The best shops for Christmas shopping in London

This elegant bookshop feels particularly inviting at Christmas thanks to its gorgeous design and shelves that reach all the way to the ceiling. The selection covers fiction, essays and a great travel section arranged by destination, so it's easy to find something that suits whoever you are buying for. It is a welcome break from the usual festive rush and even if you pick up something familiar the experience feels cosy and suitably wintry.

Choose Love has opened its latest pop-up on Regent Street, offering a different take on Christmas shopping in one of London's busiest areas. Instead of gadgets or gift sets, the store stocks essentials needed by refugees such as warm clothing, children's items, hygiene products and phone credit. Everything you buy is sent directly to the organisation's partner projects around the world. The space is thoughtfully designed and spread across two floors, making it an easy, surprisingly calm stop during a central London festive trip.

Choosing Keeping transforms during the festive season, becoming one of Seven Dials' most interesting stops for Christmas decorations and gifts. Alongside its usual stationery and design objects, the shelves fill with a wide range of handmade ornaments and seasonal pieces that appeal to anyone who prefers craft-focused items to standard high-street baubles. The shop has a calm, polished atmosphere and, without any food or drink offering, the attention stays firmly on the products. It is an easy place to browse if you want Christmas gifts that feel a little more thoughtful than the usual selections.

Benjamin Pollock's is a top stop for Christmas gifts in Covent Garden and specialises in traditional toys, including miniature theatres, puppets and illustrated storybooks. The vibe is warm and slightly nostalgic, which fits the season without becoming OTT. The focus is on craft and detail, making it a good option for children's presents or for adults who appreciate classic design.

This Islington spot is well-suited to Christmas shopping for children and offers a mix of dress-up outfits, crowns and tulle pieces alongside wooden toys, soft toys and small accessories. The space has a calm, friendly atmosphere, which makes it easy to move through during a busier part of the season. There is no food or drink, which keeps the focus on gift-buying, and the overall feel is more polished than that of the average toy shop.

Selfridges turns fully festive during December, and its Christmas shop sits alongside fashion, beauty and homeware floors. The atmosphere is lively and the range runs from designer pieces to smaller stocking fillers. When the crowds get heavy, you can head to the food hall for pastries, sweets or snacks. It is a great choice if you want to tackle most of your Christmas shopping under one roof.

Liberty's Tudor-style building in Soho feels especially atmospheric at Christmas, and the store's mix of fashion, beauty, and homeware makes it one of the more distinctive department stores to browse during the season. The floors are filled with designer clothing, patterned fabrics, accessories and a curated edit of well-known beauty brands. Its Christmas shop and wrapping service add a nice extra for anyone working through a list. 

This Shoreditch bookshop is a great stop for Christmas gifting if you want something more niche than a standard festive hardback. It specialises in small press releases, limited-run art books and cult magazines that appeal to readers who prefer unusual or design-driven titles. The atmosphere is quiet and pared back, which makes it a good counterpoint to the usual December rush. 

For anyone who enjoys the wrapping part of Christmas as much as the gifting, this Exmouth Market shop is worth a visit. It specialises in hand-printed cards, bright neon wrap and simple paper goods that give presents a bit more presence under the tree. The space is small and easy to navigate, which helps during the festive rush. The stationery is made in-house, and the colours are fun without feeling kitsch, so it's a great place to stock up on everything you need for gift-wrapping season.

Petersham Nurseries in Richmond is a good place to shop for Christmas if you want gifts with a gentle, natural feel. The shelves hold delicate baubles, botanical prints and crafted ceramics, while the greenhouse stocks bulbs, festive plants and simple pots that make easy presents. It has a quiet, rustic atmosphere that offers a break from the more intense December shop,s and it is a strong option for anyone who prefers greenery and handmade pieces over loud festive gimmicks.

Right beside Fortnum's, Hatchards offers a calm break from the bustle of Piccadilly. The shop opened in 1797 under John Hatchard, whose early customers included Queen Charlotte, and its five floors still feel closely connected to that long history. Creaking boards, bay-fronted windows and shelves that seem to stretch forever make it an easy place to wander while you look for something new to read. Big names from Jane Austen to Virginia Woolf once browsed here, and it still attracts anyone who enjoys a classic bookshop atmosphere.