Checkout / Smythson's, Bond St, London

What is it? A stationery and accessories shop founded in 1887 and still the first word in de luxe for the desk. Recently relocated to a building in which every room is stamped with a preservation order.

Who shops there? The shop holds three royal warrants, HM The Queen, HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles. It's also the sort of place you can bump into a celeb or aristo any day of the week

What services do they offer? At the back of the shop the stationery salon is staffed by experts ready to advise on special letterhead orders (from pounds 206 for 250 die-stamped sheets and envelopes). Gold stamping is also on offer. There is an even more intimate salon prive for those who want to bespeak their orders more discreetly.

What should I buy? Wonderful long grain, half bound morocco leather photo albums - from pounds 89. Superb quality everyday stationery reasonably priced: pounds 6.50 for 50 sheets and pounds 6.50 for 25 envelopes - all hand-folded, coloured tissue lined envelopes are pounds 13.50 for 25.

Most popular item: The featherweight series of little blank books, pounds 15.50, with titles such as "Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads," "Places To Remember" and "Friends, Lovers, Husbands" stamped in gold on their covers.

Tel: 0171-629 8558