London’s Top Shopping

Full as it may be of cultural attractions and events, London is also renowned for its shopping, and rightly so, for it is absolutely brimming with department stores, designer shops, dinky independent boutiques, antiques halls and markets.

Featured here are the most well-known shopping destinations in the city, although visitors should always keep their eyes peeled; there could be an unusual and impressive new boutique just around the corner!

SHOPPING DISTRICTS

Many of London’s best shops and shopping experiences are grouped together into small ‘districts’, each with its own distinct style.

For timeless elegance, Bond Street and the roads surrounding it cannot be beaten. Knightsbridge – the home of rival department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols – is higher octane, offering glitz, glamour and edge to the jet set. In Mayfair, Fortnum & Mason and numerous gentlemen’s outfitters continue to offer classic English items such as boating blazers, club ties and pipes. Oxford Street, dominated by Selfridges, is officially London’s busiest shopping area, offering all the large high street brands. Further west, Portobello Road is famed for its vintage fashion, antique furnishings, and relaxed atmosphere. The latest addition to the luxury brands shopping area is The Village at Westfield shopping center in the west of London.

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HARRODS

Slap bang in the middle of Knightsbridge, Harrods dominates its surroundings.

Instantly recognizable from its green and gold awnings, this immense building houses seven floors of luxury items, and is the go-to place for exclusive beauty products, accessories, homeware and designer clothes. Book a session with the in-house personal shopping service ‘By Appointment’ for a tailor-made experience. Also not to be missed are the Shoe Boudoir on the first floor, a shrine to the glamorous red-soled footwear of Christian Louboutin, and the food halls, a series of cavernous rooms packed to the rafters with delicious gourmet treats.

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HARVEY NICHOLS

Only a few steps away from Harrods on the corner of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street, Harvey Nichols’s flagship store opened in the 1880s, and has been a popular purveyor of luxury goods ever since.

There are a total of eight floors of fashion, beauty and home collections, with the fifth floor dedicated to several restaurants and a small but perfectly formed food hall. Visit the beauty hall for a huge range of beauty products, check out the eye-catching display of multicolored Alice bands and hairclips at the Cherry Chau counter, and take your time to admire the incredible clothes on display in the designer section.

SELFRIDGES

This enormous multi-level store is the second largest department store in London, trumped only by Harrods.

With high ceilings and vast halls in a clean, modern style, it offers a shopping experience uncluttered by old-style interiors and furnishings. Stocking an enormous range of brands, Selfridges is a one-stop shop for travelers on a tight schedule, or travelers who wish to get all their shopping done under one roof. Highlights of this department store include the excellent personal shopping service and recently opened Shoe Galleries, an entire gallery dedicated to shoes by Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Gina, Prada and others.

FENWICK

Situated on Bond Street, among many of London’s chicest shops, Fenwick is five floors-worth of stylish clothes, accessories, homeware and beauty products.

Browse through the millinery section, full of hats and luxury hair accessories, wander through the intimate lingerie lounge, or travel up to the third floor for a beauty treatment at John Gustafson’s beauty studio.

New restaurant Bond & Brook offers light meals for the hungry shopper, whilst The Affogato Bar, also new, serves affogatos – ice cream with a shot of intense espresso poured over the top – and other sweet treats to pick up flagging energy levels.

LIBERTY

Housed in a magnificent mock-Tudor building made of the timber from two old ships – HMS Hindustan and HMS Impregnable – Liberty is renowned for its focus on eclectic fashion and design.

A popular haunt of the pre-Raphaelites in their day, it continues to stock a combination of classic and unusual items by a huge list of designers, including Erdem, Marc Jacobs, Meadham Kirchoff, Etro, Missoni, Moncler and Antonio Berardi. Visit the haberdashery in this marvelous shop for a dazzling array of ribbons, fabrics, feathers and Liberty prints, and make sure to stop off at the adjacent rugs and carpets room, an Aladdin’s cave of wonderful textures, fabrics and patterns.

BROWNS

One of London’s most valued fashion landmarks, Browns – comprising Browns,  Browns Focus, Browns Men, and Browns Bridal – is the brainchild of Joan Burstein, who created it with her husband Sidney in 1970.

Offering pieces handpicked by the world’s top designers, it is dedicated to quality and individuality. Burstein has been credited with discovering some of today’s biggest names, including John Galliano, the late Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and Comme des Garçons, all of which shows in the main shop, which displays only the best. Just across the road is Browns Focus, targeted at a sophisticated, slightly more cutting-edge market, and offering the newest, most in-demand items.

MATCHES

FORTNUM & MASON

Since 1707, Fortnum & Mason has been the quintessential English store, situated in the heart of London’s Piccadilly.

Famous for its top-notch groceries (it is the Queen’s official supplier), it sells a wide range of classic English pantry items, including unparalleled loose leaf teas, coffee, traditional confectionery, artisan biscuits, chutneys, jams and preserves; in short, everything you need for the perfect afternoon tea. Many of these delicious things can be found in the iconic F&M hampers, traditional straw-lidded baskets in every size used for picnicking, that favorite English pastime. Alternatively, ask the staff for an empty hamper and pile up a selection of your own personal favorites for a bespoke option. If food is not what you are after, Fortnum’s – as it is known to native Londoners – also sells a substantial variety of gifts unrelated to food, including jewelry, luxury stationery, beauty products for men and women, and homeware.

Fashion & Accessories

JEWELRY & WATCHES