The London Shopping Experience

Out of town shopping malls may well have started thediverse area racially and culturally, has a thriving gay
decline of the traditional British high street over the lastcommunity and has also become the media capital
few years, and it's easy to see why. However whilstover recent years. Soho is busy and untidy but well
London doesn't offer any of these - it doesn't need to!worth the experience.
London literally has it all. From markets stalls to theNearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square
world's biggest department stores, from inexpensiveCarnaby Street
bric-a-brac to extortionately priced cutting edge fashionLondon's fashion Mecca of the swinging 60s has
from the world's top designers, everyone is cateredtoday become almost as famous for souvenir shops
for by London's many and varied shopping areas.cashing in on tourists who are drawn to the street by
As convenient as malls are, they don't even scratchits iconic name, however it is now starting to regain
the surface of what London is able to offer thesomething of a cutting edge reputation, particularly at
shopper in terms of diversity and wherever you are inthe southern end of the street. Newburgh Street
the city, it's all just a short tube or bus ride away. With(which runs across Carnaby Street) features the
the chance of seeing some of the world's mostshops of a number of top designers such as Jean
famous landmarks as well, the London shoppingPaul Gaultier and John Richmond and nearby Kingly
experience cannot be beaten.Court has 3 floors of concept shops set around an
Oxford Streetopen courtyard offering items not sold anywhere else
Britains busiest high street and Londons best knownin London.
shopping area is chock-a-block full of the nations mostNearest Tube: Oxford Circus
popular shops - over 300 in fact. Many of the biggestKing's Road
high street names have their flagship stores here andThe road gained a reputation for cutting edge fashion
the street also boasts the oldest record shop in theback in the 1960s and 70s which perhaps it doesn't
world (HMV at number 363). Also home to the worldquite have nowadays, however it still features many
famous Selfridges department store, Oxford Street isindependent clothes and shoe shops. There are also a
1 ½ miles of shopping utopia for those that don'tnumber of contemporary furnishing stores and a huge
mind the experience being a little on the hectic side.array of bars and restaurants. The large Peter Jones
Nearest Tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxforddepartment store is at the Sloane Square end of the
Circus, Tottenham Court Roadroad and opposite is the new Duke Of York shopping
Knightsbridgeprecinct. The road has always had something of a
Knightsbridge is the home of classy fashion boutiquesglamorous reputation and as well as providing a great
and quality department stores - the jewels in theLondon shopping experience, is also a top place to go
crown being the absolutely fabulous Harvey Nichollsceleb spotting.
and the world's most famous corner shop, Harrods. BigNearest Tube: Sloane Square
name fashion designers can be found in Sloane StreetFulham Road
and equally chic but smaller outlets at BeauchampThe Fulham Road runs parallel to the King's Road and
Place.offers an altogether more laid back London shopping
Nearest Tube: Knightsbridgeexperience. If it's antiques you're after or specialist
Kensington High Streetinterior furnishings then you'll be more than ably catered
Kensington offers a bit of everything to thosefor here.
shopping in London. It features all of the well knownNearest Tube: South Kensington
chain stores, plenty of one-offs, department storesPortobello Road
(the main one being Barker's), an array of antiqueNotting Hill has become quite a fashionable area of late
shops (in nearby Kensington Church Street) andbut long before the film and even the annual carnival -
numerous restaurants. It's less busy than the Westin fact ever since the 18th century - the Portobello
End and certainly a touch classier.Road market has drawn large numbers of visitors.
Nearest Tube: High Street KensingtonKnown predominantly for its antiques, bric-a-brac and
Regent Streetcollectables, there's also shops and stalls selling
Regent Street, running the ¾ of a mile betweeneverything from fruit and veg to trendy clothing. And if
Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, certainly providesall that shopping makes you thirsty, there's no shortage
the most visually elegant shopping experience inof pubs for you to choose from.
London as all the shops conform to the same ornateNearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
architectural style. It features department stores,Islington
fashion boutiques, restaurants and well known highAnother area of London that has become fashionable
street names and is also home to the world's bestin recent years, Islington has a bit of everything to
known toy store, Hamley's.cater for both its inhabitants and visitors. Upper Street
Nearest Tubes: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circusis the area's 'high street' and features all of the familiar
Bond Streetchain stores as well as lots of bars and restaurants.
If you're looking for a London shopping experience withChapel Market offers all of the usual market fare such
a touch of class - and you don't mind paying for it -as fruit and veg, clothes and homeware whilst
then Bond Street is for you. Full of the biggest designerCamden Passage has some nice antiques shops.
names including Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Cartier andIslington is not the obvious London shopping destination,
Tiffany & Co, the street boasts more suppliers to thebut well worth a look.
royal family than anywhere else in London. A worldNearest Tube: Angel
away from the 'every man for themselves'Camden Town
experience of Oxford Street, many stores have theirIf you are after a more bohemian London shopping
own doormen. The street is also home to the worldexperience than that offered by Knightsbridge or Bond
famous Sotheby's auction house.Street, then get yourself up to Camden. One of the
Nearest Tube: Bond Streetcitys coolest areas has a seemingly endless array of
Tottenham Court Roadshops and stalls selling such items as clothing (new,
If you're shopping in London for electrical items orsecond hand and retro), customised Doc Martins and
home furnishings then Tottenham Court Road is welltrainers, jewellery, bootleg CDs and DVDs and craft
worth a visit. The backstreets of the area offer anware. Open daily (and very busy at weekends), it is a
array of interesting pubs and specialist shops andmulti cultural experience with some great little food
nearby Charlotte Street features a wide variety ofoutlets dotted all over.
restaurants.Nearest Tube: Camden Town
Nearest Tubes: Tottenham Court Road, GoodgeCovent Garden
Street, Warren StreetFormerly a fruit and vegetable market, The Garden is
Soho & Chinatownnow a constant and varied hive of activity. It has a
Soho has cleaned up its act over the years and nohugely diverse selection of shops, eateries, bars, a
longer has the seedy reputation it was once knownmarket selling art, crafts, antiques and souvenirs,
for. If it's sex shops you're looking for in London, you'llhistoric buildings, theatres, the Royal Opera House and
still be well catered for but its reputation nowadays isfantastic free entertainment provided by street
built just as much on the many cafes, bars andentertainers and musicians. If you cannot find
restaurants, all of which make the area an extremelysomething to capture your interest at Covent Garden
popular attraction 24 hours a day. It's an incrediblythen there really is no hope.