DISCOVER
Shopping
One of the world’s most exciting retail centres, London is also one of the most varied. The shopping scene spans multicultural street markets and deluxe department stores, cutting-edge fashion designers and traditional tailors, smart food shops and tiny delis.
Where to Buy
Covent Garden & Soho
The Covent Garden shopping precinct is choked with chains, but Neal Street and the streets radiating off Seven Dials rule for trainers and streetwise gear. Another urbanwear hotspot is Soho’s Carnaby Street, which has traded souvenir shops for hip chains and independents. Berwick Street is still hanging on to some record shops, while Charring Cross Road (especially Cecil Court) bristles with bookstores.
- Covent Garden
Oxford Street & Marylebone
Oxford Street is packed with big chains and department stores, which spill over on to elegant, curving Regent Street. In contrast, Marylebone has a villagey air and a collection of small shops that sell everything from designer jewellery to farmhouse cheeses. Venture further north to Church Street for antiques.
- Oxford Circus
Notting Hill
Best known for its antiques market on Portobello Road, Notting Hill also has an impressive cache of posh boutiques around the intersection of Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road – a laid-back alternative to the West End and Chelsea. The area is also good for rare vinyl and vintage clothes.
- Notting Hill Gate
Mayfair & St James’s
The traditional home of tailors (Savile Row) and shirtmakers (Jermyn Street), this patch also retains venerable specialist hatters, cobblers and perfumers. Bond Street glitters with posh jewellers and designer flagships.
- Bond Street
Chelsea & Knightsbridge
The once-legendary King’s Road is now pretty bland, but some interesting shops remain in place. Designer salons line Sloane Street and mix with chains on Knightsbridge, which is also home to many department stores.
- Sloane Square
Kensington
Once a hub of hip fashion, Kensington High Street has given way to an influx of chain stores, However, it’s still worth exploring the back streets leading up to Notting Hill Gate. Upmarket antiques shops gather in Kensington Church Street.
- South Kensington
The O2, Greenwich Peninsula
Located inside The O2, Icon Outlet is one of London’s most exciting retail destinations. Open 7 days a week and within easy reach of Central London, just 15 minutes on the Jubilee Line, you’ll find over 60 superstar fashion and lifestyle brands with up to 70% of RRP every day including adidas, Calvin Klein, Levis, Nike, Next, Ted Baker and Tommy Hilfiger. From fashion, footwear and accessories to homeware, beauty and gifts, discover the best of outlet shopping across two spacious levels set amongst clean, contemporary surroundings, all under the world-famous roof of The O2. www.iconattheo2.co.uk
- North Greenwich
Department Stores
Fortnum & Mason
- 181 Piccadilly, St James’sv
A sweeping spiral staircase soars through the four-storey building, while light pours in from a central glass dome. The iconic eau de nil blue and gold colour scheme, with flashes of rose pink, features in both the store design and the packaging of the fabulous ground-floor treats – chocolates, biscuits, teas, preserves and other goodies. There’s a fabulous food hall in the basement.
- Green Park or Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
- 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge
In the store that sells everything, it’s hard not to leave with something. It’s on the fashion floors that Harrods really comes into its own with well-edited collections. New in 2008 was the eagerly awaited revival of Halston, the iconic 1970s design house, plus a boutique for Oscar de la Renta, with opulent signature evening gowns and beautifully wearable day dresses
- Knightsbridge
Liberty
- Regent Street, Soho
Shopping at Liberty is about more than just spending money – artful and eye-catching window displays, exciting new collection and luxe labels all make it an experience to savour. And despite being fashionable, Liberty still respects its dressmaking heritage, with an extensive range of cottons in the third-floor haberdashery department. Traditional stationary is also stocked, including beautiful notebooks, address books, photo albums and diaries.
- Oxford Circus
Selfridges
- 400 Oxford Street, Marylebone
Selfridges’ concession boutiques, store-wide themed events and hot new brands make it a stylish place to go for one-stop shopping; useful floor plans make it easy to navigate around the store. It stocks a winning combination of new talent, hip and edgy labels, smarter high-street labels, and mid- and high-end brands. March 2019 saw the 110th anniversary of the store.
- Bond Street or Marble Arch
London Hack
Central London shops open late (7pm or 8pm) on one night a week – Thursday in the West End, Wednesday in Chelsea and Knightsbridge
Central London shops open late (7pm or 8pm) on one night a week – Thursday in the West End, Wednesday in Chelsea and Knightsbridge