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Perfect Presents
Perfect Presents
Give the object of your affections a love token to let them know exactly how much you care. Whether you're looking for a one penny sweet or something flashy and expensive, we've got a gift to suit your budget.

William Curley, Belgravia
198 Ebury Street, Orange Square, SW1W 8UNAlongside flowers and cards, chocolates are an integral part of any Valentine's Day, so why not treat your loved one to a special chocolate making master class at Britain's best chocolatier's new store in Belgravia? William Curley's latest Orange Square venture opened in October last year and boasts an incredible chocolate and ice cream counter, a café, patisserie and dessert bar, and a chocolate deli for scrumptious baked goods and sweet takeaways. The course includes a hot chocolate welcoming talk on the history of chocolate and a special tasting of some award-winning delights; a unique Valentine's chocolate making class where you will make your own chocolate heart filled with delicious framboise truffle; a complimentary glass of Champagne with Frasier (fresh strawberries with a vanilla bavaroise, berry compote and Genoise sponge).

Lulu Guinness Pop-Up Shop
65-67 Broadwick Street, London, W1 9QU8th-22nd February 2010
For a short time only, from 8th to 22nd February, you can find all things love themed in Lulu Guinness' Pop-Up Shop just off Carnaby Street where lips are the motif of choice. And, in the interests of spreading the love this Valentine's, a percentage of sales from her Lips clutches goes to London College of Fashion, a cause close to Lulu's heart. The temporary shop celebrates both Valentines and London Fashion Week, and everything in the store is adorned with a pair of smackers, and products start from a reasonable £10. Lulu herself will be working in the store on Tuesday 16th February, from 1pm to 2pm, and on Thursday 18th February, 6pm to 7pm, so you can meet the style icon and get her to sign your purchases.

Hatton Garden | Nicholas James | ec one | Ben Day
If you're ready to pop the question and you want to give your other half something shiny and pretty, a trip to Hatton Garden, London's jewellery quarter, is the place to go. Something of a rite of passage for the newly engaged, this area of East London has the largest concentration of jewels and gems. Among a bewildering amount of jewellers to choose from, seek out Nicholas James where the minimalist lay-out and modern designs make investing a month's salary in a big rock all too easy. Another favourite are the ec one shops (at Clerkenwell, Chiswick or Ledbury Road). These gallery-shops owned by husband and wife team Jos and Alison Skates sell Jos' own statement pieces alongside jewellery by more than fifty designers including Alex Monroe, Alexis Bittar and Stephen Webster. Alternatively, try Ben Day who sells his bold, colourful gem stone designs from his shop and studio close to Spitalfields Market. These unique pieces are all about conveying love, lust and passion. He suggests shimmering pink kunzites framed with star dust diamonds for Valentine's though you can't go wrong with red hot rubies off-set with voluptuous chalcedony drops.
Myla | ME & EM | Coco de Mer
If the thought of buying underwear makes you feel like the priests in that scene from 'Father Ted', you need help. We've come up with a few basics to help you through the potential mine field: only consider buying underwear if you've seen her in hers already. Think of what she'd like - this is meant to be a present for her, not you. Avoid anything red and lacy, especially if it's from Ann Summers. If you're still not sure, you can't go wrong with something from Myla, the classy undie shop that sells vibrators designed by Tom Dixon. They're the ones who did the Lace & Freshwater Pearl G-String as worn by Samantha in 'Sex and The City'. The shop ME & EM (previously the Pyjama Room) is equally classy, a favourite of Nicola Formby, they have lacy camisoles with matching undies as well as cashmere cardis that she'll love lounging around the house in and, from 9th to 13th February 2010 they have a sale with discounts of up to 80 per cent. At the other extreme, a visit to naughty knicker shop Coco de Mer in Soho is an experience in itself. The shop's changing rooms come complete with peep holes so that, if shopping with your beau, he can see the goods before buying.
Ryantown
126 Columbia Road, London, E2 7RGRob Ryan, the man Paul Smith describes as "a realistic romantic", makes beautiful paper cut designs and screen prints that are exquisite, sentimental and poignant. These delicate designs, often adorned with words, make a beautiful romantic gift. Come by his shop Ryantown on the fragrant Columbia Road which, like the Flower Market is open on weekends only, and you can buy cards, cushions, T-shirts and even sticky tape all stamped with his elegant cut out prints. His work has been displayed at The Horse Hospital in London and he has recently had a show at Yorkshire Sculpture Park where he designed 11 window decals, each 4.5 metres high by 1.9 metres. If you couldn't make it to the Yorkshire show fear not, you can see and own the designs in a special 82-page book, entitled 'Rob Ryan: You can still do a lot with a small brain', which was published to accompany the show. The book, only available at Ryantown, Rob's Etsy Shop and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park also contains images of Rob's studio, shop and some of his beautiful work.

Paul Smith
Westbourne House, 122 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2EPIf you can't afford the full Paul Smith suit - this is 14 February, after all, not all your Christmases come at once - then check out their special gifts just for Valentine's Day. There are eco friendly shopping bags with 'Make Love Not War' on them, heart-covered hankies, key rings and cufflinks - the perfect gift for your fella and one that won't break the bank. These designs by Paul Smith, well known for his quirky yet classic clothes and accessories, make a desirable Valentine's Day present. Westbourne House, his unique flagship shop in Notting Hill, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary and is certainly worth a browse around. While you're in this pretty part of West London there's much to see, including the famous weekend Portobello Road Market - a day spent wondering around here will inevitably lead to picking up more than a pair of cufflinks.

