Pitfield London

Stylish and accessible interiors shop Pitfield London is spread across a big double-fronted former office block, and is the retail arm of celebrated interior designer Shaun Clarkson. Clarkson (and business partner Paul Brewster) fill the space with pieces procured at home and abroad (the resourceful pair travel every month and raid local markets and manufacturers) and you'll find all manner of stylish homewares, from brightly coloured 1970s sofas to vintage glasswear, Syrian soaps, exclusive Indian rugs and ultra modern wallpaper from London designers. The blend of old and new, pricey and thrifty, lends the shop its distinctive character.

Stock is replenished constantly, giving passers-by every reason to make a daily stop, if only to linger in its café which serves stacks of meringues and cakes with the papers. When we visited, an arty local sat by the window with a designer dog that we suspected might have been brought in for aesthetic effect. In short, it's the kind of lifestyle space you could imagine in the Meatpacking District of New York, or El Born in Barcelona.