29 cool and unique shops in London
London is a city filled with independent shops boasting unique wares and beautiful interior design. I love a quirky shopfront, and window shopping is one of my favourite things to do. Visiting a beautiful shop is almost like Instagram in real life, in that I’m surrounded by charming things I love but probably can’t afford, but no matter, because seeing them in person really scratches the itch! London has plenty of cute and quirky shops to explore, and here are 29 of my favourites.
1. Folka
Stoke Newington
Folka located in Stoke Newington, is a must-visit for anyone who loves folk art. This charming little shop stocks folk art objects from Poland and other Eastern European countries. From paper Easter palms to intricate pajakis, every item is handmade and unique. The attention to detail is extraordinary, and the range of items is constantly changing. Folka is a true hidden gem that is worth seeking out.
2. Mason & Painter
Shoreditch
Mason & Painter on Columbia Road (soon to be moving elsewhere in East London) is a vintage homeware shop with a difference. The ever-changing interior is as beautiful as the items it stocks. The shop is filled with vintage treasures, from furniture to crockery, all carefully selected for their quality and style. It's the perfect place to find something truly special for your home.
Update: Mason & Painter has now closed on Columbia Road and will soon move to another home.
3. Straw London
Shoreditch
Straw is also located in Shoreditch, and is a quirky and unique shop that sells vintage baskets, candles, ceramics and other homewares. The gingham curtains in the window are a clue to the playful and whimsical nature of this shop. Once inside, you'll be entranced by the beautifully displayed items, each one more charming than the last. From quirky candle holders to unusual ceramics, Straw London is full of surprises.
4. Penreath & Hall
Bloomsbury
Penreath & Hall in Bloomsbury is a homewares shop that features rotating artist pop-ups from some of the most creative and talented artists in the UK. The shop itself is a beautiful space, covered with plaster casts of historic roundels and filled with charming printed lamps and cushions. The pop-ups change regularly, so there's always something new and exciting to discover. I have really enjoyed meeting the artists at their pop-ups when I’ve visited in the past; it adds a nice personal touch to shopping, especially since many of them are people I’m familiar with from Instagram but now have met in real life! It adds to my appreciation of their work.
5. Couverture & the Garbstore
Notting Hill
Couverture & The Garbstore in Notting Hill is a one-stop-shop for all your fashion, accessory, and homeware needs. The store has a carefully curated selection of independent brands, from established designers to up-and-coming labels. The fashion is stylish and timeless, while the homewares are beautifully crafted and functional. The store is a real treasure trove.
6. Soho Home
King’s Road, Chelsea
The sought after homewares brand from Soho House has a spectacular store in London showcasing their interior design. A grand staircase punctuates the beautiful surroundings and the brand’s luxury furniture is on display throughout the shop. Soho Home also has a cute cafe at this site and I love the art that they have on display to accentuate the products. It is most certainly aspirational, but is a beautiful shop to have a stop in while in the area.
7. Labour & Wait
Shoreditch
Labour & Wait is a quintessential British brand that specializes in functional, timeless household products, ranging from enamelware, gardening tools, and kitchen gadgets to stationery and clothing. The green-tiled exterior is Instagram-famous from the hipster days, and rustic interior of the shop give off a nostalgic feel, evoking memories of traditional hardware stores from the past.
8. Daunt Books
Marylebone
Daunt Books is a bookshop that has been a fixture in the Marylebone neighbourhood since 1990. It's not only a destination for book lovers but also an architectural gem with an iconic Edwardian interior and a stunning stained glass window. The store's signature feature is the organisation of books by country, which encourages readers to explore literature from around the world.
9. The Cloth Shop
Notting Hill
The Cloth Shop is a hidden gem that specialises in high-quality fabrics sourced from around the world. From organic cotton to luxurious silk and wool, the shop offers a vast selection of fabrics to inspire creativity. The store's interior is cozy and welcoming, with friendly staff always on hand to help with fabric choices and sewing advice.
