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The key to gift-buying for Mother's Day is to go for something indulgent and luxurious. Chocolates, flowers and beauty treatments are always a safe bet but won't quite make the grade if they come from the local newsagent or garage. To help you source out the best quality goods we've hand-picked our favourite independent shops, boutiques and florists.
 The only trouble is, these places are so full of tempting offers and beautifully presented gifts, you're bound to buy something for yourself too. Try to remember why you're there. It's Mother's Day - remember!  ChocolatesPierre Marcolini The king of chocolate shops has been in London a few years now. This Belgian-based company crafts the finest, most taste-bud inspiring chocolates anywhere in the city. Feel the light-as-foam truffles melt in your mouth, bite with nervous, excitable trepidation into the pralines, trying to foretell what burst of toothsome filling you’ll find within, or try the World Flavours selection for a real chocolate education. All this comes tucked inside an aesthetically pleasing designer box, or perfect hand-crafted wooden presentation case. You can pre-order an incredible range of pastries too. Of course, the catch is that it’s all excruciatingly expensive, but this really is the finest chocolate to be found and Mother’s Day is an occasion to do something out of the ordinary. While you’re there picking up a gift for your mum, you can try some of the delicacies straight from the chocolatier’s mixing bowl in the café next door. It’s a great place to people watch, and the hot chocolate makes you want to close your eyes and let out satisfied pleasure noises. No, really… Address: 6 Lancer Square, off Kensington Church Street, Kensington, W8 Phone: 020 7795 6611 Time: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 19:00 | Sunday 12:00 – 17:00 Nearest Station: High Street Kensington Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Pierre Marcolini  PrestatThe Queen obviously has a great taste in consumer goods as demonstrated by the high quality of all the shops that enjoy royal patronage. Prestat is her official supplier of cocoa products. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author, Roald Dahl, adored their truffles too. The shelves brim with over thirty different types of chocolates and truffles stacked in myriad forms. Sweet-toothed shoppers are really spoilt for choice here. The recent Kitty re-design of the interior has transformed it into a vibrant, cartoon-esque den of psychedelia. Chocolate brings out childlike qualities in people, so it makes a great setting for their nostalgic range of sweets, including the delectable sugared mice. Everything is presented in neat gift boxes fit for a queen – a great little something for mum. A classic selection of dark chocolates for the high flying business mum, or a pride of truffles for a retired relaxed mum. Chocolate really is a universal pleasure. Address: 14 Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, SW1Y Phone: 020 7629 4838 Time: Monday to Friday 9:30 – 18:00 | Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Prestat   HomewareAlessi In this day and age mums probably won’t appreciate an apron or a cookbook too much, but a neatly designed piece of kitchenware will go down very agreeably. Over the years Alessi has attracted a host of talented designers including Norman Foster, Aldo Rossi and Marc Newson, to keep their functional, eye-pleasing range of toasters, kettles and crockery at the fore. The simple playful designs are a calming influence on any kitchen and will add a bit of style amongst all the old stuff mum insists on keeping. Furthermore, the stainless steel and plastic designs are hard-wearing and durable. You can find bits of the Alessi range in shops all over the UK but the flagship store harbours the most comprehensive selection. You’ll be spoilt for choice and you’ll probably leave with a tasteful new corkscrew for yourself too. Address: 22 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K Phone: 020 7518 9090 Time: Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 18:30 Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Alessi  Aria This design-orientated lifestyle store could be the perfect spot to pick mum up a present, there’s so much to choose from it’s untrue. From fashion, to homeware, to cosmetics, it’s all here. Pick up a pastel-coloured pebble stool, a funky tongue chair, or if the budget doesn’t stretch that far, a simple table lamp, a retro radio, a chic candle set or some accessories. Everything is eminently stylish, so whatever you go for, your mother will be the envy of her friends for months to come. The shop is substantial and you’ll keep coming across new things to admire, you could be in here for hours appreciating the aesthetically gorgeous designs. Situated on Upper Street in Islington, there are plenty of other shopping opportunities and cafés you can combine with a trip to Aria. Address: 295-297 Upper Street, Islington, N1 Phone: 020 7704 1999 Time: 10:00 -19:00 Monday to Friday | 10:00 – 18:30 Saturday | 12:00 – 17:00 Sunday Nearest Station: Angel Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Arial  FlowersWild Bunch Shrouded deep within the meandering warren of streets that criss-cross Covent Garden, Wild Bunch adds a welcome burst of colour to London's grey urban terrain. With a rosy abundance of choice, you