Great little place for picking up gifts, I needed a special something and the really delivered. I…read morewas looking for a certain type of earring in a special colour. They didn't have it but could get it, and were able to order it for the following week. I got a couple other bits and pieces while in there, I think there is probably something for everyone given the sheer amount of stuff in there. I was there another time and got to see them attempting to remove a chest of drawers from the basement as someone had bought it, it must have gotten in there but the amount of trouble they had getting it out was something to see! So, if you're looking for that little gift, and you're in Primrose Hill, I think you should stop in here. I think yo'll be surprised.

No contact despite placing a 2000 order 6 weeks ago. Would never buy again from thereread more

Sass & Bell is the most amazingly magical place to spend an hour browsing, yes a full hour. This…read morelittle shop use to be on Neal street but has now moved to this bigger location opposite Scott's on New Row. Basically it is full of a huge selection of RJB Stone goodies. For those of you who don't know this is a company that makes adorable tat that appeals to teenage girls and ridiculous women like me who insist of super cute nonsense in their homes. These guys only sell wholesale and I have never seen a collection like this in a shop. We are talking appliqued pirate bunting and hand painted Russian Doll photo pegs, white bird cages with stuck on flowers and butterflies. If you are looking for a new baby gift they have brilliant kiddies room decoration stuff, and as for stocking fillers, well this place is ideal. Nothing is more than £20 and some start from as little as £2.95 so you can really go nuts if you wanted to. As I have mentioned before I have happy places in London, this is one of them. I hate to Yelp this but I will and I am sharing this happiness with you.

After hours of looking round London for presents for my Mum and a wedding gift for my friend. I…read morefound them all under one roof! The store has loads of great things to hang up in your home. Not being that descriptive i know but if you go in there you will be amazed at what they have. I'm definitely heading back here to shop again as not only did they have so much choice for a small shop. It was reasonably priced!

So many things in my home have come from this fantastic little gem of a store! They import…read morewell-made, unique, and beautiful home décor accents sourced directly from their makers in both Cambodia and Viet Nam... I'm not sure if it exactly qualifies for "fair trade" but I like to think it does when I'm making purchases... Fine woven floor mats in a multitude of colours, lacquered cups and bowls, and some unique sculptural pieces are just a few of the things that you can find (and that I've purchased) here. Everything has a very Asian-minimalist clean-line feel to it - which I find extremely appealing. Beyond the distinctive aesthetic of the pieces, everything is also extremely well-priced. I guarantee sticker-shock... of the pleasantly low variety. Also, the people who run this shop are total sweethearts... I don't think there's a smite of greed in their souls... this shop really seems to be more their labour of love... which, if you ask me, is just one more reason to spend your money here!

I really lIke this store, which like many of the shops on Columbia Road probably has limited…read morestrange hours, so make sure to check before you head out this way. Basically, this is an upscale Vietnamese housewares shop. So, sure, that coconut laquered bowl, bamboo spoon, or soy sauce pourer that would cost 50p in Vietnam might set you back ten quid here, but at least you don't have to buy the plane ticket? Trying to think positively here. Anyhow, this is a fantastic shop for small gifts, pretty little things of a practical nature (artistic cookware, serving trays, condiment bowls... hand-crafted items of all sorts). If you like beautiful Asian handmade items, this is a place for you. Plus, even with the import upscale markup, this place is still quite affordable. Make sure to sniff the cinnamon boxes. So neat!

Decals are the wallpaper of the naughties and if you have no idea what I'm talking about then…read moreyou've probably been living under a rock. I'm not sure yet whether this will just be a passing fad or something that will go from one strength to another, but for the time being, decals are here to stay. They're an easy way to update your walls without getting your hands dirty. I bought one of these decals as a gift to my geek of a friend - it transformed his computer room into Super Mario world and he absolutely loves it. There's a plethora of different designers in here though, should gaming not be your thing. My personal favourites are the Keith Haring range and Ilan Dei. The staff are very happy to explain how to fix your decal to the wall and the best thing about it it they can be removed without a trace! For around £50 a decal, this is a pretty cheap effective way to refresh your space. The store also stocks soft furnishings and cards too.

Muji is an OCD's dream store! Although I do not obsess over organization, I do love to browse the…read morestore in search of storage containers for my bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. You can find everything here from notebooks to clothing. The store is centered around travel, structure and minimization. They even have a range of travel products, such as shampoo and conditioner holding containers along with genius cosmetic bags and electric converters. My advice is to go to Muji when you have a little bit of free time, because you'll want to stay for at least a half an hour!

