This store is middle age signed, sealed and delivered in one room. I don't even know what half the…read morestuff they sell is, but I found myself, literally minutes away from Christmas, neck deep in a credit crunch and scrabbling around trying to buy an £18 colander. They do sell lots of lovely house hold bits and bobs but until I have a house, Labrador and a child called Mimi Fifi Orchid Clooney (a girl can dream) I wont be buying anything from here. It's a personal thing, possibly connected to being a huge consumerist ass hole whilst having a huge problem with consumerism. For me, buying a £300 pair of shoes is wrong but necessary, where as buying two plain white enamel breakfast bowls for £16 seems ridiculous. I am aware that this statement is ridiculous in itself, in fact, I just don't want to talk about it anymore. I will say though, that this shop is lovely, but I prefer Ikea.

I've been meaning to visit Labour and Wait ever since I read an article sometime ago in The…read moreGuardian profiling couples who had started up new and innovative businesses in the East End, and the L&W concept really struck a cord. You can be assured the new shop in Redchurch Street sells the same functional products for the kitchen, home and garden as the existing shop on Cheshire St, however I believe L&W are moving from Cheshire St to Redchurch St in the not-too-distant future. For too long, consumers have been lulled into a false sense of security with large, "convenient" hardware stores such as Homebase and B&Q etc. who unfortunately have, over the years got away with cheap replicas of good quality homeware goods. L&W moves away from this methodolgy and focuses fully on sustainable goods made in enamel, stainless steel and wood, rather than plastic and throw-away alternatives. The shop is minimalist in style, but all the products are displayed in a creative and alternative way, which I'd liken a little to the layout of Muji stores. As most shoppers today, I am mindful of what I buy having an effect on our environment and planet, but love L&W's ethos. I especially love the enamel kitchen sets, glass jugs, butter dishes and stainless steel buckets and watering cans. True classics! Now, don't get me wrong, you can't get anywhere near the vast selection (though often poor and low quality) of hardware and homeware products from L&W that you get in chain hardware stores, but what you do get (as the blackboard outside the shop and web home page state!) is "high quality, traditional goods for the home", with the added bonus of browsing a low-tech shop and experiencing a low stress retail experience. Now that has to be worth a trip to Shoreditch any day of the week!

It's always a delight to come into this shop. There's such a grandness to it... and all the home…read morefurnishings and decorative merchandise feels really solid - like there's a traditional English sturdiness to everything; nothing too fragile to withstand a lifetime of use. I consider GTO a sure bet for gifts - or when I'm just in the mood to purchase something lovely for my own sheer enjoyment. It seems as if the buyers here really scour...the product assortment is classic, but usually with a interesting twist... almost everything they have on offer is something distinctive and really worth having. The products run the gamut of home furnishings... vases, dishes, accent pillows, hard bound books... even bath and body products. I'm especially a fan of their glassware... it's all very sturdy and uniquely decorated - I once found some very elegant, very masculine, tan-coloured tumblers that looked like they'd be at home in the hand of James Bond - the guy who got them thought they were marvelous. They also have a charming card and stationary section... really different and lovely.

This place is an old Chelsea institution, although the atmophere is less unique since they moved…read moreinto a modern new space from their old rabbit-warren around the corner. Basically, they sell three things: - expensive vintage European (not really antique) Asian and European furniture and accessories (leather armchairs, side-tables, elephants carved from driftwood, pond yachts, stone Buddhas) -Serious home things - porcelain, lamps, framed prints, soaps and fine linens, all with a fairly traditional style - All manner of gifty things, especially at Christmas - joke books, small toys, decorations, silver picture frames, scented candles... A good place to come and look for presents, or a nineteenth century brass telescope on a tripod at a 300% markup. (Update - the cafe has gone)

Me: "I'd like to speak to Mister Conran, please."…read more Sales clerk: "Certainly. May I ask why?" Me: "Yes, I'm here to write that Yelp review and I'll need several pieces of your furniture for, uh, long-term testing." That's the conversation that played in my head because the only way I'll be having any of this super-cool stuff is in my dreams. Conran sells amazingly high quality designer furniture and housewares. While most of it is very functional, some of it is... designer and therefore is very nice to look at but maybe not as functional. On the minus side, the prices are all perfectly displayed.

The Conran Shop is the best shop. I love the Conran Shop…read more Maybe I've got a little infatuation going on but I can't help it. This shop has so many things and it's overwhelming and hilarious and fun at the same time. For example, I bought a little popcorn set for my mom here for 8 pounds, and then I saw those crazy purses here, you know, the ones that look silly and are made up of shiny triangles and you think they look stupid but then when you touch them you start to think you want then? You know those crazy purses? the 500 pound ones? You know those kinds?!?! And then I guess they sell furniture here. But they also sell funny little games, and also these intricately designed santa cookies, and cards and just weird freaking stuff! That's the funny thing about the Conran Shop. It has a lot of fun stuff and maybe something is 8 pounds, or 800 pounds, you just need to check. But the best thing about the Conran Shop is their little cafe in the back. It's decorated beautifully and they serve food as well. I love going there. They've got wifi and it's a great place to escape... also because there aren't usually a ton of people there. So hopefully I've lost everyone with my crazy purse description to read the end of this review. ;)

My family has been coming here for years! Well before I was born. We're not local-we're Americans,…read moreand on every visit this was a must stop. There are many antiques from Alfies in my home that we inherited from my mother and smaller special keepsakes from my time living in London in my 20s. My husband & I spent part of our honeymoon in London, and it was his first time in the city (September/October 2024) and this was a nonnegotiable stop for me. Plan to spend a few hours wandering around and exploring-it's humongous! Also, generally speaking not on the inexpensive side but you can always find some gem's. I can remember on one visit when I was 19, we stumbled on a vendor that didn't realize what he had, it was a 20 year old authentic bubblegum pink Kelly (Hermes) and he had it priced under $1000. I still to this day regret not buying it for resale alone (bubblegum pink is not for me lol)

