When I first set foot in London from the islands with a small bag. It was freezing, but the city glowed. Oxford Street glowed with lights, Regent Street windows looked like theatres, and Carnaby Street had colour. That first winter, I learned the joy of unusual gifts. At that time, Insidertoday's website there was no search engine to show the best gift shops near me. You had to explore, take your chances, and come across quirky gifts. The quirky little stores were where the treasures hid.

Today, I believe the unique gifts are the unusual ones. A neon sign for the living room will outshine cheap throwaways. Independent gift shops London still keep the vintage gifts that people remember. And retro themed gift if luxury is your thing, high-end boutiques in London will give you polish. Each Q4, I feel the city gear up for shopping. That’s when I start hunting for retro gifts. Check independent gift shops London and you’ll find plenty. But the authentic spirit still belong to the hidden boutiques.

For this reason, I always say that vintage gifts are the most powerful. They mean something, just like my first Christmas in London.