While in town entertaining some out of town guests, we stopped in every Christmas shop we possibly…read morecould as our friend is an even bigger fan of Christmas than I am. This shop, while quite small, is packed full with various types of Christmasy things like ornaments, stockings, and loads of nick knacks to fill up any room of your house! Even though this isn't my favourite of the bunch we stopped in to, I do love the feeling it gives me when I walk in- all sorts of happiness and joy is felt just at the sight of the ornaments and the sound of Christmas music. If you're looking for Christmas stuff any time of the year, this is definitely one shop to venture to. Make no mistake, all the prices are relatively the same from shop to shop, so if you see one, buy it. It's more than likely bound to be the same price at the next shop.

A Christmas themed shop right bang slap on the historic Royal Mile. Jackpot!…read more I've enthused in one of my other Christmas shop reviews about how I become some sort of juvenile, santa and magic believer when the calendar hits the 1st December, and I'll do the same here. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe gives you the opportunity to open a door and step into a world of enchanted, sparkly delights, where Christmas happens all year round if you want it to, with the shop space being your winter wonderland arena, where you can marvel at all the decorations and visualise your future tree, even if it's scorching hot outside (unlikely). There are some beautiful decorations here, which include an Alice in Wonderland and a historical range, with the adornments leaning towards the classic side of Christmas tree decoration rather than being super modern, but I like the traditional side of the festival season, so that suits me.

I always say this about shops of this nature, but fairy ornaments etc remind me of the wicca craze…read morethat hit in the mid to late 90s. Perhaps Charmed and Buffy saw that trend flying into my high school, and I distinctly remember my then best friend's room looking not unlike this shop. Shops like Enchantment are becoming fewer and further between, but it's nice that this one still does well. There are little pewter ornaments of delicate garden sprites, elves and fairies lining the shelves of this place, and dangling from the ceiling in abundance. If you're into pixies, healing stones and a touch of magic, then you'll like it. My mum likes ornaments like these and it's a great wee resource not too far from the Royal Mile if you're looking for an impish wee pressie. It's a nice change from seeing green ornaments in the shape of Loch dwelling monsters.

Enchantment is very enchanting indeed and as soon as you walk in you are surrounded by fairy…read morefigurines, crystals and various other magic related items. I can imagine this place would be ideal for people who are into alternative healing therapies with their range of crystals on offer and the whole shop has a very peaceful, tranquil feel to it. It's a little bit different to your average shop and I can't see myself ever needing anything from it but if fairy's float your boat, then why not?

It's impossible to describe this place adequately…read more All three of the branches in Edinburgh (also on the Royal Mile and in the Grassmarket) are tiny and absolutely crammed with any type of trinket you could ever imagine. The kinds things that you see when you're in Morocco, South America or Thailand and would love to buy but know there's no point even trying to get it back the the UK in one piece. They have drapes, throws, incense, jewellery, handmade notebooks, hanging masks/purses/bags/just about anything you can think of to hand-make... but the best thing is the prices. The kind of ethnic-looking jewellery or homeware you'd happily pay loads for in a department store can be snapped up here for pennies. Don't miss... the pashminas. The amount of times people have stroked whichever of Lokaah's pashminas from my extensive collection that I'm wearing that day and asked where I got it from, and told me how they bet it had cost a bomb, has to be some kind of indicator! What's more, you can bag yourself one for as little as £2. My description of this place doesn't do it justice - you have to go and see for yourself.

Lokaah stocks traditional Indian handicrafts specially imported to Edinburgh and London stores…read more Lokaah assures us of its ethical trading standards, and regardless of whether these claims hold any water or not, the fact remains that this shop sells you the genuine article at bargain prices. Definitely come here if you're into harem pants, incense, and saris. In my opinion Lokaah is a cut above other similar shops that tend to be incredibly expensive. In particular Lokaah stocks a range of amazing hand-carved wooden figures and chests that make ideal gifts. They even accept Euros here, so stop by to unload unwanted shrapnel on lovely trinkets.

The Christmas Shop is my favourite shop in Edinburgh. If you are ever feeling a bit down, walking…read moreinto this store will instantly cheer you up with its constant and infectious festive cheer. Situated on the edge of the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh, the Christmas Shop is just a short walk from the city centre and so it is an easy place to reach and it is definitely worth a visit. This place is your one-stop shop for all things Christmas related as they sell everything you could require for the perfect Christmas decorations. Christmas Shop sells a huge range of themed decorations such as Irish, Welsh and London, which includes London buses and Guardsmen. The decorations are very reasonably priced too, with the little tree ornaments starting at about five pounds. Christmas Shop also sells a beautiful selection of handmade glass baubles, tinsel, angels, stars and bows. There is no excuse for not being prepared for your Christmas decorations anymore as this store is open ALL YEAR ROUND!! A really quaint and unique shop which is guaranteed to make you fell all festive, regardless of what time of year it is.