My first MUJI store! It was busy and quite full, but had a nice selection; two-floors, top floor…read morebeing stationary, travel gear/small bags, and checkout; bottom floor being more spacious and a larger assortment of home goods. Check the front of the store for any giveaways of cute drawings on origami-sized sheets of paper :)

This store is middle age signed, sealed and delivered in one room. I don't even know what half the…read morestuff they sell is, but I found myself, literally minutes away from Christmas, neck deep in a credit crunch and scrabbling around trying to buy an £18 colander. They do sell lots of lovely house hold bits and bobs but until I have a house, Labrador and a child called Mimi Fifi Orchid Clooney (a girl can dream) I wont be buying anything from here. It's a personal thing, possibly connected to being a huge consumerist ass hole whilst having a huge problem with consumerism. For me, buying a £300 pair of shoes is wrong but necessary, where as buying two plain white enamel breakfast bowls for £16 seems ridiculous. I am aware that this statement is ridiculous in itself, in fact, I just don't want to talk about it anymore. I will say though, that this shop is lovely, but I prefer Ikea.

I've been meaning to visit Labour and Wait ever since I read an article sometime ago in The…read moreGuardian profiling couples who had started up new and innovative businesses in the East End, and the L&W concept really struck a cord. You can be assured the new shop in Redchurch Street sells the same functional products for the kitchen, home and garden as the existing shop on Cheshire St, however I believe L&W are moving from Cheshire St to Redchurch St in the not-too-distant future. For too long, consumers have been lulled into a false sense of security with large, "convenient" hardware stores such as Homebase and B&Q etc. who unfortunately have, over the years got away with cheap replicas of good quality homeware goods. L&W moves away from this methodolgy and focuses fully on sustainable goods made in enamel, stainless steel and wood, rather than plastic and throw-away alternatives. The shop is minimalist in style, but all the products are displayed in a creative and alternative way, which I'd liken a little to the layout of Muji stores. As most shoppers today, I am mindful of what I buy having an effect on our environment and planet, but love L&W's ethos. I especially love the enamel kitchen sets, glass jugs, butter dishes and stainless steel buckets and watering cans. True classics! Now, don't get me wrong, you can't get anywhere near the vast selection (though often poor and low quality) of hardware and homeware products from L&W that you get in chain hardware stores, but what you do get (as the blackboard outside the shop and web home page state!) is "high quality, traditional goods for the home", with the added bonus of browsing a low-tech shop and experiencing a low stress retail experience. Now that has to be worth a trip to Shoreditch any day of the week!

Finally! A designer in the East end producing wonderful and collectable work at an affordable…read moreprice. I can't say enough good things about this store. From coasters to place mats to stunning cushions and mugs, she's single-handedly turned the ordinary home commodities into works of art. If you're looking to dress your table up for the perfect dinner party, or for some designer wrapping paper and cards cheaper than Paperchase, look no further. Check out the website too, beautifully designed and I guarantee will have you running down there as soon as you can.

Great for quirky gifts for loved ones (they do fab wrapping paper), and the place lives up to its…read morename in that it really is quite a small nook - be aware of where your bag is in case you knock anything over! I LOVE their crockery and kitchenware here, but find it slightly scary that they can charge 7+ quid for some cheap-looking plastic plates. The aesthetic of this shop's offerings is very much what you'd expect the love child of Marimekko and IKEA to look like, so definitely worth a visit for some beautiful (if slightly overpriced) homewares.

Let's put it simply; I could have bought the entire store. (If I had the money, that is)…read more It's a truly ace place to find presents as well, especially for the home-buddy amongst your love ones (have you heard? Christmas is coming?)

So this was a wonderful surprise. Every block is filled with some sort of ethnic or cultural gem,…read morenot to mention all the breathtaking street art and wall graffiti that is there to discover. There's a market that happens only on Sundays til 4pm, so try to go then, but even when it's not happening, Brick Lane is such an adventure to walk through. It has a serious Brooklyn vibe - thank you, hipsters of the world. If you're at all into vintage clothes, arts, jewelry, maps, antiques, home decor, and bric-a-brac, this is the mecca for it. I've never seen this much vintage merchandise in one location! Make sure to check out the underground vintage market halfway through the street, because if you're into shopping at all, you'll find tons of second-hand designer clothing and accessories. The food options literally left my jaw dropped, and the same will happen to your Instagram followers. The crux of it is geared towards Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisines and dollar stores (hence the unofficial nickname, Curry Lane), but you can find all sorts of shops on the street, like chocolatiers, donuts, a world-famous cereal bar, Lithuanian food, Ethiopian food, Middle Eastern food, and more. There is so much personality and eclectic energy to Brick Lane - I can't recommend it enough that you add it to your itinerary!

pretty cool slept on area? similar vibes to kensington (toronto). tons of food optionsread more

I like the good quality brands sold at this place. The website has some really good offers at times…read moretoo. As for service, the older staff seem more friendly and helpful. Was a bit let down by the service of one of the younger lads there. Otherwise it would be five stars.