Best unique, unusual and specialist shops in London

Tumble down the rabbit hole in Cecil Court near Charing Cross station and enter Alice Through The Looking Glass, a treasure-trove of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland-themed items. From illustrated chess boards, to Victorian top hats and early editions of the Alice books, this curious shop is well worth a visit.

Feel the wind in your sails and navigate yourself to Arthur Beale - a shop that time forgot since it opened in the 1800s. This old-fashioned yacht chandler located on Shaftesbury Avenue sells nautical goods with everything from reels of rope and ship's bells to nautical books and lifejackets on offer. 

Get rave-ready at this club lover's shopping haven in Camden's Stables Market.  Cyberdog stocks everything you need for an all night party, with fluorescent, futuristic, LED-covered clothes and accessories galore. You'll hear the shop before you see it thanks to its pumping sound system!

Step into this part retail store, part gallery, to discover fashion that is as much art as it is clothing. Developed by Rei Kawakubo, and her husband, COMME des GARÇONS president Adrian Joffe, Dover Street Market is a high fashion concept store that's worth a visit just to experience the unique installations from top fashion brands. The entire store changes design twice a year, so repeat visits are always a new experience. 

Strum away at this shop totally dedicated to the humble ukulele. You can find banjos, harmonicas and other accessories too, but it's really all about the uke. The Duke of Uke has a rehearsal room and recording studio in the basement too, and it's worth popping in to this east London gem just to catch one of the spontaneous concerts or impromptu ukulele solos regularly given by customers.

Hoxton Street Monster Supplies in Shoreditch has supplied the monsters of east London (and the rest of the world) with everything they need, from tinned fear, to cubes of ear wax and even neck bolt tighteners since 1818! The products are available to humans too, who are welcome to browse and buy the strange stock.

Protect yourself from the unpredictable elements in style after a shopping trip to James Smith & Sons. Right by London's theatre district, this family-owned shop opened in 1867 and has hand-crafted umbrellas and walking sticks ever since. Housed in a Grade II-listed building, the shop is a work of art in itself and well worth a visit come rain or shine.

Take your pick from the many Japanese-designed objects on offer at Japan House London, a whole building dedicated to Japanese culture. Find the latest technology, discover past and present Japanese literature, or hunt down quirky accessories, stylish stationary and authentic tableware.

Love the Moomins and all things Scandinavian? Then you need to visit the Moomin family's very own London shops. Head to the Covent Garden branch for toys, books and more displayed in blue Moomin 'houses' or find the newest branch in Camden Market for high-end homewares laid out in a clean Scandinavian design. Serious fans of Moomintroll are spoilt for choice, with rare memorabilia for sale, including prints of the original illustrations.

Discover up-and-coming talent at not just a shop, and you could find yourself owning a prized original piece from a famous designer one day. This shop stocks art and homeware designed exclusively by students from University of the Arts London, which helps supports artists early on in their careers. 

Try a taste of Persia at Persepolis, run by 'Mr and Mrs Shopkeeper' in Peckham. This Persian delicatessen and shop stocks a wide range of foodstuffs and handicrafts. Browse an array of Iranian specialities, including pastries and sweets, spices and tea, yoghurts and cheeses. The shops also sells homewares, from china and rugs, to hookahs and cookbooks.

 

Breaking ground back in 2001, the Tatty Devine store was one of the first ever fashion boutiques on London's Brick Lane. A totally independent British company designing and micro-manufacturing original jewellery, look out for their cool name necklaces; fox brooches; or accessorise with a moustache necklace! There's also a store in Seven Dials.