London is the city for shopaholics, whether you are on a spree or prefer to be mostly on a window shopping mode.
But make extra room in your suitcase, if you are heading to the British capital because it is difficult not to be tempted by the plethora of gorgeous luxury boutiques and department stores dripping with glitz and glam, and charming streets filled with indie shops and arthouse cafes.
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The BusinessClass.com guide to the ten Best Shopping Streets in London:
1. Oxford Street
The buzzing 1.5 mile stretch of Oxford Street is the world's biggest high street – a vibrant ensemble of fashion, entertainment, beauty and technology. More than 90 flagship stores of iconic superbrands such as Gap, River Island, Primark, X and the UK's iconic department stores, including Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer flank the buzzing street, which is serviced by the three underground stations Marble Arch, Bond Street and Oxford Circus.
From the ever-popular Primark, housed in a red brick building, which specialises in affordable fashion to the contemporary glass façade of River Island, notable for its hipster fashion trends (in 2013 the singer Rhianna presented her own fashion collection in this branch of the River Island fashion chain), and to the staid and conservative collection in the largest department store of Marks & Spencer, Oxford Street runs the gamut. Right next door is Selfridges, synonymous with style and luxury, and a little walk ahead lies John Lewis that houses a wide range of electronic articles apart from luxury labels. With more than 500 restaurants peppered across the stretch, there are choices aplenty for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
2. Bond Street & New Bond Street
Home of luxury shopping in London, Bond Street is globally acclaimed for its eclectic ensemble of elegant stores, exclusive brands and designer labels. The fabled shopping zone, which is always a highlight of every fashionista’s visit to London, is, in fact, two streets. Old Bond Street, the original thoroughfare built in the 1720s to the south, and New Bond Street to the north. This is in the iconic West End, claimed to have the highest concentration of haute couture salons in Europe. From Rolex to Ralph Lauren and from Mulberry to Mont Blanc, high-end fashion is the name of the game here.
Fenwick, London’s most iconic department store, has been a Bond Street fixture since 1891, where you will find everything from clothes and cosmetics to kitchenware and grooming products. This street is also home to some of the bespoke jewellery stores in London combining antique styles with contemporary designs, as well as some fine art galleries specialising in contemporary art, avant-garde sculptures as well as limited-edition archival photographic prints.
3. Regent Street
Named after the Prince Regent, this shopping street of London’s West End was built in 1819. Today, Regent Street is UK’s preeminent hub of fashion, dining, wellness and lifestyle and its Grade II-listed facades represent some of the most distinguished architecture in London. Regent Street is actually much more than a world-renowned retail destination. It curates year-round events and programmes. During Summer Streets the length of the street from Oxford Circus down to Piccadilly Circus is pedestrianised on select Sundays during summer season. When the much-vaunted Fashion and Design Month is hosted every September, free and ticketed events provide behind-the-scenes access to the fashion retail powerhouses as well as master-classes at a number of Regent Street’s most popular enclaves are organised.
And the most anticipated event is the switch-on of its iconic Christmas lights in November when the entire stretch metamorphoses into a fairyland. Whenever you are there, you will find gourmet cuisine in the award-winning restaurants such as the Araki, Stem and Sabor hidden in the side streets that branch off Regent Street.
4. Knightsbridge
It’s all glam and glitz at Knightsbridge with two of the swankiest department stores – Harrods and Harvey Nichols – occupying prime spots in this upscale West End neighbourhood in the London boroughs of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. The exuberant Harrods is one million square feet of extravagant retail space choc-a-block with luxury labels ranging from designer goods, super premium accessories and vintage champagne. Replete with a magnificent Egyptian Room this is the numero uno shopping enclave that also boasts of enduringly popular food halls specialising in epicurean delights from across the globe. And the Tea Room is quite the perfect place to experience the proverbial English afternoon tea.
While Harvey Nichols is not as opulent as Harrods, it leans squarely on high street fashion with top-end consumers making a beeline for the designer fashion, beauty products, finest wines and lifestyle goods in this flagship store of Harvey Nichols that was started in 1831. The food hall on the upper level is a gastronome’s delight. Some of the other stores worth checking out in this area are Lulu Guinness for beautiful handbags, Christian Louboutin for designer shoes, Zara to check out the latest fashion trends and Hermes if you are searching for the best in leather products.
5. St James’s
The tranquil neighbourhood of St James’s is a haven for shoppers looking for a sartorial adventure – an eclectic blend of high-end designers and avant-garde independent stylists define this serene district where traditional and contemporary melds harmoniously. The square half-mile district is surrounded by Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park and Buckingham Palace and home to some of London’s historic residences belonging to old, aristocratic families and most prestigious and exclusive private members’ clubs.
At the northern edge, Sackville Street is home to Henry Sotheran’s, the famed antiquarian bookseller established in London in 1815 with its huge collection of ancient maps and first-edition titles. St James’s is delightfully peppered with drinking and dining establishments such as Michelin-starred Seven Park Place and the legendary dining room at The Ritz.
