Why go
Alternative clothing and other alternative shopping, popular with teenagers and young adults. Huntsman & Sons, Dege & Skinner and many others (Tube: Westminster) Westfield London in Shepherd's Bush is one of the two largest shopping mall complexes in Greater London. For market shopping, it's best to go in the morning, or after 14:00, since it starts to get very crowded by around 11:30 when the lunch crowd comes in.
What to look for
- Shop listings at airport web sites can help to plan your tax-free (vs traditional) shopping.
- On Thursdays many West End stores close later than normal (19:00-20:00).
- (Tube: South Kensington) Knightsbridge.
The full story
London is one of the world's most fashion conscious cities, which explains the abundance of clothing shops from the flagship stores of Oxford Street to the tiny boutiques of Brick Lane. Main shopping street, home to flagship branches of all the major British high street retailers in one go including Selfridges, John Lewis (includes a food hall), Marks & Spencer and other department stores. (Tube: Oxford Circus) Regent Street (between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus). Includes such gems as Hamleys, considered to be London's flagship toy store spread out on seven levels, and the London Apple Store. (Tube: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus) Bond Street. Some of the world's most luxurious designer stores such as Cartier, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Versace.