If you’re looking for fun gifts to send but groan at the thought of flowers, we have some fab ideas.
Since launching London’s shop local platform a year ago, we’ve listed more than 3,000 brilliant businesses and some have really caught our eye!
Don’t get me wrong – it’s lovely to receive flowers! But sometimes it’s nice to think a little differently.
Here, without further ado, is our top 10 list of gifts that aren’t flowers that won’t break the bank. These gifts cost from as little as £10 but we’ve tried to chose ones that cost the same as a lovely bunch of flowers.
1. Rogue Opera! Give the gift of opera
Now this is something different! Treat someone you love to a night at the opera (or lots of nights at the opera) at home (online) and help support performers through the pandemic. This amazing company works with talented opera singers and offers subscriptions or VIP gift memberships.
Local Buyers Club members save 10% off a 12-month gift subscription, 1st month free on a monthly subscription
2. Circla. If you’re giving to a friend who lives in Zone 1 or 2, this beauty company is fab! They deliver refillable beauty products to your door, from soap and shampoo to scrubs and moisturisers and they have some lovely gift sets too!
Local Buyers Club members save 10%.
3. Thirty Four Point Four - Gorgeous skincare for the face, hair and body.
This is a local company determined to protect the planet – they donate 3.44% of each sale to the Natural Beekeeping Trust and encourage customers to return packaging so they can reuse it.
This shop made us chuckle – beautiful china cups and saucers and teapots painted traditionally with flowers and, in delicate font, rude words like ‘cock’ or ‘whore.’ Their salt and pepper shakers are pretty special too! Local Buyers Club members save 10%.
5. Ohelo is a new, independent brand of high quality, pretty leakproof insulated reusable water bottles & travel mugs. The company is based in Belsize Park. All products are 100% free from lead, BPA, BPF and BPS.
Welcome to the home of squiggly lines and wibbly splodges. Order bespoke portraits of your home, pets and soft toys, or celebrate a treasured place with a special place painting.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%
We particularly love the gin boxes sold by this East London firm – packed with tonics from the brilliant (and local) Square Root Sodas. For the price of a bouquet of flowers!
They also sell smartly-packaged gift boxes of craft beer, gin and non-alcoholic options.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%.
ORA is an independent brewery based in Tottenham dedicated to creating beers that marry the quality of the finest Italian ingredients with contemporary beer styles. They offer a UK-wide delivery of a mixed case of beers or local delivery of a 5L mini keg.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%.
We’ve ordered from this small Peckham company a few times now. There’s something special about receiving a gift that lasts a long time – Canopy has a good range of ‘hard to kill plants’, which is ideal for us! And they deliver UK-wide. The packaging is 100% sustainable too.
10. Know & Love
Beautiful, handcrafted and locally produced goods delivered to your home from their online shop. Chocolate from Bethnal Green, baskets from Clapton, porcelain from Finsbury Park, scented candles made in Dalston and Walthamstow, just to name a few.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%
About My Virtual Neighbourhood
My Virtual Neighbourhood launched in March 2020 during the first lockdown – since then it’s had hundreds of thousands of hits, has been praised by the likes of Jay Rayner and has become the shop-local platform for Wandsworth, Hackney and Camden councils, with more joining soon. It has become the main source of online referrals for many small businesses in London and listings are free, with an option for a premium listing to gain more exposure.
Find out which independent businesses near you are open or delivering to your community: Click HERE to find your virtual neighbourhood
Please sign up to our mailing list for local updates and free entry to our £100 prize draw: CLICK HERE
Submit your favourite small businesses for a free listing HERE.
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