diff --git a/source/Game.cpp b/source/Game.cpp
index 6bea712..5da6e8a 100644
--- a/source/Game.cpp
+++ b/source/Game.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ Game::Game(tgui::Window& window) :
 	mLeftGadget = window.add<tgui::Label>();
 	mLeftGadget->setTextSize(14);
 	mRightGadget = window.add<tgui::Label>();
-	mRightGadget->setTextSize(14);
+	mRightGadget->setTextSize(14);
+	mPickupInstruction = window.add<tgui::Label>();
+	mPickupInstruction->setTextSize(14);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -120,6 +122,17 @@ Game::updateGui() {
 			mWindow.getSize().y - mLeftGadget->getSize().y);
 	mRightGadget->setPosition(mWindow.getSize().x / 2 + 10,
 			mWindow.getSize().y - mRightGadget->getSize().y);
+
+	auto item = mWorld.getClosestItem(mPlayer->getPosition());
+	if (item.get() != nullptr) {
+		mPickupInstruction->setText("Press F to pick up " + item->getName());
+		mPickupInstruction->setPosition(
+				mWindow.getSize().x / 2 - mPickupInstruction->getSize().x / 2,
+				mWindow.getSize().y * 0.66f);
+		mPickupInstruction->show();
+	}
+	else
+		mPickupInstruction->hide();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/source/Game.h b/source/Game.h
index 2540da9..6924ff7 100644
--- a/source/Game.h
+++ b/source/Game.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ private:
 	tgui::Label* mCurrentWeapon;
 	tgui::Label* mLeftGadget;
 	tgui::Label* mRightGadget;
+	tgui::Label* mPickupInstruction;
 
 	World mWorld;
 	Pathfinder mPathfinder;
diff --git a/source/World.cpp b/source/World.cpp
index b1e93ef..053ac62 100755
--- a/source/World.cpp
+++ b/source/World.cpp
@@ -204,3 +204,24 @@ World::getNearbySprites(const Vector2f& position, float distance) const {
 				ret.push_back(d);
 	return ret;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the item closest to position, or null if it is further than
+ * Character::ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE away.
+ */
+std::shared_ptr<Item>
+World::getClosestItem(const Vector2f& position) const {
+	float distance = std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
+	std::shared_ptr<Item> closest;
+	for (auto& s : getNearbySprites(position, Character::ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE)) {
+		std::shared_ptr<Item> converted = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<Item>(s);
+		if (converted.get() != nullptr &&
+				thor::squaredLength(position - converted->getPosition()) < distance * distance) {
+			closest = converted;
+			distance = thor::squaredLength(position - converted->getPosition());
+		}
+	}
+	return (distance <= Character::ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE * Character::ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE)
+			? closest
+			: std::shared_ptr<Item>();
+}
diff --git a/source/World.h b/source/World.h
index e39c148..60d63b1 100755
--- a/source/World.h
+++ b/source/World.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ public:
 			const Vector2f& lineEnd) const;
 	std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Sprite> > getNearbySprites(
 			const Vector2f& position, float radius) const;
+	std::shared_ptr<Item> getClosestItem(const Vector2f& position) const;
 
 private:
 
diff --git a/source/abstract/Character.cpp b/source/abstract/Character.cpp
index 35d7f5c..e6bd1ff 100644
--- a/source/abstract/Character.cpp
+++ b/source/abstract/Character.cpp
@@ -270,18 +270,7 @@ Character::getRightGadgetName() const {
  */
 void
 Character::pickUpItem() {
-	auto sprites = mWorld.getNearbySprites(getPosition(),
-			ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE);
-	float distance = std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
-	std::shared_ptr<Item> closest;
-	for (auto& s : sprites) {
-		std::shared_ptr<Item> converted = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<Item>(s);
-		if (converted.get() != nullptr &&
-				thor::squaredLength(getPosition() - converted->getPosition()) < distance) {
-			closest = converted;
-			distance = thor::squaredLength(getPosition() - converted->getPosition());
-		}
-	}
+	std::shared_ptr<Item> closest = mWorld.getClosestItem(getPosition());
 
 	if (closest == nullptr) {
 		std::swap(mLeftGadget, mRightGadget);
diff --git a/source/abstract/Character.h b/source/abstract/Character.h
index 1c317c5..ca676bd 100644
--- a/source/abstract/Character.h
+++ b/source/abstract/Character.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ public:
 
 	/// Maximum distance where an enemy will be detected.
 	static const float VISION_DISTANCE;
+	/// Maximum distance from character where an item can be picked up.
+	static const float ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE;
 
 public:
 	explicit Character(const Vector2f& position, Category category,
@@ -76,8 +78,6 @@ private:
 	/// Distance to a path point where it will be considered as reached (to
 	/// avoid floating point equality check).
 	static const float POINT_REACHED_DISTANCE;
-	/// Maximum distance from character where an item can be picked up.
-	static const float ITEM_PICKUP_MAX_DISTANCE;
 	friend class World;
 	World& mWorld;
 	Pathfinder& mPathfinder;
diff --git a/source/items/Item.h b/source/items/Item.h
index f8dbcef..d4f803a 100644
--- a/source/items/Item.h
+++ b/source/items/Item.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ public:
 	Item(const Vector2f& size, const std::string& texture);
 	virtual ~Item() {};
 
+	virtual std::string getName() const = 0;
 	void drop(const Vector2f& position);
 	bool testCollision(std::shared_ptr<Sprite> other,
 			Vector2f& offsetFirst, const Vector2f& offsetSecond);