can pick up a dazzling bouquet that will bring a shining tear to your Mum's eye. Unlike the profusion of London’s rather pretentious portfolio of swanky florists, Wild Bunch operates from seven stalls as opposed to a shop. The cluttered stretch of rickety tarpaulin stands adds a wonderfully poignant air of nostalgia to the place. The friendly florists efficiently rustle up some stunning bouquets in minutes, for next to nothing. If you're not clued up on spring flowers and Mother's Day floral traditions it's worth mentioning to the guys at Wild Bunch what the flowers are for. They are experts and will put together a bouquet bursting with fitting flowers. Mums go weak at the knees for a huge, colourful spray of fresh tulips. It's the ideal way to make them feel very special. Address: 17-22 Earlham Street, WC2H Phone: 020 7497 1200 Time: Monday to Saturday 9:30 - 19:00 Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Wild Bunch Moyses Stevens Part of London’s rich mosaic of tradition, this esteemed shop is one of London’s oldest and most established  florists. Nestled in the affluent, tree-lined streets of Sloane Square, a bunch of flowers from this joint screams elegance and refinement. Providing much-loved mums with bouquets for generations, Moyses Stevens puts together Mother's Day specials exquisitely. Pedantic about quality, they import only the finest flowers. With a vibrant team of hugely creative florists and plant experts, they can shape some radiant bouquets that will melt the hearts of many a London mother. Ranging from more traditional tastes to fantastically chic and contemporary designs, this shop is utterly dedicated to getting it right. Mother's Day is a veritable festival for this florist; their long-stemmed roses come delicately swathed in catkins and dried ivy trails. Swish, exclusive and quintessentially English - Moyses Stevens knows how to spoil hard-working mums. Address: 157-158 Sloane Street, SW1X Phone: 020 7259 9303 Time: Monday to Friday 8:30 – 18:00, Saturday 8:30 - 16:30 Nearest Station: Sloane Square Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Moyses Stevens  Cosmetics Crabtree & Evelyn Sitting firmly in the upper middle class of the toiletries world, it is in fact a common misapprehension that Crabtree & Evelyn is squarely aimed at middle-aged mums. It has something for everyone. Many young and trendies have taken a liking to their more stylish results-led lines. Nevertheless, Mums love the garb that comes from this store. Immaculately presented in floral paper packaging and delicate little baskets, their smelly goodies are simply the best little treats for Mother's Day surprises. All their products are fresh smelling, look great on the bathroom shelf and will be met by squeals of delight on the actual day. There are branches across London, but if you're shopping centrally, the one in Covent Garden is charming. Just remember, it's Lily of the Valley and Gardenia for older ladies and Aloe Vera or Jojoba for younger yummy mummies. Address: Covent Garden Market, Unit 3, The Piazza, WC2 Phone: 020 7836 3110 Time: Monday to Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9:00 - 20:00, Thursday 9:00 - 21:00, Sunday 12:00 – 18:00 Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Crabtree & Evelyn Neal's Yard Remedies There is no better gift on Mother’s Day than a smart little navy blue package of heaven from Neal’s Yard. Most mums can spot these goodies a mile off. Hand them one all wrapped up and you'll send them deliriously happy. Neal’s Yard Remedies are still going strong after more than two decades and they continue to stand by their commitment to creating only natural remedies and toiletries. The company claims that it doesn’t sell anything it feels won’t genuinely give benefit to people's lives. This is ambitious but nevertheless we love the fact the fact that no artificial preservatives, chemical derivatives or synthetic aromas are used. Prices can be on the steep side but their beauty specialities are just such high quality. It’s difficult to know what to choose for mum. We recommend the delicately scented Frankincense Nourishing Cream or the Honey and Orange Scrub. The Wild Rose Beauty Balm and Rose Facial Oil are also very mum-friendly and smell just delicious. They also put together some precious little gift packs containing the best of their products – it’s worth splashing out on one of these. They do a whole raft of combinations and mums will feel incredibly pampered when they get to take their pick from a selection of gorgeous goodies. Address: 15 Neal's Yard, WC2H Phone: 020 7379 7222 Time: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 19:00, Sunday 11:00 – 18:00 Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Neal's Yard Remedies  Did You Know?- The British public spends over £85 million on floral gifts for Mother's Day. This follows in a long tradition of presenting mums with sweet-smelling, fresh spring flowers. - In the 1600s, young servant girls working away from home were given time off on "Mothering Sunday" (the 4th Sunday of Lent) to visit their mothers and would bake a simnel cake to present as a gift. They would also decorate their mother's homes with spring flowers, give their mothers nosegays of wild flowers that had been blessed in church and prepare egg custard, comfits, lambs' tails, white sugar sweets, fig pies and wafers. |
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