 |
| A
Bird's Eye View of London |
|
Ye old London, England—home to Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, Sherlock Homes,
warm ale and mushy peas. While these are all quintessential to London's identity,
so is the shopping. Even those not interested in consumerist endeavours will
enjoy visiting London's popular shopping districts by experiencing each area's
different history, appearance and ambience. To ensure that no area is left unexplored,
take a self-guided circular tour visiting all the main districts:
-
| |
 |
| |
Click
for a Larger Shopping Tour Map |
High Street Kensington
- Chelsea
- Knightsbridge
- Piccadilly Circus
- Regent Street
- Carnaby Street
- Soho
- Covent Garden
- Charing Cross Road
- Oxford Street
- Bond Street
High Street Kensington
High Street Kensington tube stop on the Circle and District line.
Serious shoppers will swoon at the sight of shops chock-a-block on both sides
of the street. This is a great place to start any shopping excursion as it has
all the fashion of any shopping district in London but without the crowds or
pretension; this despite that it is located in one of London's most prestigious
neighbourhoods. At the north bend is the magnificent and lush Kensington Gardens—home
to Kensington
Palace. While shoppers are unlikely to bump elbows with Royalty, there
may be some celebrity spotting. But what is guaranteed is a good gawk at Britain's
fashion. Popular main chain shops are here—from Benetton
to Kookai—with
all the day's latest must-haves in fashion, but other shops are more innovative
offering tomorrow's trends. Hype
Designer Forum (Hype DF) is eye-catching with a glass façade leading
to even more eye-catching contents: the latest creations by London's up-and-coming
designers.
Yesterday's fashions are now retro-chic and can be found cramped on three floors
at Kensington
Market. Albeit hot and claustrophobic, it's also a great place to snoop
for bargain second-hand fashions, clubber and street cred wear, accessories
and much more.
Europe is known for putting their best foot forward in terms of fashion and
London is no different with a plethora of shoe shops around almost every corner.
High Street Kensington has shoe shops ranging from reasonably priced Barratts
to fashionable and funky Shelly's.
The street is complete with some of Britain's most reliable and quintessential
department stores: Marks
& Spencer, Barkers
and H&M.
Chelsea
From High Street Kensington tube stop, take the Circle and District line
to Sloane Square.
One of the most desirable districts in London for hundreds of years, Chelsea
has an interesting history. On the north bank of the river Thames, it was originally
a small fishing settlement, but it was already a desirable residential district
to Britain's aristocracy by the 16th Century allocating the moniker 'Village
of Palaces'.
In the 17th Century, King Charles II allegedly built a house for his mistress,
Nell Gwyn, here and he would travel from Hampton Court Palace via farm road
to see her. Later, this became his own private road-hence the name King's Road.
By the middle of the 19th Century, the route became a commercial road lined
with many shops. But, it wasn't until the 1970s that King's Road acquired its
notorious reputation for outrageous fashion with the opening of Let it Rock,
owned by style guru, Vivienne Westwood, and the infamous designer and manager
of the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren. The shop started as a 50s rock revival
but the name and fashion changed many times over the years producing shocking
results such as the punk-look that many youth still don today.
Vivienne Westwood, with shops worldwide, has her flagship store—Vivienne
Westwood London—in King's Road presenting her famous fashions. Once
wild, her clothes remain cutting-edge but are runway haute couture rather than
back alley shock value.
Other shops in the area also reflect quixotic high fashion with many high-end
boutiques, but as with other shopping districts, more sedate chain shops may
be found, providing the latest styles. The area is also known for its array
of fabulous interior design shops offering trends for the home; however, Chelsea
isn't just known for its contemporary fashions. The Chelsea
Antiques Market, open daily except Sunday, is one of London's most popular
spots for finding traditional and bizarre antiques.
