If I had a thousand pounds to decorate my room, I would come to Sense…read more Very contemporary, very chic, very nice! I couldn't help but feel a little in awe wandering round this shop, they have thought of just about everything from furniture, to decoration, lighting of every kind even garden accessories. At the moment they have some huge, and I do mean huge, cups and sauces outside which I assume you would plant a pretty plant in, though they looked way to good to put soil in if you ask me! As well as quite extravagant things they do have a good selection of affordable bits and pieces ideal from presents or to brighten up your room, like picture frames, fairy lights, and statement cushions! Not everything in here is to my taste, I think you will either love or hate some pieces but it's definitely work popping in on your way past.

"DO NOT ENTER if you have a dreary, grey, misty, Autumn outlook, as you may be distressed by the…read morecontents of this shop and might have convulsions". This sensory warning should be displayed prominently at the door of the excellent shop - 'Sense Clifton' - all bright and glittering, colourful pinks, blues and shiny metals. On the other hand, if you have a sparkling magpie persona, fine. Or if you just want to be shocked out of your November torpor, come to Sense for a quick fix. You dont have to buy anything, just browse and you'll fell much better. Though of course, the owners would also feel much better if you did buy something, so why disappoint - they will have done you a good turn. According to some blurb, Sense "...offers a smart mix of design-led products with a contemporary edge...". Apparently, the owners' frequent trips to Holland have given them a new perspective on design. They wanted to attack all the senses and create a complete home environment, everything from comfortable leather seating, exciting lighting and soft furnishings to unusual gifts. Pay a visit yourself, check it out, but take heed of the sensory warnings - highly recommended.

Oskar, the furniture shop is definitely a cool place to go to deck out your abode. It's something…read moreof an expensive and better quality Ikea, and more central, which is definitely a plus point for a pedestrian like myself. I really like the style of the furniture here, it's kind of Eastern, but also modern and trendy, and I always nearly persuaded to buy something every time I go in here. The price tag is a little off putting though, but I will definitely visit again when I can afford to.

This modern furniture shop, situated towards the bottom of Whiteladies Road, is a great place to…read morecome for inspiration, even if your wallet can't quite stretch to some of the price tags. A mix of Eastern and Western design ideas, Oskar is certainly more upscale than Ikea and slightly more individual than nearby Habitat. As well as the shop, which acts as a showroom, there is a warehouse around the corner which can be seen by appointment. I found the woman in the shop to be a little distracted the last time I went in but this place is still worth a visit, particularly for the accessories, which are more affordable and a great way to jazz up a living room.

I love this store, I am madly in love with about 3 of the windchimes on display here, I already…read morehave 2 from here - there are only so many chimes a person needs, but they are so pretty. I know nobody needs a geisha snowglobe in their life but again, its hard to resist when you are surrounded by cute trinkets! It isn't just cute and silly, it sells some nice accessories. I got a bag from here which got loads of compliments. This is a great place to buy some pretty pretty gifts or just treat yourself to something fun.

Evolution is a gift shop in The Galleries in Broadmead. I think this is my favourite shop to buy…read morepresents from thus far! They used to be quite a Balinese style gift shop buy quickly has moved towards a more Brittania, cutesy and kitsch feel lately. I would happily decorate my apartment with the stuff here. There are great welcome mats here that I've been eyeing up recently that look really well made and are affordable too, at £12. They have a few pieces of kids wooden furniture, some chairs sold here are so very cute, with carvings of animals on the chair backs- however I have no children to buy them for as yet! A few presents I have bought here are their rustic metal gifts; like wall clocks made to look antiquey and wall hangings with old style postcards printed on them. I bought my best friend one that said 'live well, love much, laugh often', which she loved. When on sale, I bought a huge amount of candles here which lasted me ages, and smelt great (they were mighty cheap). I could go on talking about the many various things they sell, but the best is if you keep this place in mind to check out for when you next need a gift!

With a touch of the Cath Kidston's about their window display, Blaze is not what you might expect…read moreit to be from the outside. This gallery-cum-giftshop is a wonderful place to find unique and thoughtful gifts for girls who avoid the high street. Sadly a lot of the artwork and jewellery is priced outside of my limited budget, but it doesn't stop me from regularly visiting Blaze and seeing their ever-changing pieces. The shop assistants are extremely welcoming and helpful, who'll go out of their way to help you find an ideal gift. I particularly like their smaller artworks and posters which are perfectly designed to adorn student flat or studio walls.

Great little collection of artists make this tiny shop a real pull for those heading past Christmas…read moresteps. Crammed with items and such friendly helpful staff, it is somewhere I go back to regularly for gifts for girlfriends and for myself. Artists include: Hannah Turner (www.hannahturner.co.uk) who does these stunning porcelain birds Hanne Rysgaard (www.hannerysgaard.com) who does American-style milk cartons in ceramic, sounds very odd but they are very cool Kay Morgan (www.kaymorgan.co.uk) who makes glamourous purses and clutches The jewellery is contemporary silver work and very nice - they can give you gift cards if you don't know what size ring to buy for someone else as they can re-size or make a new version of everything there. Highly recommended for presents for stylish and modern girlfriends!

