On the face of it, and indeed looking inside, Space EC1 is a lovely wee shop. It really is. But…read morethere's something not that good about it. I had to ask the assistant what they actually sold. Oops. "We're an independent gift shop" she replied, a big indignantly. And I kind of think this is one of those shops where you don't really know what they sell. I'm tempted to say 'tat'. It is tat, but it's really nice tate. So you can buy a teapot with a cover that makes it look like it's wearing a 'terrorist's balaclava'. Haw Haw. There's going to be someone out there, who will open the patterned fork and trowel and think that it's the best present they've ever had. But I don't know them. There's a bit of jewelry on sale, some nice greetings cards. Some moleskin diaries. Things like pocket gardens, where bulbs come pre-planted in the soil in the wrapping, so you just open and water. Dunno, as I said, it's all very nice, just not that usefull.

I like finding little shops where I can find all sorts of gifts. Space sells a little bit of…read moreeverything. You can find jewelry, books, mugs, cards, and wrapping paper. The way I list things you would think the store would be cluttered with junk, but that is not the case. Space is beautifully arranged in a small area. Everything is interesting, I found myself poking and prodding looking for a birthday gift for a dear friend. The hard part is that there is so much to choose from that it takes time to make a selection. Space is not the store for those in a rush and uncertain of what they are looking for. If you have time, it is a wonderful store to explore; it's small so it doesn't take long to look at everything. The hard part is making a decision. I do love that it's a one stop shop. I bought a card, a gift (settled on earrings) and wrapping paper. It's nice when I don't have to rush around putting a gift together!

I recently took my son there to make a bear for his new cousin and even though he is only 2 the…read morestaff really help get them involved in everything !! The prices of making the bears start from £8 which is very reasonable and your child gets to play a part in making their own teddy.They hold parties there quite often and they can be quite noisey so would avoid going when one of these is going on.interactive experience which no other shops have.They also have a great range of accessories for the bears so you will visit again and again !! very happy and helpful staff always smiling !!

The Bear Factor is great. I recently took my 2 yr old niece to The Bear Factory and she chose her…read morevery own bear and saw it being made. The staff are all very friendly and helpful, and are all great with kids. A very nice guy helped my niece and i pick out the perfect pair for her. It was soo pretty and she loved it. They often hold parties there, which can be great for the kids. The bears aren't cheap, especially when you add on all the accessories. You can also add a voice inside your bear. The Bear Factory is located along Lower Thames walk and is right near Mothercare.

I like going in here for the kids books i always find books that they will like…read more they have some nice colours of paint for the kids to be creative.they have other craft items like card making items canvases paints etc..they sell a few toys. the store is a little untidy at times i have found a few books on the floor and messy tables the staff are ok not very cheerful but are polite.

This shop varies for me, I either find loads of bargains or there is absolutely nothing I want. I…read moreget a whole load of gret instruments from their when my children were younger and they are still going strong. Their craft stuff is great, and they do all sorts of interesting bits for scrapbooking and card making. Their art and craft equipment is fantastic for students and serious artists. Their childrens books are a bargain, but i find their adult books a bit of a let down, there is usually hardly anything to suit my tastes in their fiction section, and their non fiction isnt that great either. The do some nice little novelties around christmas time and other festivals, and their cards and wrapm are reasonably priced. The staff arent the greatest and seem quite disinterested, but not rude. Worth a visit.

This is a lovely little shop which sells unusual gifts. You can find lots of pretty gifts for most…read moreoccaisions. If you are in Chesham it is definitely worth a look.

Its a nice little trinket shop, somewhere you would love to go at the end of a hard working day…read morejust to have a look at things. Presents for neices and sweet aunties come to mind. There are some nice stuff there and the owners are very helpful. The gifts are not too pricey i guess and depending on your mood you would buy. I would recommend the small frames, i purchased a few myself.

Daisy is the local in Hampstead providing everything for baby and mum. They have both the practical…read moreand the fun with items ranging from a couple of quid up to around 60 to 70 pounds. For the young ones they have wooden spinning tops, wooden hair bands with lots of details, cute gyminis, a thing they call the 'nest egg' which is like a ready made den for a young child and music sets . And for the more practical side of bringing up a child they have baby wipes, spoons, clothing accessories like little fleece bonnets, potties, blankets, booster seats, bathmats, high chair cushions and baby monitors. It's a one stop shop for busy mums and a good place to have a look for gifts for young children.

Lovely little baby shop in Hampstead. They have got everything for babies and for mothers. They do…read morebaby clothes, wooden toys, prams, bottles, dummies, organic toiletries, mama mio stuff, the whole range of Baby Bjorn and if they don't have what you need they will order it for you! Perfect location, next to Starbucks and Royal Free Hospital.

This is now my local Cath Kidston outlet after the original shop in Clarendon Cross has closed. I…read morestill love the vintage-inspired fabrics and accessories and will come here on my search for unique (well, not quite so unique considering how many branches there now are, plus online shop, etc) gift ideas. I buy a new design of oil cloth almost every year as they make perfect table covers for kitchens and outdoor dining. The designs are girlie without too being too kitsch or too sickly. I have discovered many designs which reminded me of my grandmother's kitchen - nice to unearth them for another generation. If you have the choice I would recommend visiting the shop during the week rather than on Saturdays when the whole area is teaming with tourists.

After my favourite store in Clarendon Cross closed, their new shop on Portobello Road is the…read morenearest one in the Notting Hill area. I preferred the quaintness of the location in Clarendon Cross compared to that of Portobello Road (a little too busy for me), but nonetheless it's only roughly a 10 min walk from Notting Hill Gate Underground Station, and along the way you pass some pretty pastel coloured houses and small vintage clothing shops. On entering the shop, they sell everything from homeware, childrens clothing, accessories and women's clothing downstairs.

A local newsagents, its a bit small, abit dated, sells newspapers some magazines, milk, crisps,…read moresweets not a large selection due to lack of space BUT you can get oyster top up and it has a pay point for TV license, energy payments etc