Knightsbridge
Walk north along Sloane Street and turn at Brompton Road, or take the tube
to Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line.
| |
 |
| |
Harrods
of Knightsbridge |
The district of Buckingham Palace, Knightsbridge
is rather posh. It is also home to another palace of sorts, a shopper's palace:
Harrods
of Knightsbridge. Starting off as a simple grocery in 1849 by Henry
Charles Harrod, the store met with great success leading to the Harrods that
is known today. His store philosophy-Everything for Everybody, Everywhere-became
core to the shop's success and remains the store's motto today. The variety
of merchandise could be the world's largest with 28 departments, 22 restaurants,
and 52 services making up 1.2 million goods.
Further down the road is much less populated Harvey
Nichols. The store's existence dates back to the 1820s, however, the
building that stands in Knightsbridge today was built in the 1880s. Standing
prominently and proud, the interior is a stark contrast to its exterior. Inside
has all the class of the historical building, but with all the style of today.
Minimalist and sleek, all the exalted names in fashion—from Dolce&Gabbana and
Gucci to Mui Mui and Yohji Yamamoto—are elegantly displayed. And Harvey Nichols
is not as busy as its neighbour, Harrods, leaving serious shoppers to get down
to business.
Piccadilly Circus
Board the Piccadilly line and stop at Piccadilly Circus.
 |
| Piccadilly
Circus |
|
Disembarking from the station at Piccadilly
Circus, visitors will find themselves among hundreds of others that
flock to one of London's most popular tourist destination. The area was likely
named after a 17th Century dressmaker who lived in the area after becoming successful
selling frilly collars named 'picadils'.
The magnificent architecture, designed by John Nash in the 1800s, is comprised
of Georgian buildings that face inward to form a triangular space. Giant advertisements
litter the area adding to the busy and eclectic ambience. This is also home
to Eros—the famous large aluminium cast statue representing charity. Today,
it is a popular meeting spot and place to sit and people watch.
Piccadilly Circus is at the crux of several main roads: Shaftesbury Avenue,
Regent Street and Piccadilly and is thus surrounded by an array of restaurants,
clubs, cafes and, of course, shops. Fortnum
& Masons is perhaps the most regal department store in London as it
is appointed by the Royal Family to be the official suppliers of certain goods
to the palace. Its image reflects this majestic affiliation. The interior is
rich and majestic with opulent red carpets, shimmering chandeliers, elegant
displays and walls and ceilings laden with remarkable pictures and murals. Four
floors offers classic fashions in clothes, shoes, accessories, jewellery, and
beauty products. Stationery, gifts, luggage, linens, toys and many more quality
goods are also available. Do not miss the legendary Food Hall, which focuses
on providing the finest and most rare of gourmet goods. Outside Fortnum & Mason's
doors is a magnificent clock, weighing 4.3 tonnes. Every hour, two solid bronze
male figures bow to each other and turn as a tune plays.
Regent Street
From Piccadilly Circus, walk north to reach Regent Street.
| |
 |
| |
Regent
Street |
Adjacent to Piccadilly Street is Regent
Street. The avenue is wide, the architecture magnificent, the
atmosphere vibrant, and the shopping to die for. The street—also designed by
John Nash in the 1800s as a border between Soho's ruffians and Mayfair's affluent—today
displays the classic fashions of Hugo
Boss, Austin
Reed, and Liz
Claiborne. Hamley's,
possibly the world's largest toy store, is jam-packed with toys that encompass
seven floors.
Christmas shopping in this area is an absolute delight. It all begins with
an official ceremony each November when a celebrity switches on a wonderful
display of Christmas lights that illuminate the length of the street. Past personalities
have included Joan Collins, Dame Edna and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
At the end of Regent Street, heading toward Oxford Street, is Liberty—a
department store in a striking Tudor building. Famous for its luxury line of
fabrics, Liberty also has a wide array of merchandise that will enchant and
surprise. Clothing, linens, art, and more range from the classic to the swanky
and everything in between spread over 35 different departments. The small rooms
that link together, along with the creaking wooden floors, add to the boutique-feel
creating a charming shopping experience.
