A few months before the arrival of my niece, my family and I went full-on ‘baby mode’ shopping. We soon became familiar with London’s best baby boutiques and stocked up on all sorts – we’re talking furry snowsuits, cashmere mittens, handmade leather booties, and (my personal favourite) a darling linen crown.
While we may have picked up items for Beth (she arrived on the 27th of January at the Portland!) all across town, we found Westbourne Grove to be our sweet spot for all things baby. You’ll find the usual suspects like Bonpoint and Petit Bateau in the area, but here are a few more stores you shouldn’t miss!
Nanos
Nanos is Spain’s leading luxury children’s wear brand. Think gentle frills on pastel-coloured cotton dresses, plush suede mini-moccasins, and (quite naturally) a horse riding collection too. It’s no wonder why Nanos is a firm favourite with the two Spanish Princesses, Leonor and Sofía – both seen below wearing Nanos dresses.
Rebekah’s picks:
1. Badana Bota moccasins, £35.73
2. Newborn Mini Rosa Dress, £89.44
3. Baby basket hamper, from £100
ps. Just a few doors down from Nanos is Granger & Co. Don’t leave Westbourne Grove until you’ve had their scrambled eggs and/or ricotta hotcakes!
183 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 2SB
+44 020 7243 0299
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 18:00
Site: Nanos
Jojo Maman Bébé
For mummy’s-to-be prepping for breastfeeding, Jojo Maman Bébé has a collection of affordable and practical nursing wear. Look out for their popular secret support tops, pull-on dresses with hidden feeding slits, and cosy cotton-blend knitwear with easy feeding access.
If you’re still figuring out what to pack and bring on the day baby arrives, Jojo Maman Bébé has a comprehensive (and helpful!) hospital bag section too.
Rebekah’s picks:
1. Maternity & Nursing Secret Support Top, £19
2. Navy Spot Maternity and Nursing Tunic Dress, £35
3. 2-Pack Maternity & Nursing Sleep Bras, £18
101 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UW
+44 020 7727 3578
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 18:00
Sun: 11:00 – 17:00
Site: Jojo Maman Bebe
Marie Chantal
Marie-Chantal, the crown Princess of Greece and Denmark, founded this children’s wear brand in 2000. Expect pieces made with nothing less than the softest cottons, plush velours and cosy cashmeres inside their Westbourne Grove store.
The Angel Wings collection, an iconic signature design, remains to be one of the brand’s most popular. I am particularly fond of the onesies and secretly wish they had one in my size!
Rebekah’s picks:
1. Angel Wing collection, from £45
2. Velour Bear Suit, £75
3. Knitted blanket, £125
ps. Pop in to Wolf & Badger (just across the road from Marie-Chantal) for a quick cold pressed pick-me-up – there’s a fully-stocked Raw Press fridge inside. My favourite’s No. 5 (Uprooted), a sweet, spicy and exotic elixir that’s packed with antioxidants and vitamins.
61A Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AA
+44 0207 243 0220
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 18:00
Sun: 11:00 – 17:00
Site: Marie-Chantal
Caramel
Possibly one of my favourite stores in this list, Caramel‘s babywear and children’s wear collection is filled with beautifully refined pieces. The off-beat colour palette adds a contemporary edge to otherwise timeless cuts – definitely a store to stop by for baby occasion wear.
Rebekah’s picks:
1. A selection of baby gifts, from £2.50
2. Chicory Baby Dress, £80
3. Spotty Baby Socks, £21
ps. You probably won’t miss it, but just in case you do, Ottolenghi is literally a few steps away from Caramel. Take home a slice of their flourless chocolate cake (so good!) and a couple of hazelnut chocolate chip cookies for good measure – your pregnancy (or in my case, just everyday) cravings sorted!
77 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AG
+44 020 7727 0906
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 18:00
Sun: 11:00 – 17:00
Site: Caramel
Honey & Jam
If you rather not brave the crowds at Hamleys along busy Regent Street, Honey & Jam is the perfect indie substitute. This charming little toy store sits just off Portobello Road and is stocked with heaps of pocket money treats, traditional wooden toys, and lots of fancy dress costumes. Even my twenty-something year old self can’t help but secretly rejoice at Honey & Jam‘s Princess & Fairy section.
Rebekah’s picks:
1. Honeybake Wooden Café Machine, £24.99
2. Ride on Unicorn Costume, £34.99
3. Outer Space Terrarium Garden, £19.99
2 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London W11 1NN
+44 0207 243 0449
Tues – Sat: 10:00 – 17:30
Sun: 11:00 – 16:00
Closed on Mondays
Site: Honey & Jam
Seraphine
A quick bus ride from Westbourne Grove (or one tube stop away from Notting Hill Gate) brings you to Kensington High Street. Here you’ll find Seraphine‘s flagship store, one of London’s most popular maternity shops. The brand is a favourite among the A-list crowd (think Jessica Alba and Marion Cotillard) and its dresses can be seen on many a royal bump!
Marion Cotillard and Anne Hathaway both wearing Seraphine’s Faux Leather Panel Maternity Leggings, £45.00.
Not to be missed: Seraphine’s award winning range of maternity denim.
Rebekah’s picks:
1. Scarlet Peplum Maternity Dress, as seen on the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, £99
2. Pink Fuchsia Knot Front Maternity Dress, as seen on the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, £49
3. Over-Bump Ripped Skinny Maternity Jeans, as seen on Mila Kunis, £39
179 Kensington High Street, W8 6SH London
+44 020 7937 3156
Monday – Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
Thursday: 10:00 – 19:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 18:30
Sunday: 12 Noon – 17:00
Bank Holidays: 12 noon – 17:00
Site: Seraphine
The White Company
While The White Company might not have a dedicated maternity line, a lot of mummies swear by their pull-on lounge trousers – versatile enough for both pre and post-pregnancy bumps. We also bought loads of bits and bobs for Beth via The Little White Company – purl-knit cardigan and soft cotton bodysuits shown below. Look out for classic nursery essentials, including life-size fluffy soft toys via Jellycat.
Rebekah’s picks:
1. London comforter, part of the best selling London collection, £16
2. Baby Elephant Hooded Towel, £22
3. Jellycat Wilbur Whale Toy, £35
112-114 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4SA London
+44 0207 935 7879
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 19:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 17:30
Site: The Little White Company
Ps. Marylebone isn’t around the Westbourne Grove area but I had to make this cheeky little final addition because we’ve got our very own Marylebone guide here on ShopandBox!
If you’re looking for a quick one-stop-shop for all things baby and maternity, check out John Lewis along Oxford Street (it’s a short walk from Marylebone). They’ve got wonderful multipack babysuits for newborns (Beth has this farmyard set that’s organic) and stock the miracle that is the Cocoonababy. You’ll also find brands like Isabella Oliver and Mamalicious at John Lewis, and you might want to test drive a Bugaboo or two whilst there!
For those who are happy to venture away from Marylebone and Oxford Street, hop on the Central line to Shepherd’s Bush. Westfield shopping centre has a whole host of baby boutiques, our family favourite being Mamas and Papas. Why? The exclusive floral Liberty print collection and excellent customer service. Now, time to start shopping and if you’ll like to see all my recommendations, we’ve put it into an easy one-click stop for you!
No Comments