Owl/Walden Books
Walden Books is the area’s most beautiful second hand bookshop, a real place to linger an hour, tucked away two mins’ walk from Kentish Town West on Harmood Street. Meanwhile, over at Owl, you can find something for every generation on its tables of beautifully laid out paperbacks and reissues. There are stacks of tomes on local history too. Goes without saying that there are quality greetings cards and a cosy children’s section.
Gift Idea? The Fields Beneath by Gillian Tindall. 207 Kentish Town Road
We Make London
A pop-up boutique that has outstayed its original two-week tenancy, such is the popularity of its unique lines of goods. Over 30 cutting edge designer-makers sell their work direct to the public here, creating a veritable smorgasbord of affordable original art, unusual clothing designs and quirky cards.
Gift idea? How about an ultra-festive, bauble-adorned headband – perfect for the office Xmas bash (just keep those Facebook photo privacy settings tight). 53 Camden Lock Place
Map Gift Shop
Go gawp at the very seasonal Christmas window, then pop inside for gifts, toys, kids’ toys, and quirky local greeting cards. Oh, and have a natter with amiable owner Ian, who we interviewed back in September here.
Gift idea? Is your pops in the running for a good parenting award? Get him a coaster. Go on. 93 Junction Road N19
Orientalist
Ah, the Ottoman splendour of Highgate Road’s long-established carpet shops. And not as expensive as you might think, either (prices start at around £40, although it’s all very hagglable). Worth a snoop are both Kasra (99 Highgate Road) and Seneh Carpets (90 Highgate Road), but our favourite is the excellent The Orientalist, a vast three-room mini-empire which they claim is the largest handmade supplier in Europe, piled up with rugs and carpets of all sizes and ages.
Gift idea? A decorative Persian kilim. 74-80 Highgate Road.
Mighty Fine
All those hard-to-buy-for Xmas present dilemmas can be solved in this one-stop chocolate and fudge kitchen. Generous slabs of good-looking treats are racked all around, most already gift wrapped to go. Special Christmas pudding-flavoured fudge starts at £2.50 for a cute mini-pud, with boxes of mulled wine spaces for a fiver.
Gift idea? Grab a gift box, (from £12-£19.50), containing a selection of individually wrapped hand-made chocs and fudge chunks, then split them up either as party gifts, hang ‘em on the tree, or as the highlight of any bulging stocking. 51 Camden Lock Place
Neal’s Yard
It’s easy to forget how near Neal’s Yard Remedies is. A slither of a shop tucked away up near the Roundhouse, this year it opened therapy rooms too. Stock up on Orange Flower toner and cream, or book your Mum in for a weekend session of Reflexology.
Gift idea? A presentation box filled with those distinctive blue bottles (£22 and upwards). 68 Chalk Farm Road
Queen’s Crescent Antiques Market
A kind of one-stop Xmas shop for the vintage-obsessed amongst you. Some of it’s pricey, for sure, but there are plenty of cheaper options too. And if you miss the weekly Saturday et there’s always Matt Townsend’s antiques shop (the owner is pictured with his favourite Nash), which is open daily on Queen’s Crescent – and surprisingly satisfying for a rummage.
Gift Idea? A vintage paperback? An oil? An antique necklace?
Read The Label
For those who wish to treat their body like a temple and make only the faintest of enviro-footprints, these homemade (in Finchley) cosmetic products are about as good as it gets. Gift boxes are £13.50 or pick up plenty of small items for conscientiously inclined stockings, with masses of info on all the ingredients for label geeks too.
Gift idea? Purified charcoal and sandalwood soap. First floor, Camden Lock Market Hall
Chamberlaines / Simpsons Cycles
Cycling is booming, with our slice of the postcode pie identified as second only to fixie bike-obsessed Hackney in the two-wheeled popularity stakes. Yet traditional bike shops have been hit hard by online retailers. Two stalwarts of the area to choose from are both piled high with stylish sets of wheels and accessories. Also see the quirky secondhand place and Lunar Cycles, both on or near Wilkin Street Mews,
Gift idea? Wheels. Obvs. 75 Kentish Town Road/ 114 Malden Road
Poppie Jasper
A stall heavy with upcycled jewellery, Poppie started collecting pretty things during her two year stint living in the Middle East. She took to trawling the souks, repurposing her finds and selling them at private parties before expanding to a more permanent base – a stall open seven days a week in Camden.
Gift idea? Upcycled very glam earrings start at just £6 a pair, an ideal stocking-filler with fantastic ethical and ethnic credentials. East Yard (right opp the canal), Lock Market
Future & Found
Offering beautiful things for your home, inevitably they are going Xmas gift crazy, with a selection of stocking fillers at all prices. Very practical, and such a nice environment to swoosh about in – perhaps fuelled by some seasonal ice cream from next door Ruby’s.
Gift idea? The sisters cushion (£65) is a real statement piece to spruce up a hair or sofa. Inspired by the , it is hand-stitched from re-purposed sweaters from the area’s celebrated Pendleton Woolen Mill. 116a Fortess Road
Eeny meeny
Tufnell Park really is a strong place to go for local gifts. Owner and all-her-life Kentishtowner Clare opened up this kids’ shop as a “silly, sensible, cool, quirky, fantastic, funny, pretty and playful children’s boutique for kids aged 0-10yrs.” Wow. Even better they try to stock products from ethically minded companies and small local producers: timeless classic toys, great locally-produced artwork, and excellent quality garments without the silly pricetags.
Gift idea? Rosie Flo set of Xmas Decorations that are customisable and work straight out of the pack £5.99. 8 Campdale Road N7
What Every Girl Wants
Lingerie to die for – or at very least to curl up comfortably under a duvet for. WEGW stocks all kinds of frilly and silky under-garments for discerning ladies of all ages. Fancy knickers start at £10 with bras, basques, bespoke perfumes and all the rest, right up to deluxe silk slips at £120. Check the cute excitable in-house puppy too.
Gift idea? Decadent bed socks certainly beat a pair of auntie’s clichéd stripey knitted ones, or go for a pair of glittering seamed stockings, sure to make every girl feel special as part of her NYE party getup. Unit 47 West Yard, Lock Market
Soho Hip
Soho Hip relocated from Norwich last year, and its owner Debra has quickly become a firm fixture in the community. She sells children’s toys, games and silver jewellery made with real flowers by Shrieking Violet. Plus homewares, luxury candles, cards and gift wrap. Even better, she’s great for a natter.
Gift idea? Tatty Devine jewellery 148 Fortess Road
Sugacandipop
“My nieces wanted dolls that looked like them so, having never made one before, I gave it a go to see how it’d work out”, said owner Alisha recently. Now her bespoke dolls come with the choice of 5 skin tones, 15 basic hairstyles, a variety of hair colours and over 200 specially sourced fabrics for the dresses. “I make dude dolls, baby cuddle dolls, denim dolls and bespoke custom-made one-off pieces” she says.
Gift Idea? A doll, of course (prices from £25). Unit L6, Lower Dingwalls Gallery, off Camden Lock Place
Know any local gift hotspots? Share below
2 thoughts on “Stay local: 15 ideas for turkey-free last minute Christmas Shopping”
I always pop into Harrington and Squires on Fortess Road to get cards and lovely bits and bobs. It’s the tiny letterpress studio near Sainsbury’s. Really unique stuff, beautifully made. I inevitably keep a lot of it for myself though, which is a problem. http://www.harringtonandsquires.com
Oh it’s actually harringtonandsquires.co.uk. And no, I don’t work there and I’m not on commission! It’s just a lovely place that prob needs a bit more support – I don’t want it to disappear.