Carnaby Street
Walk east of Regent Street, between Great Marlborough Street and Beak Street.
In the fifties, Carnaby
Street was an uninteresting neighbourhood that was home to tailor sweatshops,
but by the sixties, many of these transformed into trendy boutiques creating
the mode of the day: mod suits, flat caps, and floral patterns. In fact, it
was after this area that Time Magazine coined the term "Swinging London".
In recent decades, Carnaby Street went from hip and high fashion to incense
and silver rings. Today, however, Carnaby Street is undergoing a revival. Catering
to the young and oh-so-cool, the glut of boutiques focuses on providing trendy
street cred gear: from trainers to hoodies, with brands such as Diesel, Triple
Five Soul, and High Jinks. Some of the original shops from the sixties are still
here, but Carnaby isn't strictly for the mods. Footie fans, as well as other
sport enthusiasts, will enjoy popular sport shops this area offers.
From Carnaby Street, walk east down Broadwick to Berwick
Street. Here is a great market particularly for finding food bargains.
Locals go for the fruit and veg, while travellers can indulge in some inexpensive
but divine cheeses that, with a bit of bread, makes a tasty lunch for those
on the go. Aside from other market goods, this street has an eclectic array
of shops. There is a sausage shop with many variations on the same theme and
a record shop featuring various electronica. Other Electronic music shops are
found around the corner on D'arblay Street.
Soho
Walk south on Berwick Street.
At the south end of Berwick Street is a short pedestrian tunnel that, covered
in tacky flashing lights and advertisements for the strip club above it, is
the perfect introduction to Soho.
But the area wasn't always renowned for its seedy status. In the 16th Century,
Soho was part of the grounds attached to Westminster abbey and was used for
hunting, hence the name 'SoHo'—a hunter's cry to call in the hounds. Many immigrants
settled here in the 17th Century, but by the 18th Century, the sex trade thrived.
However, the area has always been more bohemian than sleazy to its eminent residents
such as William Blake, John Dryden, Karl Marx and Casanova. The 50s brought
jazz to London by way of Ronnie Scott's, which is still found on Frith Street,
and the 60s and 70s brought regular performances by the Rolling Stones, The
Kinks, David Bowie and The Who.
Today, while there is still a neon pink sign displaying "Girls Girls Girls",
call girls standing in vacant doorways, and a plethora of exotic dancing clubs,
Soho is as eclectic and trendy as ever. There are a few interesting shops about,
such as Janet Fitch—for designer jewellery—and Vintage
Magazine—a movie poster shop with almost every headshot of every star
ever to have existed. The wine bars and restaurants are the fashionable places
to be seen in London today and are definitely worth exploring. At the south
end of Soho is Chinatown
with many interesting Chinese restaurants, markets and shops worth perusing.
Leicester
Square, famous for its large piazza surrounded by mega movie cinemas
and restaurants, is found on the other side.
Charing Cross
Walk eastward from Soho on Old Compton Street to Charing Cross Road.
 |
| Many
Books at Charing Cross |
|
From Soho, follow the maze of streets eastward toward Charing
Cross Road—the Mecca for book enthusiasts. Bookshop after bookshop,
the variety in character and selection seems endless. The eminent Blackwell's
sits prominently with a magnitude of books that are impeccably organized. Its
neighbour, Foyles,
has recently lost its title as London's largest bookshop, but is still perhaps
the most charming with an organizational plan that is a bit of a mystery. Speaking
of mystery, Murder
One is a bookshop solely dedicated to the mystery genre. Silver Moon
Women's Shop offers a good selection of women's topical books.
Covent Garden
Walk south on Charing Cross road to Leicester Square tube station and then
walk east on Long Acre, or travel on the tube one stop to Covent Garden.
Covent
Garden was home to a major produce market until 1974. Today, it is one
of London's premier tourist attractions offering art, museums, historic sites,
the Royal Opera House, pubs, restaurants, cafes, markets, and many shops. Designed
in the 1630s by Inigo Jones, the main area comprises a piazza that is the city's
oldest planned square.
