I arrived in London from Jamaica with a small bag. The winter shocked me, but London shined. Oxford Street was alive, Regent Street sparkled with shop displays, wiki.fuzokudb.com and Carnaby Street had colour. My first festive season in London, I learned how special quirky gifts are. Back then, there was no digital guide to show independent gift shops London. You had to walk, drift through streets, and discover treasures. The small boutiques were the real magic.

Today, I always remind friends the unique gifts are the unusual ones. A neon sign for the living room will mean more than plastic tat. Hidden independents across Hackney still stock the retro gifts that people remember. And when you want high-end, high-end boutiques in London are full of shine. When Christmas builds up, I feel the city get ready for Christmas. That’s when I start hunting for vintage gifts.

Explore luxury gift shops London and you’ll discover many. But the best treasures still belong to the independent shops. For this reason, I always tell people that vintage gifts are the most meaningful. They last, just like London at Christmas.