With Christmas right around the corner, the pressure to source the perfect present for the people in your life is mounting with every passing day, and the urge to abandon your virtuous eco-intentions with a few hasty purchases from monolithic, global mass producers can be almost irresistible. But at Alfies, a veritable cornucopia of vintage and antique treasures in Church Street Marylebone, you can invest in the future by dealing in the past and acquire something beautiful, unique and enduring in the process.  

Many modern goods often have a short shelf life and are made to be replaced. But when you buy antique or vintage you are helping sustainability, reducing landfill and investing in a unique and meaningful gift.  You are also supporting an authentically singular London institution.  Since its launch in 1976, Alfies – together with all the other art and antique shops in Church street - has become a landmark on London’s cultural landscape.  Its 80 specialist dealers offer a vast range of items, too big to catalogue but ranging from jewellery and vintage clothes to fine art and decorative pottery. Each dealer is an expert in their respective niche, with specialist knowledge accumulated over years in the trade.  With a broad range of prices to suit every purse, browsing this enormous labyrinthine four storey building is always rewarding. And make sure not to miss Alfayez, where a collective of expert dealers trade exclusively in Middle Eastern antiquities and collectibles. The only thing more enjoyable than browsing Alfies is the satisfaction of leaving with the perfect gift.