Nothing quite matches that feeling of discovering that perfect gift for yourself or someone you love when you’re travelling. And often the best place to find that special souvenir is at a local market.

Forget the big international brands you’ll find on any shopping high street in any city of the world when you’re in London, instead shop for something unexpected and handmade, that just ticks all the boxes, at one of London’s unique markets.

Of all London’s best markets, Greenwich is the happiest hunting ground for those in search of fabulous things to give to those they love. Most of the traders here have been returning for years to sell their lovingly made products, but also to be a part of the convivial community that makes Greenwich Market so special.

Take Antonio De Mendoza, a Colombian-born former lawyer who learned to make jewellery with his brother in the United States. Ditching the books for the life of a full-time creative, he opened his stall, DeMEC, in 2002. A shortening of his surname, De Mendoza Cuéllar, DeMEC specialises in jewellery made from gemstones, precious metals and the unique ‘vegetable ivory’ made from the nuts of South American palm trees known as ‘elephant plants’. Each of his pieces, like his constellation rings, made of silver, diamonds and vegetable ivory, is entirely unique.

A similar one-of-a-kind, working in a totally different medium, is Wei Chen. A native of Shenyang in China, Wei practices the venerable art of paper cutting at Paper Moon. Dating all the way back to the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE), paper cutting is a meticulous practice in which a single sheet of paper is hand-cut into the most fabulous designs, including fish, flowers, butterflies and other fabulous forms. Some of her pieces demand five or six weeks of Wei Chen’s painstaking scalpel work, and each is a gorgeous testament to her skill and vision.

Gifts that grow are always welcome! And Plant Maniax creates wonderful things from greenery. Yenis Llopiz and Andrew Policella, the exuberant couple behind this stall, take great pride in their healthy indoor succulents, home-decorated pots and handmade wooden planter stands. Grown and assembled in nearby Deptford, their creations overflow from their stall and give receivers of their gifts continuous joy.

Cosmetics and natural treatments are top of many people’s wishlists (particularly the skin routine obsessed Gen Z) and MotherEarth’s Beauty is one of Greenwich’s most beloved creators. Mother/daughter duo Malika and Prerna Aswani produce all organic hair and skin treatments from high-quality natural ingredients. Creating all their products by hand and in micro-batches in their London studio, the Aswanis draw on Ayurvedic medicine for inspiration.

Sometimes, the perfect gift comes out of left field. Few would think of propolis, the ‘bee glue’ used to cement hives together, as a gift idea. Made from saliva, beeswax and sap, this miracle product is one of the lesser-known treasures of raw honey purveyor, The Nature Queen. Run by Romanian-born Maria and her partner, Vito, The Nature Queen pipes top-quality honey and bee products from her uncle Ghitou’s farm. Browse their stall for the perfect gift you (or your loved one) never knew you needed!