Smart Shop When in London

London is haven for shoppers; from street markets to departmental stores to high-end fashion outlets, there is something for everyone. The following are some of the best tips and places to shop in London.

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge has a long history from the 1100s – it was known as the “bridge of the young men or retainers”, a place for the young to gather. Today, it is both a place for residents and shoppers who flock from around the globe to experience its rich tradition and interesting stores, such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols. The area can be accessed from Knightsbridge tube station.

Oxford Street
Oxford Street is more than just a street – it is Europe’s most visited shopping street and the UK’s most popular shopping site with more than 300 retailers. The street is massive; running for approximately 1.9 km from Marble Arch, where it meets Park Lane, Edgware Road, and Bayswater Road, past Vere Street, New Bond Street and Bond Street station, up to Oxford Circus, where it meets Regent Street. A road that long, Oxford Street indeed has something for everyone. The departmental stores alone are aplenty, from the ever popular UK brands like Selfridges, to the Topshop, to Primark, to Marks and Spencer, to John Lewis, to Debenhams, and many others.

The stores are also huge; Topshop’s store as such is the world’s largest fashion store which attracts 200,000 shoppers a week from their teens to their 40s searching for a retail fix. Primark on the other hand, has 2 outlets in the Oxford Street alone, each has multiple storeys – a feast for the hungry eyes. Most of the items there are so well-priced that you can get various items at even one pound! Selfridges is also a household name; it is UK’s second largest shop, winning world’s best departmental store in year 2010 and 2012.

Besides the UK brands, there are also other brands that are equally guaranteed to satisfy shoppers. Nike Town for instance, has the largest women’s sports clothing and footwear department in Europe. There is also Zara, which store looks stunning from both the outside and inside. H&M, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, and plenty others that are great as well. Apart from these brands, there are also high-fashion brands that might suit your palate, such as Karen Millen, Chanel, DKNY, Michael Kors, Swarovski and many more.

Oxford Street also has numerous food outlets that can compensate the tiring feet and the empty stomach. In short, if you have an extra day to spend in London, literally spend, Oxford Street is the place to go – with one tip; try to avoid coming from 5 to 6.30pm and on Saturday afternoon, are there are many crowds and long waiting queues at the underground stations.

Regent Street

If Oxford Street is not enough for you, fret not, just around the corner is another 1.3km long street; the Regent Street. The stores are open from 10am until 8 or 9pm, but many of the restaurants and bars are open until late. Nestled within easy walking distance of Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus Tube stations, Regent Street’s Georgian architecture offers visitors a truly unique shopping experience, and plenty of picture-perfect moments. It is an elegant shopping street with a good range of mid-priced fashion stores, such as Liberty, Apple, Hamleys and Anthropologie. These stores are worth a visit; the Apple Store as such was Apple’s first shop of Apple in Europe, and today it is the second biggest Apple store in Europe slightly behind the Apple store near Covent Garden.

Kensington

If you find Oxford Street or Bond Street a little too mainstream, Kensington High Street may suit you - it is both functional and stylish with branches of all the usual chain stores in place, and it can be can be less crowded.

Bond Street

As if Oxford and Regent Street are not sufficient, London offers you another shopping haven; the Bond Street, the only street that runs between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. Since its establishment in 1700, Bond Street has been a place for socialites such as Admiral Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton as well as a number of renowned authors and poets. Today, over 300 years on, Bond Street remains a favourite destination for celebrities, and socialites. Probably London’s most exclusive shopping area, Bond Street houses some of the world’s most prestigious retailers including Asprey, Bulgari, Burberry, Chanel, Cartier, Dolce Gabbana, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany Co. It is also a place with a lot of luxurious hotels like The Shaftesbury Premier London Paddington and unique restaurants - including Claridge’s and The Ritz, as well fine establishments such as The Royal Academy of Art and the world famous auction house, Sotheby’s. If you feel Bond Street is a little too overwhelming to your pockets, the street is still worth a visit due to its stunning architecture and elegant ambience. Bond Street is also very accessible because just like Regent Street, it’s just off Oxford Street. The nearest tube would be Bond Street or Piccadilly Circus.

Chelsea and King’s Road

King’s Road was a king’s road, literally, until 1830. Due to that, it is associated with 1960s style, such as the ones donned by Mary Quant and Vivienne Westwood. This classic road is longer than its sisters the Oxford or Regent Street; King’s Road runs for 3.2 km through Chelsea, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, from Sloane Square in the east and through the Moore Park estate on the border of Chelsea and Fulham opposite Stamford Bridge. It’s a stunning place for inspirational interior design, with Peter Jones, Heal’s and Cath Kidston all vying to be admired. There is also the wonderful Duke of York Square located just off the King’s Road, with more than 30 fashion and lifestyle retailers, including one of Europe’s largest Zara stores. Jigsaw is also available, in which Kate Middleton, the wife of the British Prince William, has worked in the purchasing department. In terms of accessibility, the only underground station close to King’s Road is located right at the beginning of the road, on the Sloan Square. All in all, King’s Road has a rich history and unique ambience that will create a wonderful experience for just about anyone.