I simply ADORE Christmas so I get super excited when I come across such shops! I was a little…read moredisappointed.. I think the shop front is misleading, once inside only one corner felt truly Christmassy, the rest was full of tourist tatt. BUT the corner that was Christmassy was very cute, the Christmas decorations are more traditional in design and quite well made. Plenty of tartan clad designs which would make for lovely souvenirs. I really liked the Henry the 8th and his 6 wives collection, very unique and definitely a conversation starter on any tree. I planned on picking up a bauble here but ended up getting a Santa playing the bagpipes from the Georgian House gift shop. Definitely worth a browse. I imagine it gets pretty busy around Christmas.

Eden seems to be a bizarre mix of wooden furniture and Edward Monkton cards…read more If wooden furniture is your thing then you could pick up some bargains in here as many of the items are very reasonably priced and one off pieces too. This kind of stuff doesn't really float my kind of boat but I did see a really pretty dark wood table at £95 that I quite liked. They stock lots of little accessories such as crystals, jewellery and candles and the staff are really helpful too. The whole shop has a really laid back atmosphere and great for a browse without feeling pressured to buy anything.

Eden is quite deceptive - it looks like it's going to have hordes of hippy dippy gifts, which might…read moreinterest some people but not so much me. Upon entering, there was certainly that free spirited vibe - they were playing the Cocteau Twins and the shop keeper was really relaxed. But that only made for a better browsing experience (and I LOVE the Cocteau Twins so I was happy). Yes, there are loads of carved wooden ornaments and chairs, hanging beads and dream catchers, but there are also some lovely rustic homewares, trendy candles and some truly gorgeous ornate wrapping paper. They have a range of cards and some lovely stuff for the kitchen, including plaid patterned coat hangers and pretty ornaments. So even though it has the 90s hippy vibe, there is more variety than you may think if you care to enter. The shop assistant was absolutely lovely and her laid back approach left me free to browse to my heart's content. I came out with cactus candles which are awesome but too nice to burn!

I know it's a little bit late buying diaries for 2010 now but that's exactly what I did on my visit…read moreto Paperchase yesterday, they had all their diaries of all sizes reduced to only £1! Now I just can't resist a bargain so I bought myself a pretty 2010 organiser that will come in handy for my new term at Uni and will keep me on the right track for my dissertation work. I also purchased another diary reduced to £1 from £10 and it has plenty of space for writing so I'm sure I'll be able to fill it no problem with inane ramblings and doodles. I also bought my mum a birthday card which is shaped like an no.5 Chanel perfume bottle and was very reasonably priced at £2.50, I also got a couple of graduation cards for my friends who will be joining the real world in a matter of weeks. This store is quite deceptive as it looks really small from the outside but it's absolutely massive and no matter what kind of stationary you're looking for it is more than certainly here. The staff are really friendly and I was easily here for a good 50 minutes getting lost in all the stationary but nobody seemed to bothered and I felt relaxed just taking my time to browse.

Paperchase is great for picking up cards, gift wrap and stationery when you perhaps want something…read morea little different than the usual. The store feels quite stylish and the stock definitley has that sort of hip/trendy feel. It can be a little expensive, but you are paying for nicer designs and better quality. I bought a gorgeous Wedding Album in here as a gift as well as some beautiful photo frames. I also picked up some great Christmas decorations in their January sale at a very reasonable price. I always buy my notebook and pens for uni here, probably not the best way to spend my student loan but I do like the designs. Also when I ran an event I picked up some great art supplies here for posters and decorations, and received some student discount. I bought a laptop bag here in one of the quirky designs (I think it was around £12), and after a few weeks the strap broke. I returned it without the receipt and the staff were so helpful and apologetic. The bag was out of stock but they let me choose another one, no problems. I was chuffed at the good customer service here. I always find myself going in for a browse when I walk along George Street, definitely one of my favourite shops.

Those looking to unleash the interior designer within themselves can do no better than to come…read morehere. It's not particularly cheap, but if it's modern and slightly more unique items you are after then this is the place you are looking for. However, it should be noted that this place does not deal exclusively in lights and also offers other interior items generally including some sort of relationship to light in one form or another such as a number of items of furniture consisting of mirrors as their external surface. IF you do want something a bit more specific and have the money to spend then a visit here might be in order.