The main arcade is a type of mini-mall with many higher end boutiques filled
with china, souvenirs, toiletries, jewellery, toys, clothes and much more. Built
in a square, there is a restaurant in the lower middle floor as a courtyard
where shoppers may stop for tea, or just enjoy the live violinist or quartet
that plays there. The music emanates throughout the arcade for a serene shopping
experience despite the crowds. Across from this arcade is the Jubilee
Market. Shoppers hankering for a bargain may find what they are looking
for here, from fine arts and crafts to souvenir tea towels.
To the right of Jubilee Market is the London's
Transport Museum. Visitors do not have to pay for admission to visit
the Transport Shop. Anything and everything related to London transportation
is here such as tube map boxer shorts and playing cards, to popular mugs and
vintage prints.
From this square, head northwest up James Street which then turns into Neal
Street. The best way to explore Convent Garden, though, is to just wander the
maze of streets and get lost in the crowds and the plethora of shops. Buskers
sway the crowds with their didgeridoos while the smell of incense and foods
from a variety of restaurants permeate throughout the streets. Visitors following
their noses may be lead to Neal's Yard off Neal Street. At the entrance of the
yard is Neal's
Yard Dairy with an amazing array of cheese from small farms from around
England. Shoppers are encouraged to sample cheese before they purchase. Around
the corner from this shop is a courtyard that is somewhat hidden and thus serves
as a quiet and new age oasis in the hustle and bustle of the area. A bakery,
a vegetarian café and other shops surround a crafty centre complete with a hand
painted picnic table creating a bohemian ambience.
Everything else in Covent Garden ranges from high-end fashion, to cutting edge
street gear. Some of Britain's most popular chain shops have outlets here, but
there are good independent boutiques as well including fabulous shoe shops.
Oxford Street
Return to the Covent Garden tube stop and travel south bound on the Piccadilly
line one stop to Leicester Square, and then change to the Northern line and
travel north one stop to Tottenham Court Road.
| |
 |
| |
Crowds
on Oxford Street |
Get prepared for even more crowds on the ever-so-popular Oxford
Street where saying that this street is busy is a very serious understatement.
Bright lights, streets too crowded to make a proper stride, and thick traffic
define the character of this gregarious and hectic street. In the heart of London,
this strip attracts locals and tourists alike with more than 300 shops from
inexpensive warehouse shops to high-end designer boutiques employing up to 60,000
people. About 200 million people shop here each year with nine million foreign
visitors providing about 20 percent of the income.
At Oxford Circus tube stop—where the smell of roasting chestnuts, candied peanuts
and grilling hotdogs from various vendors permeate the air-there are several
mega
stores catering to sports, fashions and music such as HMV,
the world's oldest record shop and multimedia marvel.
Oxford Street began as a shopping district early in the 1900s with the establishment
of several department stores that still exist. Today, the street has many of
Britain's
top department stores all offering superb window displays.
Selfridges
& Co department store, built in 1909, is found at the end of the street
just west of Marble Arch tube stop. Once rivals with Harrods, Selfridges underwent
a major overhaul in the last few years. Millions of pounds later, Selfridges
now market themselves to those who belong to Cool Britannia. The renovations
continue as Selfridges reinvent themselves to remain on the cutting edge with
six floors of fashion, from prestigious perfumes to fabulous food.
Bond Street
Off of Oxford Street, east of Selfridges, south of Bond Street tube stop
on the Jubilee or Central line.
Leave the consumer frenzy of Oxford Street to the quieter fashion oasis that
is Bond
Street. There is high fashion, and then there is haute couture. Bond
Street offers the latter with fashion icons such as Prada, Chanel, Versace,
Armani, Ralph Lauren, Mulberry, and Burberry.
Accessorize at Cartier and Tiffany
& Co. also in the street.
