Zest Pharmacy

As others have mentioned, Zest is a bit on the pricey side – but then, it’s in Soho. The prices really aren’t that far off the mark. Boots it ain’t, but that’s actually a good thing. Zest is clean, bright, and just a pleasant place to stumble into, even when you have a cold and you’re fairly sure your sinuses are now home to an alien species hell-​bent on your destruction. At Zest, you not only get alien-​annihilating decongestant (or whatever else you might require from the chemist), but some colourful tat to make yourself feel better.
Don’t miss out on the rather amazing collection of organic/​natural (and otherwise) skin-​, hair-​, and bodycare products, as well as make-​up and nail polish. They stock everything from Korres and Burt’s Bees to Neal’s Yard and various German brands, Essie, and just about everything else you can think of. Really worth a look, and cheaper than at Whole Foods.

This is truly one of the most unusual combination of shops that you will find! It’s a proper pharmacy dispensing drugs but also has a great array of original cards and gifts.
Fortunately, I’ve not had to avail myself of their pharmacy services but if you’re stuck for an original present or card, they have a selection which I haven’t seen in all the chain card stores. If you’re feeling low, also worth going to browse through their cards for a chuckle!
Eclectic but fun!

Great little shop, not just a pharmacy it sells cosmetics and gifts too.
I have bought some great kids/​baby t-​shirts/​tops in here, you get more unusual/​fun gift items.
Great card selection too. I always find good stocking filler presents in here too.
Worth a look around.

I’ve not worked for any straight people since I came to London except doing the data entry stuff and making trouble in Shoreditch. I’m not heterophobic, I’m just camp as Christmas and when you make a good joke they hire you. It works.
I used to work on Poland Street and come here and have a look at the cards and beauty products. I particularly like the 50’s pins and mirrors. There was a particularly fierce one as while back, with a reference to prostitution I found appealing.
When my job role changed, the bosses bought me a card from here that was all snarky 50’s and said basically I don’t clean for shit. True enough. Gay men do have taste.

Sometimes looking for gifts for friends can be a real pain.
Thank god the for Pharmacy which, apart from being a proper pharmacy where you can stock up on your pills and toiletries, is also one of the best pleaces to go for something a bit unusual but which still says quality.
From humourous cards, novelty gifts for grown-​ups and games to their excellent range of baby clothes and toys, this is a great little store and one which you should always turn to in an emergency!

This is such a brilliant little place! I stumbled across it when I desperately needed a lip balm on a really cold day. The pharmacy title really undersells it, making it sound boring and clinicial. when in fact it’s much more than a pharmacy, it sells lots of different things including jewellery and cute cards, as well as loads of really nice brand beauty products. like the lovely burts bees and lots of organic/​natural products. I guess you could call it a really upmarket pharmacy, but it’s more of an independent beauty and gift shop and a great place to spend a few mins looking at all the cool little things.

I worked a few blocks down from Zest quite a while ago. I liked the fact that this wasn’t just a pharmacy, there were lots of little gifts and odds and ends you can buy there too.
Some of the gifts and cards and things can be a little expensive. You could probably get similar things in any other card shop. In fact, I’m not sure if this place wants to be a gift /​card shop or a pharmacy.
This isn’t a brilliant shopping experience but quite handy if you are wandering around Soho.

For those who may be looking for more unusual gifts for friends and relations, Pharmacy can be a blessing.
Located on Berwick Street, this tiny shop has an unusual array of humourous and obscure gifts and some brilliant baby clothes and toys which should solve that awkward ‘what to get’ dilemma come Christmas or birthday time.
It is also attached to a genuine pharmacy should you need to stock up on aspirin or treatments.