Hope and Greenwood
1 Russell Street, WC2B 5JFSpecialising in delicious-looking sweets with an old fashioned feel, Hope and Greenwood is the place to get your hands on some love hearts. The classic Valentine's Day gift says it all in sugar, with sweet sentiments like 'Kiss Me' and 'It's Love' embossed into the heart-shaped candy circles. You'll fall in love with the shop itself with its glass jars of bonbons lining the walls and pretty packages tied up with red ribbons. Husband-and-wife owners, Miss Hope and Mr Greenwood, started with the original store in West Dulwich and have, thankfully, opened up this central London shop opposite the Drury Lane Theatre so we can all get our sweet tooth satisfied. You can also get a Sweetheart Truffle selection with champagne truffles in the heart-shaped box, or a Love Shake full of mallows, chocolate and jelly hearts. The perfect place to get sweets for your sweet, sugar for your honey.

Miller Harris
21 Bruton Street, W1J 6QDMiller Harris founder Lyn Harris specialises in bespoke perfumes, created in consultation with the customer. Creating a personal scent for your partner must be one of the most thoughtful Valentine's gifts you could give, and a bottle of this bespoke fragrance can't fail to impress. You'll be guided by one of their experts to discover a scent that's unique to you, working from the base notes up. The elegantly designed bottles are works of art in themselves - with the simple yet distinctive black floral design snaking up the clear glass bottle. If you want to buy off the shelf, the Coeur de Fleur is a perfectly romantic, floral fragrance. It combines a base of Florentine iris, amber and Madagascan vanilla with a heart of sweet pea, mimosa, Egyptian jasmin, raspberry and peach. There are three Miller Harris shop across London - the flagship shop in Mayfair's Bruton Street and Miller Harris stores in Monmouth Street and Notting Hill. This Valentine's at the Mayfair shop and you can book in for a Ruinart Rose afternoon tea (£19 per person) with cakes from Primrose Bakery and a pot of The Petales Fragran Tea blended by Lyn washed down by a flute of rose champagne.

Lush
Unit 7 & 11, The Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E 8RBTrust Lush to come up with some imaginative and quirky ways to get scrubbed up at Valentine's. The homemade cosmetics company have a glittery heart-shaped love soap that smells of roses, a tub of Turkish Delight rosy body polish packed with aphrodisiac jasmine, and a boxed gift set called 'Guess Who?' which comes with a mysterious '?' tag on top. The heart-shaped box contains everything a fragrant lover could want, from a Sex Bomb bath ballistic to a Yummy Yummy Yummy strawberry and almond shower gel. Give a selection of Lush love bombs to your Valentine and they'll not only be feeling the love but they'll smell good too.

Elemis Spa | The Spa at Mandarin Oriental | Agua at Sanderson |
The Elemis day spa is offering a relaxing spa treatment that you can do together. 'Time for Two' couples massages is a luxurious way to unwind and there's something quite intimate about sharing the experience with your partner. Tucked away in Lancashire Court, down a side street off Bond Street, the Elemis Spa is among the best. Using their own brand of aromatherapy oils, facials leave you feeling revitalised and massages are all about well-being and de-knotting. If you want to give your girlfriend a spa gift voucher, the Mandarin Oriental has a great spa which caters to the well heeled ladies of Knightsbridge; your girlfriend will love a treatment here, and she can pop into Harvey Nicks for some retail therapy afterwards. Another highly rated relaxation spot is the clinically clean Agua spa at the Sanderson which has consistently glowing reviews from blissed out city girls. Once you've sampled the Aromatherapy Associates Jet Lag Revival treatment you'll know why. Day packages start at £150 or you can go a la carte and make up your own wish list. We like the sound of the Bed of Roses Body Booster - very appropriately named for Valentine's Day.
Alfred Dunhill
Bourdon House, 2 Davies Street, W1K 3DJThis upmarket branch of luxury brand Alfred Dunhill, housed in the former London residence of the Duke of Westminster, includes a small spa and barber shop. The Bourdon House flagship store extends beyond the suits, aftershave and accessories associated with the luxury menswear brand. The three floor emporium includes a spa, barber's, cellar bar and 12-seater screening room, available for private hire. The spa on the first floor, open to both men and women, has two treatment rooms while the traditional barber's is lined with wallpaper made from old Dunhill ads. Also on this level is the Discovery Room, where the discerning gentleman can get his tailored suits custom made. A very fitting Valentine's Day present for the man who likes to think he's an old fashioned gent.
A London Valentine 2010
Dining Out
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Petal Power
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Food of Love
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Single Scene
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Hot Dates
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London for Lovers
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Romantic Hotels
With Valentine's falling on a Sunday this year, it's the ideal time to make a weekend of it. Book a couple of nights away at ...
London Hotels
From cheap budget hotels to luxury 5 star suites see our discounts for hotels, including Holiday Inn Camden Lock Hotel from 35% off. |








