Artbox

Artbox is an independent Japanese-style cute character shop on Shelton Street in Covent Garden, part of the Seven Dials neighbourhood. It is known for kawaii design and character-led goods, and describes itself as a small team with a big heart rather than a chain, with a sister cafe and boutique in Brighton that it calls the UK's first Japanese-style cute character themed cafe.

The shop has built a loyal following through its focus on quality licensed goods and its own community, inviting customers to tag their finds and running a loyalty scheme with silver and gold tiers. Its online store ships worldwide, but the Shelton Street shop is where the full range can be handled and compared.

The kawaii shop Covent Garden collectors know

Expect Japanese stationery, including notebooks, pens, stickers, pencil cases and desk accessories, alongside character-themed plush, bags, purses, plates, mugs, homeware and small novelties from the big Japanese character brands. The compact space is filled with a dense, frequently changing selection, so regular visitors tend to find something new each time and the stock rewards a proper browse.

What to expect on a visit

The shop opens from 11am daily, closing at 7pm Monday to Saturday and 6pm on Sundays. It suits quick impulse buys as much as longer browsing, anything missed in store can be ordered online with free UK delivery above a set spend, and the shop sits within easy reach of the Seven Dials junction and the wider gift shops of Covent Garden. Stanfords on Mercer Walk is a minute away for a very different kind of shopping.