The best Christmas shops in London

Good for: Bling and old-school elegance

You know you’ve made it when your Christmas tree is covered in silk-panel baubles from Harrods. Gloriously grandiose, with its famous grotto, this London institution really comes into its own at Christmas. You could easily lose hours here, floor-hopping from Toy Kingdom to ultra-lux designer brands to the elegant beauty halls. This is London shopping at its most decadent.

Best for: Gift wrap

Marby & Elm has come a long way since it began in a garden shed. The family-run shop has maintained its handmade appeal since those humble days and now operates from a store in Exmouth Market. If you derive more pleasure from Christmas wrapping than buying, you know, gifts, this is the shop for you – gift tags, wrap, tape and cards abound, all hand screen-printed in neon shades of pink, green, orange and blue.

Good for: Arty accessories and glossy books

Forget rainbow rubbers and giant pencils, Tate Modern’s gift shop is full of lovely things you actually want. Got an art fan to buy for? Knock yourself out with David Shrigley tote bags or Grayson Perry cushion covers. Plus loads of lovely art books, gifts for kids and cool cards. Stop by after visiting an exhibition, or make a pit stop just for pressie buying – the gift shop is right at the museum entrance so you don’t have to get distracted by all the stunning art elsewhere in the building if you’re low on time.

Good for: Throwback toys 

Want a Victorian Christmas (without the rickets)? Start here. In these times of VR headsets and child-centric iPad games, it’s heartening to see there’s still an appetite for playthings of the more traditional variety – as found at this timewarp of a toyshop. Founded in 1856, Benjamin Pollock’s is still a must-visit for tangible toys and houses an intriguing jumble of toy theatres, books and puppets. 

Best for: Super-stylish stationery

Most of us know a stationery lover – someone who finds notebooks exciting and gets a kick out of a nice ruler or stapler. Instead of heading to the high street, get them something lovely this Christmas from Clerkenwell’s Present & Correct. An organised mash-up of books, pencil cases, paint brushes, prints and other desktop paraphernalia – much of it vintage deadstock sourced from across Europe – this is the shop for the person who knows their Rhodia from their Penco.

Best for: Sumptuous chocs

Treat your friends to some locally made chocs with Peckham's Mélange, just off the bougie shopping paradise that is Bellenden Road. We like the thin chocolate slabs made from Belgian couverture – their flavour combinations are inspired: coffee and aniseed; coriander and grapefruit; cumin and mint; bergamot and cinnamon, and plenty more. Want something a bit more original than a box of choccies, however fancy? You can also gift vouchers for workshops, from chocolate making to chocolate and wine tasting.

Good for: Design-savvy kids gear

This Islington children's shop manages the near impossible, that of being incredibly adorable without being remotely nauseating. Housing roughly as much Tulle as Molly Goddard’s studio and more crowns than the Tower of London, this dinky shop makes growing up to be a princess a legitimate career path. It also has a lovely line of contemporary wooden toys, sleek money boxes and cool soft toys – for children with more humble ambitions.

Good for: Designer streetwear

Christmas doesn’t have to mean novelty socks and jumpers. Give your loved ones the gift of cool and quirky clothes and homeware that still doesn’t take itself too seriously by picking up some of this concept shop’s wares. Goodhood is full of handpicked items, all catered towards its very hip clientele – expect to see handmade soy candles and affordable accessories as you browse.

Good for: Nailing all the Christmas shopping in one place

Doing your Christmas shopping in Selfridges is a marathon, not a sprint. With nine floors’ worth of designer goods, a well-stocked beauty hall and a wealth of price points, plus a dedicated Christmas shop, you’ll want to pace yourself. Take it slow and steady, though, and you could tick off your entire shopping list in one go. Need a break? Head to the food hall for some very classy snacks to refuel on.

Good for: plush cards and beautiful baubles 

Absolute haven for stationery fetishists, you may never have dreamt of spending £15 on a pocket sharpener, but when it shimmers gold and comes with a tiny leather case, you’ll find yourself doing just that at this sublime stationary shop in Seven Dials. At Christmas time, you’ll also find what must be the best collection of baubles in town – including food-shaped ones that have been handmade and glass-blown – plus a ton of quality Christmas cards and wrapping paper. 

Good for: A decadent gift experience

There’s not a shop in the world like Liberty at Christmas. Wandering through this doyenne of department stores is like browsing at Downton Abbey, both in terms of its architecture and its atmos. As you wander around, you’ll find a lovingly curated selection of beautiful floral fabrics, designer fashion and top beauty brands, plus a banging Christmas shop and wrapping service to take the hard work out of making your exquisite gifts look perfectly presented. None more festive.

Good for: Renowned literature and bijou tea

Everyone loves a book at Christmas. With informed and enthusiastic staff, invitingly arranged shelves and two floors packed with politics, poetry and philosophy, plus sections for audiobooks, classic and new fiction, this petite store is well worth a seasonal visit. Reward yourself after and flick through your purchases in the excellent onsite café, while feeling all clever.

Good for: Christmas curds and wahey!

Sniff out this Greenwich outfit to find one of London’s classiest cheese shops. It celebrates some unusual British varieties along with Continental classics. Looking for something extra to go with your new fromages? You’ll also find biodynamic wines, crackers and chutney stocked here for good measure. Staff are happy (in general, probably) to let customers try before they buy. Be warned, though, queues get LONG at Christmas.

Good for: Artisan bread and local food

A Christmas supermarket for those who don’t much care for supermarkets at Christmas, Greensmiths is tucked away round the back of Waterloo station on the cobbles of Lower Marsh. Step in here and you’ll feel like you’ve discovered a gastronomic paradise. Each of its four floors teems with foodie treasure, whether you’re in the excellent butchery on the ground floor or navigating the basement that's jam-packed with craft ales and wines.

