The Coolest Shops

London is well documented as being a fantastic shopping hub for all types of everything. From bikes to umbrellas, vintage to vagabond and furniture to fashion you can get just about everything you want and need to make your visit a perfect one. Some of the best-kept shopping secrets can be found in lots of hidden nooks and crannies that are located miles away from the teaming morass of retail frenzy that is Oxford Street.

It's all happening in Shoreditch

We start our treasure hunt in the exotic east-end that houses a beautiful handcrafted furniture shop known as Unto This Last. If you are exploring evolving Shoreditch make sure you get this place on your trip planner and take a look in their workshop – an absolute carpenter's dream. In an open workshop they produce a variety of household furniture at the point of sale. Staying with the secrets of Shoreditch theme our quest takes us onto the Labour and Wait where they sell a wondrous collection of books, clothing, stationary and much more. Browsers should check out their well-curated collection of household items. The shop has assembled a collection of new and vintage items, some of them familiar, others await discovery. Their classic collection apparently will not date but will mellow with age.

Changing the retail theme to two wheels we encourage encourage visitors to try out Tokyobike. Another Shoreditch staple; this shop is the home of a small, independent bicycle company founded in 2002 in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Yanaka. The name was derived from the design of the bikes. In the same way the mountain bike was designed for the mountains so Tokyobike was designed for Tokyo. If you are lucky you might see your future dream bike while having a cup of coffee.

Clerkenwell calling

Finally leaving the East End we take a short trip to Clerkenwell in EC1 where Present and Correct have now made flesh their online presence with their first shop. If you love stationary then this place is a must. Tucked away in Arlington Way you can find this graphic design influenced stationery shop selling iconic and retro items from Europe and beyond. As they say behind the counter:"Government research concludes that we should all consume 5 portions of stationary per day"

.... and on to Marylebone

Across town in Marylebone the visiting browser can find Another Country – our second furniture retailer - which also sells plenty of other stuff for the home. The company designs and makes contemporary craft furniture and accessories and aims to deliver quality and longevity at fair prices. Their products are built to last, both in terms of construction and style.

If you love magazines the Kioskafe in Paddington sells a beautiful collection of independent publications. They stock the finest global titles, covering everything from popular weeklies to specialist independent publications. So if you are looking to grab the latest copy of Der Spiegel on your way to Paddington or you have just arrived from Heathrow and want to unwind with L’Espresso over a coffee, the Kioskafé is the place to go. With thousands of titles to choose from, visitors can order a copy in advance to enjoy over a flat white while it prints.

... returning to base in Shoreditch

Finally, and back to Shoreditch we finish our tour on a sweet note at Mast Brothers where the foot-weary visitor can find a nice collection of perfectly packaged chocolate. Founded by pioneering brothers Rick and Michael Mast in 2007 they have introduced chocolate to the world with an obsessive attention to detail, meticulous craftsmanship, groundbreaking innovation, and inspirational simplicity. Their signature chocolate bars, beverages, and confections with an emphasis on clarity of flavour are a treat to behold. Enjoy!