A local’s guide to quirky and unique concept stores in London to buy unique gifts and souvenirs; eco-conscious shops, fashion gems and stationery shops!
Concept stores are the it-type of shop I love visiting in London, and the best part is, they’re everywhere, hidden in secret corners of the city.
Visit Muswell Hill, Highgate or Chelsea, and you’re bound to find some incredible gift shops, those where you won’t find the British flag, but rather, unique pieces of jewelry, clothing, and limited edition prints.
15 Quirky Concept Stores in London, Eco-Conscious and Gifts
From Koibird in Marylebone, which brings together the boldest and most colorful designer pieces, to Aida Shoreditch’s curated sustainable homeware and fashion selection, there’s so much to discover when it comes to shopping in London.
The concept stores in this guide are sometimes nestled in London’s famous shopping areas, but most are just little local shops no one pays attention to but locals and savvy travelers.
Make your way to colorful Shoreditch, elegant Marylebone, and historic Clerkenwell, and you’ll be able to find some really unique things to buy!
Where to Buy Unique Gifts in London: The Vaults Collective, Crystal Palace
The Vaults Collective in Crystal Palace, dubbed Ivy and the Wolf, is one of the most striking examples of concept stores à la London.
It’s a plant shop, a vegan cafe, a homeware store, and a bookshop all rolled into one – and it’s really decently-sized.
The Vaults Collective is one of my favorite cafes in London; I love checking out their vases and prints, their new gardening books (even if I don’t actually garden!), and gorgeous ceramics.
Concept stores often organize cool workshops, and The Vaults Collective is no exception: succulent landscaping, perfume creation, terrarium-making… It’s just an ecosystem in itself.
Find here my full review of The Vaults Collective to learn more about this wonderful cafe, plant and homeware shop.
Best Concept Stores in London: WEVE2050 Sustainable Store, Central London
Located on Neal Street, close to Covent Garden and Seven Dials Market, WEVE2050 is a forward-thinking eco-conscious store filled with clothes, jewelry and handbags from emerging talents.
Zero-waste packaging transforms into art, and it’s a place where sustainability isn’t backstage but center stage, and where mindful design blends with avant-garde shapes.
Best Concept Stores in London: Not Just a Shop, High Holborn
Curated stationery, handmade candles, stylish kitchenware and striking prints: if you’re looking for really unique gifts in London, Not Just a Shop takes the ordinary, and goes way beyond.
The store is unusual in that all the pieces are created by students and graduates from the University of the Arts London.
It’s been open since 2017, and I can’t stress enough how many things I want to buy every time I pop by.
Best Concept Stores in London: D.A.Y Boutique, Peckham
In Peckham, D.A.Y Boutique is another concept store to visit for those after a treasure trove of independent labels.
Brought to life by three sisters, D.A.Y Boutique offers Enamel Copenhagen’s sleek jewelry pieces alongside Formation Company creations, while other brands like Bon Parfumeur add a finishing touch with bespoke fragrances.
Unique clothes, resort pieces, leather handbags or menswear, all under one roof.
Read: 17 Unique Experiences in London (Far) from the Beaten Path
Best Concept Stores in London: ISHQ, Winchester House, Marylebone
ISHQ, nestled within the historic walls of Winchester House, is a realm of preloved, vintage pieces, all more beautiful than the last.
Vases and pitchers cohabit with keyhole candle stands, while hand-woven throws and cushions made from recycled and vintage textiles go one step further in celebrating the beauty of imperfection.
One of Marylebone’s hidden gems, ISHQ champions ethical artisans, and if Daunt Books nearby is already a very unique shop, it’s true that ISHQ should be on your bucket list, too.
Best Concept Stores in London: Londonworks, Muswell Hill
For eco-conscious gifts, colorful scented candles and small-designer clothing, Muswell Hill’s Londonworks is a shop I try to visit every chance I have.
We’re in one of London’s villages, on Muswell Hill Broadway, from where you can get wonderful views of London, too.
We’ve got everything from books to scarves and sunglasses, and even Jellycat plushies, and Londonworks is a great stop before roaming the racks of second hand book at nearby Oxfam Bookshop!
Best Concept Stores in London: Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, East London
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies has got to be one of the strangest concept stores in London, conjuring up the most curious creature-comforts since 1818.
After its 2010, you can find pretty much anything monster and zombie-themed in the East London shop, from Eyeball Soufflé to tea-resistant Monster tissues or Werewolf Fur Conditioner.
Once you’ve stocked up on really cool gifts, check out Rivington Street’s street art, make your way to the vintage cafe on Columbia Road, or visit the free museum I love so much and its secret garden: the Museum of the Home only minutes away.
