I’m in London now and I want to buy my friend back in the USA some cigarettes as thanks for taking care of my apartment. What brands are similar, but not the same as Marlboro menthol 100s? Do all cigarettes have to kept of view? One place kept them behind some revolving cabinet and it looked like a Harry Potter scene when he’d open the cabinet to get a pack out.
As a bonus, are the Marlboros that different in the UK than the USA?
Embassy No.1 is quite smokeable and similar to Marlboro, though for mentholated maybe Consulates? I am quite out-of-date with this though, buying rolling tobacco, if at all.
You’ll want to check both UK and US government sites for import and export restrictions. A quick search turns up only import restrictions for the UK, but you should ask HMRC to be sure. No one is going to be concerned about a pack of 20, but a box or two of 200 might attract attention.
Can’t help you on brands but, yes, shops now have to keep tobacco behind the counter in a cupboard, out of view. If you want to browse, just ask. They’ll slide back the door for you.
Rothmans. 
Since Parliament and Pall Mall are popular brands in the U.S., I’d suggest you see if you can find Congress and Capitol Rotunda brands for your friend.
Yes, it’s a new law.
Less than a week from now the plain packaging laws come into force - so either buy now for a last opportunity or wait a few days to see what plain packaged smokes look like in only the second country in the world to do that 
BOOM:
http://www.ash.org.uk/current-policy-issues/advertising-and-promotion/standardised-plain-packaging
I don’t know if they are still made, but John Player’s used to come in a snazzy, sleek, black plastic cylinder. Always looked very smart on the coffee table. Sobranie and Gauloise were very popular when I lived in England, not a British product, but might be an interesting addition to the mix.
Are Dunhill any good? All I remember about them is that the really pretentious kids in high school used to smoke them.
Remember, that technically, you are allowed to bring one carton of cigarettes {per adult} into the U.S.A. tax free. However,you can bring any quantity you desire, but after your one carton exemption, you can be charged $10.10 per carton of tax.
Just be prepared for that possibility.
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