Shops We Love: Rituals flagship store, Oxford Street (London)

Don’t know about anyone else, but Oxford Street department stores can feel a bit overwhelming to us, at this time of year. So many choices. So many people. (So much loud music, too!)

If you’re looking for somewhere you can really focus, but which has a glorious selection of body, bath and fragrance gifts, we point you in the direction of the new flagship Rituals store, at the Tottenham Court Road end of London’s busiest shopping street (just around the corner from the Elizabeth Line’s Dean Street exit, actually).

Rituals do gifting exceptionally well. (We chose one of their Ritual of Hamman gifts this week in our £25-50 Gift Guide, here, but honestly, we could have chosen one of dozens of terrific sets.) And there’s a fabulously Christmassy vibe to the shop, with a sensational snowscape 3D advent calendar - something you could use year after year – pictured below with the lovely outgoing MD of Rituals, Penny Grivea, of whom we’re a great admirer.

Beautiful scented candles, crackers, nightwear, a gazillion stocking fillers and lovely staff, to boot. A marvellous addition to Oxford Street – and a generous, yet manageable, size.

Can’t tell you how happy we are about that.

103 Oxford St, London W1D 2HF

rituals.com