6. Carnaby Street
Just behind Oxford Street and Regent Street lies the pedestrianised shopping enclave of Carnaby Street with its array of concept stores and independent boutiques, has been the epicentre of fashion trends of the swinging 60’s, quirky 70’s and funky 80’s. With its line of fashion, beauty and accessories and several of UK first and flagship stores, Carnaby Street remains London’s preeminent style hub. The iconic arch sets the vibrant tone of this West End stretch known for British brands: Paul Smith Soho, Mark Powell and Barbour among them.
Steeped in a pulsating rock ‘n roll history and home of Mods, Skinheads, Punks and New Romantics, live music gigs spark up the street vibes here and fantastic shopping events are regularly hosted. A dynamic culinary canvas completes the spectacle with more than 60 independent restaurants, cafes, bars and English pubs dotted across what is dubbed as one of the coolest streets in the English capital.
7. King’s Road
Sustainability is the operative word with the eco-conscious concept stores hogging the limelight alongside home cult fashion boutiques on King’s Road. Located in the borough of Chelsea, the 3-km long road has a fascinating selection of stylish shops with designer clothes and well-known brands, in the initial stretch of 1 km after you get off from Sloane Square station. Sustainability pop-ups often promote eco-friendly retail, combining ethical fashion with well-being and conservation practices.
The only large department store on King’s Road is Peter Jones – an 8-storeyed affair with a top-floor restaurant boasting of fantastic views of the city. A block away from the very pleasant Duke of York Square lies a Reiss shop, a favourite with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. A melting pot of youth fashion and culture, King’s Road remains the address for bold and provocative fashion creatives since 1970s, when Malcolm McLaren set up his first boutique here. On a more traditional feminine theme weaved into a rebellious spirit, the small store on the no. 430 is called Worlds End and is owned by Vivienne Westwood.
8. Covent Garden
A diverse range of global and independent brands make Covent Garden a shopping haven with its slew of glitzy fashion, beauty and lifestyle stores. Across nine streets and one historic Piazza, Covent Garden is perched right in the centre of West End offering some of the best in-store experiences to the discerning jetsetter. From British retail powerhouses Mulberry and Burberry to the Parisian fashion creatives BA&SH, and A.P.C, women are spoilt for extravagant choices, while men can browse through luxury timepieces at Bucherer, tailor a classic suit from Hackett and give themselves a fresh look with handcrafted eyewear from Bailey Nelson. From beauty makeovers to monogramming and from luxury piercing services to learning the secrets of red-carpet skincare, Covent Garden tucks a lot of aces up the sleeves that few other shopping destinations can match.
And if you are feeling hunger pangs after a shopping binge, choose anything from French delicacies to classic British fare and pretty much everything in between, including exotic Venezuelan food in the myriad cafes and restaurants. And do not miss a street performance on the historic piazza that has been a place of performance since the 17th century. The upper terrace of the Punch & Judy pub is quite the best place to have the best views.
9. Jermyn Street
Home to London's finest men's tailors, shirt makers, and suppliers of leather goods Jermyn Street dating back to 1664 has an enduring reputation for classy menswear. Floris continues its business as perfumers for nine generations, while London's oldest cheesemongers Paxton & Whitfield and London's first wine and spirit merchants Berry Bros & Rudd carry on their business as usual in this upscale London quarter characterised by its beautiful shop fronts and the highest concentration of royal warrant holders in the capital. A place always associated with elitism and class, this is where you will spot some of the best dressed men (and women) in town emerging from or disappearing into the charming, antiquated stores.
Some of the finest establishments on this 17th-century street include Cordings, best known for its collection of country clothing and accessories, especially tweed coats, the flagship store of Crockett & Jones, the boutique shoemakers, Turnbull and Asser with their finest array of artisanal shirting and of course, Favourbrook to choose your formalwear for the next highbrow dinner party.
10. Portobello Road
A street filled with pastel-hued houses and quaint cafés, Portobello Road in Notting Hill is renowned across the globe for its market stalls stretching across a mile dealing in antiques, jewellery, vintage clothing, furniture, collectibles like old stamps and coins, and quirky bric-a-bracs. Independent stores such as The Notting Hill Bookshop and Rough Trades have been made famous by the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill, where Julia Roberts met Hugh Grant in his travel bookshop. Dating back about three centuries, the antiques section is a delight for the curio lovers and you may stumble upon vintage lace and fur, crystal homewares, finest Chinese vases and well-thumbed first edition titles.
The arcades and the little shopping passageways are also packed with rare and funky knick-knacks. Tasty street treats, farm-fresh produce and yummy savouries are piled up with roadside vendors for a quick nibble and do remember that Saturday mornings are the best time for a visit to Portobello Road to find this one-of-a-kind shopping destination in full swing. Do not miss the charm-packed Sunday Christmas markets if you happen to be in London in December.
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