London for the day with independent shops

[Wistful977]

I'm coming to London next Monday with my mum and would like to shop somewhere with lots of independent shops not chains if possible? She has limited mobility so I wondered about Spitalfields or perhaps northcote road or Chiswick? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Which station are you coming into? I imagine it would be easier for your mum not to have to travel too far from there?

Lambs Conduit Street/Rugby Street WC1 with lunch at Ciao Bella? It's absolutely lovely there. If her mobility is not too bad it's a short walk/taxi from the British museum and Covent garden too.

Thank you both. We are staying over Sunday night and mum is happy getting taxis anywhere. We have been disappointed with Covent Garden in the past don't know conduit or lamb st so will check these out, thank you

There are lots of independent shops in the arcades & squares off / around Piccadilly. Shepherd Market especially.

Thank you I will have a look.

I hear very good things about Marylebone High Street these days.

I find the idea of Northcote Rd as a destination location astonishing in a good way. I grew up locally when it was all iron mongers, greengrocers, Asian supermarkets and a couple of charity shops. There was a nice independent bookshop, but it was the poor cousin to Battersea Rise.

That was going to be my suggestion, but Persephone Books has gone, alas…

Avoid Spitalfields like the plague, last time I went it was after it’s been done up and it’s essentially full of stalls that are selling made in China tat dressed up as ‘British’ IE hats, London maps etc but seriously rubbish.
Covent Garden I agree also awful these days.
Hopefully someone will have some nice suggestions for you :)

Oh crikey that is a shame about Spitalfields!! I will avoid that now. We have done Marylebone high st for the last couple of years but fancy trying somewhere different. I mentioned Northcote Rd because I lived nearby 25 years ago and they had some nice shops then and I wondered if that had continued? I am looking for some interesting independent shops that aren't hugely expensive- I love the conran shop for example but it's soo expensive!

Columbia Road? Beware some small independent shops are closed on a Monday. Best to check beforehand.

You might enjoy coal drop yard as it has a market area too with independent stalls - there are different themes in the run up to Christmas

Greenwich market? It's a bit of a trek depending on where you come in

Upper Street in Angel? (Islington)

Depends a bit what you want the shops to sell.

Columbia Road sounds like a great idea- I will check on opening times though - good point!!
We have tried coal drops yard and my mum wasn't keen - I once saw the market at the weekend though and thought it was great!

Greenwich is probably a bit too far out but thank you.
Upper st was a bit hilly if I remember rightly? I am hoping for smart homeware / gift shops to get some unique presents that I can't find in my local area.

Just north of Upper Street is Stoke Newington Church Street. I lived there for a while and loved it. I visited again recently and it is full of independent shops, lots of gorgeous homewares (I bought colourful candles and fancy matchboxes for friends) and great places to eat, every type of food imaginable. Also traffic free apart from buses so nice and quiet. There's the fascinating Abney Park cemetery for a walk, sometimes a pop up market in the community hall with local artists and makers.

Upper St is flat. There’s (or used to be — I no longer live nearby) a Le Creuset, Borough Kitchen cookware shop, After Noah for gifts, lots of beauty stuff like Space NK, Neal’s Yard, and Aesop (some on Cross St, just off Upper St), vintage stuff on Camden Passage (market is only open Wed and Sat, I think). Lots of restaurants and cafes (Ottolenghi for breakfast or lunch?), a big Waterstone’s.

Example of type of Church St shop....

You’re making me all nostalgic for my north London days, @ikeepforgetting! I spent a lot of my early baby days walking in Clissold Park and looking at the headstones in the old churchyard (not Abney Park, the church closer to Clissold Park, with fabulous Victorian and older inscriptions). And Naomi Stadlen’s Mothers Talking group at Born saved my sanity! And in childfree times eating at the vegetarian Rasa…

@SlightlyGoneOff My children are half made of Rasa's spinach and lentils! Maybe we crossed paths at Born - it was a bit of a lifesaver. I miss it so much too, in another leafier but duller part of London now, but would consider moving back once kids are through school

I don't think I have ever been to Stoke Newington so this is really appealing! My only concern is that if it is traffic free will we be able to get there by taxi and get one back out again later do you think?

I don't think my dad would forgive me if I let my mum lose in Camden passage I bet she would spend a fortune!! Sounds like a good area though but doesn't appeal as much as Stoke Newington so far.
I am so grateful for all the ideas though

Northcote Road is lovely but not many shops now. Its mainly bars and restaurants.

Is Notting Hill nice these days?

@Wistful977 Traffic free along church street only, you can get a taxi to either end of Church street or just off. I park just off church st when I visit so still v accessible. Also on the 73 bus route that passes through Islington so you could combine with Camden Passage, Upper St etc.