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London is a great place to shop and has something for
almost everyone; from exclusive Cartier watches to 2nd hand charity
shops, from the latest in technology gadgets to rare 60s vinyl. Shops,
especially in the tourist areas and West End, are usually open Monday
to Saturday 9.00am - 8.00pm and Sunday 10.00 - 6.00pm - though they
do vary from establishment to establishment. Unlike many other European
cities, London's shopping districts are concentrated in the centre (West
End), alongside its pubs, cafes and clubs. Within the centre, there
are certain areas which cater for certain consumers. A few areas are
listed below:
Bond Street: Haute Couture, Designer Labels
Camden Town: Streetwear, Underground
Charing Cross Road: Books
Covent Garden: Hip Streetwear
Knightsbridge: Haute Couture, Designer Labels
Oxford Street: Mainstream Department Stores
Soho: Music, Vinyl, Hip Streetwear
Tottenham Court Road: Electronics, Furniture
Major department stores
Debenhams (http://www.debenhams.com)
334 - 338 Oxford Street, London W1E 3XB Tube: Oxford Circus/Bond Street.
Debenhams is a long established high street retailer which has many
stores throughout the country. It offers regular British goods at affordable
prices and the sales are also often worth a visit. Recently, several
designer brands have been added to its shelves, such as Jasper Conran
and Maria Rachvogel.
Dickens & Jones
224 Regent Street, W1A 1DB. Tube: Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus.
A popular department store in centre of London, which primarily caters
for the reasonably well off female customer. There are departments offering
perfume and cosmetics, designer clothing for women and home appliances.
Also, a menswear department can be found on the lower ground floor.
The window displays here are often some of the best in London, especially
the stores' Christmas display.
Fortnum & Mason (http://www.fortnumandmason.com)
181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER. Tube: Piccadilly Circus/Green Park.
Located in "posh" Mayfair, Fortnum & Mason was established
in 1708 and today is famous for its food hall offering preserves, tea,
spices and specialities. Housed in a beautiful building, it is worthwhile
to visit just to taste its opulent decor and surroundings. Among its
clients are royalties from all over the world.
Habitat (http://www.habitat.co.uk)
196 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7LG. Tube: Goodge Street/Tottenham
Court Road/Warren Street.
Designer Terence Conran opened the first Habitat store in London's Fulham
Road on 11th May 1964 and it marked the start of a revolution in popular
British home style. Until that time, many of the furniture stores catering
for British homemakers had been staid rather than stylish, while the
furniture they sold was traditional, old-fashioned and expected to last
a lifetime. Habitat turned the industry upside down by selling well
designed household wares at affordable prices and the shop is still
very popular with its home crowd and has also expanded with shops now
found on the continent.
Harrods (http://www.harrods.com)
87 - 135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X 7XL. Tube: Knightsbridge.
Harrods is no doubt the largest and most famous department store in
London, with more than 6000 square metres of merchandise space, around
300 departments selling everything imaginable and staff number around
4000. The company vows to be able to deliver anything which its customer
wishes. And with this statement, combined with the building and its
interior, it is obvious that Harrods brings a service to the richest
people in the world. Inside, among other things, there is an Egyptian
hall and amazing food halls with lots of tempting offers on display.
Harrods is however expensive, and often regular people will only be
able to afford a token souvenir, but it is worthwhile to visit and dream
about what you could have.
Harvey Nichols (http://www.harveynichols.com)
109 - 125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ. Tube: Knightsbridge.
Harvey Nichols is situated just a few minutes from Harrods and offers
goods and services to a trendier clientele. You may know it as being
the favourite shop of Patsy and Edina in the internationally popular
TV series "Absolutely Fabulous" (!!). There are modern designer
clothes from the coolest designers, the best perfumes money can buy
and a beautiful top floor food hall with Sushi bar and coffee bar (for
those who may need a break!). If you are in the area or come to the
area to visit Harrods, you should also take a peek at what Harvey Nicks
has to offer.
Hamleys (https://www.hamleys.com)
188 - 196 Regent Street, London W1R 6BT: Tube: Oxford Circus.
Hamleys is London's largest and most famous toy store. It has become
something of a tourist attraction in itself with the crowds adding an
even greater festive mood to this already carnival-like store. The toy
selection is enormous and the displays will enchant children of any
age, as well as their parents and grandparents. Also, what sets this
store apart is the staff: friendly young people who love their jobs,
demonstrate the latest toys to the captivated attention of visitors
of all ages.
John Lewis (http://www.johnlewis.com)
Oxford Street, London, W1A 1EX. Tube: Bond Street/Oxford Circus.
John Lewis has a few stores nationwide, which primarily cater for everyone's
needs, from designer labels to affordable home ware. During the summer
and winter sales the Oxford Street store is almost at breaking point
due to the great offers they have, you have to get very early if you
wish to find your bargain with (comparatively) little stress.
Liberty (http://www.liberty.co.uk)
214 - 220 Regent Street, London, W1R 6AH. Tube: Oxford Circus/Piccadilly
Circus.
Liberty dates back to 1875 when it was founded by Arthur Lasenby. It
is one of London's more expensive department stores, but is well worth
a visit, as, not only is it housed in beautiful Tudor building, but
also because it has some of the city's best window displays.
Selfridges (http://www.selfridges.co.uk)
400 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB. Tube: Bond Street/Marble Arch.
Selfridges is one of London's largest department stores, so if you wish
to browse throughout the store you will have to give yourself plenty
of time - possibly a couple of days rather than some hours. The store
has a well stocked food hall with delicacies from all over the world
and sells clothing and garments form well established designers as well
as up-and-coming ones. Well worth a visit for those who have the time.
Antique Shops
Anthony James and Son
88 Fulham Road, London, SW3. Tube: Fulham Broadway.
Antiquarius
131 - 141 King's Road, London, SW3. Tube: Sloane Square.
Baroque and Roll
291 Lillie Rd, London, SW6. Tube: Fulham Broadway.
Camden Passage
Off Upper St, London, N1. Tube: Angel.
Fine Art Society
148 New Bond Street, London, W1. Tube: Bond Street.
Haslam and Whiteway
105 Kensington Church Street, London, W8. Tube: Notting Hill Gate.
Mark J. West
39B High Street, Cobb Antiques, London, SW19. Tube: Wimbledon.
Raffety and Walwyn
79 Kensington Church St, London, W8. Tube: High Street Kensington/Notting
Hill Gate.
Waterhouse and Dodd
110 New Bond Street, London, W1. Tube: Bond Street.
Markets
Borough Market (http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk)
Southwark Street, London, SE1. Tube: London Bridge.
Open: Friday; midday - 6.00pm. Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm.
Camden Town Market (http://www.camdenlock.net/markets.html)
Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1. Tube: Camden Town/Chalk Farm.
Open: Monday to Sunday; 10.00am to 6.00pm.
Columbia Road Flower Market (http://www.columbia-flower-market.freewebspace.com)
Columbia Road, London, E2. Tube: Old Street/Shoreditch.
Open: Sunday; 8.00am - 2.00pm.
Covent Garden Market (http://www.coventgardenmarket.co.uk)
Between King Street and Henrietta Street, London WC1. Tube: Covent Garden/Leicester
Square/Charing Cross.
Open: Monday to Sunday; 10.00am - 6.00pm.
Miscellaneous
Hidden America - On the road americana
Cape Town Accommodation - Cape Town Hotels & Accommodation Directory, South Africa.
Add your shop here > info@wrh-hotels.com
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