Maggie's is one of those rare gems. You have to know that it exists. It's set back from the road…read moreand not at all obvious as you pass. Inside you'll find that you've entered a workshop. Huge cutting tables predominate. Maggie's is a shop that specialises in curtaining and soft furnishings. Maggie keeps lots of fabric books and samples and offers great advice. She's not pushy and really listens to what you ask for. You can borrow samples to view at home. Maggie offers a measuring service and will offer advice in the home. There is no disabled access. Parking is available outside the shop or on the road (note that there are resricted hours for parking). Recommended

The trouble with W H Smith at the moment is it doesn't know what it is. Is it a book shop, a…read morenewsagents, a sweet shop? So they try to cram everything in that they think someone might need. This means you have to walk an assault course to get to the back of the store. This branch in Uxbridge has actually got a lot of floor space but you couldn't tell on first glance due to the massive displays and no space in between. I would hate to have to push a buggy around, your poor baby would have Cards and magazines crashing on it's head. The one thing I do like about this shop is the self service tills. You don't have a depressed member of staff trying to sell you half price chocolate. As you scan your own stuff. Much better when you nip in for a birthday card. This does have a great selection if birthday cards. But every time I leave I'm thankful I made it out alive!

The best for buying papers or magazines. Usually pop in to pick up the free DVD or CD from the…read moredaily mail. Has a post office on the upper floor. The back of the store could do with more space, but most stationary and other basics are aesy to find.

Although Artbox was adorable, I wouldn't say it's a close representation to what's available at a…read moreSanrio store in Japan and has a smaller selection than you'd expect. The items also felt slightly dated and tended to lean towards certain characters like cinnamoroll with very little selection of black hello kitty or my melody. I half expected that Artbox would have a similar check out process to Japan, in which you received a small hello kitty bag tag on your bag and was disappointed when there wasn't. All in all, the items I purchased were adorable but the selection is small so if you drop in I'd recommend keeping expectations low.

11.1o.19 Cute stuffs…read moreoverload. I don't get anything but my gf did. I am not into these cutesy things anymore, sadly, too old for them. There were some items I've never seen in LA or maybe I don't shop for these little things so I wouldn't know. Honestly, everything was on the pricy side. That was kind of expected. But a piece of KitKat for 1gpb20? Uh...no, I'll pass. Thank you though. It was still nice to look at it. :)

House Proud is a tiny housewares shop next door to Pizza Hut in North Heath. It sells a small range…read moreof items from cleaning goods and storage solutions to little gifts such as ornaments, picture frames and clocks. It is a good little shop with a wholesome and local vibe. I love a good thrift shop and this one doesn't disappoint. There is competition in the area in the form of Discount City down the road which edges it because of its size and ability to hold more stock but this one is a good one to check out. The goods aren't the greatest quality but you get value for money and the items do the job which you bought them for. The shop is close to the Mill Road car park and if you happen be in the area or live locally it is worth popping into. Not one to travel to North Heath specifically for. Also not one for the kids as the shop is small and there is plenty for them to knock off the shelf and break.

SCAMDIUM & "LUKE" ARE FRAUDS...From the beginning, the 10K USD worth of outdoor furniture that I…read morepurchased from Skandium has been a disaster. The shipping was a punitive and protracted affair requiring endless follow up. The furniture was defective and though they have promised replacements for months, many, many emails later...nothing. I am turning this over to Amex and to an outside arbitration firm.

I dare to claim that the best design in the world comes from Scandinavia. At least the simplicity…read moreand the clear lines appeals to my taste and aesthetic eye. Well I am from the north pole so also visiting this store is like visiting home. Labels like Iittala and Artek, oh the Finns could not live without. In this shop you can see the whole scale of classic designs. Full of innovative and beautiful items for home, from cutlery to fabrics and furniture's downstairs. If you have even a slight crush on the Scandinavian style, you will love this shop.

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.

Babylong trading is an independent retailer offering unique products like furniture, textiles, wall…read moreart, clothes and more! If you are looking for inspiration for your home decor avoid the large chains and go here first, you will definetly find something unique and interesting. Most of the time i find myself visiting to get some of their amazing cards & wrapping paper(much better choise than paperchase or cardfactory) or when I find myself stuck looking for a gift and i need something different.

Isn't flock wallpaper really fun, wouldn't it be nice to go and see some "modern flock wallpaper",…read moreyou know, traditional but with heroin addicts hidden in the pattern and stuff, wouldn't it be great to pay lots of money for that and for it to actually be rather, well, underwhelming and a bit basic, as though sketched by a slightly disabled child. Erm, not really. Updating traditional works but when done with a skill. Unfortunately this is all a bit crude, a modern FCUK equivalent. Price - £100s per m

Timorous Beasties is a gorgeous little shop tucked away on Amwell Street, selling beautiful…read morehand-printed fabrics and wallpapers to order. The designs are have a feeling of Victorian grandeur but with a quirky and original modern twist, making you look twice to appreciate the pattern. It's not cheap to order from here but the results look striking. The store is small with only one shop assistant who is helpful, knowledgeable and not at all pushy- and she makes a mean cup of tea. Definitely worth a visit if you're refurbishing your home.