Artists have been shopping at L Cornelissen & Son since 1855, when Louis Cornelissen began supplying pigments to London’s creative community. The Great Russell Street shop still looks like it did in Victorian times, with dark wood cabinets, brass fittings and shelves of pigments in every shade. You’ll find everything from handmade papers and natural brushes to rare resins and inks, many of which they make in-house using methods that have changed little in the 170 years they’ve been open.

Founded in 1830, James Smith & Sons has had nearly two centuries to perfect the umbrella. Their Burlington Street shop—so narrow that you had to step outside to open one up—was destroyed in WWII, leaving the Oxford St flagship as the remaining location. Inside are wicker baskets overflowing with walking sticks, elegant handles, and walls lined with unfurled umbrellas. The workshop is still on site, where craftsmen offer customizations so yours won’t get mixed up on a soggy day.

One of London’s most beloved tea shops, Postcard Teas is a jewel-box space lined with neatly labeled tins and delicate porcelain teaware. Specializing in small-batch teas sourced from family-run farms across Asia, they’ll brew you a sample whether you’re after fragrant oolongs or rare Japanese blends. Most famously, they pioneered the idea of mailing tea in a letterbox-sized package, so you can literally send a “tea postcard.” Who doesn’t love receiving a cup of tea in the post?

VV Rouleaux is a treasure trove of ribbons, trims, tassels, headbands and fascinators. The Marylebone shop is a riot of color and texture, with floor-to-ceiling displays that draw designers and milliners, as well as the occasional Lady of London on a mission for a last-minute polo look. But it's just as fun to browse for inspiration, and since everything is sold by the meter, you can leave with a tiny snippet as a souvenir.

Tucked down a quiet court near Leicester Square, Bryars & Bryars has shelves stacked with antiquarian books, vintage maps and curious ephemera. Whether you’re hunting for a centuries-old atlas, vintage Tube map, or miniature marble bust, you’ll find a treasure in their incredible collection.

Established in 1841, David Penton & Son is one of London’s last great old-fashioned hardware shops—the kind where you go in for a lightbulb and come out with brooms, brushes, rope, wax and more. Hidden down Marylebone Lane (where it was the very first shop), the narrow space is piled high with every tool imaginable. It’s beloved by tradespeople and designers, but even if you don’t need a washer or drill bit, wander in and speak to the lovely staff who somehow know exactly where everything lives.

It’s no secret we love print, so a visit to Shreeji is always a treat. Once a humble newsstand, it’s now London’s coolest newsagent, with a great collection of print magazines (ahem, Yolo Journal), art books, and the occasional exhibition. The coffee is great too, and if you can score one of the coveted outdoor tables on a sunny day, don’t rush—flip through a copy of something new, and enjoy the exceptional people-watching with Chiltern Firehouse just across the road.

A stationery lover’s dream, Choosing Keeping in Covent Garden almost feels more like a gallery than a shop. Shelves display hand-marbled notebooks, Japanese pencils, and beautiful inks sourced from all over the world, opposite a wall of artfully draped wrapping papers. Each item is so considered, whether it’s a fountain pen you’ll treasure for decades or a tiny box of the chicest thumbtacks you’ve ever seen.

This Japanese design shop on Chiltern Street elevates everyday items from something utilitarian you’d hide away in a drawer to artful objets worthy of being displayed. They specialize in gardening tools, carrying everything from finely made flower trimming scissors to pruning saws and about a dozen Bonsai-specific instruments to tinker with.

If you’re a fan of the beloved cartoon reporter TinTin, the shop in Covent Garden is a must-visit. It opened in 1984 and is one of just three shops dedicated solely to TinTin, with graphic novels, figurines and other nostalgic ephemera.

Labour and Wait is a cult-favorite shop devoted to timeless, functional design. Its shelves are stocked with mostly practical and somewhat whimsical goods—enamelware, brushes, striped Breton shirts, gardening tools, and stationery that we always save room for in our suitcase.