Shop ‘Til You Drop In London
London is a shopaholic’s dream. Whether you love luxury goods, mooching around markets, losing yourself in vast shopping centres, or searching for quirky finds down cobbled streets, you will find what you’re looking for in this diverse capital city. Whichever London hotel you’re staying in, there will be a shopping oasis near you. Read on to discover the key shopping areas and what they specialise in – just remember to bring your credit card!
Oxford Street
This famous street in the heart of London is a shopping Mecca, home to many of the UK high street’s flagship stores and legendary department stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis. The crowds can get claustrophobic, especially in the busy summer months and just before Christmas, so why not take a well-deserved break and have a drink, a coffee or a bite to eat in one of the many pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in St. Christopher’s Place?
Regent Street
Considering every building on Regent Street is protected as a Listed Building with at least Grade II status, it would be easy just to gaze at the impressive architecture – but you’d be missing out on some of London’s most famous shops. Gems include Hamley’s, the second largest toy store in the world and a child’s idea of heaven, and the iconic department store Liberty’s, which first opened its doors in 1875.
Bond Street and Savile Row
If you fancy a taste of the high life or want to splurge some cash on a designer item, Bond Street is the place to go. Along with dozens of designer stores, some of the most fabulous hotels in London are in this area and the rich, famous and beautiful come to sleep and shop here. Nearby Savile Row is renowned across the globe for its exquisite tailors – if you want a tailor-made suit of the highest quality (and have the money to match the price tag), there is no better place in the world to go.
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street was the centre of the Swinging Sixties and today it is still home to up-and-coming and edgy designers, so it’s perfect if you’re after something unique. There are dozens of little lanes heading off it that are packed with bars, restaurants, pubs and boutiques so be sure to take a few detours! If you fancy a speedy manicure, pedicure or facial, pop into cult spa Cowshed in Fouberts Place, just off Carnaby Street, and rest those weary limbs.
Knightsbridge
Best known for Harrods, the name Knightsbridge is synonymous with elegance and glamour. Tourists flock to this area to window-shop, buy a Harrods bag and gawp at the beautiful foods, clothes, accessories and homewares.
Camden Markets
If you love a good bargain and enjoy searching through stalls for hidden treasures, North London’s Camden Markets are for you. With both open-air and indoor markets, each with their own distinctive style, there is something for everybody in Camden.
Westfield London
When this vast shopping centre opened in 2008, it caused a huge buzz and not only because it is the largest urban shopping centre in Europe. Containing nearly 300 stores, 50 eateries, a state-of-the-art cinema, a gym and a spa, it is not only a shopper’s paradise, but a centre of entertainment that will keep the whole family amused for the day.
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