Shop the city: London

It’s no secret that London is a retail nirvana. From the boutiques of Mayfair and Knightsbridge to the independent shops, pop-ups and galleries of the East End, this city covers all the bases. Of course, you could – and really should – lose an entire day wandering the seemingly infinite department store halls of Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods, but the savviest shopaholics know that even more blissful retail attractions and unique brands are found in smaller, more intimate bolt-holes scattered across the city.

1. Battersea Power Station

The restoration of an early 20th-century decommissioned coal-fired power station and its reinvention as a premium lifestyle destination was deeply ambitious by every metric. The high street experience has been reimagined as the aptly named Electric Boulevard , where high-end fashion designer stores rub shoulders with niche labels. If the sustainable and limited-edition fashion at Reformation or the handsome pewters of Malaysian artisans Royal Selangor don’t please, then perhaps the sparkly diamonds at British jewellers Rox just might.

2. John Sandoe Books

Sequestered on a side street just off King’s Road, this is one of the best bookshops in London. The three-storey space is deceptively small, as books are displayed three-deep in cleverly constructed shelves that slide apart to reveal another layer behind. It’s the rare shopper indeed who leaves without picking up at least one volume from the delightfully dishevelled displays. Even rarer is the bibliophile who can’t find the book they’ve fruitlessly been looking for everywhere else – the staff are all incredibly well-read and well-informed.

3. Alighieri

While studying French and Italian at university, Rosh Mahtani worked through her existential crisis in a novel way. Inspired by Dante’s own story of uncertainty and fear, she carved a piece of jewellery for each poem in the Divine Comedy. At turns whimsical and others classical in their vibe–think medallions, link-chain chokers, buckled cuffs and asymmetrical hoop earrings – Alighieri ’s off-beat pieces are first cast in wax before they are turned into their final renditions in recycled silver or gold.

4. Les Senteurs

London’s oldest independent perfumery, Les Senteurs , is olfactory heaven. Set a course for its charming Belgravia store to stock up on a favourite scent or, if you serendipitously happen to be passing by, simply drift in to wander through the collection of cult French and Italian perfumers such as Cherigan, Serge Lutens and État Libre d’Orange. For indecisive shoppers, discovery sets containing a range of scents are available, alongside travel-sized editions that are perfect for dropping into your carry-on.

5. Margaret Howell

In the world according to the iconic British designer Margaret Howell , fashion – or indeed life in general – shouldn’t be complicated or busy. This explains why everything you buy from her Wigmore Street shop – whether a shirt, a summer frock, a soup ladle, a mohair throw or even a birch stool – is meant to last a lifetime, and then still be stylish enough to be passed down. In other words, sustainability, not trends or anything mass-produced, is central to her design ethos.

6. Mount Street Printers

The fact that the King and Queen of England get their stationery from Mount Street Printers tells you a lot of what you need to know about this delightful Mayfair atelier. There is something here for every occasion – celebratory, official, personal and every social nuance in between – in every size, stock and decorative flourish. And if you’re still not satisfied with the selection, your dream writing paper and stationery can be customised, printed and finished by hand.

When you travel with your Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard, you’ll earn HK$4 = 1 for all overseas spending.