According to their facebook page: "Originally open for business in Blenheim Crescent, Portobello,…read moreVerandah relocated to larger premises on Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise in 2009" And I have been eyeing that premises while riding the bus many a times but finally had the time to jump off said bus and go in. So effin cute. It's another one of those SIDN stores (Shit I Don't Need) filled to the brim with lovely, pricey, sparkly things that you wouldn't consider buying for yourself but would be nice to buy as a present for someone else. The decor of the place is beautiful and whimsical. There is the kids section in the rear with so many fun things and a beautiful golden tree mirror that i totally want transplanted into my room. There's also a selection of used/vintage (and I think new?) clothing that is fairly priced but too rich for my blood at the moment. Definitely coming back here when I need a gift for a good friends birthday.

Best shop in Kensal Rise. Most gorgeous jewellery and clothes all well priced, so lovely for gifts…read moreand so impossible to not buy yourself something. The staff all wrap gifts beautifully free of charge and are so helpful and smiley.

I can't quite make up my mind about this one Currently the greater half of me is saddened by the…read moreloss of yet another long-standing shop on Golborne Road. This side of the road used to have a long string of antique shops all next door to each other, making for great browsing and shopping on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Mind you, this particular shop used to be crammed full with random and rather large pieces of furniture which concealed the beatiful tiling. Kokon To Zai is a concept store which, admittedly, makes perfect use of this beautiful shop with its original tiling (thistles - does this mean it would have been a butcher's in a past life?). The shop is beautifully designed, but I was left wondering if anyone will actually buy any of the designer clothes on offer. Perhaps Stella McCartney's staff on their lunch hour, whose offices are just a couple of doors up the road?

I hadn't realised that a second branch of this shop had opened and I was initially attracted by the…read morewindow display of their really gothic tea set complete with printed insects and antlers, a real antidote to all the Christmas cheer in the rest of London. Sadly I was looking for something tasteful for my mum so this really was not the right place for me to be there and then but I definitely want to pop back as it's slightly different to the Soho branch, reminded me more of the shop in Paris. The clothes were a bit much for me, both pricewise and bonkerswise but the homeware stuff was wonderfully weird although maybe a bit too trendy, I don't know if it would stay cool for too long.

Finally.... I have actually set foot in a real English pub. It has everything I could possible have…read moreimagined. Regulars sitting by the bar, talking a bit tho loud, enjoying each other's company and tipping pints. A fair size u shaped bars with many bar tenders manning the many chooses of golden elixir. A solid row of hand drawn tap handles.. Chalk boards with the options of the day Tables and chairs that don't match. People really enjoying their time. Lucky to go on a Sunday for their infamous top beef dinner with all the fixings... Staff is great. Beer was awesome and options plentiful. Food was excellent.

It's like Anthropologie's slightly more down to earth older sister that has her own flat and a real…read morejob. One of the last independents in Spitalfields. And what a damn fine job they do of it. If you are shopping in the area, do not miss it. I absolutely love The Mercantile. It's one of my favorite shops in London to poke around in and enjoy. The collection strikes a very delicate balance of nice, but not overly spendy. You can easily find a few things that will increase your joy, but not deplete your bank account. Mostly women's clothing and accessories (jewelry, shoes, scarves, etc) but also a fair amount of home goods (candles, frames, bits and bobs). What is the stand out factor? The sheer number of items. You know those shops you go into that are SO BEAUTIFUL, but like, there are about 8 items in the store. You know in about 8 seconds if you want to stay in there or not, usually not. Well, the Mercantile is the opposite. There are things EVERYWHERE. Hanging from the walls, stashed in corners, piled in cute heaps, everywhere. You could look for hours and I guarantee you wouldn't have seen everything. It's like a treasure hunt. So enjoyable. DO NOT MISS THE BASEMENT. That's where all my finds come from. Brave those steep stairs and get your soon-to-be-more-stylish self down there. My most recent visit yielded: *Herschel bag (half off, now £28!), which has made me a much hipper mum (using as nappie bag!) *Gorgeous scarf -- just £20. Not even on sale, it was just not very high priced. Beautiful. Perfect spot for gift shopping, for others -- or, for yourself! It's a regular on my rotation.

I went here during my weekly voyage to the Portobello market this weekend. From the outside it…read moreseems to be a real treat; photos of past customers Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Victoria Beckham etc cover the windows, and there is a doorbell system on the door which means you cant just stroll in from the street. After a five minute wait outside in the freezing cold we were eventually let in to what is essentially a small room with women's apparel and another tiny room behind it with menswear. The clothes are amazing quality and not just reams of eighties gear like you find in the market, there are some lovely 1940s and '50s pieces here. It is so expensive though, the bag and dress that I liked were each £150 so i swiftly made me way to the door. Its expensive but if you needed something really special this is a good place to go.

One of A Kind is my favourite vintage store on Portobello Road. And Notting Hill. Actually, it's…read moreone of my favourite vintage stores in town. Sure, the doorbell system is a bit wanky, but with clothes like this, it's easy to see why they need to monitor who comes in and out. The shop is tiny - but they have packed it with more stuff than you could believe could fit in such a small space. It's got an absolutely superb range of vintage things - from 1920s sequinned flapper dresses to some phenomenal 80s snakeskin boots. Sure, it's pretty expensive but some places have to be, right? Last time I was here, Kate Moss was also browsing. Only difference was she could afford to buy things, whereas I could not!

