The Best Places to Shop in London (2023)

FAQs

What is the most famous shop in London? ›

Harrods. Out of all of the London department stores, Harrods takes the number one spot for being the best-known and most-visited shop. Harrods started off as a humble groceries and tea shop in 1849, which is a far cry from the seven-story, glittering icon it is today.

Bond Street and Mayfair

Arguably two of London's most exclusive shopping areas, they're home to big names and labels you've likely seen on runways.

London is famous for Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, and Tower Bridge. London is also known for its rich history, double-decker buses, red phone booths, world-class museums and galleries, gigantic lush parks, financial districts, and cosmopolitan vibes.

Covent Garden Market

Housed in and around the iconic Market Building, this central London shopping market is an architectural masterpiece. Alongside Apple Market, speciality shops such as perfume boutiques, homeware stores, restaurants and cafes, you'll find gorgeous crafts, antiques and jewellery.

Harrods. This is undoubtedly the world's most famous upmarket department store and there is little wonder why. With over 300 departments, it offers a wide range of products and services that go from bargains to luxury products.

What clothes to buy London? ›

No matter what time of year you are visiting, if you are planning what to wear in London there are a few key items which are great all year round. Always make sure you have a crossover bag, sunglasses, a small umbrella, comfortable shoes, a jacket, jeans and layers and you can't go far wrong.

Best Time for Shopping: All the best sales in London, including Harrods's ultra-popular summer sale, happen in late June and early July. Shops are busiest and generate most of their revenue during December – expect much in the way of festive atmosphere during this month, but not many bargains.

Downing Street

Without doubt, one of the most famous streets in London is Downing Street. 10 Downing Street is, of course, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

New York City is considered to be among the best of the best when it comes to shopping cities, regularly found on lists with London, Paris and Milan as one of the fashion capitals of the world.

New Bond Street loses crown as the most expensive shopping street in Europe. Property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield has reported that the cost of rent in New Bond Street, London has been superseded by Via Monte Napoleone, Milan.

Today there are high streets in pretty much every London neighborhood. From big ones like Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly, Bond Street, Carnaby Street to local ones in places outside Zone 1, you can find them all across the UK capital.

Zara, Europe's biggest clothing retailer, has some of the biggest percentage price differentials between the UK and the rest of Europe. A British shopper pays £49.99 for a linen blend tunic dress at one of Zara's stores in the UK, equal to €58.70 at current exchange rates.

Is there good shopping in London? ›

Oxford Street

One of the most famous streets in London, Oxford Street is chock-full of shops to suit every taste and budget. It's arguably the busiest (and best) shopping street in London, so you should be prepared to elbow your way through throngs of people if you visit on a weekend or even a weekday afternoon.

First for fashion, entertainment, technology and innovation, Oxford Street is the world's biggest high street. It offers 1.5 miles of unrivalled shopping, with more than 90 flagship stores, from fashion and beauty, to tech and homeware.

The Bull Ring was the first indoor city-centre shopping centre in the UK. At the time, it was one of the largest enclosed shopping centres outside America. It was celebrated as a revolutionary example of urban planning and the pioneer for a new era of shopping design in Britain.

Where is Britain's oldest shop? The site with the strongest claim appears to be the Boxford Stores in the Suffolk village of that name. Records suggest that this partly medieval building has been open for business in one form or other since the reign of Henry V.

Nicknames for London

As well as official names, the capital has also attracted a number of sobriquets over the years. Probably the most famous is The Big Smoke, The Old Smoke, or simply The Smoke. These names refer to the dense fogs and smogs that would permeate the city from ancient times.

1. Fish & Chips. There's nothing that says 'British Food' like Fish & Chips. Known the world over, this traditional British dish is on the top of any foodie list for visitors to London and the U.K.

Oxford Street: Probably the most famous shopping street in London.

Portobello Road Market is one of the world's largest antiques markets, running through the whole of Notting Hill. It's most famous for its main Saturday market, but you can actually shop here 6 days a week.

Where do people shop in England? ›

Traditionally, shopping in the UK centered on the high street; the main route through towns and cities across the country. In and around these streets, you'll still find a mix of shops, cafés, pubs, and other entertainment such as cinemas.

Harrods. The World's Leading Luxury Department Store.

All of Britain's national museums (not just the ones in London) are free to everyone, every day of the year. There's also free access to most of the nature reserves and state-run parks, as well, where you can hike, bike, search for animals, and walk on the beach.

As a general rule, Londoners favour casual, easy to wear styles over fussier and more detailed garments.

Most people wear tennis shoes in London or any fashionable boots. You may also love to bring something with elevation to prevent wet conditions. Choose calf-height and ankle boots for the winter. When there is heavy rain, rubber bootie will work well especially if you're exploring the city on foot.

For budget-minded travelers, it costs around £50-£90/day ($70-$120) to visit London. These prices are based on what you'll need to visit the city comfortably as a budget traveler. If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another £40-£100/night depending on your stay.

Oxford Street: Probably the most famous shopping street in London.

What are the biggest shopping Centres in London? ›

Westfield Stratford City is Europe's largest shopping centre. It compliments its sister shopping centre, Westfield at the other end of the Central Line in Shepherd's Bush. There's a John Lewis, a Marks and Spencers and just about every other high street store you could wish for.

Mayfair is the best area to stay in London for first time visitors to the city because of its proximity to Hyde Park, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. The architecture and tiny side streets also make Mayfair one of the most instagrammable spots in London.

Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in Soho in the City of Westminster, Central London. Close to Oxford Street and Regent Street, it is home to fashion and lifestyle retailers, including many independent fashion boutiques.

The Main Market is one of the equity markets of the London Stock Exchange - and one of the largest stock markets in the world.

No matter what time of year you are visiting, if you are planning what to wear in London there are a few key items which are great all year round. Always make sure you have a crossover bag, sunglasses, a small umbrella, comfortable shoes, a jacket, jeans and layers and you can't go far wrong.

Downing Street

Without doubt, one of the most famous streets in London is Downing Street. 10 Downing Street is, of course, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

Shopping in London is hard to beat – from areas full of flagship stores, to cobbled courtyards showcasing local designers, these are some of the best places to shop in London. So, put on some comfy shoes and prepare to discover some of the best shops in London with our guide to the capital's best shopping areas.

Belgravia

Located in Central London, within both Westminster, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, this district is one of the most exclusive in London. It is such a luxurious neighbourhood that it is even known throughout the world to be the best area in London to live.

Margaret's (98 per 1000) and Hampton Wick (87 per 1000) have much lower levels of crime. Indeed, Richmond is consistently ranked as not only the best, but the safest area to live in London each year and people certainly, very much enjoy living there!