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?)

We stumbled upon this store on a Sunday afternoon stroll. I was intrigued by the clothes on the…read morerack: I like easy-to-wear shirts and trousers with little fuss. When we entered the store, the owner greeted us and involved us in a conversation right away. He explained to us that all clothes are made in East London and that the style is inspired my traditional Islamic fashion. I ended up buying a pair of trousers and have been wearing them on many occasions since. They're informal, very comfortable and...for lack of a better word...unusual.

I feel like I'm transported to Afghanistan when I'm in this shop. Especially in the back room with…read more the rugs and smells of far off lands. The couple running the shop are utterly lovely. Informed, generous, kind. Thank you!

Treasure Land must make a killing in profit from importing their products. Good for them and good…read morefor me to be able to get comparatively cheap Egyptian and Arabian gifts without getting an Easy Jet fare to Cairo. At Treasure Land in Holloway, you can acquire a Egyptian Papyrus for 4.99 (It's like an Egyptian scroll with Hieroglyphics on it) and some bone bracelets for 1.50. Also of note was the shag-pile rug for 3.99 and some gilded statues for 20 quid. These store smells nice and sells ugly multicoloured shells in a bag for 1 pound ( maybe good for your bathroom?). I'm mostly into the ethnic jewellery, personally. This bracelet I bought in Wood Green got busted and I need some ethnic flair in my life. I'll be back here to get it!

All your DIY and gardening needs under one roof - this is the place to come to stock up on supplies…read morebefore attempting your latest 'Project' at home. There always seems to be promotions on as well which keeps costs under control pretty well. However, I cannot get a grip on the layout of the place and end up wandering round aimlessly trying to tick off all the items on my list. An absence of assistants doesn't help matters and sometimes I wonder whether I spend longer here than on the task at hand back home. Hopefully, i will unlock the key to the maze one day soon...

Big store with tons of DIY and readymade stuff for your house. For the best deals, make sure to…read morecheck the area with houseplants on sale. They just need a little TLC. Sometimes there are also deals in the main floor display area just straight on as you come past the entrance. Also, there is an amazing deal on the basic value lamp - the kind that stands vertical and has a frosted cone shape with lightbulb at the top - less than £6 will get you this lamp, and you can even choose from black, red, or chrome finish for the base part. I was really pleased as this helped me bring light into my new room and didn't break my bank as some lamps will do. Of course there is a huge selection of lamps so you can pay more if you like, but the basic value lamp is working great for me. I also got an £20 Studio Desk lamp in black, which is cute. They have all the lightbulbs you'll need as well, including eco varieties.

Initially went in here thinking it was a furniture recovery and up-cycling place, but it wasn't,…read morebut kinda still felt like it. It is a lovely little shop that has been put together with a tasteful mish-mash of furniture and shop fittings from many different eras. Quite a wide range of products on offer here from cosmetics and men's shaving kits to hand made cushion covers and personalised stationery sets. This place is well worth popping into, even if it is just to look at the great decor of the shop itself :)

Classic *SIDN store for me. Very pretty, mostly too expensive for my salary…read more Accessories, stationary goods, art, housewares, skincare products. Sigh. At least a look around is in order when I'm in the neighborhood. *Shit I Don't Need. The kind of place where I want everything but don't really need anything and wouldn't spend that much money on myself but maybe on a present for a friend.

Ahh, oui, oui mon petit pois!…read more Little Paris makes me want to spout Del Boy French purely to combat the pretentiousness of the store. It's a little twee shop in Crouch End, perfectly lovely and overpriced tat for the residents of the area. You know - candles, cushions, scarves, incense and, at the back, "antiques" or, as I prefer calling it, junk! No, I'm being harsh - there are some cool posters and when I was last in they had a brilliant old map of the world and an old-fashioned radio (not in working condition). The prices of the items, however, leave a lot to be desired, but perhaps those that choose to shop here have more money than sense. I'm pretty sure that's the case, anyway. Mange tout!

Little Paris has an interesting assortment of French (and non-French) antiques. I would say…read moresomething about the general theme, but I would just embarrass myself as I do not know the right terminology. Lots of interesting metal lockers, cubbies, school chairs, etc. Much of it is expensive, but we have found some very nice items here. We have also had very good interactions with the owner.

This garden centre is truly a little gem. While it is tiny, and as such can't rival the scale and…read morevariety of larger out of town centres, it packs in a great deal. I sadly don't have a garden, but I love dropping in just to browse. They have a small outside section with a good variety of plants which vary with the season. It's almost like visiting an actual garden. Inside is also immaculately presented, with a small but good range of seeds, pretty pots, garden ornaments, etc. The staff are friendly too. I really wish I could go in for more than a few seeds for a window box According to their website they've been awarded Garden Centre of the year 2007 by the Horticultural Trade, in recognition of their innovative use of a small space. Can't be bad if other Garden Centres recognise how good they are! Their website is http://n1gc.co.uk/

I wouldn't really call myself the green fingered type. In fact, it would be fair to say that my…read moremost successful gardening moment to date was aged 9, growing cress from a yoghurt pot with the rest of Primary 5. Recently however, I've had a revelation and I am now growing not one, but six (!) different herbs. Although off-put occassionally by rouge squirrels having a nosey, last weekend I successfully grew them to the height that repotting was required. Not up for treking out to one of the mega gardening centres, I was very pleased to discover that only 10 minutes walk away was the beautiful North One! This little garden centre is small but perfectly formed. As well as stock a range of pot plants and herbs, they have every type of seed, soil, pot and cane imaginable. Prices are however, a bit more steep than you would get in one of the chains. I was a bit taken a back to discover that a cute purple bench, just big enough for two but no more was selling for £250. Needless to say I left that one to someone that might be feeling a bit more flash than myself! Now I've put my gardening kitty to use I can safety assure you that Mr Mint, Lord Thyme, Miss Chives, Sir Sage, Prof Parsely and Queen Rosemary are looking better than ever! Four terracotta pots, soil, plant food, and a few other bits and pieces came to around £35. Ok, it's a bit more than I wanted to pay but the whole day was lovely. No long commute. No chain garden centre. Just a lovely walk around Islington followed by a day of getting my hands dirty. Perfect!