10. Penelope Chilvers
Notting Hill
Penelope Chilvers is a British footwear brand with a distinct Spanish influence. The brand's Notting Hill store is a treat with its recent design by Tess Newall. The space is designed to showcase the brand's collection of handcrafted shoes and boots, with a focus on quality materials, attention to detail, and timeless design.
11. Rixo
Kings Road, Chelsea
Rixo’s flagship store on King’s Road is a wonder of interior design. The fun details never stop—from the vintage prints backed with marbled paper to the Murano glass chandeliers to the palm trees. The design details are so much fun to discover and create the perfect atmosphere for the brand’s vintage inspired women’s clothing and jewellery. I don’t think Rixo clothes are necessarily my style, but the experience of being in the shop is so wonderfully designed that it feels almost like a mini holiday!
12. Maison Assouline
St. James
This beautiful space is Maison Assouline, a luxury publishing house that specialises in art, fashion, and design books. The brand's flagship store in St. James is a stunning space that combines a bar, restaurant, and bookstore into one. The interior is richly decorated with dark wood paneling, velvet sofas, and a magnificent chandelier, creating a luxurious and intimate atmosphere for browsing and reading.
13. Choosing Keeping
Seven Dials
Choosing Keeping is a treasure trove of beautiful stationary. From handmade leather-bound journals to elegant fountain pens, this shop has everything a stationary enthusiast could ask for. The store also boasts a selection of unique greeting cards, desk accessories, and art supplies. It’s glittering Christmas display is especially wonderful. Much of the stock is Japanese, and some of it is heartbreakingly expensive, but I appreciate the handcrafted nature of their collections and would buy it all out if I could.
14. Townhouse
Spitalfields
Townhouse is a beautiful gallery and shop dedicated to antiques and artwork. The shopfront is quintessentially East London and it feels like stepping back in time to enter the shop. It is well worth a visit when visiting the nearby Spitalfields Markets, another shopping haven. It was such a pleasant surprise to visit and discover the historic kitchen downstairs, serving up traditional English cakes and teas.
15. Liberty London
Regent’s Street
Liberty London is a must-visit destination for any shopper. Located on Regent Street, this magnificent Tudor-style building is home to a vast array of designer brands, including Liberty's own label. With its beautifully curated selection of clothing, accessories, homewares, and gifts, Liberty London is the ultimate shopping destination for those seeking luxury and style. I love visiting at Christmastime and seeing the holiday installations filling the vast interior space.
16. Petersham Nurseries
Covent Garden or Richmond
Petersham Nurseries is a unique and enchanting space that combines a garden center, homewares shop, and cafe. With locations in Covent Garden and Richmond, this oasis of calm is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The shop offers an array of beautiful plants and garden accessories, as well as a selection of stylish homewares and gifts. Visitors can also enjoy a delicious meal in the on-site restaurant, which uses fresh, seasonal produce from Petersham Nurseries' own farm. It’s one of my best things to do in Richmond, London.
17. Bramble & Moss
Richmond
Bramble & Moss is a stunningly beautiful florist and plant shop in Richmond. The shop's facade, with its Art Nouveau-inspired design, is a work of art in itself. Inside, visitors will find an array of beautiful flowers and plants, as well as a selection of stylish vases and pots.
18. Alex Eagle Studio
Soho
Alex Eagle Studio is a fashion and design brand based in a beautiful showroom in Soho. It is a stunning space filled with artwork, fashion, furniture, and unique home decor pieces. The showroom is expertly curated to showcase the best in contemporary design, with an eclectic mix of vintage and new items. The space is also home to a carefully selected range of beauty and lifestyle products. You can find everything from luxurious candles to artisanal soaps, and unique jewellry pieces. The atmosphere of the shop is relaxed, welcoming, and sophisticated.
19. Summerill & Bishop
Notting Hill
Summerill & Bishop is a gorgeous homewares shop in Notting Hill with a stunning painted shopfront that changes every few months. I absolutely love their tableware and the central display table in the shop is always dressed up with fresh flowers and a seasonal tablescape that would create the dinner party of dreams.
