LAMB’S CONDUIT STREET
Tucked away among the back streets of Bloomsbury, this partly residential street is a favourite with clued-up Londoners. Its grand Georgian townhouses have long been home to a close-knit community of homegrown menswear brands including Folk, Grenson and Oliver Spencer. But it wasn’t until US retailer J Crew moved into the neighbourhood with a dedicated men’s store that Lamb’s Conduit Street stopped being such a tightly held secret and became a fully-fledged shopping destination. But it’s not all about the boys. The patch is also unique when it comes to tarting up your home. Line your shelves with historic women’s fiction from Persephone Books, spruce up your bricks and mortar with the help of Pentreath & Hall and fill your fridge at The People’s Supermarket food cooperative. Also, don’t pass up the opportunity for a mid-ramble pint at The Lamb – said to be a favoured watering hole of past local residents Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes and Charles Dickens.
FOLK
Since its conception in 2001 by Scotsman Cathal McAteer, this menswear brand has quietly established itself as a purveyor of unpretentious style. The airy, whitewashed shop displays its signature workman’s jackets and chunky ribbed knits in suitably industrial surroundings. The street is also home to the brand’s only dedicated women’s store at number 53.
—
49 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3NG.
020 7404 6458
PENTREATH & HALL
Tucked away down a quiet Georgian street, interior designer Ben Pentreath and artist Bridie Hall’s beautiful little shop is filled with treasures for the home which are quintessentially British but far from twee. Great for gifts but equally good for moments of distraction, it is a must-visit for discovering things you never knew you needed.
—
17 Rugby Street, WC1N 3QT.
020 7430 2526
GRENSON
Founded in Northamptonshire in 1866 by Mr William Green, Grenson was one of the first producers in the world to use the Goodyear welting construction method – now a hallmark of all well-made British shoes. But despite its impressive lineage, the brand hasn’t lost touch with what the modern man wants from his footwear. Its minimalist flagship shop – the largest of four in London – houses boots and brogues made with the same traditional approach to design but with a distinctively fashion-forward flavour, making them popular with City boys and Shoreditch types alike. In 2011, Grenson expanded its offering to include women’s styles too. Its stacked-sole brogues and tasselled loafers remain among the bestsellers.
—
40 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3LB.
020 3689 2970
PERSEPHONE BOOKS
The next time you feel like brushing up on your knowledge of little-known twentieth-century female writers, head straight for Persephone Books. Its picture-postcard storefront conceals a wealth of forgotten works by women, rebound in chic, signature grey covers, decorated with beautiful endpapers, and ready to enjoy the cult following they deserve.
—
59 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB.
020 7242 9292
THORNBACK & PEEL
Former florist Juliet Thornback and theatre designer Delia Peel launched their brand in 2007 with the aim of bringing a touch of British humour to the home. Inspired by the legendary Mrs Beeton and Beatrix Potter’s Mr McGregor, this quaint shop is filled with a cornucopia of kitchenware splashed with kitsch screen-printed designs, from cabbages and rabbits to Victorian jellies.
—
7 Rugby Street, WC1N 3QT.
020 7831 2878
EXMOUTH MARKET
The street that was once famous for its London boozers and fruit and veg stalls has been transformed into a foodie destination. And as every Londoner knows, where there are restaurants and bars the retail opportunities are plentiful, so it was only a matter of time before the street piqued the interest of some of the capital’s most creative shopkeepers. Start your spree with a caffeine fix at Caravan before stopping to smell the roses at Botanique, pick up a bottle at Borough Wines or a page-turner at Bookends, and finish up with a retro rummage and a sweet treat at the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair.
BOROUGH WINES
The capital’s best-loved bottle shops began life with just 10 organic wines sold at Borough Market. The varieties of plonk now extend to well over 300. Pioneers of the wallet-friendly refillable bottle scheme, this Exmouth outpost (the sixth of the brand’s eight branches) has also introduced a self-service growler system for beer guzzlers.
—
63 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL.
020 7837 1076
CONTENT & CO
The younger – and arguably cooler – brother of The Content Store on Lamb’s Conduit Street, this men’s garb outpost houses a wealth of collaborations with cult labels. Edwin denim, Red Wing boots and fisherman sweaters by Danish brand SNS Herning unite in what makes for one exceptionally stylish capsule wardrobe.
