When Orchard House first opened on Hyde Park corner I was lured in a few times by the pretty things…read morein the window - jewelry, a small ornamental table, candles and other decorative things. Inside a large proportion of the tiny space it occupies is taken up by cards. I was a bit disappointed as there is a card shop just over the road but not entirely as everything else seemed a bit classier, such as the jewelry. They have a few cabinets of unique earrings, necklaces and bracelets of varying price. As I write there are massive discounts on many things and up to a 70% discount on some items. This is great for the bargain hunters but I fear it has been hit by the recession and may well close down soon. This is probably because - even though it houses tasteful things - everything was a bit too expensive pre-discount. I often wandered in to have a nose around a few times without buying anything and the last time I went was not too taken. The sale signs have been hastily drawn and stuck in the window and there was a messy pile of cards in the corner, housed in the kind of shelving I would expect to find in a sandwich shop. It is a real shame to see Orchard House degenerate especially as there as new similar shops popping up in Headingley, but maybe it was badly placed?

Orchard House is really just what you'd expect of a standard gift shop. It sells a large selection…read moreof cards, though not many to my taste, and quite expensive. It also sells trinkets and gifts such as picture frames, ornaments and jewellery. To be honest I've never really understood the concept of gift shops, it kind of seems strange that certain items are labelled as 'gifts' before they've even been allocated a 'givee', and having the type of things I'd like to give chosen for me by someone else just seems a little odd. But assuming you're happy to run with the concept of a gift shop then I guess Orchard House might not be too much of a disappointment. It just doesn't seem to have many products that really stand out and the prices are generally a bit steep. But if you need a gift quick and you're in the area it may be worth a perusal.

Wrapped! is a good independent gift shop set amongst a sea of takeaways on Station Road in…read moreHorsforth. As the name suggests, they provide you with everything you need to package your gift (wrapping paper, tags, gift bags), but they also offer (to those of us with little imagination) the gifts themselves. These are mainly the impersonal, gimmicky sort of presents that you'd only give on non-special occasions, but there is a fairly wide variety of gifts. The place also offers plenty of greeting cards, covering all special occasions and ensuring that, if you're pushed for time and in need of a quick pressie for someone, Wrapped! is the place to go.

If you're in need of something quick, yet pretty to give to a loved one, Warpped is most certainly…read morefor you. When I entred, I managed to look past the naff glass shelving in front of the windows, to what was actually on them. From beautifully ornate perfume dispensers, to the usual pretty-yet-fundamentally-useless tokens and trinkets you find in all shops such as these, it does make for a fun browse. Of course, they also stock everything you'd need to wrap gifts too- it'd be silly if they didn't, considering the name! It is a good place to find little bits and pieces for Christmas stockings and smaller presents.

This shop specialises in greetings cards but also has a small selection of gifts such as soft toys…read moreas well as wrapping paper and accessories. As it sells so many cards there is a wide variety of styles to choose from. Befitting its location in the Victoria Quarter it doesn't stock many of those cheap, tacky cards featuring naff cartoons and 'hilarious' lewd jokes. Expect more of a refined selection, several featuring vintage photographs or interesting stylised illustrations. I wouldn't say it's the best card shop I've ever been to but it definitely tops the offerings of most high street card shops with many more unusual finds than say, Clinton Cards and it should have something to suit everyone.

This is an exquisite gift card shop. If I ever have a birthday or occasion I will come here rather…read morethan use a Clintons or similar, as they are just not as special as this shop. Bayliffe and Lupton house a whole variety of specialist gift cards from a variety of designers, from beautifully painted prints, to exquisite photography to humourous vintage photograph and caption cards. It has a huge range of different gift cards and will cover all the standard areas, but makes the difference by really finding some special designers. As well as this they sell other related goods, wrapping, canvas prints and the odd trinket or gift item, but the main reason for visiting is the quality of the gift cards. I can always choose a special card that really says something about who I am buying for, which makes all the difference when you are sending to someone special. You might pay a little more than usual, but in my book it's worth it.

This is a cute little gift shop in a sea of gift shops on the Chapel Allerton high street. At…read morepresent the store has a lovely christmas display in their window, which caught my eye, so I went in to have a look. The first thing to hit me was the lovely cinnamon smell as I entered. On browsing I discovered all kinds of different items for sale, ceramics, cards, hello kitty brand items and many other knick-knack type items. On deeper investigation I noticed that the prices weren't as competitive as their neighbours'. The glassware was quite expensive for what it was and they had some button earrings on sale - which were literally buttons attached to earrings - that cost £10, which i thought was pretty high for what they were. Still, it's always worth having a look in these shops as everyone has different taste, and invariably there will be some little treat that you might find. All in all a nice little shop with a few cool things to see.

This gift and card shop is similar to the second Angels shop down the road 'Angels Too'. I had…read morepopped into this one for a card and decided to check out the other one, mentioned to me as I was making my purchase. They both sell cards and gifts but the range here seems to aimed at different customers. There are gifts and stationary items from the Hello Kitty brand and a range I had not come across before - Momiji dolls. They seem quite a cult thing when I looked them up on the internet later on but something that might appeal to teenage girls. There was also a 'Top Model' range. Something else I hadn't come across before either, probably due to my age (mid-twenties, too old to be interested but to young to have children that are). So you can find many gift items here and will probably be drawn in by the colourful window display that currently involves a gothic christmas tree.

