 In 1959 at London Airport the first duty-free liquor counter was opened. Since that time, travelers have counted on doing their last-minute shopping at the increasingly mall-like duty-free centers in airports around the world. But do you know how you can get the most from duty-free?
You get to know some little-known facts. For instance, the Vatican is an entirely duty-free zone, so it's heaven for travelers with a yen for religious art and artifacts. Some buildings in the U.N. complex in New York, which is governed by its own laws and not strictly part of the U.S., have duty-free shops in their lobbies (you have to present identification to shop, but busy shop-hands tend not to ask.)
Nowadays, strict security restrictions on liquids mean that some airports will permit you to buy a small amount of liquors or perfumes and pick them up at the entrance to your flight, though regulations are very much in flux. U.S.-U.K. flights have stricter rules, and all liquids must be sent through security. Travelers can pick up a myriad of other last-minute bargains in duty-free shops worldwide, apart from liquids and liquors.
 Here’s a mini shopping list of some best bets, globally:
Tokyo – A wealth of 'Hello Kitty' merchandise not offered in the U.S. is on sale in Tokyo's duty-free shops. World popular Japanese brands of makeup are another draw, and you can find products (like some skin whiteners) that are not sold in the United States or Europe.
London – The British Museum Shop, at Heathrow Airport, provides wonderful reproductions of some of the museum's most famous art and artifacts. It is better to buy here, rather than in the museum shop in town, and avoid V.A.T. taxes, which can be steep. Stanstead's Glorious Britain shop will warm the cockles of any royalist's heart. Tourists can purchase mugs, T-shirts and other paraphernalia all emblazoned with various images of royalty on them.
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