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 Shopping : Best of the City
What is there to say about London shopping except that it’s exceptional? Fashion? World-class. Antiques? Astounding. Giftware? Everything imaginable. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed not to find what you’re looking for – at a variety of price points. Top-drawer department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols attract shoppers and tourists to Knightsbridge, which is also a destination for upscale goods. If budgets are tighter, more mainstream enterprises like Marks & Spencer provide appealing style and affordability. Plus, Oxford Street offers an enormous range of retailers to browse, and it’s always busy. Designer apparel finds a home along New Bond Street, as does quality jewelry, while Covent Garden and Carnaby Street accommodate more independent, experimental tastes. However, wonderful shops are tucked away throughout the city, just awaiting discovery. A hometown favorite is The Conran Shop, which occupies the Michelin House and is just one entry in Terence Conran’s diverse empire of restaurants and hotels. Of course, street markets are always ripe for browsing too – some of the best for antiques include the well-attended Portobello Road, Bermondsey, and Camden Markets.
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188-196 Regent St, London W1R 6BT • (0)800-280-2444
Distance: ~10.854 km
Description: MAYFAIR. As London's most famous toy store, Hamleys has become something of a tourist attraction, and crowds add an even more festive mood to the already carnival-like store. The toy selection is vast, and the displays enchant children, as well as their parents and grandparents. However, what sets the store apart is its staff. Friendly young folks who love their jobs demonstrate the latest toys to rapt visitors of all ages. Something for every price range. TUBE: Oxford Circus
234 Regent St, London W1B 3BR • 442-7758-3990
Description: MAYFAIR. Fashionable apparel at affordable prices is the mainstay at this chain of clothing stores. The H&M empire ranges into more than a dozen countries, and London itself has a good variety of locations. H&M, which stands for Hennes & Mauritz, can easily clothe men, women, and children, thanks in large part to their own brands of classic and fashion-forward clothing. Cosmetics and accessories also figure in H&M stores. TUBE: High Street Kensington
Oxford St, London W1
Distance: ~11.009 km
Description: OXFORD STREET. Without a doubt, Oxford Street is London's busiest shopping thoroughfare. Although weekends are especially congested, any time you come is certain to feature shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. That's understandable, considering that some 300 businesses line the 2-mile strip, including upscale shops, more affordable venues, and well-known department stores. In fact, anything you can imagine is for sale. It just depends on your own fortitude and purse to see your visions come to fruition. TUBE: Oxford Circus or Bond Street
400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB • (0)800-123-400
Distance: ~11.695 km
Description: OXFORD STREET. Set in the midst of one of London's busiest shopping districts, this high-quality store offers floors full of desirable merchandise. You'll find everything from hardware to menswear, along with departments for home fashions, music and stationery. The four-store chain has a strong reputation for its extensive selection of cosmetics and jewelry, too, and a wealth of well-regarded cafes, restaurants, and the like pepper the complex. Groceries are available, along with salons and a travel shop. TUBE: Bond Street
131-141 King's Rd, London SW3 • 20-7823-3900
Distance: ~12.913 km
Description: CHELSEA. This large building is home to more than 120 antique dealers, making it a top destination for collectors. It offers something to suit every need, including an especially large collection of Oriental items, tons of prints and paintings, beautiful antique picture frames, furniture, jewelry and sculpture. A conveniently located, one-stop antique shop. TUBE: Sloane Square
81 Fulham Rd Michelin House, London SW3 6RD • 020-7589-7401
Distance: ~12.980 km
Description: CHELSEA. Terence Conran – furniture designer, style maven, restaurateur – established this store in 1987 as a showcase for home design. Well-displayed merchandise includes clean-lined furniture, dishes, kitchen accessories, pillows, lighting, fabrics, books, and more. Just walking around the space is enough to give you inspiration for your own home. Set in the midst of Chelsea shopping venues, the store is in good company for decorating sprees. Plus, the adjacent Bibendum restaurant serves fabulous brasserie cuisine. TUBE: South Kensington
122 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 • 20-7727-3553
Distance: ~15.307 km
Description: NOTTING HILL. For a taste of true English menswear, head to this longstanding favorite. Basics such as cords and tweeds are emphasized, although offbeat designs can be found as well, along with unique printed shirts and ties. It's a great place to buy a gift, and accessories and unique knickknacks are scattered among the clothes. Plus, a well-stocked jewelry section contains many watches and rings. A quirky, fun shop with something for everyone and for almost every price range. TUBE: Ladbroke Grove
Portobello Rd, London W11
Distance: ~15.371 km
Description: NOTTING HILL. Although markets have sprung up in the area for centuries, they've only taken true organized form since the mid-20th century. This is also when antiques dealers started gathering here. Their presence is why many folks come to Portobello, scoping out goods in a broad range of prices and time periods. The antiques market is held on Saturdays, when you'll also find an abundant array of fashion; the surrounding shops and restaurants are open Monday-Saturday, and vendors congregate to sell everything from produce to clothing. The area's dwindling multicultural population adds a bit of diversity to the available merchandise. TUBE: Notting Hill Gate or Ladbroke Grove
141 Portland Rd, London W11 4LR • 20-7727-6760
Distance: ~15.729 km
Description: HOLLAND PARK. This women's shop is well-known, but not for providing clothes for public viewing. Their reputation is for clothes women love to wear at home. Though some stylish dresses and separates are available from designers such as Chloe, the emphasis is on the boudoir, with scented candles, lampshades, luxurious pajamas, silky nightgowns, and fine bed linens, all beautifully displayed. When looking for a fine gift for the discriminating woman on your list, you can't go wrong here. Celebrity sightings are common. TUBE: Holland Park
Bond St, London W15 2EP
Distance: ~19.127 km
Description: MAYFAIR. Bond Street is actually composed of New Bond and Old Bond. Together, they establish an enclave of high-end designer boutiques that cater to folks with pounds to spare. (If you're counting, Old Bond is the more upscale of the two.) Running between Piccadilly and Oxford Street, Bond Street features shops specializing in fashions by Chanel, Versace, and the like. Several auction houses lie in the vicinity as well. Just east of Bond, Savile Row boasts an international reputation for its bespoke tailoring, or top-quality custom garments. TUBE: Bond Street