Whether it's time or money you've got to burn, London is one big shopper's playground. And although chains and superstores predominate along the high streets, you're still never too far from the kind of oddball, one-off establishment that makes shopping an adventure rather than a chore. From the
folie de grandeur
that is Harrods to the frantic street markets of the East End, there's nothing you can't find in some corner of the capital.
In the centre of town,
Oxford Street
is the city's most frantic chain store mecca, and together with
Regent Street
, which crosses it halfway, offers pretty much every mainstream clothing label you could wish for. Just off Oxford Street, high-end designer outlets line
St. Christopher's Place
and
South Molton Street
, and you'll find even pricier designers and jewellers along the very chic
Bond Street
.
Tottenham Court Road
, which heads north from the east end of Oxford Street, is the place to go for electrical goods and furniture and design shops.
Charing Cross Road
, heading south, is the centre of London's book trade, both new and secondhand. At its north end, and particularly on
Denmark Street
, you can find music shops selling everything from instruments to sound equipment and sheet music.
Soho
offers an offbeat mix of sex boutiques, records and silks, while the streets surrounding
Covent Garden
yield art and design shops, mainstream fashion stores and designer wear.
Just off Piccadilly,
St James's
is the natural habitat of the quintessential English gentleman, with
Jermyn Street
in particular harbouring shops dedicated to his grooming.
Knightsbridge
, further west, is home to Harrods, and the big-name fashion stores of
Sloane Street
and
Brompton Road
.
Opening hours
Opening hours
for central London shops are generally Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 6pm, although some stay open later, especially on Thursdays. Many are now open on Sundays, although hours tend to be shorter, from around noon to 5pm. The cheapest...
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Department stores
Fortnum & Mason
181 Piccadilly, W1 tel 020/7734 8040. Tube: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus.
Beautiful and eccentric store featuring heavenly ceiling murals, gilded cherubs, chandeliers and fountains as a backdrop to its perfectly...
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Clothes and accessories
Our listings concentrate on the home-grown rather than the ubiquitous international names, but if you're after designer wear, bear in mind that nearly all of the department stores we've listed stock lines from both major and up-and-coming designers. For...
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Bookshops
As well as the big-name
chain bookstores
, most of which have branches throughout the city, London is blessed with a wealth of
local
,
independent and specialist bookshops
, many of which are located on or around Charing...
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Music
To begin, select a topic in the navigation bar to the left
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Markets
Bermondsey (New Caledonian) Market
Bermondsey Square, SE1. Tube: Borough or London Bridge. Fri 5am-2pm.
Huge, unglamorous but highly regarded antique market offering everything from obscure nautical instruments to attractive but pricey...
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Miscellaneous
Anything Left-Handed
57 Brewer St, W1 tel 020/7437 3910; www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk. Tube: Piccadilly Circus.
The
place to go for left-handed tools, implements and gifts.
Davenport's Magic Shop
...
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