Good for: Luxe interiors

Minimalism is not House Of Hackney's M.O. Cross the threshold of this Shoreditch emporium and you’ll be greeted with an audacious array of prints – from ’70s-style Palmeral to dusky Dalston Rose – which adorn fabric, mugs, wallpaper and garments. If you're looking for something bigger, you'll also find plenty of statement furniture and ahead-of-the-curve accessories. If you want an eye-catching Christmas prezzie, this is a good shout.

Good for: Unusual editions

This cute corner shop gives shelf space to small-press publications, artsy limited editions and carefully selected small runs of collectable books. Beautifully designed cult magazines and coffee-table tomes make this tiny haven a lovely place to grab a special Christmas gift for your beloved bookworm who has already read all the usual novels and mags.  

Good for: Directional labels

Fashion doesn't stop just cos it’s Christmas. This mecca for the fashion-obsessed houses some of London’s (and the world’s) brightest stars and biggest names, from Kiko Kostadinov's collaborations to Molly Goddard’s dreamy dresses. Stop by to splash some cash, or get some window shopping inspo. 

Good for: Cool retro gear

This fabulous old furniture factory now plays host to rails upon rails of great vintage finds – we’re talking coloured denim, silk kimonos, seersucker blazers and shiny brogues. If you can think of it, it’s likely Atika has it. You won’t find any of that musty charity shop smell here: all the stock is carefully cleaned, steamed and folded.

Good for: Mid-mod aesthetics

Heal’s puts its 42,000 square feet to good use with an aspirational edit of fancy furniture, Nordic dinnerware and Tom Dixon fragrances and candles. If you’re short on Christmas present-getting inspiration, its gift-laden ground floor is sure to provide a festive epiphany or two, and its customer service has been a virtue throughout its long history.

Good for: Unusual stocking fillers

The V&A’s lovely shop is home to all sorts of things – jewellery, textiles, superb cards and reasonably priced homeware. If you’re filling a stocking, look out for those little knick-knacks like compact mirrors, bejeweled pencils, funky stitch-on clothes patches and embroidery kits. There are often designer collabs on offer here, too, if you're looking for something extra special. It also does some excellent Xmas decs. German Albert would have approved.

Good for: Weird/amusing stocking-fillers

Selling ghoulish-sounding sweets such as ‘Fang Floss’ and ‘A Vague Sense of Unease’, plus stationery, T-shirts and letterpress cards, this inspired east London store feels like something a doomy JK Rowling might have dreamed up. In fact, its takings help fund the Ministry of Stories, a charity co-founded by Nick Hornby that provides writing workshops and coaching for youngsters. Great for a little leftfield Christmas extra gift that also does good for the city's communities. 

Best for: Utilitarian-yet-stylish gifts

If you’re shopping this Christmas for a design-loving chum, it’s worth sticking your head into Labour and Wait. Think toolboxes, pocket knives, can openers and the like, mixed up with plaid shirts, Welsh tapestry, enamelware and all manner of charmingly packaged condiments (never has a jar of mustard looked so desirable). You may leave clutching a Japanese ladle, wondering how you can feasibly pass it off as a Christmas present. 

Good for: Beautiful books

At this fun, stylish, tech-free bookshop, you can leaf through literature, which has been arranged into themes such as ‘Wanderlust’, ‘Enchantment’ and ‘The City’. It’s a great system for discovering new authors, and also lets you tap into the themes you think will suit your chosen recipients.

Good for: Horticultural delights

Petersham Nurseries has a knack for making you want to buy everything in the shop; carefully curated displays of intricate glass baubles sit beside potted ferns, botanical-themed stationery and handmade ceramics. For something pocket-friendly, thoughtful and a little homespun this Christmas, consider a plant. The nursery greenhouse has all the ingredients you need, from hyacinth bulbs to terracotta pots.

Good for: Books, d’uh

With its oak balconies, stained-glass windows and viridian-green walls, this could well be London’s most beautiful bookshop. Its Edwardian shelves are packed to the rafters with paperbacks and the travel section is especially great: ordered by country and bound to induce wanderlust in the homeliest of homebodies. Even if you just end up buying them the Private Eye annual, you’ll have had a very merry and festive time here.

Good for: Anything on paper

After moving into the old Central Saint Martins building in 2014, the dramatically made-over Foyles can make a decent claim to the title of London’s best bookshop. Its 37,000 square feet of floor space is packed with more than 200,000 books, as well as a floor dedicated to events and a swish café. With that amount of real estate, you’ll find all the latest cookbooks and high-profile releases as well as plenty of niche titles, plus very well-read staff. Our tip: head to the art department, where you'll find some great little photobooks that are stunning and inspiring to look through and won't cost you more than a tenner.

Good for: Budget-friendly decor

Owned by the brains behind US chain Pottery Barn, this is the place to unearth some lovely interior design stuff at affordable prices. It also boasts some great Christmas collections, which make for perfect seasonal gifts. As well as top-notch homeware and artwork from local artists, West Elm hosts in-store workshops, from painting to photography. 

Good for: Chic homeware

Anthropologie is a sort of one-stop-shop for more or less every friend or relative. A typographic mug for your ‘Secret Santa’, a cat-emblazoned tea towel for your granny, a scented candle for your sister-in-law, a fancy hair accessory for your best mate – the list goes on. Get in there early for a pleasurable browse, and pop in again right before Christmas to make the most of its annual sale.