Last Minute West End Present Dash!

If you still haven't completed your Christmas shopping fear not, you still have a day and a half left! Here are a few of my ideas for a last-minute London present dash:

Piccadilly
Never underestimate the glory that is withing Fortnum & Mason. Aside from the gastronomical wonderland that is the food hall, with its sumptuous cheeses and beautifully packaged teas, the upper floors yield a treasure trove of gift ideas. The kid's department is beautiful, women's accessories boasts treasures from the likes of Anya Hindmarch, but my bets are on the delicious beauty hall. The newly launched handmade soaps and bath bombs in the own brand Bath & Body collection are to die for. Made from natural essential oils, herbs and spices, the range consists of a small and large handmade soap box (£20 & £25) a single bud soap (£8) and a box of five handmade Shea butter bath truffles (£18).

Being a total book freak I am always happy with a little something from Waterstone's. If you have a fashion fan to buy for, the Fashion Fairy Tale Memoir series will make a gorgeous stocking filler. Retold by Camilla Morton (of How To Walk In High Heels fame), The Elves and the Shoemaker features original illustrations by Manolo Blahnik and The Sleeping Beauty is bedecked with Christian Lacroix's delicate brushstrokes. £12.99 each.

The fashionista's nibble of choice, pick up a box of macaroons at Ladurée macaroons (at Burlington Arcade). As well as tasting utterly divine (I make sure I buy myself a box for my birthday every year...) the packaging is beautiful, often with designers collaborating on limited editorion boxes. Their scented candles and stationery are also beautiful!


Oxford Street
If by some stroke of misfortune you fancy spending some time on Oxford Street, Topshop is an unmissable one-stop shop. From purse-friendly stocking fillers like kitsch socks, bejewelled cocktail rings and fabulous fingerless gloves to chic luggage and limited edition eveningwear, if you have anyone female to buy for it's [not to be missed. And don't forget Topman upstairs - I picked up some great clothes for my brother there this week.

In that neck of the woods? Marks and Spencer never fails to disappoint when I need to buy something for mum. On the list for her this year are their leather gloves (£20) in a rainbow of hues and the surprisingly affordable cashmere (from £59). For girlfriends the M&S lingerie department is definitely my fave. Contrary to popular belief, their collections have been getting steadily better in recent years, and the current collaboration with Australian designer Collette Dinnigan is nothing short of beautiful. My current pick of the bunch is the Limited Collection vintage style blush pink set trimmed with grosgrain.

Bond Street
Apparently last year Longchamp sold something in the region of 200,000 of its Pliage bags (only two of them were to me... I promise...). Whilst hardly groundbreaking in design, the foldable leather-handled style is so ridiculously practial that it seems practically every woman in London has one. In every shade from sky blue and lime green to subtle taupe (my shade!) and khaki, they are available in a multitude os sizes from a minature handbag to a giant weekender.

Teens are notoriously difficult to buy for, but two minutes off Bond Street and you're in the teenage Mecca that is Abercrombie & Fitch. Moody, sultry, dark and full of banging dance music and pouty models, you can see why any 16 year old would love it. The clothes are apparently as covetable as the abs of the chiselled doormen, so it's safe to say it's probably a good bet if you have a style-conscious teen would just loooooove a little bit of A&F.

Love Laurel x