Shopping in London is one of the favorite things for tourists there! It is impossible to visit the British capital without purchasing something for yourself or your friends. There are some things that are more expensive due to the local currency but it is always good to see new things and keep an eye out!
Check the main shops and streets to go shopping in London!
Shopping in London: Shops and streets guide
1 – Regent’s Street
Regent’s Street is a wide street with light-colored buildings and a charming turn. Apple store in on this street besides some clothing stores and Hamley’s the giant toy store! For sure one of the most amusing sores I’ve visited, there are many levels and toys for all ages, and tastes and miniatures from famous films and tv series (such as Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings, and Game of Thrones).
Liberty is another department store that sells clothing, house items, furniture, perfume, and cosmetics. It is famous for its facade in the Tudor Revival style.
2 – Harrods
Harrods is a department store established in 1834 as a wholesale grocery store. There are 7 levels with many rooms in each and specific items and different decorations (there are even sphynx-like, columns, hieroglyphics, and Egyptian details). It sells everything, from high-brand clothes, toys, cosmetics, food, house and kitchen utensils. There are a lot o luxurious and fancy items.
Many events and exhibitions take place in the store.
Working time:
Monday to Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm
Sunday: 11.30 am to 6 pm
Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge
3 – Selfridges
One of the most famous department franchises in London and it is a competitor to Harrods! There’s even a series on Netflix about the early years of the store in the 1940s called Mr. Selfridge.
The owner of the store tried to take away the idea that consumerism was only an American thing and succeeded. One of the main strategies was setting up the perfumes stand displayed at the entrance of the store as it already sold well, after that it went even better. Many changes took place so the store would sell more and turned into a success: made shopping a fun business, where women can take care of themselves and see the products. They also have many exhibitions in the store, something they believed attracted customers and was a long-term investment.
Selfridges is similar to Galeries Lafayette in Paris: it sells clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and perfume from high brands in many stands in established areas. It is like having many small shops inside a big one which makes it easier to make tax reclaim as a tourist when you leave the country.
Besides that, you can find suitcases, cameras, video games, drones, TVs, headphones, and all sorts of electronics!
Working time:
Monday to Saturday: 9.30 am to 9 pm
Sunday: 11.30 am to 6 pm
Address: 400 Oxford Street W1A 1AB
4 – Oxford Street
Oxford Street has many department stores with big retail brands. Start with Selfridges (even if just to see the building itself) and after you can go to more affordable ones like Forever 21, H&M, Primark, Top Shop, and Zara. You can also find Nike and Adidas here.
John Lewis is famous for decoration items and also items for the house. Boots is a pharmacy and also a cosmetic store! You can go there and order some glasses, purchase things for your baby, and also a Dior lipstick.
His Master’s Voice, or simply HMV, is one of the oldest music stores. The company was established in 1980 with the invention of the gramophone but the store itself was established in 1921 and sold radios and TVs.
If you seek luxury stores then you should go to Bond Street and Knightsbridge.
5 – Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is close to Regent’s Street and became famous during the 1960s for colorful and very different items all associated with creative liberty and ‘modernity’.
Many clothing, music, and art stores were in the rhythm of the Swinging London. The first mini-skirts were sold here. For those who like different clothing, you will love shopping in this London neighborhood!
In 2020 they installed some cool phrases from Bohemia Rhapsody from Queen!
Klingly Court has many cafes and nice restaurants. It is very nearby Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus.
6 – Piccadilly Circus
This area is famous for its huge curved screen that shows amazing ads! It was recently refurbished and became the biggest in Europe. Regent’s Street crosses there.
Just as you leave the underground you will face Lillywhites, one of the biggest in sportswear. You can also see Cool Britania with many nice souvenirs from London.
It is worth going to Fortnum & Mason as well, a very pretty store and famous for its teas (Queen Elizabeth’s favorite is from here) just like the picnic baskets. There are loads of delicious things to eat and gorgeous items for the house. The store has the Royal British Family seals and it is located on 181 Piccadilly.
7 – Leicester Square
From Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square, you will pass many stores but I highlight M&M’S and Lego!
M&M’s World has those huge colorful tubes filled with chocolate! It is really nice to see this much chocolate in one place hahaha You can purchase it in but cup or bag. I bought the peanut one and it cost £1.50 for 100g.
On the other side is the Lego store, one of the largest! Here you can see a Lego Big Ben, besides an underground replica and a wall with London’s attractions.
8 – Covent Garden
Covent Garden is an area full of stores of famous and local brands, besides restaurants, many pubs, and street artists’ performances. It is one of the oldest markets in London and one of my favorite British markets.
The gorgeous Royal Opera House is there! In the past, this was the Red Light District of London and the area appeared in the film Frenzy by Hitchcock.
9 – Camden Town
Camden Town is one of my favorite areas in London and also where one of the most famous markets is located.
The main street is full of clothing and souvenir shops, many of them with questionable quality. There are a few clothing and shoe stores, and I liked some elaborately decorated boots and especially leather overcoats. There’s a section with several shops that have “Camden Market” written on a green background, it’s the most common (and a bit chaotic) place to buy those souvenirs.
At the end of the street, you reach an old warehouse, one of the ones that survived the industrial era, where the market is located. If you see “Camden Lock” written in large letters, you’re in the right place!
Inside Camden Lock, there are two areas: the Camden Lock and The Stables, and there’s sooo much stuff inside! There are food stalls from all around the world, T-shirt shops, shops with Victorian gothic clothing, and even a rave shop with giant robots!
This last one is called Cyberdog and it sells colorful clothes and accessories that glow under black light, hair dye, costume items… The music is super loud, there’s a DJ, flashing lights, and you come out of there quite dazed hahaha. The salespeople were dressed with dreads and elf ears, wearing large colorful contact lenses and shiny dresses. On the third floor, there’s an adult store.
10 – Shopping Malls
Westfield is the largest commercial center in all of Europe. There are two units in London: one at Shepherd’s Bush and another in Stratford. There are also Brent Cross and One New Change. The place itself is not as nice as the ones I listed above but it is practical for those who don’t have much time to go shopping in London.
Best time to go shopping in London
The best time to visit is when there are sales! In January and July, the prices drop quite a lot, especially for seasonal products.
Have you already visited one of these stores while shopping in London?