Guide to Shopping in London
Home to numerous distinct and unique shopping areas, England’s capital city of London is the epicenter for high end fashion and unique shopping experiences. No matter what corner of the city you’re in, you can be sure to find a wide variety of shopping streets, retail districts, and specialty stores. Offering everything from high end brands to homemade crafts and gifts, you’ll find everything you need in London, as long as you know where to look.
Oxford Street
One of the most popular shopping areas in London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch, is Oxford Street. Packed with designer outlets, landmark stores, and bargain fashion, Oxford Street houses a wide variety of British and International designs. Here you can find more than 300 stores in the bustling area that attracts about half a million visitors a day. Popular shops on Oxford Street include Selfridges, Primark, and Topshop.
Knightsbridge
When shopping around for prestigious brands in London, Knightsbridge is the place to go. Located south of Hyde Park in central London, this shopping area boasts popular shops such as the iconic Harrods and luxury department store Harvey Nichols. Perfect for anyone who considers themselves a Fashionista, Knightsbridge is filled with places to find the latest high end products and trends.
Westfield London
Westfield London is located in White City, London, and is known for being one of the largest indoor shopping centers in Europe. Home to many high street favorites and luxury brands, popular shops at Westfield include Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Burberry, Kate Spade, and many more. Perfect for visiting on a rainy day, Westfield is much more than just a shopping mall, here you can also find a variety of bars, restaurants, and entertainment. As well as the one in White City, there is a second Westfield located in Stratford City, boasting around 250 shops and 70 different places to dine.
Carnaby Street
Located in Soho London is Carnaby Street, a pedestrianized shopping area made up of 13 streets located between Oxford Street and Regent Street. Known as the epicenter of the cultural and fashion revolution of the 1960’s, Carnaby Street is home to bold styles and a history of rock and roll. Here you can find around 150 shops, popular ones including Liberty, and Carnaby London, and over 50 restaurants, pubs, and cafes.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is the world’s largest antique market buzzing with activity and hosting over 1,000 dealers of antiques, collectables, and other items. Saturday is the market’s main day when customers can browse all five sections of the market. This is when you can find stalls selling everything from secondhand goods and clothing and fashion, to household essentials, produce and other foods, and of course, antiques. Attracting visitors from all over the world, Portobello Road Market is vibrant and full of energy, offering a wide range of unique products.
Regent Street
Located at the heart of London’s West End is an elegant shopping street called Regent Street. Established in 1819, and celebrating its 200th birthday in 2019, Regent Street is home to a wide range of mid-priced fashion stores as well as old and famous shops like Hamely’s, and Liberty. Here you can also find flagship stores and international brands including Tory Burch, Kate Spade, and J. Crew. As well as a wide variety of fashion, Regent Street is also a distinctive home of dining, and wellness and lifestyle.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is located in the West End of London and is known as London’s main entertainment and theater area. Covent Garden offers world-class fashion and luxury brands in menswear, women’s fashion, and kids clothing, as well as featuring three unique markets: Jubilee Market, East Colonnade Market, and Apple Market. Throughout the three markets you can find everything from jewelry, arts and crafts, and clothing, to handmade soaps, antiques, and collectables.
Camden Market
Sitting next to the Regent Canal and open every day of the week is the Camden Market. Running since 1974, here you can find 1,000 unique shops, stalls, bars, and cafes. Its diverse community of sellers throughout the market offer vintage and original fashion, handcrafted accessories, unique gifts, street food, and baked goods. One of the world’s most famous markets, Camden Market offers an experience like no other.