20. LASSCO Brunswick House
Vauxhall
LASSCO is an architectural antiques and salvage company based in the historic Brunswick House, now an island of old London amidst Vauxhall’s glassy newbuilds. With a location in the historic Brunswick House, it offers a mix of styles that range from Georgian and Victorian to Art Deco and Art Nouveau. The shop's inventory is sourced from a wide variety of locations, including country estates, private homes, and commercial buildings.
21. The Conran Shop
Marylebone and Chelsea
The Conran Shop is a colourful wonderland of modernist design. Established by the legendary designer Terence Conran, the shop has been a fixture in London for over 50 years. The shop stocks a range of contemporary furniture, home accessories, lighting, and kitchenware, as well as vintage and antique pieces.
22. In Habit
Columbia Road
In Habit is a charming shop on the famous Columbia Road selling glassware, mostly vases and plant pots. With the weekly flower market just outside, it’s perfectly situated for those searching for beautiful homes for their plants and bouquets! The rainbow of glass vases in their display is just so aesethetically satisfying.
23. Lamp Ldn
Peckham
Lamp Ldn specializes in a range of items including candles, artwork, soft furnishings, and, of course, lamps. The shop stocks a carefully curated selection of products from independent designers and makers, with a focus on sustainability and quality. The beautiful shopfront alone is enough—how could you ever resist going in?
24. Cecil Court Bookshops
Covent Garden
Cecil Court is a charming alleyway in central London lined with classic bookshops. Selling antique books, maps, and prints, it’s one of the most old-fashioned corners of London. Travis & Emery is a music bookshop on this street. Even though it is so centrally located, this small street is definitely off the beaten path in London and walking down the street feels like a special discovery. Storey’s is my personal favourite as it has a great collection of modern art prints, including Matisse, Chagall, Miro, etc. I definitely plan to invest in one in the future.
25. Studio Wylder
Columbia Road
Yet another gem on Columbia Road, Studio Wylder sells beautiful handmade clothing with a vintage sensibility and made out of deadstock fabrics. Beautiful ginghams, linens, and even sheepskins are sold in seasonal drops and small collections. The clothes are gorgeous, and exactly what I’d like to be dressed in everyday.
26. Cuemars
Truman Brewery
Cuemars is a design shop with a bright and cheerful aesthetic. Filled with colourful art prints, handmade ceramics, artisinal candles and fun jewellery, there’s a lot to explore in this shop. One of my favourite things they sell are the Bacanha syrups in a variety of flavours.
27. Meadows
Dalston
Meadows is one of my favourite London-based brands. It has a sort of medieval peasant aesthetic that I am really into (ha). The shop is shared with sister brand L.F. Markey (see below) and the contrast between the two is sweet—it goes from bright and bold colours to straw in vases and embroidered dresses. Somehow I love them both equally!
28. L. F. Markey
Dalston
Sharing the shop with Meadows, L.F. Markey is the bolder and brighter older sister. It has a childlike aesthetic and does indeed make children’s clothes as well as for adults. The oversized, comfortable fit is something I am really into and all the of the wares look so good in this well-lit and modern shop.
29. Artwords Bookshop
Hackney
Artwords Bookshop specialises in art and design books, artfully arranged by colour in the windows. But it also has a fantastic selection of children’s books, non-fiction and new fiction. There’s lots of hidden gems here from local businesses, and I found many books I haven’t seen at other London bookstores.
Where are your favourite independent shops in London? There are hidden gems all over the city that I hope to discover.
Discover the best things to do in London this Christmas without the crowds or the commercial chaos. As a London local with seven Christmases in the city, I'll share my insider tips on how to enjoy an authentic, festive experience—free from overpriced attractions and overcrowded markets. Explore quieter, more intimate ways to celebrate the holiday season and soak up the true magic of Christmas in London.