Christmas

Central | North | South | East | West

Camden Passage, N1
Aquamarine Antiques
Eccentric little shop in Pierpoint Place, just off Camden Passage selling a mix of old treasures and taxidermy.
14 Pierpoint Row, Camden Passage, N1 (07962 161 106). Open Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, Sun 12.30pm-7pm, Wed, Sat 9am-7pm.

Kirt Holmes
Elegant handmade jewellery made on-site by designer Kirt Holmes. There are also small collections by other jewellery designers including Alex Monroe.
16 Camden Passage, N1 (020 7226 1080/www.kirtholmes.com). Open Tue-Thur 11am-6pm, Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Frost French
Full of wearable and desirable clothes, including cute knits with cheeky ruffle-trims, smart woollen winter coats with velvet collars and comfy cashmere tracksuit bottoms at mid-range prices.
Frost French, 22-26 Camden Passage, N1 (020 7354 0053/www.frostfrench.com). Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12noon-6pm Feature continues

Paul A Young
The utterly delicious Christmas collection has just hit the shelves at this award-winning chocolate shop.
33 Camden Passage, N1 (020 7424 5750/www.payoung.net). Open Wed, Thur 11am-6pm, Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Equa
This shop proves eco-friendly clothes can be fashionable. The accessories, including vegetarian Matt & Nat wallets and bags, make fine benefactions.
28 Camden Passage, N1 (020 7359 0955/www.equaclothing.com). Open 10.30am-6.30am, Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds
A multifarious antiques shop with a particularly fine selection of antique books at very fair prices.
12 Pierpoint Row, N1 (07875 678 501). Open Tue, Thur, Fri, Sun 1.30-6pm, Wed, Sat 9.30am-6.30pm.

Getting there A one-minute walk from Angel tube, Camden Passage is also on many bus routes (4, 19, 38, 73 included) serving the main stop at Angel.
Refuel The charming and sophisticated Elk in the Woods (39 Camden Passage, N1/020 7226 3535) is good for brunch, lunch or early evening cocktails. We recommend the sirloin steak and quail egg sandwich.

Upper Street, N1
Aria
Recently relocated to grand new premises in a former music hall, Aria’s collection of beautiful homewares and accessories is bigger and better than ever.
Barnsbury Hall, Barnsbury St, N1 (020 7704 6222). Highbury & Islington tube. Open Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-6.30pm, Thur 10am-7pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Twentytwentyone
Small but perfectly formed design shop selling contemporary pieces from names like Aalto and Vitra.
274 Upper St, N1 (020 7288 1996). Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Space NK
For the man or woman who has everything, a well-picked beauty product rarely goes amiss.
299 Upper St, N1 (020 7704 2822). Open 10am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Gill Wing
A humorous gift shop appealing to both kids and adults.
194/195 Upper St, N1(020 7359 7697). Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Igloo
An imaginatively stocked children’s shop where you’ll find everything from Barbies to Brio.
300 Upper St, N1 (020 7354 7300). Angel tube. Open Mon-Wed 10am-6.30pm, Thur 10am-7pm, Fri, Sat 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Labour of Love
Nip in here for one-off fashion and accessories for a hard-to-please friend.
193 Upper St, N1 (020 7354 9333). Open Mon-Sat 11am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Diverse Men
Diverse is a well stocked menswear store with an expensive but ultra-desirable range.
286 Upper St, N1 (020 7359 0081). Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5.30pm.

Getting there Angel or Highbury & Islington tube/4, 19, 30, 43, 271, 277, 393 bus.
Refuel There’s no shortage of perfectly good cafés serving sarnies and tea, but if you’re after something a little more hearty, like a late fry-up or scrumptious Turkish dishes with an Italian twist, head to Mem & Laz (8 Theberton St/020 7704 9089).

Stoke Newington Church Street, N16
Olive Loves Alfie
Design-led kids’ boutique stocking Scandinavian clothing including Katvig, homewares, games, toys, screen prints and a range of exclusive commissions.
84 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 (020 7241 4212/www.olivelovesalfie.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Pictures and Light
Former film art director Justine Blair offers rare prints from Prague, vintage lights and collectibles.
41 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 (020 7923 7923). Open Thur-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Hub Women
Perfectly picked labels like See by Chloé, Acne jeans, Mackintosh, and accessories by local designers.
49 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 (020 7254 4494). Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Bored on Board
A staple of floppy-haired local teens, stocking cult street brands like Dickies, Volcom, Vans, Nixon and excellent Australian punk-surfwear brand Insight.
111 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 (020 7254 9740). Open Mon-Sat 11am- 6pm Sat, Sun 12noon-5pm.

The Cobbled Yard
Hidden behind The Defoe pub is Carol Lucas’s antiques and ephemera shop crammed into a tiny cobbled stable.
1 Bouverie Rd, N16 (020 8809 5286/www.cobbled-yard.co.uk) Open Wed-Sun 11am-5.30pm.

Hub Men
Labels like Ally Capellino, Fred Perry, Mackintosh, Barbour and Dents accessories sit well in the friendly, gentleman’s parlour room interior of Hub Men.
88 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 (020 7275 8160). Open Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10.30am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Getting there Stoke Newington rail, Angel tube and then 73, 476 buses, or Old Street tube and 76, 243 buses.
Refuel The Spence (178 Stoke Newington Church Street/020 7254 9753) is one of Stoke Newington’s best cafés, and the smaller Spence Bakery opposite does a roaring trade with local arty types and ageing bohos. Great coffee, pastries and artisan breads fresh from the oven.

Central | North | South | East | West