

The space was designed to resemble a whimsical airport, complete with turquoise displays, departure signage, airplane-inspired installations, and plush characters arranged along a baggage carousel. Everywhere we looked, there was another playful detail that made the experience feel different from simply walking into a toy store.

After spending the previous days exploring Paris and London, the airport theme felt particularly fitting. We had already spent plenty of time traveling through Europe, and here we were watching adorable stuffed animals embark on their own imaginary adventures.

It was charming, creative, and exactly the kind of unexpected discovery that makes traveling with children so much fun.

Finding the Perfect London Souvenir

Of course, the real reason we were there was to find my daughter's London Jellycat. With so many adorable characters to choose from, the experience was about more than simply selecting another stuffed animal. We were looking for something that would remind her of this particular trip.

We ultimately came home with the Harrods-exclusive Jellycat Amuseables Glacy Chocolate Cake, an adorable plush dessert that felt like the perfect keepsake from our visit. Between the chocolate frosting, strawberries, and cheerful little face, it was difficult not to fall in love with it.

One of my favorite photographs from the experience is of my daughter standing beside the enormous version of the chocolate cake display, proudly holding her turquoise Jellycat shopping bag. It's the kind of photograph that captures more than a souvenir purchase. It captures a moment from our family travels that we'll remember long after the trip itself.

How One Souvenir Became a Family Travel Tradition

One of the things I appreciate most about traveling with our children is discovering which experiences become meaningful to them. As parents, we often spend months planning itineraries around historical landmarks, famous attractions, museums, and restaurants. Those experiences are important, but sometimes the moments our children remember most are the ones we never expected.

For us, Jellycat Airlines became one of those moments. I hadn't known anything about Jellycat before arriving in Paris, and I certainly hadn't anticipated that a visit to Harrods would inspire a new family tradition.

Since returning to Los Angeles, our Jellycat adventures have continued. What started as a souvenir from London has become a fun way to connect our experiences and create memories around the places we visit. I love the idea that these little keepsakes can tell a story. Rather than collecting something simply because it's popular, we're connecting each one to an experience, a destination, and a memory we made together.

A Little Reminder to Make Room for the Unexpected

Our September trip to Europe was filled with experiences I had dreamed of sharing with my family. We visited incredible landmarks, explored beautiful neighborhoods, and experienced places that had been on my travel list for years. Yet somewhere among those carefully planned adventures, a little chocolate cake from Harrods found its way into our family's story.

That's one of my favorite things about travel. No matter how thoughtfully you plan an itinerary, there's always room for something unexpected to become a lasting memory.

If you're planning a family trip to London, Jellycat Airlines at Harrods is worth looking into, especially if you have a Jellycat enthusiast in your family. Experiences and exclusive merchandise can change, so I recommend checking current availability before your visit.

And as for us, I'm looking forward to seeing where our new Jellycat tradition takes us next.