#London Christmas Shopping No.4: Historic Hatton Garden

--> Daily Constitutional editor Adam Scott-Goulding writes…

It's back! The annual London Christmas Shopping Guide from The Daily Constitutional!



This year I'll be including museum gift shops and markets for gift ideas. 


As well as gifts I'll be pointing you toward local London shops for the best in Christmas food and drink. Where relevant, I'll list the London Walks tour that finishes near the shop in question.



As usual, you can drop me a line with your own tips by emailing the usual address, by leaving a comment below or via Twitter.

LW guide & Daily Constitutional Associate Editor Kim writes…

Hatton Garden

In previous years I have submitted ideas for London Walkers that were easy for most people's budgets.  This year it's a different story as we head to the Jewellery Capital of London and Hatton Garden.

Here you will find an entire street dedicated to jewellery and, in particular, diamonds.  Some of the stores are brand new shiny with the brightest lights in the city; others are real Aladdin's caves of second hand treasures that have been previously owned and, one presumes, loved.  Whether it be rings, necklaces, bracelets or brooches with sapphires, emeralds, rubies or opals the whole place groans under the weight.

So for those with a particularly important question to ask at Christmas* or a certain thank you for someone special this is the place to go.

But if you're reading this then you are not going to be content with just a shopping expedition.  You want to know something about where you are shopping so the perfect introduction to Hatton Garden will be found on Tuesday December 20 at 10.45 when Secret London leaves from Chancery Lanestation.  

We will walk down the street, learn why it's got that name, hear why the world's media were camped on the doorstep in  Spring 2015 and find out what was growing there in the 16th century. 

And there'll be time for a little window shopping so you'll know exactly where to come back to for the perfect last minute present".

Kim leads Secret London on Tuesday 20th December 10.45am meet at Chancery Lane tube.

* DC Editor Adam adds… I've already had one marriage proposal take a starring role on my London Walks - read about it HERE.

About Your Correspondent…

Kim

Kim, who has worked in the House of Commons and the European Parliament, is another 24-carat Blue Badge Guide: she won the London Tourist Board's Guide of the Year award in 2001. 

Christmas 2016 With London Walks…

On Christmas Day there are TWO London Walks: 

Walk up an appetite with The Christmas Morning 1660 Walk – meet at 11:00a.m by the big tree in Trafalgar Square



Walk off the pudding with The Christmas Day Charles Dickens Walk – meet by the big tree in Trafalgar Square at 2:00pm

A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.