A Motoring Enthusiast’s Guide to London’s Timeless Shops.
For those who value heritage, authenticity, and objects with a soul, London’s most venerable shops offer more than mere purchases—they offer an experience and a piece of enduring history. This festive season, escape the generic glitter and discover these six sanctuaries of craftsmanship, where the gift is not just the item, but the story that comes with it.
1. Anderson & Sheppard – The Coachbuilder’s Approach to Cloth
For: The person who has everything, but deserves the absolute best. Location: Old Burlington Street, Mayfair.
While Savile Row is synonymous with tailoring, the connoisseur knows that the true apex lies just around the corner. Anderson & Sheppard, an “international treasure,” has dressed legends from Fred Astaire to King Charles III with its signature soft, natural drape. This Christmas, the ultimate gift is the promise of a bespoke suit—an investment in time and self. The experience is unhurried and club-like, with fitting rooms overlooking the cutting room, letting you witness the artistry firsthand. It’s a world away from stuffy formality, offering a sanctuary where a masterpiece is crafted just for them.
The Motoring Takeaway: Gifting a commission here is like commissioning a bespoke interior or coachwork—an investment in a one-off masterpiece built for the long journey.
2. Anderson & Sheppard Haberdashery – The Perfectly Appointed Travel Kit
For: The man who appreciates quality but loathes crowded, pressured shopping.
Location: Clifford Street, Mayfair.
The perfect complement to the main house, the Haberdashery is where relaxed, refined style lives. Think of it as “everything but the suit.” Managed with the easygoing ethos of a bygone salon, here you’ll find exquisite knitwear from Scotland, fishermen’s sweaters from Ireland, and colourful neckerchiefs that encourage a step beyond navy and grey. The atmosphere is deliberately welcoming—bring the dog, have a coffee, and be gently guided by staff who know their stock year-round. It’s the antidote to stressful holiday shopping, making the act of finding the perfect cashmere sweater or pair of soft shetland socks a genuine pleasure.
The Motoring Takeaway: The gift of a sublime cashmere sweater or soft shetland socks is akin to gifting the perfect driving accessory—elegant, functional, and instantly part of the owner’s lore.
3. D.R. Harris & Co. – The Classic Scent of the Wood, Leather & Oil
For: The purist who loves the authentic smell of a vintage interior—aged leather, wood polish, and a hint of mechanical oil.
Location: St James’s Street.
Open since 1790, D.R. Harris is a living, breathing piece of London history. This is a working pharmacy and perfumer that has served royalty for centuries. The aroma—a blend of floral colognes, medicinal herbs, and rich shaving soap—transports you instantly. Pick up their famed Windsor cologne (citrus, leather, pepper), a badger-hair shaving brush, or their historic, alcohol-lightened ‘Pick-Me-Up’ tonic. In a world of fleeting trends, Harris’s commitment to its 18th-century formulas is a bold statement. It’s the gift of timeless, understated British elegance, beautifully presented in vintage-style packaging.
The Motoring Takeaway: A beautifully packaged set of shaving essentials or a classic cologne like ‘Arlington’ offers a daily ritual of refinement.
4. John Lobb Bootmaker – The Hand-Built Chassis for Your Feet
For: The ultimate perfectionist who understands that true luxury is in the foundation.
Location: St James’s.
The olfactory hit of rich leather and dark wood upon entering John Lobb signals you’ve arrived at the pinnacle of bespoke shoemaking. Founded in 1849 and holder of a royal warrant from King Charles III, Lobb is unique in housing its entire workshop—from Last Maker to polisher—behind the shopfront. The gift here is an investment in a lifetime companion: around six months of craftsmanship resulting in shoes or boots that are a perfect extension of the self. With an archive of lasts for clients like Frank Sinatra and Margaret Thatcher, Lobb’s philosophy is about creating balance and “the best version of yourself” from the shins down.
The Motoring Takeaway: Gifting bespoke Lobbs is the ultimate investment in foundational engineering—the custom-fitted driving shoes you never take off.
5. Daunt Books – The Curated Road Atlas for the Mind
For: The touring enthusiast who plans a drive not just by route, but by the history, culture, and stories of the destination. Location: Marylebone High Street.
Daunt Books is the ultimate pre-rally reconnaissance and inspiration centre. Housed in a breathtaking, skylit Edwardian gallery (think of a beautiful, historic showroom), its unique genius is arranging books by country, not just author. Planning a tour through the Alps or a coastal run in Sicily? Here you’ll find the relevant maps, history, novels, and travelogues together—the complete contextual package. It facilitates serendipitous discovery, much like finding a perfect, unplanned B-road. The knowledgeable staff are your co-drivers, navigating you to the perfect read.
The Motoring Takeaway: The iconic Daunt tote bag filled with literature for a specific region is the perfect passenger for any journey, enriching the travel experience far beyond the satnav.
6. LASSCO at Brunswick House – The Ultimate Salvage, Barn Find & Curiosity Garage
For: The hunter-gatherer who finds beauty in patina, history, and the unique story of a salvaged piece.
Location: Vauxhall.
LASSCO is the world’s most spectacular architectural salvage yard and curiosity garage. Housed in a glorious Georgian villa stubbornly surviving amidst modern towers (a true “barn find” of a building), it’s a five-floor treasure trove. Here, you don’t buy new; you rescue and re-purpose. You might find a 1930s stained-glass panel (perfect for a garage window), a ship’s lantern, a massive timber gantry, or a set of engineer’s drawers. It’s the physical equivalent of finding NOS (New Old Stock) parts or that perfect period accessory for your man-cave or garage. The thrill is in the hunt and the story.
The Motoring Takeaway: A gift from LASSCO is a piece of history with a past—a tangible slice of old London that adds character and narrative, much like acquiring a vintage petrol pump or a classic workshop sign.
This Christmas, bypass the mass-produced. Invest in heritage, craftsmanship, and bespoke engineering—the very principles that make classic motoring so special.
Horst Friedrichs, photographer and the founder of bowlerhistorytours.com
