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.
