London's retro and vintage treasures are one of my top things about the city. Whether you're searching for a quirky gifts,vintage gifts,retro gifts,retro presents,retro gifts for men,retro gifts for her,vintage presents,vintage gifts for her,retro gifts men,quirky birthday gifts,christmas gifts quirky,gifts retro,quirky christmas gifts,mens retro gifts,nostalgic gifts,vintage presents for her,quirky presents,vintage gifts for him,vintage presents for him,retro christmas gifts,quirky presents for men,quirky gifts for her,quirky xmas gifts,quirky gifts christmas,nostalgic presents,quirky birthday presents,original ideas for gifts,quirky presents for guys,unusual present ideas uk,90s nostalgia gifts,unusual gifts for best friends,unusual presents for him uk,cool gift,unusual mens xmas gifts,unusual presents for friends,fun gift ideas,weird and unique gifts,unusual gift ideas uk,special gift ideas,unusual christmas presents uk,strange gifts,fun gifts adults,special gift,birthday gifts quirky,unique gifts gifts,quirky gift stores,unique christmas gifts uk,christmas presents cool,weird gifts,presents beginning with s,gifts for her quirky,retro christmas items,quirky gifts for guys,cool items for christmas,unusual gifts christmas,strange and unusual gifts,unusual present,unusal gifts,weird birthday gifts for him,unusual christmas gifts for,unusual xmas presents for him,quirky presents for him,strange and unique gifts,quirky presents for her,unusual gift ideas,retro gifts for men,interesting gifts for adults,gifts from 1974,quirky mens presents,presents starting with s,retro items,unusual presents for him,weird presents,unusual presents uk,antique gifts,interesting present ideas,interesting gifts uk,gifts unusual uk,retro presents,interesting presents,quirky gifts for him,mens retro gifts,quirky gifts for friends,unusual christmas present ideas,80s presents,unusual present ideas for men,odd unusual gifts,a unique gift,unusual gift items,retro gifts from the 80s,quirky gift,gift ideas unusual,80's presents,gift weird,mens unusual gifts uk,unique gifts for unique friends,quirky birthday gifts,odd and unique gifts,not on the high street gifts for men,quirky gifts uk,quirky christmas presents,quirky presents for friends,quirky presents for friends,vintage christmas presents,special gifts,odd gifts for christmas,ideas for unusual gifts,unusual present ideas,unusual gifts united kingdom,presents for a man cave,unusual gifts for xmas,unusual presents for best friends,unusual mens gifts uk,unique presents uk,quirky birthday presents,unusual christmas gifts men,unusual mens christmas presents,quirky gift ideas,funky gifts,unique gifts uk,80s gifts,quirky xmas presents,interesting gift ideas,Unique Gifts birthday surprise or a retro Christmas present, or something with more soul than a traditional gift set, London is a dream for anyone who appreciates the nostalgia of the past.

One of my favorite weekends is a stroll through the city's antique market. Portobello Road always tops my list, not only for its colourful chaos but also for the variety of items available. You can find everything, from mid-century homeware to enamel kitchen tins and vintage vinyl records that are still full of life. I've lost count of the occasions when I've received "just one small present" that has turned into an entire bag of treasures.

I like to visit Shoreditch or Islington for a more refined experience. There are vintage shops that are boutique in these neighborhoods which specialize in certain time periods. For instance, there is a shop that specializes in 1940s style and another one that focuses on lighting from the 1970s. It's the sort of browsing experience where you end up talking to the proprietor of the shop for half an hour about the history of a lamp, or the history of a satchel made of leather.

I always look for authenticity when buying retro gifts. A maker's mark and original labels or even a bit of wear and tear make a difference to the overall look of the gift. The antique dealers of London are generally eager to tell the story behind the item. This story is usually included in the present. Imagine gifting a scarf from the 1950s that traveled through Europe, or a typewriter that was used to send love letters to loved ones in the years back. This turns a gift into a living part of the past.

Mixing the old with the new is a part of the fun. I sometimes put together a vintage piece of furniture with modern packaging or a fresh bouquet of blooms to give it a contemporary twist. It's a great method to give something old a new look, webpage (simply click the up coming internet page) while still honoring its roots.

London has a wide range of fairs that are seasonal. These are especially popular around Christmas. The Southbank Winter Market, as in addition to a variety of vintage market pop-ups, combine the joy of Christmas with stalls that sell unique and one-off quirky gifts,vintage gifts,retro gifts,retro presents,retro gifts for men,retro gifts for her,vintage presents,vintage gifts for her,retro gifts men,quirky birthday gifts,christmas gifts quirky,gifts retro,quirky christmas gifts,mens retro gifts,nostalgic gifts,vintage presents for her,quirky presents,vintage gifts for him,vintage presents for him,retro christmas gifts,quirky presents for men,quirky gifts for her,quirky xmas gifts,quirky gifts christmas,nostalgic presents,quirky birthday presents,original ideas for gifts,quirky presents for guys,unusual present ideas uk,90s nostalgia gifts,unusual gifts for best friends,unusual presents for him uk,cool gift,unusual mens xmas gifts,unusual presents for friends,fun gift ideas,weird and unique gifts,unusual gift ideas uk,special gift ideas,unusual christmas presents uk,strange gifts,fun gifts adults,special gift,birthday gifts quirky,unique gifts gifts,quirky gift stores,unique christmas gifts uk,christmas presents cool,weird gifts,presents beginning with s,gifts for her quirky,retro christmas items,quirky gifts for guys,cool items for christmas,unusual gifts christmas,strange and unusual gifts,unusual present,unusal gifts,weird birthday gifts for him,unusual christmas gifts for,unusual xmas presents for him,quirky presents for him,strange and unique gifts,quirky presents for her,unusual gift ideas,retro gifts for men,interesting gifts for adults,gifts from 1974,quirky mens presents,presents starting with s,retro items,unusual presents for him,weird presents,unusual presents uk,antique gifts,interesting present ideas,interesting gifts uk,gifts unusual uk,retro presents,interesting presents,quirky gifts for him,mens retro gifts,quirky gifts for friends,unusual christmas present ideas,80s presents,unusual present ideas for men,odd unusual gifts,a unique gift,unusual gift items,retro gifts from the 80s,quirky gift,gift ideas unusual,80's presents,gift weird,mens unusual gifts uk,unique gifts for unique friends,quirky birthday gifts,odd and unique gifts,not on the high street gifts for men,quirky gifts uk,quirky christmas presents,quirky presents for friends,quirky presents for friends,vintage christmas presents,special gifts,odd gifts for christmas,ideas for unusual gifts,unusual present ideas,unusual gifts united kingdom,presents for a man cave,unusual gifts for xmas,unusual presents for best friends,unusual mens gifts uk,unique presents uk,quirky birthday presents,unusual christmas gifts men,unusual mens christmas presents,quirky gift ideas,funky gifts,unique gifts uk,80s gifts,quirky xmas presents,interesting gift ideas,Unique Gifts. I'm not one to leave empty with my shopping bag, and I usually leave with a gift for myself.

In the world of disposable products, giving a gift that is vintage or retro feels thoughtful and personal. It's a way to honor craftsmanship, stories worth keeping and the pleasure of finding beauty through objects that have endured the test of time. London is a perfect backdrop for this hunt - one that is awash in history and still feels vibrant and alive.

Next time you go to shop for gifts, stay away from the empty high-street chains. Put on your most comfortable shoes and go your Saturday scouring the streets of London. You are never sure what you will find, but I can assure you that it'll be something memorable.