While we don’t believe you should ever need an excuse to enjoy a decadent treat, there is absolutely no better time of year than Christmas to do so.

World famous department store Fortnum & Mason is a paradise for foodies. Make your way to Piccadilly to pick up one of their iconic Christmas hampers or indulge in a basket of goodies from their luxury food hall.

If chocolate is your weakness, then look no further than Prestat in Princes Arcade. Founded by the French family who invented the truffle – it goes without saying that you should grab a box of these during your visit. Their bestselling pink champagne truffles might just be our favourite.

Or, if you’re a hot drink lover, head along to Whittard of Chelsea, where you can buy an array of exotic teas, first-rate coffees and festive hot chocolates. With special brewing equipment and sweet treats, it’s also perfect for picking up a last-minute gift.

Sometimes, in the middle of the busy party season, what we really need is a cosy night in to recuperate.

But it can be difficult to turn down an invite (thanks, FOMO), so it helps if your home looks and feels like a sanctuary.

Enter: Bulbous. This landmark shop on Jermyn Street sells a varied choice of flowers ranging from the classic to the unusual, all of which will look great on your kitchen table.

Want your house to smell great, too? Discover bold fragrances at Molton Brown, who have built a reputation for being London’s bath, body and beauty connoisseurs. Their scented candles and reed diffusers will have you cancelling all your plans.

Why not also pick up some pretty decor at Earl of East in Quadrant Arcade, which is home to the best independent brands across homeware? The Regent Street store even holds candle workshops – the creative outlet for calm we didn’t even know we needed. 

Christmas to-do list of doom raising your stress levels? It’s time to sweat it out.

Fitness girlies are spoiled for choice when it comes to gym clothes and accessories at innovative activewear brand Gymshark, which caters for a range of training needs and body types. With loads of free exercise classes, hangouts and events – the Regent Street store is also a home for the London fitness community.

For a slightly more Zen experience, pop into Alo Yoga, which specialises in activewear that promotes wellness and mindfulness. The Regent Street shop also hosts a range of exercise meet-ups, including run clubs and yoga classes.

Put your new fitness attire to the test with a visit to Third Space Soho on Brewer Street – a new kind of fitness club offering everything from world-class facilities and personal training to exercise classes and expert nutrition advice. 

Say goodbye to the Christmas-induced tension in your neck and shoulders with a visit to modern massage studio, MASAJ, which was founded in 2018 to combat the negative effects of city living.

Book a tailored bodywork session at their beautiful boutique in Quadrant Arcade and leave feeling pampered and ready to face the festivities head-on.

For an equally blissed-out experience, why not venture to Ten Health and Fitness in St James’s? This chic fitness studio offers a range of massage treatments which promise to reduce stress and anxiety.

To really wash away your worries this Christmas, plunge into the pool or unwind in the jacuzzi, sauna and steam room at Nordic Balance in St James’s. The serene health club also offers a range of treatments, including sports massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy, dry needling and podiatry. 

If you take your skincare seriously, there’s one central London shopping quarter you need to be heading to, pronto. 

Facetheory, in the Quadrant Arcade, which is Regent Street’s wellness hub, has been creating affordable, vegan skincare since 2014.

Or head to Aesop in Piccadilly Square for a taste of luxury. The Aussie cosmetics company is known for creating skin, hair and body products with efficacy and sensory pleasure at their core.

Another favourite among beauty and skincare enthusiasts is Space NK’s flagship store on Regent Street. Whether it’s an eye cream or serum you’re looking for, you’ll have that festive glow in no time.