Authentic, original hippie toy shop full of beautiful real (rather than plastic crap) toys. When I…read morewas little this shop used to sell sweet woolly rainbow coloured cardigans for little ones. The store is small and cosy and friendly, situated near the parkland walk and Highgate woods. Good for Christmas presents for parent-friends.

Map is a cool store on the otherwise dull terrain of Junction Road near Archway…read more I looked around Map and saw nothing extraordinary. Jelly Cat. Check. Cat's Eye purses. Check. Retro 50's memorabilia check. Badge saying "Her Proudest Achievement was staying Blonde". Check. Wait a minute..that's me! That's me all over! I had to get the badge. I am most proud of staying blonde, having enough money to stay blonde. Yay me! I'm a mature adult! The salesman was really nice and looked high and low around for some other merchandise saying the same thing. There wasn't anything else. I did want anything saying "I'm so bloody blonde sometimes" ( I don't play the dumb blonde. Think Portia not Anna Nicole.) and I didn't want to tell the world I was "High Maintenance" or anything. That being said, I paid my 1.75 and left with my badge pinned to the Leopard Coat. I'm still wearing it now in the house.

Archway is pretty dire. It's a matter of opinion so please don't take offence if you're mid love…read moreaffair with it's squalor. Granted there are a few things of merit to be found but sadly, on the whole the surroundings make visits to these places a rather lugubrious experience, and the empty Woolworths on Junction road has proven to add to this. But something keeps pulling me back there for one reason or another and it has been the backdrop for many an event in my life. And so I know of a little place that stands out from the crowds called Map. It opened almost 10 years ago and has been selling gifts ever since. It's the perfect place to dive in when passing and grab a birthday card and something suitable, nice but a fairly impersonal stocking filler type offering.

James Selby has cool stuff for good prices…read more You can get Topshop clothing here and Indie labels. You can also get cheap dishes and glassware. This shop reminds me of John Lewis on a budget, complete with Camden style strippy tights for your goth moments or years. J. Selby comes complete with a wig salon with normal coloured wigs and a magenta wig! I thought the kitchenware was really cheap and there were some pretty glasses on offer from 1.50. I want to come back here (Why can't I ever buy anything here the first time, damn North London rent) to buy this silk polka dot dress for 34.00. It is made by some Indie designer beginning with Dark...but I can't read my own handwritting so I'll have to work on my freehand and let you know. Go to James Selby..you will not be disappointed!

The top floor has been recently revamped and Cafe Nero has replaced the old cafeteria, but James…read moreSelby is still a charmingly weird old department store. It's one of a dying breed, the independent department store. Upstairs, shoppers can buy sewing notions, polyester granny smocks and aprons, low end Wedgewood lines, Pyrex, and linens. A nice range of linens is offered from practical no-iron percale to sheets and pillows by Monsoon. On the ground floor, clothes are grouped into boutique-like clusters. Evans has a section, so does Monsoon, so does Top Shop. Cosmetic counters flank the front of the store, next to the wig shop and hair salon and a few sticks of furniture are sold in the basement.

Do not let your tastebuds down! One could walk past this cozy little restaurant (restaurant? more…read morelike a casual space to hang out, really), hurrying to catch a tube or a bus. Well, don't. Miss your train/bus. Instead, settle in for breakfast - well, it was going to be breakfast in my case, but after the scambled eggs, I decided on more coffee and that was the day done. I allowed my very mellow breakfast to run on and lunch seemed irresistible, so that was ordered. What these folks don't know about curried whatever isn't worth knowing. Much of the menu is conjured from family recipes perfectly, which goes to enhance that sense of feeling at home there. Have I said too much? Probably. Let's summarise: try it out. I promise.

Five stars because this area of London is really under-served by department store options…read more What you can find here: -Good selection of housewares -Toys and kids section that I don't know much about because I am child-free -Lots of clothes from Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, and the like -A sizable corner of TopShop garb -A small corner of Ms. Selfridge -Range of brands depending on the season, but regulars include Barbour, United Colors of Benetton, Warehouse... They used to have French Connection but I haven't seen anything from them in a while, sadly. -A tiny shoe room (I wish they had better shoe selection here!) -Good selection of bags and makeup, etc. -£5 eyebrow threading. I hesitate to even mention this because the queue can already be annoying on weekends, but dudes, it is the best. There's guys' stuff, too. Someone else will have to tell you about that.

Good store to get household electronics and kitchenware. Maybe women's wear aswell. Men's wear and…read morechild's wear have limited range. Could do with adding more in Men's and Child's section. Prices for kitchenware and electronics are as good as any on internet. I've managed to get things cheaper in Selby's than what I would pay on Amazon.

I'm never met with the most inviting vibe when entering this bookshop and I've been visiting this…read morecorner spot on and off for the past ten years. That being said, it's a cosy and tidy place with a pleasing array of non-fiction, fiction, travel, self-help, foreign language dictionaries, etc. If one is in Highgate Village, then a potter around Highgate Bookshop is in order, but don't expect to hear a peep from the counter staff unless you first pinch them on the arm, or something.

Hello, I'm a local and I visit the bookshop when I have a…read moremoment, mostly at weekends. They have a great selection of children books at the end of the shop and some wooden toys - so it's my place to get lots of birthday presents for the children.... this is our little gem in the village and one that we should all support. Great selection of adult books and helpful staff when you ask them to help you. Best regards Marta