It would be an understatement to say that I am besotted with antiques. I love them. Can't get…read moreenough of them. Know London's antique and vintage purveyors like the back of my proverbial hand. And Alfie's is one of my favourites, a veritable antique market located in trendy Marylebone. With dealers selling clothes, fine and costume jewellery, furniture, textiles and collectibles, Alfie's should satisfy the needs of even the most ardent collector. And with a surprisingly accessible atmosphere at odds with the sometimes rarefied world of antiques and vintage, Alfie's is perfect for a browse for the expert and neophyte alike. I visited Alfie's just before Christmas last year and spotted cute as a button Mark Owen from Take That looking incredibly dapper. This is the place for vintage/antique fans to find unique Christmas presents without recourse to the high street.

The sis and I went here on our very last attempt to get stuff before heading back home. Think IKEA…read moreof cool gadgets! I was in awe! The prices were decent consider they were GBP! The place was packed (after work hours) and they had stuff ranging from pointless / useless to useful items for the any place in your home. The staff were friendly as well as helpful! They seemed really out of it considering the amount of work they have so props for the friendly smile! Well worth checking out for last minute stuff!

Yay! I'm a fan. Well actually Yah! My wife's a fan…read more The appearance of this very colourful purveyor of cheap, very cheap, stuff in a high street near you should put a smile on even the most jaded grumpy old sod. This grumpy old sod was moved to smile, drawn in and with predictable consumerist energy sucked into spending £30 quid on a selection of stuff. With an Ikea aesthetic and set out in a one way route you get to see and be presented with everything they have on offer. And just like to Ikea market area you cannot seem to pass through without taking advantage of the unbelievable bargains. Surrounded mainly by women who were so overexcited by all the shiny cheap trinklets on offer I was moved to smile some more and shift quickly to the checkout and think myself lucky they only got 30 quid out of me......this time. You have been warned.

If IKEA had a threesome with Bed Bath and Beyond and The Container Store, this would be their…read morelovechild. From housewares and apparel to bedding and even prepackaged food, this place has it all. This particular store is three floors. The first floor has candles, scented oils and aroma diffusers, cosmetic and travel containers, bath and skincare products, writing instruments, acrylic photo and document frames, and various travel necessities including packing cubes and suitcases. The bottom floor contains housewares such as cooking utensils, bedding, and even prepackaged food. The top floor had a small variety of clothing and apparel. I was elated to sign that this shop carried something I've been looking for for a long time: makeup blotting papers. As someone with oily skin, these are a necessity. Before departing for London, I checked all of my favourite cosmetics stores and no one seemed to have them in stock. Thankfully, the shop has plenty, although I would hardly think to look for them in a place like this. If you love writing instruments as much as I do, be sure to spend a little time with the writing tools. They have a wide variety of ink colors, pen sizes, and pen styles to fit every hand. There are even basic fountain pens and fancy mechanical pencils in stock.

As much as I love all thing Muji (I mean... they're Japanese! How could anyone not love Keroppi,…read moreNintendo, or Vampire Hunter D?)... ... I've gotta say that I still feel gouged every time I make a purchase here. A silicone ice-baller for whisky for £7.50 and basic bento sets running close to £25 make my wallet sad. Still, their simple clean designs and the obvious utility of each product can't be argued with. If nothing else, I can be sure that the numerical figure that comes after the currency symbol will be less than the translated number in Yen. Le sigh.

After my visit to the National Gallery, I went to the nearby National Portrait Gallery. Even…read morethough art museums aren't on the top of my list of attractions, the National Portrait Gallery was right there, and, like the National Gallery, it was free, so no reason not to go. As the name suggests, the National Portrait Gallery focused on portraits (paintings, busts, and photographs), and the portraits were grouped into categories, such as royalty, authors, and scientists. Since there was an informational plaque by each portrait that also included a brief history about the person, it was also educational. I visited the National Portrait Gallery for about an hour, and I also had a drink and snack in the Audrey Green Café. (The gallery also has a couple of full service restaurants.) [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; London, England; Museums and Art Galleries; Cheap Thrills]

A must do in London. It is free entry (donations accepted) . Portraits starting in the Tudor…read moreages but for me, the most interesting are the portraits of more current people - Amy Winehouse, Germaine Greer.... it is well laid out and you can easily spend a few hours. Even though it is free, you can 'buy' your tickets on line so then you bypass the line up. Worth doing if you are in London.

Disclaimer that I did NOT get up at ass-o'clock or whatever to go to this market. We got there at…read morelike 9am because I was on VACATION thank you very much. So maybe getting up at 4am is the best, as visiting at 9am (A REASONABLE HOUR, THANK YOU) meant that that Square was perhaps 1/2 full of stalls. Maybe the early bird does indeed, catch the worm but I shall never know. Anyway, this Market happens on Friday AM's. There are stalls selling acres of china, silver cutlery, lace and that one stall that sells royal commemorative tat that I salivate over. Not much furniture, mostly small collectible things. There's also a food stall or two, plus a nearby (slightly ghetto) Sainsbury's.

I am being completely truthful when I say that 5am on a Friday is really the only time to go to…read morethis market. Because it is an antique dealers' market and not a regular vintage/antique market, deals go quickly. There are hundreds of high quality and reasonably priced stalls selling an overwhelming array of goods. I have only done it twice when it first opens but it is best seen before dawn when you see people examining their goods with torches and the lights from their phones.