Kensington & Hyde Park
A burst of colour and Gallic creative exuberance, Pylones is always such a breath of fresh air, despite the location in a mall up the escalators at the…
Kensington & Hyde Park
A burst of colour and Gallic creative exuberance, Pylones is always such a breath of fresh air, despite the location in a mall up the escalators at the…
Kensington & Hyde Park
The original design store (going strong since 1987), the Conran Shop is a treasure trove of beautiful things – from radios to sunglasses, kitchenware to…
The West End
The flagship bookshop of the London Review of Books fortnightly literary journal doesn’t put faith in towering piles of books and slabs on shelves, but…
Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread Shop
The Lake District
In business since 1854, this famous sweet shop next to the village church makes Grasmere's essential souvenir: traditional gingerbread with a half…
Swansea (Abertawe)
There's been a covered market in Swansea since 1652 and at this site since 1830. Rebuilt in 1961 after being bombed in WWII, the current version is a…
Derry (Londonderry)
Run by local artists and designers, Smart Swag sells original and unusual pieces such as jewellery made from vinyl records, upcycled furniture, screen…
The West End
The fashion doyenne of the punk and new-wave aesthetic, Westwood has always had a reputation for being controversial and political. She continues to…
North London
Right next to the canal lock, this section of Camden Market is the the place to go for diverse food stalls in the West Yard, as well as for several nice…
Cumbria & the Lakes
This upmarket village shop developed the recipe for sticky toffee pudding – accept no substitute. You can buy it to cook at home and it also comes in…
The West End
Outlet of the Soul Jazz Records label: explorers of wild, wonderful and often forgotten corners of black music who bring back gems for their legendary…
The West End
An original Edwardian bookshop, with oak panels, galleries and gorgeous skylights, Daunt is one of London’s loveliest bookshops. There are several Daunt…
Annie’s Vintage Costume & Textiles
North London
One of London’s most enchanting vintage shops, this high-end boutique has costumes to make you look like Greta Garbo. Many a famous designer has come here…
Penzance
A real dig-and-delve treasure trove, overflowing with all kinds of bric-a-brac, vintage clothes, retro lamps, secondhand vinyl and other bits of who-knows…
South Cornwall
Music aficionados mustn't miss Falmouth's finest record store, with a just-so selection of vinyl and CDs, leather sofas, magazines to browse and very…
Glasgow
Glasgow’s legendary weekend flea market, the Barras on Gallowgate, is a fascinating mixture of on-trend openings and working-class Glasgow. Genuine old…
The West End
One of London's most recognisable shops, Liberty department store has a white-and-wood-beam Tudor Revival facade that lures shoppers in to browse luxury…
Yorkshire Dales National Park
This cheesemongers and cafe in a huddle of old stone barns is the place to come for farmhouse cheeses in the Yorkshire Dales. Owners Andy and Kathy…
Jersey
The Channel Islands' largest art gallery is the best place to pick up work by numerous local painters, photographers, jewellery designers and other local…
Whitby
Fortune's has been making kippers (smoked herring) at this little smokehouse since 1872, and still turns out some of Britain's best; they're on the…
Glasgow
This workshop zone for artists and designers in the heart of the Barras has helped pep up the area and bring a new wave of folk in. It's a lovely covered…
The West End
The biggest and oldest toy emporium in the world, Hamleys houses six floors of fun for kids of all ages, from the basement's Star Wars and Harry Potter…
Nottingham
Opened as an extension of its own publishing imprint in 2013, this splendid independent bookshop is hidden down a passageway off Low Row. In addition to…
Guernsey
This beautifully restored windmill is the original studio of local award-winning jewellery designer, Catherine Best. The jewellery is set with precious…
Northumberland Coast
Mead made on Lindisfarne by St Aidan's Winery to a traditional Roman recipe using locally drawn water and honey. Free tastings let you try its three…
Jersey
Jersey's last working tower mill is home to the workshop and studio of internationally renowned jewellery designer, Guernsey local Catherine Best, who has…
Chester
Britain's largest shopping outlet, Cheshire Oaks has 145 stores offering discounts of up to 60% on goods from previous seasons. The village layout means…
The Channel Islands
At the top of Harbour Hill, shops along The Avenue are the best place to pick up specialised Sark handicrafts. Go to Sark Glass Take Two for glassware and…
Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri)
This cracking craft-beer shop takes localism very seriously, stocking an enormous range of North Welsh beers, and focusing on the stori (story) of their…
The Midlands & the Marches
Founded as an ironmongers in 1734 and still retaining an ironmongery today, Derby's historic department store has evolved over the centuries to sell…
Old Town
Armstrong’s is an Edinburgh fashion institution (established in 1840, no less), a quality vintage-clothes emporium offering everything from elegant 1940s…
Randall's Antique & Vintage Centre
Glasgow
This is a real treasure trove of the once loved, the tacky, the tawdry, the magnificent and the curious from the not-so-recent past. It's an excellent set…
Edinburgh
On Sunday the local community's focus is Stockbridge Market, set in a leafy square next to the bridge that gives the district its name. Wares range from…
Anglesey & the North Coast
Everything you'd want from a local, indie bookshop, this little gem stocks English and Welsh books and CDs, with emphasis on local authors, Welsh folk,…
South Devon
This vinyl enthusiasts' emporium is a sign of Totnes' increasingly trendy credentials. Everything's brand new here (definitely no secondhand bargains to…
Lowland Perthshire & Kinross
This food hall and delicatessen is a showcase for local producers, and it's a great place to stock up on Scottish delicacies such as Heather Hills honey,…
South Devon
Once a month, one of Devon's biggest food markets takes over Totnes' central square. Expect more than 60 traders, selling everything from local meats,…
St Andrews
As befits a university town, this is a classic old-school bookshop crammed floor to ceiling with a huge range of titles, with free tea and coffee,…
Shetland
This association of handicrafts producers publishes a brochure detailing the places around the islands where you can stop to observe spinners, weavers and…
Moray
Gordon & MacPhail is the world's largest specialist malt-whisky dealer. More than a century old and offering around 1000 different varieties, its Elgin…
New Town
The acknowledged queen of Edinburgh delicatessens, established during the 1930s, Valvona & Crolla is packed with Mediterranean goodies, including an…