Go & See
London Does Independent Rather Well.
By Söstter
April 2026
London has always done independent retail rather well. From Jermyn Street tailors who have been dressing gentlemen since before most brands existed, to new makers setting up in Marylebone with something genuinely worth finding — the city rewards those who know where to look.
We followed the trail through the boutiques, the apothecaries and the shops that have absolutely no interest in being discovered by everyone. Just the right people.
Browse this Söstter London edit, or better still — go.
Anatomē: The Apothecary That Changes How You Think About Wellness.
Anatomē is not a pharmacy. It is not a spa. It is something rather more considered than either — a Marylebone apothecary built around the idea that the right essential oil, the right supplement, the right ritual, applied with genuine intention, can change how you feel entirely.
The shop on Marylebone Lane is worth the visit on its own terms. The kind of place where the staff actually know what they are talking about, where nothing has been stocked without a reason, and where you will almost certainly leave with something you did not know you needed but immediately cannot imagine being without.
Also on Söstter. Which means you can find them without leaving the house — though we rather think you should.
Benson & Clegg: The Tailor Who Dressed a King.
Benson & Clegg on Jermyn Street is, technically, a tailor. It is also the shop that held a Royal Warrant to King George VI, dressed him for his coronation, and made the coat he wore to deliver the speech at the centre of The King's Speech. The paper pattern of the King is still in the archive. The coat was recently recovered — found in a pocket, of all places, along with letters confirming its provenance.
All of which is to say: this is not a shop doing heritage as an aesthetic. This is heritage as simple, unadorned fact. Worth a visit to Jermyn Street on that basis alone.
Browse Anatomē and Benson & Clegg at Söstter — or find them in person in Marylebone and Jermyn Street. We rather recommend the latter.
Also worth finding in London: Anchor & Crew and Azuni London.
Discover more in our UK Boutiques directory, or explore Go & See for more places worth the journey.
3 comments
The Leadenhall market tip is spot on — been going for years and it never disappoints. Will look out for WooWoo London next time. Love that Söstter is connecting the online brands to where you can actually find them in person. More of this please.
Benson & Clegg is extraordinary. Went in expecting buttons and left having booked a bespoke consultation. The King’s Speech connection is completely true — Oli showed us the archive. One of those London shops that makes you feel the city still does things properly.
Finally visited Anatomē last week after reading this — absolutely worth it. The staff actually know what they’re talking about, which is so rare. Left with three things I didn’t plan to buy. No regrets whatsoever.