Top 10 London Christmas gifts

1. Fortnum and Mason biscuits

A tin of biscuits may be a bit of a Christmas cliché, but Fortnum’s Piccadilly Biscuit Selection, £13.95, is a particularly elegant option, with a pretty tin of butter biscuits in six different flavours (golden crunch, date & walnut, lemon curd, ginger, macadamia nut and chocolate pearl).

2. Colour-changing umbrella

I’m fascinated by this umbrella, which features a white London skyline on a black background. When it rains, the water turns the skyline a rainbow of colours. Genius. £30 from Squid London at Beyond the Valley.

3. Shepherd’s diary

Hand-bound in Shepherd’s London bindery in a range of decorative Japanese papers. The slim-line pocket diary is £19.50 and available from the Rochester Row & Southampton Row stores, as well as Liberty. 

4. Ormonde Jayne’s Tiare fragrance

Bypass the department store perfume box sets and head to Ormonde Jayne for the exquisite new Tiare fragrance, which features mandarin, orange flower and Sicilian lime in the top notes, with a ‘heart’ of Tiare, freesia, water lilies, jasmine, orris and ylang. £68 for 50ml Eau de Parfum.

5. Pigeon hankies

Brilliance in a hankie, by London-based designers Thornback and Peel. £18 from Liberty.

6. Alex Monroe bird ring

Wonderfully detailed and delicate work. Alex is a South-Londoner, too. £132 from Alex Monroe.

7. Grayson Perry Tate Modern scarf

Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry has turned his attention to the Tate Modern in this beautifully illustrated silk scarf. (Thanks to Kate Wilson of Little Doodles for the tip!). £63.61, from the Tate Modern shop.

8. Mimi leather purse

This 'Merlin' leather purse is by East London designer Mimi, and features gold foil stamping by Lucky Bird. £37, from Mimi.

9. Rococo Chocolates

I love Rococo as much for their distinctive blue and white packaging as for their delicious chocolates – and this box of rose, violet, lavender and geranium creams (so very English) is a winner for under a tenner. "Fiori e Cioccolata" 8 flower fondant creams, £9.95.

10. Mittens necklace

Toasty mittens to hang around your neck, £63, by Tatty Devine.

Comments

[Rose]

great ideas- we have such similar taste. I had no idea Rococo did geranium and lavender in their selection- I will be needing some of those...

[Karen]

I always love reading your gift guides - they provide good ideas when I need to go shopping. I actually did buy the tin of Fortnum biscuits you mentioned here because the tin is so very pretty! Can't wait to taste them, either.

[Lindsey]

Thanks for the ideas! I have a few gifts still to buy and this was inspiration for sure!

[London Zest]

How delightful is that mitten necklace! And the rococco chocolate! Yum! Love all of these gift ideas! Thx for sharing:) x LZ

[Helena]

That ring is utterly beautiful! I like how the egg is a pearl, and not just more metal. Beautiful.

[shayma]

this is a lovely list. two sweet things on it- biscuits AND choccies. i would buy the F&M biscuits just so i can keep the tin. x

[Porcelain Blonde]

Absolutely gorgeous picks! I'd love them all, but especially the purse, hankies and biscuits <3

Wouldn't it be a fabulous world if everyone picked out little chrissie prezzies like this?!

<3 xxx

[Alex]

It's not Christmas without a shopping trip to Fortnums!

[leonie]

i am embarrased to say that i've never set foot in the fortnum & mason store (and i've been here for 2 years!)

better fix that quick.

[Raru]

Beautiful selection. Thanks for sharing and have a great day :-)

Raru
79ideas.org

[Creative ideas]

I love the pigeons gift. It's very symbolic

[Ruth Bonser]

It's not Christmas in our house without a box of F&M biscuits - the best in London. And thanks for the tip-off about the Grayston scarf - one for my Mum I think!

[Laurie]

I must find myself a mittens necklace here in the states :)

[Sneaky Magpie]

Oh, my husband is really on top of the game then, few years ago I got a photo album from Rochester, same cover as diary no 4 from left and this year it is the Alex Monroe ring ;)