—
30 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE.
020 7833 1101
FAMILY TREE
A charming little gift shop big on eco-conscious design. Owner Takako Copeland sources homeware and accessories from across the globe – from handwoven toys from Sri Lanka to felt booties made by fairtrade artisans in Nepal. Closer to home the studio also champions local craftspeople and designs its own original prints and jewellery.
—
53 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL.
020 7278 1084
BRILL
Brill – part record store, part coffee shop – is a great place to while away a lazy afternoon with a flat white and a bit of Fleetwood Mac. The snug café’s menu is loaded with filled Brick Lane bagels and tasty sweet bakes, while its great soundtrack and CD stockpile spans jazz and blues to folk and rock.
—
27 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL.
020 7833 9757
BOTANIQUE WORKSHOP
Whether you’re after a hand-tied bouquet of blooms or a unique botanical gift fresh off the workbench, owner Alice, florist Pip and crucially, Goose the shop dog are on hand to help. This plant shop specialises in potted succulents and contemporary arrangements – they offer home delivery to most central London postcodes too – while intimate floristry workshops span flower crown and wreath making classes. Botanique also stocks a meticulously curated edit of treasures from local producers including Hackney-based kidswear label What Mother Made and Netil Market’s dog-loving brand Fetch and Follow. Add in its charming collection of handmade cards and you’ve got the perfect pre-party pitstop.
—
31 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL.
No phone.
CHILTERN STREET
Since the arrival of celebrity dining hangout Chiltern Firehouse, this NW1 stretch has given neighbouring Marylebone High Street a run for its money as the shopping magnet of choice for affluent locals with impeccable taste and deep pockets. But Chiltern Street’s appeal runs deeper than the chance to spot an A-lister (though that certainly helps). Men are particularly well catered for: notice the authentic cool of Trunk and John Simmons. Plus, the area has a stellar reputation for its specialist boutiques. Cire Trudon’s candles are a must-buy for anyone throwing a posh dinner party while upmarket holiday shop Prism is a destination all of its own.
MOUKI MOU
Conceived by fashion showroom agent Maria Lemos, this bijou boutique is a celebration of understated luxury. Discover niche jewellers on the ground floor or descend the spiral staircase into a warren of tiny, tiled rooms that contain a concentration of under-the-radar labels including draped dresses by Dosa and denim by 45rpm.
—
29 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PL.
020 7224 4010
CADENHEAD’S WHISKY SHOP & TASTING ROOM
Scotland’s oldest independent whisky bottler relocated to the area from Covent Garden in 2008. Begin your search for the perfect dram in the front room, home to its signature Scottish whiskies, or venture further in to discover international blends and Cadenhead’s rums. The shop also offers regular sessions in its two tasting lounges.
—
26 Chiltern Street, W1U 7QF.
020 7935 6999
CIRE TRUDON
With a history dating back to the 1600s, Paris’s Cire Trudon is the oldest and most prestigious candle-maker in the world and counts Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette as historic fans. Its first branch outside France masquerades as an elegant drawing room with ornate wallpaper, bell jars and wax busts. Don’t miss the hidden Fornasetti Profumi store out back.
—
36 Chiltern Street, W1U 7QJ.
020 7486 7590
TRUNK
Setting up shop in 2010, Trunk’s owner Mats Klingberg set a benchmark for one-stop menswear shopping. Its two-storey boutique at number 8 was the first to bring respected international brands such as Beams+, Aspesi and Montedoro to London, while its accessories-focused Labs offshoot at number 34 supplies all the finishing touches.
—
8 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PU.
020 7486 2357
THE MONOCLE SHOP
This bricks and mortar outpost for chic global affairs magazine Monocle was launched in November 2008 as a pop up, but its popularity has seen it stand the test of time. An oasis for the discerning, the shop is filled with the mag’s signature Porter bags, plus stylish stationery and knitwear. The excellent Monocle Café is also a stone’s throw away on Chiltern Street.
—
2A George Street, W1U 3QS.
020 7486 8770
