Best Independent Boutiques in London

London's best shopping is often in its independent shops — bookshops, record stores, specialist food shops and fashion boutiques that couldn't survive on any high street but thrive in specific neighbourhoods where enough people care about what they sell.

Books

Daunt Books (Marylebone — the most beautiful bookshop in London, Edwardian galleries and a travel section of real distinction), Foyles on Charing Cross Road (enormous, excellent), Persephone Books (Bloomsbury — women's literature from the 20th century, a genuine specialist), Gay's the Word (Bloomsbury — Europe's oldest LGBT bookshop, since 1979).

Records

Sister Ray on Berwick Street, Soho (independent new and used records in the heart of what was London's record shop district), Rough Trade East (Brick Lane area, strong on independent and alternative), Reckless Records (Soho, second-hand).

Food Specialists

Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market and Covent Garden — one of London's founding specialty roasters), Neal's Yard Dairy (Borough Market and Covent Garden — extraordinary British cheeses), The Ginger Pig (multiple locations — exceptional British butchers).

Fashion & Homeware

Redchurch Street in Shoreditch has London's best concentration of interesting independent fashion and design boutiques. Mount Street in Mayfair rewards a slow browse for luxury independents. Columbia Road (the street, not just the market) has homeware shops that stay open through the Sunday market.

Tips

• Daunt Books in Marylebone is one of London's most beautiful interiors — worth visiting even without buying.
• Neal's Yard Dairy at Borough Market for British cheese is worth queuing for.
• Redchurch Street in Shoreditch is the best single street for independent fashion and design.
• Many independent shops are closed Sundays or have reduced hours — check before visiting specifically.