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. Along with its extraordinary architecture and atmos, it houses a lovingly curated selection of beautiful floral fabrics, designer fashion and top beauty brands, plus a banging Christmas shop and wrapping service. None more festive.
Here’s the deal: we know that lots of people frown upon consumerism at Christmas. And we get it, there are plenty of lovely festive things to do that don’t involve ringing till and stashing receipts like carol concerts, or wreath-making, or gazing at glittering lights displays. That’s great, but it’s not all of us.
For many Londoners, we can’t help it, but Christmas is all about shopping. Whether it’s a last-minute dash through the sale aisles, or a slow browse through a premium department store, carefully choosing which Diptyque candle to buy a loved one. Going to an actual, real-life shop can bring people alot of joy.
Christmas purists might say it’s not the real meaning of the season, but perhaps it is a kind of way to give back to London’s small (and big) businesses during a tough time. Sort of.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of brilliant Christmas shops around the capital, where you can pick up gifts that people will remember for years to come for all the right reasons. Festive dons like Harrods and Liberty are in there, of course (they’ve been hanging their tinsel since September) but we’ve got indie stores too, from arty museum giftshops to cute boutiques, geeky bookshops to top menswear spots. Get your wrapping paper at the ready and start shopping.
RECOMMENDED: Read our complete guide to Christmas in London.