The London Shopping Experience

Out of town shopping malls may well have started the decline of the traditional British high street over the last few years, and it's easy to see why. However whilst London doesn't offer any of these – it doesn't need to!

London literally has it all. From markets stalls to the world's biggest department stores, from inexpensive bric-a-brac to extortionately priced cutting edge fashion from the world's top designers, everyone is catered for by London's many and varied shopping areas.

As convenient as malls are, they don't even scratch the surface of what London is able to offer the shopper in terms of diversity and wherever you are in the city, it's all just a short tube or bus ride away. With the chance of seeing some of the world's most famous landmarks as well, the London shopping experience cannot be beaten.


Oxford Street
Britains busiest high street and Londons best known shopping area is chock-a-block full of the nations most popular shops – over 300 in fact. Many of the biggest high street names have their flagship stores here and the street also boasts the oldest record shop in the world (HMV at number 363). Also home to the world famous Selfridges department store, Oxford Street is 1 ½ miles of shopping utopia for those that don't mind the experience being a little on the hectic side.
Nearest Tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road

Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is the home of classy fashion boutiques and quality department stores - the jewels in the crown being the absolutely fabulous Harvey Nicholls and the world's most famous corner shop, Harrods. Big name fashion designers can be found in Sloane Street and equally chic but smaller outlets at Beauchamp Place.
Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge

Kensington High Street
Kensington offers a bit of everything to those shopping in London. It features all of the well known chain stores, plenty of one-offs, department stores (the main one being Barker's), an array of antique shops (in nearby Kensington Church Street) and numerous restaurants. It's less busy than the West End and certainly a touch classier.
Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

Regent Street
Regent Street, running the ¾ of a mile between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, certainly provides the most visually elegant shopping experience in London as all the shops conform to the same ornate architectural style. It features department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants and well known high street names and is 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 you don't mind paying for it – then Bond Street is for you. Full of the biggest designer names including Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Cartier and Tiffany & Co, the street boasts more suppliers to the royal family than anywhere else in London. A world away from the 'every man for themselves' experience of Oxford Street, many stores 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're shopping in London for electrical items or home furnishings then Tottenham Court Road is well worth a visit. The backstreets of the area offer an array of interesting pubs and specialist shops and nearby Charlotte Street features a wide variety of restaurants.
Nearest Tubes: Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Warren Street

Soho & Chinatown
Soho has cleaned up its act over the years and no longer has the seedy reputation it was once known for. If it's sex shops you're looking for in London, you'll still be well catered for but its reputation nowadays is built just as much on the many cafes, bars and restaurants, all of which make the area an extremely popular attraction 24 hours a day. It's an incredibly diverse area racially and culturally, has a thriving gay community and has also become the media capital over recent years. Soho is busy and untidy but well worth the experience.
Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square