Where to shop in London this Christmas

Packed with a combination of artisanal makers, small boutiques and high-end buys, the British capital is a shopper’s paradise. But knowing where to start can be daunting. Unearthing the perfect gift in a relaxed, under-the-radar setting or navigating the busiest streets by knowing exactly where to go are sure-fire ways to avoid seasonal stress. Here’s where to head…

Bloomsbury, WC1

Great for design lovers
Once home to writers including Virginia Woolf and EM Forster, this district’s artistic history can still be seen in its gracious Georgian architecture. Head to Lamb’s Conduit Street for luxe plant-based skincare brand Aesop, while nearby La Fromagerie serves up hand-selected cheeses, wines and olive oils. Around the corner, Pentreath & Hall’s gilded glass signage gives way to an interior brimming with prints, tableware, linens and one-off decorative accessories. A few streets away, L Cornelissen & Son has been selling artists’ materials since 1855, but it’s also the perfect place to pick up usual wrapping paper and expertly crafted pens and pencils. Across the road, the British Museum’s gift shop is also a treasure trove of possibilities, from mounted prints to replica Roman busts.

Columbia Road, E2

Great for vintage aficionados
Popular with the green-fingered and lovers of affordable, seasonal blooms on a Sunday morning (thanks to its flower market), this East End staple is noted for its painted Victorian shopfronts and vintage stores selling everything from antiques to garden accessories. At her Mason & Painter pop-up on Ezra Street, Michelle Mason regularly curates paintings, prints and plants, while Bob & Blossom is ideal for contemporary own-brand children’s clothing books and toys. Find amber glassware, textiles and an array of delicate tea cups at Vintage Heaven, rustic wicker and crochet bags and baskets at Straw and, for music lovers, new and used vinyl records at World of Echo round the corner on Cheshire Street. Afterwards, rest and replenish at Emma Iantosca’s Campania & Jones, a small but perfectly formed trattoria housed in a former dairy.

Notting Hill, W11

Great for home lovers

If you’re searching for antique pieces, homeware or vintage textiles, head west towards Portobello Road. Avoid weekends, which attract crowds, and aim for weekdays – as early as you dare. With its travelling circus feel, Alice’s (opening image) offers an array of affordable, kitsch-vintage homeware. A few doors up, Chloe Alberry stocks beautifully crafted doorknobs, pulls, hooks and hardware in nickel, crystal and antique brass. At the other end of the street, The Cloth Shop is the place to go for quality fabrics – including woollen throws, linen cushion covers, aprons, napkins and French tea towels. Head to the market at nearby Golborne Road on a Friday for vintage clothing and homeware. While you’re there, pop into Les Couilles du Chien for collectable posters, lighting and objets.

Jermyn Street, SW1

Great for lovers of luxe
While it’s true that the teeming capital seems to converge at Piccadilly Circus, nearby Jermyn Street – still famed for its men’s tailoring – is a high-end haven of tranquillity, perfect for life’s sybarites. At Paxton & Whitfield, England’s oldest cheesemongers (Lord Byron allegedly stopped here regularly to weigh himself), you’ll find a wide selection of artisan cheeses and condiments. Stop at historic Santa Maria Novella at the end of Piccadilly Arcade for fine Florentine fragrances and skincare for men and women. Extending on to the corner of Jermyn Street, legendary Fortnum & Mason (above) still serves the best in teas, British food, homeware and Christmas decorations more than three centuries after it began life supplying candle wax remnants from the Royal household to the public. When you’re done, nip into Hatchards on Piccadilly for five carpet-laden floors of books, covering everything from memoirs to first editions.

Victoria Park, E3

Great for one-of-a-kind gifts
Named after the nearby park replete with boating lakes and a Chinese pagoda, this East London urban village retains its community feel. Filled with Victorian shopfronts, it’s an authentic spot for unearthing stylish independents. At Haus, you’ll find design-led pieces by Scandi brands, from HAY to Fritz Hansen, as well as contemporary books and stationery. Sublime has been serving up unisex fashion, accessories and one-off gifts for more than 25 years, while The Toybox is a colourful emporium of kids’ games and soft toys. Nearby, goldsmith Julia Cook has curated a selection of jewellery at Branch on the Park, much of it made from recycled silver and gold. For foodie stocking fillers, from jams to festive chocolate, head to The Deli Downstairs, a former grocery whose 18th-century frieze of Victorian biscuit tin labels has recently been restored.

Soho, W1

Great for foodies
This central London hub has always been known for its cosmopolitan communities and rebellious nature – still reflected in a variety of off-beat stores selling everything from directional fashion to artisan foods. On Brewer Street, mint green-fronted Italian Lina Stores is still going strong after 80 years, selling more than 500 small-batch festive products from panettoni to pandori. Nearby on Old Compton Street, the windows of Algerian Coffee Stores groan with all the accoutrements needed for lovers of the coffee bean, including exclusive house blends, espresso cups, grinders and elegant copper barista jugs. Tea aficionados will love the selection at Postcard Teas, housed in a former Georgian grocery tucked away off of Oxford Street – each option labelled with its maker’s name and origin. For the final flourish, Choosing Keeping in nearby Covent Garden offers a selection of decorative wrapping papers sourced from Italy, France and Japan.

Marylebone Village, W1

Great for lovers of classic style
A short stroll from Oxford Street, this elegant neighbourhood offers an altogether less harried experience. There are plenty of options for thoughtful gift buying – from build-your-own-box artisan chocolates at Rococo to scented drawer liners, Portuguese soaps, home fragrance and fine linens at Cologne & Cotton. A few paces away, housed in the capital’s first purpose-built bookstore, Daunt Books features tomes curated by country. Meanwhile, one-time leather grindery David Penton & Son has been trading since 1841 and now serves up a cornucopia of household goods on Marylebone Lane, including toast tongs, honey scoops and even mushroom brushes for keen cooks. On the same street, VV Rouleaux is a festive jewel box of trimmings, ribbons, feathers and tassels.

Walthamstow Village, E17

Great for fashion-forward gifts
This East London enclave, purportedly containing the capital’s oldest home, The Ancient House, as well as historic St Mary’s Church, retains its former rural village feel. But thanks to its hipster vibe, its shopping options are right on the money. At concept store Pavement, you’ll find everything from French ceramic match strikers and hand soaps by Austin Austin to cool hooded scarves by Hades. Pick up sleek, contemporary menswear, relaxed clothing edits for women and chic homeware, including coloured cocktail glasses at The W Store, located in a former Victorian ironmongery. While not technically in Walthamstow Village, Saw Chocolate, on nearby Hoe Street (open Wednesday to Saturday), is well worth a short detour for its selection of handmade artisan bars.

Store opening times/days vary – check before travelling

Make Christmas shopping even more effortless by pre-ordering your presents from High Life Shop. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list and have them delivered straight to your seat on board or to your home address.