Mother's Day Presents

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.

Chocolates

Melt

59 Ledbury Road, London, W11 2AA
Regular tastings, an on-site, open-view kitchen, award-winning master-chocolatier, Chikako Watanabe, and some of the best chocs in town make Melt a mouth-watering option when it comes to confectionary. Melt's founder, Louise Nason, is herself a mother of four and there are Children's Hour mini masterclasses held every Wednesday and Saturday which offer youngsters the chance to get sticky making their own unique range of chocolate treats. "Our fresh chocolates are our best sellers on Mother's Day," says Louise who puts this down to the pretty packaging - that and the fact that they taste delicious! In the cool surrounds of the shop you can't help but stand and drool as organic truffles, melted chocolate shots and spiced, crispy orange discs are rustled up on cool white marble slabs in full view of customers.

More info: Melt Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Prestat

14 Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, SW1Y 6DS
The 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.

Prestat - Information

Homeware

Alessi

22 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 5DF
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.

Alessi, Brook Street - Information

Aria

Barnsbury Hall, Islington, London, N1 1PN
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 just off Upper Street in Islington, there are plenty of other shopping opportunities and cafes you can combine with a trip to Aria.

Aria - Information

Flowers

Wild Bunch

17-22 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LL | 2 Exeter Parade, Kilburn, London, NW2 3UH
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. Prices start from £25 plus delivery.

Wild Bunch - Information

Moyses Stevens

The White Company, Sloane Square, London, SW3 2TJ
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.

Moyses Stevens - Information

Beauty

Crabtree & Evelyn

The Piazza, Covent Garden Market, WC2E 9RA
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 several branches in London - on Regent Street, in Hampstead, Knightsbridge, Canary Wharf, Kingston and in Westfield - but if you're shopping centrally, the one in Covent Garden is charming. As a general rule, it's Lily of the Valley and Gardenia for older ladies and Aloe Vera or Jojoba for younger yummy mummies.

Crabtree & Evelyn, Covent Garden - Information

Crabtree & Evelyn, all London branches - Information

Neal's Yard Remedies

15 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP
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 see 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. For new mums they have a dedicated mother & baby range including mothers massage oil with calming properties and to help prevent stretch marks. For mums who want to stay young looking the delicately scented Frankincense Nourishing Cream is a beauty editors' favourite. The Wild Rose Beauty Balm and Rose Facial Oil are also very mum-friendly and smell just delicious. Gift packs containing the best of their products are worth splashing out on, beautifully packaged, they usually offer savings on buying all the products individually. There's a whole raft of combinations and mums will feel incredibly pampered when they get to take their pick from a selection of gorgeous goodies.

Neal's Yard Remedies, Covent Garden - Information

Neal's Yard Remedies, all London branches - Information

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.