Famed the world over for its printed fabrics, Liberty is a major brand in its own right. Its London home is a wonderful timbered building that feels more like a baronial hall than a shop. The best way to Liberty is to turn off Regent Street into Great Marlborough Street and look right. The famous clock sits in the middle of a bridge between the two halves of the shop, and St George comes out every hour to skewer the dragon. Enter the store by the glass entrance and into the main hall that rises like a balconied theater above you. Take the creaking wooden stairs up, and floor after floor of beautiful objects reveal themselves, from fine furniture to rugs. There is a section dedicated to the famous Liberty cotton prints and silks, but this is disappointingly small. Cross over the footbridge, and fashion is the focus, with designer shoes laid casually on tables rather than formal racks and clothes that just cry out to be tried on. Back in the main building, the basement is a treasure house of little objects of desire, especially at Christmas. The Art Bar Café is a delightful eclectically furnished place to stop for a cup of tea and great cakes. Head out with your purchases via the east exit, through a breathtaking chocolate emporium. You name it, it’s here, all wrapped and ready to be horded into suitcases for the trip home (or eaten in the Tube back to the hotel!).