Shopping in London

Posted by shannon casey in Accommodations, Cities, Getting Around England, London | 0 comments

London is a vibrant city full of great shopping. Whether you are looking for a vintage dress, a cheap pair of shoes, or a unique souvenir you can find it in London. They key of shopping in London and finding the perfect souvenir is knowing where to go. By the end of this article you should have an idea of the shopping districts you want to hit up on your next trip to London.

1. Camden Town: Vintage and unique clothes are the main draw of Camden Town. Camden Market, Camden Lock Market, Camden Canal Market and Stables Market make up Camden Town and all of them are full of shops and stalls selling antiques, vintage clothing, street fashion and anything in between. It is open throughout the week, but definitely busier on the weekends, so if you want to avoid the crowd try and go on a weekday.
2. Oxford Street: If you are looking for huge, chain stores, look no further than Oxford Street. Primark, H&M, Forever 21, River Island, Debenhams, Neu Look, Urban Outfitters, and Topshop are all located along Oxford Street. You can also find cheap souvenirs here. Oxford Street is the perfect place to go if you are just looking to get your feet wet with British fashion. You can see the latest styles on display at many of the stores located on the mile and a half stretch. Just be ready for a crowd, Oxford Road is always busy no matter what time of day it is.
3. Portobello Road: Every weekend “The World’s Largest Antiques Market” opens up and the streets of Notting Hill and clogged with bargain hunters and tourists. Portobello road is perfect for someone looking for a unique souvenir to bring back. The majority of stalls along Portobello Road sell antiques so you will be guaranteed to find something unusual and different. Just be wary of pickpockets when you are visiting all the shops. You can sometime be in pretty tight spots because of the crowd, which is ideal for pickpockets.
4. Covent Garden: Paul Smith, Urban Outfitters and Burberry are just a few of the names of the shops you’ll see at Coven Garden. You can also find independent and shoe stores if you head towards the area known as Seven Dials. And if you find yourself hungry after you’re shopping then stop by the Piazza where you will be greeted by countless restaurants to satisfy even the pickiest eater’s appetite.
5. Bond Street: Unless you are rich (which few travellers are), Bond Street may be a place to go window shop. It is home to some of the most expensive shops in England and also hosts more Royal Warrant holders (suppliers to the Royal Family) than any other shopping district in London. You can find designers shops, such as Dior and Gucci, along with the American classic Abercrombie & Fitch. Even if you cannot afford anything along Bond Street it is still fun to go and pretend you can.

Whenever I go to London I end up spending far too much money on clothes. British fashion is my favourite in the world though, so it is hard to keep money in my wallet. Even if British fashion is not your cup of tea, you will be able to find something to suit your taste in the countless shops of London.