Finally! A designer in the East end producing wonderful and collectable work at an affordable…read moreprice. I can't say enough good things about this store. From coasters to place mats to stunning cushions and mugs, she's single-handedly turned the ordinary home commodities into works of art. If you're looking to dress your table up for the perfect dinner party, or for some designer wrapping paper and cards cheaper than Paperchase, look no further. Check out the website too, beautifully designed and I guarantee will have you running down there as soon as you can.

So this was a wonderful surprise. Every block is filled with some sort of ethnic or cultural gem,…read morenot to mention all the breathtaking street art and wall graffiti that is there to discover. There's a market that happens only on Sundays til 4pm, so try to go then, but even when it's not happening, Brick Lane is such an adventure to walk through. It has a serious Brooklyn vibe - thank you, hipsters of the world. If you're at all into vintage clothes, arts, jewelry, maps, antiques, home decor, and bric-a-brac, this is the mecca for it. I've never seen this much vintage merchandise in one location! Make sure to check out the underground vintage market halfway through the street, because if you're into shopping at all, you'll find tons of second-hand designer clothing and accessories. The food options literally left my jaw dropped, and the same will happen to your Instagram followers. The crux of it is geared towards Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisines and dollar stores (hence the unofficial nickname, Curry Lane), but you can find all sorts of shops on the street, like chocolatiers, donuts, a world-famous cereal bar, Lithuanian food, Ethiopian food, Middle Eastern food, and more. There is so much personality and eclectic energy to Brick Lane - I can't recommend it enough that you add it to your itinerary!

pretty cool slept on area? similar vibes to kensington (toronto). tons of food optionsread more

A unique gift shop a la Magma meets Design Museum. The stock…read moreconsists of the wittiest cards, toys, home accessories, books, games, jewellery... and most importantly of those crazy arty 'things.' (i.e. plastic egg hatching a basil plant)

This place has a unique selection of interesting and kitschy gifts. They even threw in a miniature…read morerubber ducky at my request. Can't wait to see what they have next time I visit.

So many things in my home have come from this fantastic little gem of a store! They import…read morewell-made, unique, and beautiful home décor accents sourced directly from their makers in both Cambodia and Viet Nam... I'm not sure if it exactly qualifies for "fair trade" but I like to think it does when I'm making purchases... Fine woven floor mats in a multitude of colours, lacquered cups and bowls, and some unique sculptural pieces are just a few of the things that you can find (and that I've purchased) here. Everything has a very Asian-minimalist clean-line feel to it - which I find extremely appealing. Beyond the distinctive aesthetic of the pieces, everything is also extremely well-priced. I guarantee sticker-shock... of the pleasantly low variety. Also, the people who run this shop are total sweethearts... I don't think there's a smite of greed in their souls... this shop really seems to be more their labour of love... which, if you ask me, is just one more reason to spend your money here!

I really lIke this store, which like many of the shops on Columbia Road probably has limited…read morestrange hours, so make sure to check before you head out this way. Basically, this is an upscale Vietnamese housewares shop. So, sure, that coconut laquered bowl, bamboo spoon, or soy sauce pourer that would cost 50p in Vietnam might set you back ten quid here, but at least you don't have to buy the plane ticket? Trying to think positively here. Anyhow, this is a fantastic shop for small gifts, pretty little things of a practical nature (artistic cookware, serving trays, condiment bowls... hand-crafted items of all sorts). If you like beautiful Asian handmade items, this is a place for you. Plus, even with the import upscale markup, this place is still quite affordable. Make sure to sniff the cinnamon boxes. So neat!

I had an amazing experience shopping here. They have a huge variety of clothes and unique styles. I…read moreloved the color of the clothes and how they looked on me. I got so many compliments for all my new outfits. I love this store!

Eeeek, this place is like a mini Ikea, and the merchandise is so dirt cheap that you might end up…read morebuying out the whole store! I can't even describe the different things available in this store, other than... its full of pure randomness! I think there's a bit of something for everyone here, and one of those places that you would want to browse to see whats there. - cheap tech toys - jewelry holders - fun napkins and colorful candles - assorted snacks - umbrellas - kitchenware and storage containers - school supplies and stationary - art supplies, blank canvas, drawing books Go check it out!

I absolutely love 'In...'. If you're not careful you may miss it but if you work your way through…read moreall the stalls in Spitalfields you'll fihnd this gorgeous home furnishings shop. They have beautiful furniture (dinning room tabels, chairs, cabinets and shelving) all of which have great individual style. My favourite items in here are the trinkets and decor. They have beautiful bird cages for decor that you can put candles in as well as beautiful lighting and ornaments. It's a brilliant place if you're looking for gifts as they have stuff for men, women and children. The prices are reasonable and the staff are great.

I love this unique shop. They sell mainly quirky home decor items, as well as a small selection of…read morebooks (pop culture, fashion etc), jewellery, cards and gifts. It's a great place to head for an unusual gift or for someone hard to buy for. A lot of the stuff is a bit pricey but you can tell it's good quality. I'll definitely be popping in here when I move house to get some of the kitsch lighting and kitchenware they stock.

The checkout staff are the politest and kindest people I've ever come across that are always so…read morefriendly and helpful with their customers.

Your friendly local hardware emporium. They have it all - screws, hammers, doorstops, cleaning…read moreproducts. Yes, this is a regular one-stop-shop of the old-fashioned variety, where the owner knows the regulars and will cheerfully point you in the right direction for whatever obscure item you're looking for - and he knows, because he probably ordered it and placed it there himself. I've always had helpful and friendly service whenever I've walked in here - and have actually been pleasantly surprised to discover that I've also never left without the item I was looking for. It may look small, but this shopkeeper seems to have a sixth sense for what his customers will inevitably need.

Great hardware store, stuffed to the rafters (literally - there's stock displayed up to the…read moreceiling). Everything for home decorating needs including lumber - so if you need some 2" x 4" or dowel, they'll cut to your requirements. Also random stuff like baking tins, garden equipment as well as being suppliers for Dulux and other paint brands. It's a family run business and all of the staff are really helpful, particularly if you're a DIY novice.