Next departure for London and you kept a place in your suitcase for some purchases? Here are the best shopping places in London!
By qualifying the United Kingdom as a “Commerce Nation” more than 200 years ago, Napoleon had not been mistaken as the largest foreign counters were already in London. Like every great European capital, London is famous for its shopping streets, Oxford Street being one of the largest and famous shopping streets in the world. While most travelers come to the English capital to visit the Tower of London, see Big Ben or explore the Harry Potter studios, some tourists come shopping there.
Where to go shopping in London? We have listed the most popular places to go shopping in London:
Also: Top 14 things to do in London
Westfield, shopping temple in London
Photo credit: Flickr – Jack Torcello
The largest shopping malls in London are the two Westfields. One of them is located west of London (in the Shepherds Bush district) and the other in the east (in Stratford, near the Olympic Stadium).
The Westfield of Shepherds Bush It's huge. It is the second largest shopping centre in Europe. We could spend the day there: in addition to the 375 shops, Westfield has some 60 restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as a 17-room cinema. On the side of the brands, we find everything: the big public signs, but also luxury boutiques such as Burberry, Dior, or Louis Vuitton. There is also an Apple Store, and the British general stores: John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser (British Lafayette Gallery range). To get there, nothing is easier, it is served by several metro lines: the Central line and the Overground (stop Shepherds Bush), and the Hammersmith and City line and Circle line (Wood Lane), as well as several bus lines.
The Stratford City Westfield is a little less impressive, but almost as large as its West London equivalent. It also contains, in addition to hundreds of shops, a large cinema and restaurants. It is accessible by metro (Central line and Jubilee line), by train or overground.
No matter what you're looking for (where even if you just want to make a window dryer) and whatever your budget, you're sure to find your happiness in Westfield. Small advice: take a map of the mall so you don't lose yourself in its aisles!
Chelsea and High Street Kensington: chic addresses
Photo credit: Flickr – JR P
Two arteries for shopping in London: High Street Kensington, and King’s Road. Both are located in the west of London and antagonize shops, cafes and restaurants. This will especially suit you if you don’t like the crowd and want to avoid Oxford Street.
Kensington High Street connects Holland Park and Hyde Park, two of London's most beautiful parks. So you can take a break in your shopping session and go for a walk and maybe go through the Design Museum or Kensington Palace.
King’s Road, in the chic Chelsea area, is accessible via the Sloane Square Metro stop. There you will find public brands such as Zara, COS or Massimo Dutti, and many luxury brands. In particular, Duke of York Square is an outdoor shopping center, where it is pleasant to stroll and discover its clothing and cosmetic shops. Space NK is a good address for these, it’s a beautiful store with quality cosmetics and makeup products. You can also make a cultural stage at the Saatchi gallery, a contemporary art museum.
Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and Regent Street: Classics
Post-shopping session on Oxford Street – Photo credit: Flickr – Glover Gyles
For those who are not too embarrassed by the crowd, the main shopping street in London remains Oxford Street, and its neighbors Regent Street and Carnaby Street. However, balances !
Large and small brands, luxury and small prices are all represented and make Oxford Street the most popular shopping street in Europe. In order to facilitate traffic, Oxford Street is only accessible to taxis and buses during the day, cars cannot travel there. This is where the first department stores in England were opened in the early twentieth century.
It's worth it to brave the crowd at least to enter the store Liberty , located on Great Marlborough Street (just before the beginning of Carnaby Street). The front, built in teak and oak and dating from 1924, is very beautiful. Liberty fabric is a fine and delicate cotton fabric with subtle floral motifs. Today, it is a large store that winds luxury products, perfumes, cosmetics, decoration objects, etc...
On your way down Carnaby Street to Piccadilly Circus, you can stop at the inner courtyard of Kingly Court where you can eat, drink or even listen to live music. And if you come at the end of the year, you can enjoy the Christmas lights, many in the neighborhood, the Christmas anticipation starting from September or October in London!
And you, where are you going to go shopping in London?
Main photo credit: Flickr – raghavvidya
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