If you want to know where the majority of Bristol's middle-class housewives gather on a weekday…read morelunch time, Vinegar Hill in Clifton Triangle is the answer. (Or at least seems to be!) This shop of largely overpriced kitchen equipment and accessories is aimed at people whose budget stretches to a cake stand. That's not to say that I don't love this shop to pieces - it's what Nigella Lawson wannabes like myself inspire to! The adorably sweet shop assistants say a genuinely warm "hello" when you enter the shop and will happily natter away to everyone and anyone at any given opportunity. There's a fashion department in the back, reminiscent of a slightly more exciting Monsoon at a similar price. If you're looking for a present for a mother, grandmother or fancy friend this is a good start, then maybe nip along to Habitat for a slightly less pricey version.

This shop feels like walking into a rose when you get in. I have to say that I'm a sucker for this…read moretype of decoration; despite my own home not looking remotely like this at all. It is shabby chic; things looking like the old English countryside mixed with that Stepford wife feel. Another way to put it is like Cath Kidston plus Bath plus Habitat, equals Vinegar Hill, which isn't such a bad equation. They mostly sell home accessories but have a small range of clothes for those yummy mummies that shop here, and want matching, flowy, comfortable type clothes. Prices here however are quite steep, as it certainly is a shop for the richer, who can spend loads on bits and bobs for their home. Not a bad position to be in at all.

Ok, now for a little history lesson (sorry I wouldn't do this unless it was very interesting). The…read moreClifton Arcade, a beautiful Victorian version of a shopping mall, was buried under 60 tonnes of debris (including a caravan) until just 20 years ago. The story goes, when a builder was working around the site twenty years ago and started drilling into a wall, his drill went all the way through, meaning it was hollow inside; he made the hole big enough to look through and saw this beautiful old Victorian parade of shops, untouched for decades. Now I don't know how much of that the complete truth, but pretty cool is nonetheless. As far as shops go, they are suitably useless but fit in with this special building. They are lovely little independent businesses. There is an amazing little Mexican shop that only sells, well, Mexican things. Like wrestlers masks. Nacho Libre!!! There are art shops & a really cool vintage clothes shop (woman only, dam!). The biggest shame is that the brilliant little record store that used to be at the far end has now closed. Dam, now this arcade really is only suitable for woman, mothers and grannies who can literally get lost in their for hours. Some peace for the rest of us.

This is kind of symptomatic of everything that's good and bad about Clifton Village. You enter by…read morethe Promrose Cafe and stroll through this beautiful arcade, though I have to say, I'm struggling to think of a time that I've ever bought anything here. Pretty much everything in here - bar the music store - is high end, which means, especially in this day and age, that it's all a little rich for my blood. Always worth a quick stroll when you're in the area, but you may want to encase your wallet in concrete before you enter.

Primarily for the benefit of everyone reading this, please first see a quoted list from The Futon…read moreCompany (on 20th Nov 2025) regarding the chemicals they use on their futons. Please research at your own free will, but know that these gas off compounds such as formaldehyde: For Fillings: Ammonium Salt Foams: Melamine Chlorinate Phosphate Esters Fabrics & Futon casings: Hydroxymethyl Phosphoniums Di Methyl Hydroxyethalene Urea Di Methyl Hydroxyethalene Phosphonate Solution of Sulpur & Nitrogen Other companies offer futons without these chemicals. I wish I knew this before. ------------------------------------ My review: I bought a 3 seater sofa bed futon on 19th October 2025. I needed something for Christmas as my friend was coming to stay. It arrived, and as soon as I opened the package for the futon mattress, I got an instant migraine. The smell was so bad. I could tell right away there were heavy chemicals gassing off of it. I thought maybe it is normal, and I would watch and wait for a few days. For the next 10 days whilst it remained all set up, I suffered with the following health complications: continuous migraine, nausea, sore throat, itchy eyes, and red patches around my eyes and dizziness. When I purchased the 3 seater sofa bed, including: the futon mattress, frame, bolsters, covers etc, I received a total discount of £240 across multiple items. In total I paid £1,159 (with the £240 discount). They said, the "Futon For Bifold - Three Seat Size - Double (fluffy mattress)" - essentially the futon mattress - was being refunded to me at a cost of £229. Please note, the original (un-discounted price) for the futon mattress (fluffy one) I wish to return is £469. On that day I paid £384.31 for this part, as the amount off on the 19th October was £84.70 for that item. Upon request they even sent me a breakdown of this in a screen shot proving that I paid them exactly £384.31 for the mattress, and so this should be my correct refund amount. Please see a quote from them below: "Before we proceed with a collection and return of the Futon Mattress only, please note the expected refund amount as per your order, not the website is £229 - this is the amount you paid for the Futon Mattress during the Black Ticket Deal. " You might be confused at this point, why have they done that? Well, I can tell you exactly. Because I now need to return the futon mattress for health-related reasons (it caused significant symptoms, the company even advised me not to purchase any more mattresses from them in the future), they are now using the £240 I saved across multiple items (including the frame and covers which I am keeping), and just deducting it from the futon mattress I need to return. So essentially saying, oh, now you need to return that one part (the futon mattress), we will withdraw the deductions you saved on the other items you chose to purchase on 19th October. If they (or any company) state a price for something on a certain date and I pay for it on that date then that is how much I should pay for it. Not be changed around and manipulated later. I am entitled to a refund of the amount I paid for the specific item I am returning, not an adjusted amount they have alter invented. Their actions reflect unfair commercial practice. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be safe given my severe reaction I argue that their products are not. If the product caused harm, any attempt to reduce my refund, shift discounts onto that item, or penalise me for returning it is unethical, and a breach of consumer law. Trading Standards take health concerns seriously. I will be contacting the relevant governing bodies including an ombudsman, citizens advice, and trading standards if they do not refund me my rightful amount of £384.31 immediately. If you have been similarly affected by The Futon Company / their mattresses, please let me know on this review and we can compile a case together.

