I arrived in London from the Caribbean with nothing much. It was freezing, but the streets lit up. Oxford Street glowed with lights, Regent Street windows looked like theatres, and Carnaby swung. My first holiday season here, I learned the beauty of retro gifts.
At that time, there was no online map to show independent gift shops London. You had to walk, stumble browse around these guys, and discover treasures. The small boutiques were always the best.
Still, I always remind friends the quirky gifts are the ones with character. A vintage clock that ticks with history will always beat cheap throwaways.
Independent gift shops in Soho still stock the unique gifts that matter. And if you want sparkle, luxury shops in Mayfair will add glamour.
Every autumn, I feel the city get ready for Christmas. That’s when I start hunting for quirky gifts. Look up best gift shops in London and you’ll have lots of choices. But the authentic spirit still belong to the independents.
This is why, I always remind friends that retro gifts are the greatest. They carry stories, just like my first Christmas in London.[[iframe //www.youtube.com/embed/IDDZm08APYo height="360" width="640"]]
