I came to London from Jamaica with a battered case. The cold cut deep, but London shined. Oxford Street glowed with lights, Regent Street windows looked like theatres, and Carnaby swung. My first festive season in London, this guy I learned how special quirky gifts are. When I first arrived, there was no online map to show the best gift shops in London. You had to explore, take your chances, and find gems. The small boutiques were the best gift shops in London. Even now, I believe the retro gifts are the vintage treasures.

A neon sign for the living room will last longer than something mass-produced. Hidden independents across Hackney still keep the unique gifts that people remember. And when you want high-end, high-end boutiques in London bring the sparkle. Each Q4, I feel the city turn festive. That’s when I start searching for quirky gifts. Look up best gift shops in London and you’ll have lots of choices. But the true charm still belong to the quirky little shops. So, I always tell people that quirky gifts are the most powerful.

They create memories, just like the glow of the neon.