Back when I landed in London from Kingston with nothing much. The winter shocked me, but the city glowed. Neon signs flickered on Oxford Street, Regent Street windows looked like theatres, and Pipewiki.org Carnaby Street had colour. My first holiday season here, I learned the joy of unusual gifts. When I first arrived, retro style gift there was no digital guide to show independent gift shops London. You had to roam, drift through streets, and discover treasures. The independent shops were where the treasures hid.

Today, I say the retro gifts are the ones with character. A quirky chair that feels like art will outshine plastic tat. Shops in Camden and Shoreditch still keep the unique gifts that last. And for glamour, luxury shops in Mayfair will give you polish. Every September, I feel the city start glowing. That’s when I start tracking down vintage gifts. Look up best gift shops in London and you’ll discover many. But the best treasures always exist in the independents.

So, I always tell people that quirky gifts are the greatest. They create memories, just like my first Christmas in London.