Out-of-town shopping malls may well have started the decline of the traditional British high street in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. However, although London does not offer any of these, it is not necessary!

London literally has it all. From market stalls to the world’s largest department stores, from cheap trinkets to exorbitantly priced avant-garde fashion from the world’s top designers, London’s many and varied shopping areas cater to everyone.

As convenient as the malls are, they don’t even scratch the surface of what London has to offer the shopper in terms of diversity, and wherever you are in the city, everything is just a short tube or bus ride away. With the chance to also see some of the world’s most famous landmarks, the London shopping experience is second to none.

oxford street

Britain’s busiest high street and London’s best-known shopping area is packed with the country’s most popular shops – over 300 in fact. Many of the biggest names on the street have their flagship stores here and the street it also has the oldest record store in the world (HMV at number 363). Also home to the world famous Selfridges department store, Oxford Street is a 1 ½ mile shopping utopia for those who don’t mind the experience being a bit hectic.

Nearest tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road

knights bridge

Knightsbridge is home to chic fashion boutiques and quality department stores: the crown jewels are the absolutely fabulous Harvey Nicholls and the world’s most famous corner store, Harrods. Big-name fashion designers can be found on Sloane Street and equally stylish but smaller outlets on Beauchamp Place.

Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge

Kensington High Street

Kensington offers a bit of everything for London shoppers. It has all the well-known chain stores, many department stores (the main one being Barker’s), a wide variety of antique shops (on nearby Kensington Church Street), and numerous restaurants. It’s less crowded than the West End and certainly has a more elegant touch.

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

regent street

Regent Street, which runs the ¾ mile between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, offers arguably the most visually elegant shopping experience in London, with all stores conforming to the same ornate architectural style. Featuring department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants, and high street names, it’s also home to the world’s best-known toy store, Hamley’s.

Nearest tubes: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus

bond street

If you’re looking for a London shopping experience with a touch of class, and don’t mind paying for it, then Bond Street is for you. Filled with top designer names including Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Cartier and Tiffany & Co, the street boasts more royal family outfitters than anywhere else in London. A world away from the ‘every man for himself’ experience of Oxford Street, many shops have their own doormen. The street is also home to the world famous Sotheby’s auction house.

Nearest Tube: Bond Street

Tottenham Court Road

If you are shopping for electrical items or home furnishings in London, Tottenham Court Road is well worth a visit. The area’s laneways offer a variety of interesting pubs and specialty shops, and nearby Charlotte Street boasts a wide variety of restaurants.

Nearest tubes: Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Warren Street

Soho and Chinatown

Soho has cleaned up its act over the years and no longer has the bad reputation it once was known for. If it’s sex shops he’s looking for in London, he’ll still be well catered for, but his reputation today is based as much on the many cafes, bars and restaurants, which make the area an extremely popular 24-hour attraction. . one day. It’s an incredibly racially and culturally diverse area, has a thriving gay community, and has also become a media capital in recent years. Soho is busy and messy, but it’s worth the experience.

Nearest tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square

Carnaby Street

London’s fashion mecca of the 1960s has today become almost as famous for its souvenir shops cashing in on tourists drawn to the street by its iconic name, however it is now starting to regain a reputation. avant-garde, particularly in the far south. of the street. Newburgh Street (which runs through Carnaby Street) features the shops of several top designers including Jean Paul Gaultier and John Richmond, and nearby Kingly Court has 3 floors of concept stores set around an open courtyard offering not-for-sale items anywhere else in London.

Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus

King’s road

The road gained a reputation for avant-garde fashion in the 1960s and 1970s that it may not have today, yet it still boasts many independent clothing and shoe stores. There are also several contemporary furniture stores and a wide variety of bars and restaurants. The Peter Jones Department Store sits at the end of Sloane Square Street and opposite is the new Duke Of York shopping district. The road has always had a glamorous reputation, and as well as providing a great London shopping experience, it’s also a great place to spot celebrities.

Nearest Tube: Sloane Square

fulham highway

Fulham Road runs parallel to the King’s Road and offers a much more relaxed London shopping experience. Whether you are looking for antiques or specialist interior furnishings, you will find a more than adequate service here.

Nearest Tube: South Kensington

portobello highway

Notting Hill has become quite a fashionable area in recent times, but long before the movie and even the annual carnival, since the 18th century in fact, Portobello Road Market has attracted large numbers of visitors. Known primarily for its antiques, trinkets, and collectibles, there are also shops and stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to trendy clothing. And if all that shopping makes you thirsty, you won’t be short of pubs to choose from.

Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove

islington

Another area of ​​London that has become fashionable in recent years, Islington has a little bit of everything to satisfy both its inhabitants and visitors. Upper Street is the “main street” of the area and is home to all the well-known chain stores, as well as many bars and restaurants. Chapel Market offers all the usual market items like fruits and vegetables, clothing and home goods, while Camden Passage has some nice antique shops. Islington isn’t the obvious London shopping destination, but it’s worth checking out.

Nearest subway: Angel

camden town

If you’re looking for a more bohemian shopping experience in London than Knightsbridge or Bond Street, then head to Camden. One of the city’s coolest areas has an endless variety of shops and stalls selling items such as clothing (new, second-hand and retro), Doc Martins and custom sneakers, jewelry, bootleg CDs and DVDs, and crafts. Open daily (and very busy on weekends), it’s a multi-cultural experience with small eating establishments scattered throughout.

Nearest Tube: Camden Town

covent garden

Formerly a fruit and vegetable market, ‘The Garden’ is now a hive of constant and varied activity. It has a very diverse selection of shops, restaurants, bars, a market selling arts, crafts, antiques and souvenirs, historic buildings, theatres, the Royal Opera House and fantastic free entertainment provided by artists and buskers. If you can’t find something that catches your interest in Covent Garden, then there really is no hope.

Nearest Tube: Covent Garden