With such beautiful and exquisite gift items it is difficult to see where else you would want to go…read morein Horsforth for that special present. It might be that you start at the bottom of the street and have to work your way to the top to discover Ideas, but you'll be glad you did once you've made it up here. They've a number of different items, all beautifully made and pristine, to satisfy most of your standard gift ideas. Unless you really want to personalise a gift or make it creative this shop is a fantastic place to go to find something as it has that little bit extra compared to your average card and gift store. Any old Clintons has a stuffed bear that your Mum will know in an instant where you purchased it from and didn't really make an effort. If you bought an item from Ideas, for a bit of a price granted, you will find something unique with the longevity to give a lasting impression. From jewellery, toys, frames (which you can personalise with a photograph, of course), ornaments, perfume bottles, clocks - you get the idea. Everything within is graceful, delicate and a delight to browse.

This place is my idea (no pun intended) of a proper gift store…read more Ideas Unlimited offers such a vast array of presents that it is almost impossible to walk out of here without finding something for someone - believe me when I say the range is huge: ornaments, souvenirs, stationery, jewellery, toys, photo frames - you name it, they've probably got it. It's the sort of place that takes the hassle out of getting a little 'thoughtful' present or two for someone, and the quality of the products is a lot higher than what you'll find in most gift shops - this place has an air of class about it. Unfortunately, this is reflected in the rather steep prices.

The quintessential place to buy an elderly relative a card that would receive appreciative sighs. A…read morelarge quantity of twee sentimentality has been injected into this shop and although the style does not comply with my own, The Card Room does provide a more intimate, local setting in which to purchase this style of card. Alongside the vast array of aforementioned cards, there is a random miscellany of gifts. Ranging from handmade jewellery to calendars, umbrellas to clocks, and photo frames to keepsakes, The Card Room has the bagatelle market covered. There is an entire baby section at the rear of the shop, and whilst I was there recently, a staff member was expertly guiding a gentleman around the selection of photo memory books for babies. The man in question did not take much encouragement to proudly announce that he had just become a Grandfather for the first time, regaling his assistant with her name and weight. It was a touching moment to overhear! If you were wondering, the baby was called Amber. The Card Room is a perfectly adequate shop in which to purchase a fairly conservative range of cards and knickknacks. Although I doubt I would make the detour from the city centre to visit the shop, for certain recipients, I would consider the trek.

The Card Room is a pretty standard gift shop selling a huge range of reasonably expensive cards,…read moreand loads of gifts. Gifts include rather cute sort toys to mugs, drinking glasses, picture frames, decorations, hand bags, umbrellas, clocks and placemats. The shop is quite large with products well-displayed and the staff are friendly and helpful. Like most gift shops, the majority of items are quite expensive, but if you like gifty paraphernalia you're likely to find something to fork out for.

Atticus is one of the cute little businesses along Hyde Park corner that has been around for a…read morereasonably long amount of time. I remember popping in here many times, whilst living in Hyde Park, for an emergency birthday card, surprise little trinket or simply a cheeky little mooch whilst I was having a bit of a wander. They house a number of sweet little items, from jewellery pieces, ornamental bits, a few garments, incense and all the other usual suspects for a gift shop of this kind. I've always found the staff to be really pleasant, never pushing for a sale or anything, and it's always been pleasant to browse around in spite of the modest space in the shop. Price wise you can easily spend up to £30, depending on what you want, but for that you're more than likely to pick up a number of little bits and bobs! If you're looking for that emergency sentiment, as a thank you/well done/happy birthday you can easily grab something in the region of £5-£10 so it's a great shop to know about in a pinch.

Atticus is another one of those shops that looks just like a dozen others all selling the same…read morestock, and in many ways it is, but in amongst the 'amusing' cards of animals wearing costumes and endless pointless trinkets, there are some genuinely beautiful things here, and they're surprisingly low priced given the shop's location. Perfect if you've forgotten a friend's birthday and have very little money (not that I'd ever do such a thing), they stock a wide range of jewellery around the £5-£10 mark that looks as if it cost a whole lot more. Get the lovely staff to gift wrap it for you, and it'll be our little secret...

A shop full of things you never knew you needed until you went in!…read more It can be a little expensive, but everthing is so nicely designed you can't complain at that! They have a nice range of homewares and tablewear, smaller novelities, such as hairbrushes and tape measures, and even handbags. Always a good place to go for gift ideas.

yeah, they openned one in york! the 1st octopus i've been to was in leeds. this store has the same…read morelines on sale. every item has a novelty value, so its fun just going in to have a look about. as its a bright, colourful shop! from babies rattles to nutmeg graters and dancing timers! them cute little piu piu birds that chirp when you pick them up! they have L.E.D. T-shirts. collectable handbags, funky toasters and kettles, furniture that looks like its strait from a fantasy cartoon! every inch of space is used to display its wares, it never looks jumbled, but can get packed out with shoppers! so if your buying for someone that has everything? (don't give them, penicillin again! sorry old joke couldn't resist!) this is the shop to go to! though some of the things are pricey, but these are very collectable gifts, and they seem to have the same lines in as the year before? i'm sure any gift from this store will get the 0ohi love it from the lucky receiver!