I was a little confused as I walked up to Cotterell Lighting store in the Newington area. I was…read morepresented with what appeared to be a beautiful old church but the "Sale now on" said something different. Then, I noticed the huge signs for "Cotterell Lighting" and I decided to pop in. I was still really confused and wondered if I was entering some kind of bizarre lighting cult. As soon as I entered I realised that it was indeed a shop, and it sold lighting, all kinds of lighting, in every design you could think of. There were two friendly staff members working who just told me to give them a shout if I needed any help so I decided to browse. I couldn't believe how many different lighting styles they had and if you're looking for a new lampshade or light then you will find exactly what you're looking for here. In addition to lighting they also do a small amount of furniture. I noticed a really cool mirror ball light, a lampshade on a stand that was designed to look like a fish bone and a huge mirror that I like instantly as it made me look better than I actually do. I have to admit, it was a little odd walking around an old church and it was pretty much intact apart from the missing pews. When I looked up I could see that the upper seating of the church was still there and if that area was still accessible you could have taken a seat and looked down at the now lighting shop. The creaking floor boards were still there as were the stained glass window and painted high ceiling. It seems a waste that such a beautiful church is now just a shop and even stranger that it hasn't been disguised as a shop. I'd recommend visiting under the guise that you need a new lightbulb, as it really is an experience.

I really don't know why I like this place. I shouldn't. You shouldn't. No one should. It should…read moreoffend you. It's everything wrong with Japan. Over the top, offensively cute, bright sparkly anime characters of every form (as long as it's a cutesy or perverted form). Cutie House basically sells toys, key rings, ornaments, bags and jewellery, of popular Japanese characters in the West like Hello Kitty or Pukka. There is also some Nintendo and Studio Ghibli characters represented, that I can appreciate a little more. They also sell some goods relating to more popular Western animations like Nightmare before Christmas and the ever incredible cult classic, The Moomins. In my heart of hearts I still know this is all tacky commercial tat using up precious Earthly resources, but somehow its kitsch value overwhelms me. One word of warning: this shop is almost as small as my dignity after purchasing something from it. Don't enter in any greater number than one. It really is tiny. A quirky little shop that somehow manages to charm me. I imagine if I spent anytime in Japan these feelings would quickly subside, but for now Cutie House, you win.

Cutie House is super DUPER kawaii, enough to make your eyes bulge at the trinkets inside…read more This place is bursting full of bubblegum Japanese pop gifts, mainly of the keychain or small necklace variety. The walls are lined with the biggest collection of Hello Kitty and Domukun I have ever seen in my life in such a small place, and the vast majority of stock is tiny. This place is home to everything from Mario figurines and small cuddly toys to Snoopy, Chinese lucky cats and even some mini Dragonball Z figurines. Gifts are pocket sized and ususally around the £5 mark. I love the cute little baby Spiderman guys in here and when I was younger Cutie House would've made me burst with joy. A great gem to take your kids, but you'll enjoy it, too! If I ever find use for an elephant figurine, I will make room for it on my mantelpiece.

Simply Scottish isn't any different to the other souvenir shops on the Mile, apart from the fact…read morethat it seems to stock the most t-shirts I've ever seen... all with a Scottish theme, of course. It stocks Scottish flags, shortbread, Nessie toys, hip flasks, ornaments, personalised tartan pens and various other tourist tat items. I did, however, notice the cute Highland Coo toys that Gavin was talking about and was very tempted to buy one for myself as I've always had a soft spot for the wee coo's but on my better judgement decided to leave without it. I'll put it on my Christmas Wish List to Santa.

It's almost a given that any purveyor of Scottish tourist tat will receive a frosty reception on…read moreYelp and I myself have been among their harshest critics. With Simply Scottish however, I might just be thawing towards them a tiny bit. The usual suspects are all here. Ginger wigs, I Love Scotland hoodies, tartan mugs blah blah blah, but there were a couple of things in the window that did genuinely make me smile and thus go in for a look. These were namely some cute Highland Cow toys which looked almost lovingly made, and some medieval-style armour. The latter would do you well at 3am after a night in Lava and Ignite.

We stopped in just before closing looking for a few things to take back home. We had already been…read morethrough many other gift shops, seeing all of the same things repeatedly. While you will still see some of the same items here, they have some more unique items as well. What we really liked about this shop was the proprietor. She didn't get cranky because we settled in just before closing. She didn't simply stand behind her counter. She had much to say without us feeling that she was interfering. It was enjoyable to have a nice chat while looking around. We made some purchases as her prices were a bit more reasonable than some of the other places. It was a nice little place that we would certainly stop into again.

A gift shop with a difference…read more The clue to the first difference is one word on the outside: weaponry. To any man, this is going to spark interest. They have a small range of different swords of varying sizes and types. According to the DO NOT TOUCH signs, they were battle-ready and sharp (this just makes me want to touch them all the more, but I did manage to resist the temptation). The quality of the items in this shop is a bit higher than in many of the others in the city, and there was also a small range of teddy bears, which is something that you don't often see. I was also welcomed into the shop by the owner, greeting me with a smile and a hello. This is so rarely seen in shops these days, and it's good to see that they're interested in everyone that comes through the doors. On the whole, I would recommend a visit to Neanie Scott if you're looking for a gift or trinket to give to a friend or relative.