I never really understood why Futons are so expensive, I get that they are extremely practical but…read morethey aren't really any cheaper than just buying a double mattress. So I knew The Futon Company wouldn't be a cheap furniture shop and I wasn't proved particularly wrong. The prices weren't astronomical and the furniture is very well made and durable; you would expect to own a piece of their furniture for many years. However all the furniture is pretty uninspiring, with rounded edges and soft, light wood e.g. birch, and even though it is all very homely it's a bit like the John Mayer of furniture, inoffensive but bland. They sell other interesting bits of pieces all as equally practical as the futon, such as the benches, tables, stool and shelving units. They also have good sales on and have one on at the moment that's worth a visit, especially if you like things made out of canvassszzzzzzz....sorry nodded off there for a second.

This place is full of very expensive little gifts. Ethically concerned, it ensures that all of its…read moresales items are chosen in person, with a view to supporting British designers. On entering Sage, your senses are indulged: the smell of incense lingers subtly in the air and elegant looking gifts are presented in graceful displays around the room. I'd recommend you try this shop if you're looking for a special occasion gift. Products such as candles, makeup bags, glasses and books are all available, each made with a quirky kind of attention to detail. The shop is currently selling a lavender filled sausage dog doorstop (£39.95), which sums up its charm and intent perfectly. A touch superfluous, perhaps, but if you like to buy unique gifts with a touch of class, this is the place to go.

Sage is a cutting edge lifestyle shop with a cottage industry feel. The whole thing sings intimacy…read morein gentle dulcet tones. Crammed with novelty and inspiring takes on conventional things, this shop is as enchanting as it is innovative. I could wax lyrical about this place for a good time to come... Even thinking about it evokes the sense of charm I experience the moment I step through the door... yes I feel newly warm and vital inside, and if I don't go back and buy that colour-it-yourself wallpaper for my feature wall in my living space, I'll never forgive myself! Yes, of course, I could buy it online from their very secure site, but that would deprive me of the excuse of paying them a visit and tanking up on the vibe, and engaging in awe-inducing conversation with the staff. This is the kind of business that you expect to find in Clifton Village or on Colston Hill, not thrust out into the sticks at the end of Gloucester Road. But I think it's a smart move. There's parking here, and nothing remotely close to competition for a good mile.

This exquisite shop makes my heart flutter. It doesn't sell just clothes and objects; it sells a…read morewhole lifestyle, and as you walk into the bright white wonderland, you become thoroughly convinced that this is the only sort of life that makes sense. White linens, slouchy pyjama-esque cotton clothes, white sheets, plush white slippers, white cushion covers, gorgeous white scented candles, subtle bath fragrances and soaps, white kitchen wares. It really is a heaven for people who like their clothes and home to feel fresh, light, and delicate. This lifestyle comes with a pricetag, of course, and given the quality of the fabrics and the design behind it all, it's definitely a shop for those with a bit of money to spend. It sits in a cluster of expensive shops in Cabot Circus and secures its custom from more affluent shoppers. I could quite happily furnish my entire home and fill my wardrobe with White Company things. It's all just absurdly gorgeous, classy and tempting.

A cutesy little shop that feels like it has been transported from Bath. I'm unsure whether this is…read morea good thing, as if you want this sort of quality homeware then Bath is actually just 20 minutes by train and every other shop sells things like this. I like that Bristol is more contemporary, more urban, has a sense of humour. Still, it's hard not to browse through the entire shop, with smiling staff and gentle music. There are lots of perfect gifts for those ladies who lunch, or at least aspire to.

Georgia Brown is a really cute, quaint shop that I know my mother and gran would just love. They…read morehave so many little ornaments and gifts that they would spend hours rummaging through. This is why I have only just spoken about it! I don't mind spending a couple of minutes in these shops, but there's only so long you can spend looking at scented candles and china figurines. Having said that, their designs are original and make great gifts for someone who appreciates these things. It's a style of shop which is lacking in Bristol so there must be a gap in the market for Georgia Brown. It's just a shame that it's not central so many who are not local will not realise its here.