Where to Buy Unique Gifts in London: In-Residence, Islington
Islington’s In-Residence offers beautiful art prints, unique books and custom-made jewelry that just scream our name – I’d take the lot with my back home if I could.
We’re close to the secret Camden Passage and Redemption Roasters (a not-so-secret cafe with a very secret sculpted basement and a garden!), and all around In-Residence, you’ll find many more unique bookshops and charity shops you just shouldn’t miss.
Read here my review of Redemption Roasters, Islington, to discover its secret basement, its atmosphere, and my thoughts about the coffee and cake.
Best Concept Stores in London: Brand Academy, Southbank
Southbank’s Brand Academy, which also houses the tiny Coffee Academy coffee shop, is a great gift shop for anything quirky.
Expect to find hand-crafted ceramics, strange coloring books, odd gifts and wonderful plush toys.
The coffee shop is a must-visit for outstanding hot chocolate (it’s one of my favorite spots in town), and when you sit on one of the two tables Coffee Academy’s got outside, you can lazily people-watch and get lost in your thoughts.
Best Concept Stores in London: Lone Design Club, Canary Wharf
In Canary Wharf, Lone Designs Club is well-anchored in sustainability, too.
Every visit uncovers fresh talent, inspiring stories, and makes us feel good about purchasing with consciousness.
Aaria London Jewellery shimmering under soft lights, the effortless comfort of Girlfriend Collective activewear, and the sculptural silhouettes of Aggi womenswear all live side by side.
If you’re done visiting the Crossrail Place roof garden in the morning, when there’s still no one around, do pop by the Lone Design Club and you might very well find a new artisan handbag, or a carefully crafted necklace!
Where to Buy Unique Gifts in London: London Terrariums, Bethnal Green
London Terrariums on Bethnal Green Road was established in 2014 as a response to a passion for gardening that, sadly, can often not be sustained due to not having a garden in London.
From workshops to wonderful domes and gardening books, London Terrariums has plenty of unique gifts on offer for whoever is into plants and nature.
The shop is located just ten steps away from the start of Brick Lane; down the road, you’ll find really beautiful bookshops, vintage shops, and of course, street food spots of all kinds.
Best Concept Stores in London: Koibird, Marylebone
Koibird in Marylebone is located just steps away from colorful streets like James Street and the dining and shopping court at St Christopher’s Place.
We’re in a store designed to make ‘shopping an opportunity for adventure rather than a chore’, with each season curated around a theme.
From independent designers to emerging brands, this is a store you have to visit if you’re into luxurious minimalism, statement jewelry, and beautifully crafted home decor.
Read: The Must Have Apps to Survive in London
Where to Buy Unique Gifts in London: Aida, Shoreditch
Rustic, high-street and avant-garde: Aida Shoreditch feels like all of this combined, with a collection of lifestyle products, gorgeous homeware and sustainable clothing.
At the front of the concept store, a cozy, almost vintage cafe in which time feels like it’s stopped altogether, and where you can enjoy wonderful carrot cake, chai latte and other really colorful lattes.
We’re close to Boxpark Shoreditch, at the end of Bethnal Green Road, and if you make your way there afterwards, you’ll find other really unique shops like Absence of Colour.
Best Concept Stores in London: Glassworks London, Shoreditch
Glassworks is more of an independent boutique filled with fashion pieces than a concept store, but with its shops in Shoreditch, Soho and Dalston, it dresses the most avant-garde Londoners.
Glassworks Shoreditch is located minutes away from Shoreditch High Street station, and a place to find unique pieces and stylish gifts for both men and women.
Where to Buy Unique Gifts in London: Present & Correct, Clerkenwell
Unique stationery shops and arts and crafts stores are one of London’s facets, and located in Clerkenwell, close to Holborn, Present & Correct is one such shop that will help you understand more about London’s personality.
Vintage-inspired notebooks and accessories, practical Scandinavian vibes, and luxury-feeling stationery staples are what you’ll find at Present & Correct.
Once you’ve found the perfect gift, explore the Clerkenwell area and you’ll come across plenty of Italian places – the neighborhood is indeed nicknamed Little Italy!
15 Quirky Concept Stores in London, Eco-Conscious and Gifts
There may be lots of high-end designer shops and brands in London, but I’ve always been more interested in hidden spots, as you can see throughout my posts about London’s past.
Wherever you may find yourself in London, you’re bound to come across quirky concept stores, and that makes London even more magical in my eyes.
Sustainable homeware, exclusive designer pieces or a new plant? You have all the must-visit shops for that!
If you’re into quirky spots of all kinds, do check out those guides to complete your day out in London: