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.
Choosing Keeping
Seven Dials
Choosing Keeping is a treasure trove of beautiful stationery. 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.
V V Rouleaux
Marylebone
Okay, this is a special one. V V Rouleaux is a haberdashery in Marylebone just overflowing with ribbons, feathers, and all sorts of wonderful things. Including, at the time I visited, loads of handmade easter eggs. These classic specialty shops are a wonderful part of London that I hope we never lose.
Straw London
Shoreditch
Straw is located in Shoreditch, and is a quirky and unique shop that sells vintage baskets, candles, ceramics and other homewares. It is very cottage-core in the best sense, filled with linen and gingham and a handmade feel. Makes one yearn for the countryside!
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.
Couverture & the Garbstore
Notting Hill
Couverture & The Garbstore stocks homeware, accessories and clothing from independent brands. There are two related shops here, each designated for men and women respectively. Very chic, and lots of little treasures, perfect for gifts for cool friends.
Soho Home
King’s Road, Chelsea
A place to brush shoulders with the inhabitants of Chelsea, who can actually afford the elevated furniture on offer in Soho Home. I find it fun to browse the designs and the airy space with its dramatic staircase is worth having a look into. There’s a cute cafe downstairs, perfect for an aesthetic tea break.
Labour & Wait
Shoreditch
Labour & Wait specialises 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. Nostalgic, rustic, reminds me of Mumford & Sons.
Daunt Books
Marylebone
Daunt Books has been a fixture in the Marylebone neighbourhood since 1990. It is one of London’s most iconic bookshops, not least for its ubiquitous tote bag. The pretty Edwardian interior in the Marylebone shop make it a very appealing destination for book lovers, but there are several branches of Daunt Books all around the city now.
The Cloth Shop
Notting Hill
The Cloth Shop sells gorgeous fabrics, particularly many linens and gingham prints. I love the rack of embroidered trims, and a visit always inspires me to start a new sewing project. It is a little pricey, but premium fabrics that are perfect for enthusiastic sewists.
Penelope Chilvers
Notting Hill
Penelope Chilvers is a British footwear brand with a 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.
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!
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. It really has wow factor, and the colourful books are impossible not to pick up and flick through. Their travel coffee table books are a perfect gift for travel lovers (but will be very heavy to carry home!)
Townhouse
Spitalfields
Townhouse is a beautiful gallery and shop dedicated to antiques and artwork, and is one of my favourite shops on this list. The shopfront is quintessentially East London and really conjures the 18th century history of the place. 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.
Liberty London
Regents Street
Liberty London is like the mother of all department stores. Located on Regents Street, this magnificent Tudor-style building is home to a vast array of designer brands, including Liberty's own label. The building feels so historic, complete with creaking old floorboards and carved wooden balustrades. There’s a lot of expertly curated fashion and homewares on sale, including Liberty’s own printed fabrics which you can buy by the metre. It is worth coming inside just for the experience. If you’re visiting during Christmas, don’t miss their epic decorations.
Petersham Nurseries
Richmond
Petersham Nurseries is magic, and well worth the trip into Richmond. The garden centre is also home to a shop in one of the greenhouses (as well as a few cafes and a restaurant). The beautifully lit space is filled to the brim with antiques and rustic homewares. I visit time and time again, as it is one of my favourite things to do in Richmond, London.
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.
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.
Books for Cooks
Notting Hill
Books for Cooks is exactly what it sounds like - an exceptional collection of cookbooks. What makes the shop special is the fact that they serve dishes from different cookbooks each week in their lunchtime cafe. I believe it is weekdays only and requires queuing, which is why I sadly haven’t experienced it yet - but do look into it. The shop is straight from the 90s in the cosiest way possible.
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.
Lamp Ldn
Peckham
Lamp Ldn specialises 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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
London is home to many independent shops and beautiful shopfronts and interiors. Here is my guide to the most aesthetic and unique shops in London.