To say I am a fan is actually a wild understatement…read more I couldn't be MORE of a fan of this place if I tried. The entire experience has been nothing short of absolutely incredible, professional, cool and collected. This is as indie as it gets folks. A beautiful shop in Shoreditch run by two artists (Richard & Robin) with a real passion for not only reclaimed vintage pieces and sustainable function, but in welding these elements together to create beauty. They do custom work as well, are extremely skilled with iron (check out the fixtures in the store -- and they can customise anything), and a keen eye for eccentric pieces. Now, I know what you are thinking: "must cost a fortune." AND, you'd be wrong. I was shocked too at how reasonably priced their pieces are. We purchased a coffee table (an old kindergarten school table) for 45, a storage trug for 45 and the crown jewel: a salvaged steel table (HEAVY) with custom built wood slat top for 475. Compare that to the junk you can get on Tottenham Court Road, no contest. Better looking, cooler, independent business and...cheaper. What's the risk!? None! Richard and Robin delivered it to my home today (obviously this costs a bit extra) and managed to get this very heavy and slightly awkward shaped table into my kitchen. I don't even really know how they did it...but they did so and with grace. Barely a nick on a wall...if it had been me, the whole building would've been banged up after that job. They were polite, professional, and genuinely so cool to work with. We'll be coming back, signing up for the mailing list and shouting it from the rooftops...I also love their typewriter keychains and they have 2 old Stik (graffiti artist) doors that are on sale (a bit worn), that I so wish I could buy. My roommate is not in agreement, but please...go own an original! (orange background). Their website is also a good resource -- they have almost everything listed on there. *accepts credit cards. *open Sundays. Super fan girl, right here.

This place is a real hidden gem... tucked away in Shoreditch. They make their own furniture out of…read morereclaimed items and seem to stay as true to their typewrite theme as possible... key chains, etc. I found this place while I was wondering around my neighborhood and soon came back to look at furniture. Many of their pieces are made of steel & old growth wood and they have a gritty industrial feel to them. Richard, the co-owner was gracious on each of my visits and explained enough about the pieces to give me a quick anecdote if i needed to boast to my friends (this one was in vogue uk, this one is made from floorboards, etc). What is great though, is how well these pieces are priced. I love looking for furniture like this and tables like these can go for thousands, instead you get them for hundreds. Very good deal at the price point. They also offer delivery and can build custom pieces. The typewriter may be obsolete, but if Richard & co can keep finding, making and selling furniture at such realistic price points, I think Type will be around for a while... ...maybe long enough to be in business when we all are using typewriters again... trust me.. I watch enough scifi to know that big changes are coming

Again, this is situated in Gabriel's Wharf, which hosts a plethora of cool little shops. A little…read moreshopper's paradise on The Southbank amongst the bustle of restaurants and tourist attractions. I visited Hears Rule Hearts specifically to find a hat for my Mother's birthday. She's a real hat fanatic and I was glad I came here as they sell hats for all occasions. For me, it's not really my thing. I prefer vintage hats and things but for everything else, this is definitely a nice little shop to visit if you are specifically looking for something hat-centric whether it be to keep out the cold or for a special occasion.

This shop in Gabriel's Wharf was a welcome change from a lot of the shops we had visited in our…read moreLondon travels. We were so happy to come across a place that had some unique handmade goods, as well as some cute childrens' clothing. On top of that, everything seemed to be reasonably priced, and the sales clerk was very friendly. It's always nice to discover places like this, if you're in the area I suggest you check it out.

I visited Piajeh in Weybridge for the first time in a while recently and it still remains one of…read morethe best and most unique boutiques in Surrey. It's been in Weybridge for around 15-16 years now. They've always had such a variety of different things and rarely ever the same item is available again, so best to grab it when you see it, try it on and buy it there and then, or it will be gone quickly. There is something for everyone here, casual everday and anytime pieces, cashmere tops, party dresses, evening wear, gorgeous shoes and trendy boots for all occasions and a fabulous selection of costume jewellery, a few bags and belts. Don't expect any bargains as Piajeh is a top end boutique, but it's always worth a look out for one-off creations that are on sale. I would describe Piajeh as a treasure trove for anyone with a unique eye for fashion and if you're after something different that nobody else you know will also have in their wardrobe. A sister Piajeh boutique (same owner) opened in the Summer of 2012 in Wimbledon village, haven't visited that shop yet.

This place is situated in the Oxo Tower on the Southbank…read more Aei:Kei prides itself on high fashion, chic clothing. As with many of the shops in the Oxo Tower, this place is a little pricey and I'd say not really worth the price either. The women's clothes in here are kind of ladylike urban chic, something for the yummy mummies really or the classier office gal. Not really worth it unless my description sounds up your street, you can probably get something a little more "en vogue" in central London for a better price...

Really great shop! aei:kei is great as it's in the lovely OXO Tower, there is a real range of…read moreclothing. Having dragged my friend around several shops this one really did the job! Friendly staff, great clothing and reasonable prices! Definitely a place i'd recommend!