Kensington & Hyde Park
Garish and stylish in equal measure, perennially crowded Harrods is an obligatory stop for visitors, from the cash-strapped to the big spenders. The stock…
Must-see shopping in London
Kensington & Hyde Park
Steeped in literary charm and a perfect antidote to impersonal book superstores, this three-storey bookshop in an 18th-century premises inhabits its own…
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Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
The Sunday Upmarket (also open on Saturday) sprawls among the beautiful brick buildings of the Old Truman Brewery, on both sides of Brick Lane between…
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Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Mismatched vintage reading lamps spotlight the floor-to-ceiling canary-yellow shelves at this delightful indie bookshop, where titles are arranged…
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North London
Connected to the Camden Lock Market, the Stables overflows with antiques, Asian artefacts, rugs, retro furniture and street clothing. As the name suggests…
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Notting Hill & West London
A cultural outpost of Japan in London, Japan House presents and celebrates Japanese art, design, culture, technology, craftsmanship and gastronomy in a…
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The West End
With its classic eau-de-Nil (pale green) colour scheme, the 'Queen's grocery store' (established in 1707) refuses to yield to modern times. Its staff –…
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The West End
Trading since 1853, this grandaddy of travel bookshops and seasoned seller of maps, guides and globes is a destination in its own right. Polar explorer…
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Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Brick walls, minimalist wood and metal fixtures, and pops of green from potted plants make this concept shop a delight to peruse. Indie brands abound in…
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The West End
London's most legendary bookshop, where you can find even the most obscure titles. Once synonymous with chaos, Foyles got its act together and now this…
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The West End
Forbidden Planet is a trove of comics, sci-fi, horror and fantasy literature, as well as action figures and toys, spread over two floors. It's an absolute…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Traders have been hawking their wares here since 1638, and it's still one of London's best markets. Sundays are the biggest days, but Thursdays are good…
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North London
Not to be confused with Camden Market, Camden Passage is a pretty cobbled lane in Islington lined with antique stores, vintage-clothing boutiques and…
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Kensington & Hyde Park
A burst of colour and Gallic creative exuberance, Pylones is always such a breath of fresh air, despite the location in a mall up the escalators at the…
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Kensington & Hyde Park
The original design store (going strong since 1987), the Conran Shop is a treasure trove of beautiful things – from radios to sunglasses, kitchenware to…
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The West End
The flagship bookshop of the London Review of Books fortnightly literary journal doesn’t put faith in towering piles of books and slabs on shelves, but…
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The West End
The fashion doyenne of the punk and new-wave aesthetic, Westwood has always had a reputation for being controversial and political. She continues to…
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North London
Right next to the canal lock, this section of Camden Market is the the place to go for diverse food stalls in the West Yard, as well as for several nice…
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The West End
Outlet of the Soul Jazz Records label: explorers of wild, wonderful and often forgotten corners of black music who bring back gems for their legendary…
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The West End
An original Edwardian bookshop, with oak panels, galleries and gorgeous skylights, Daunt is one of London’s loveliest bookshops. There are several Daunt…
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Annie’s Vintage Costume & Textiles
North London
One of London’s most enchanting vintage shops, this high-end boutique has costumes to make you look like Greta Garbo. Many a famous designer has come here…
The West End
One of London's most recognisable shops, Liberty department store has a white-and-wood-beam Tudor Revival facade that lures shoppers in to browse luxury…
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The West End
The biggest and oldest toy emporium in the world, Hamleys houses six floors of fun for kids of all ages, from the basement's Star Wars and Harry Potter…
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The West End
The UK’s largest foreign-language bookseller with titles representing more than 100 languages is located on the 4th floor of Foyles.
London
Hoping to replicate the success of its Shoreditch counterpart, Boxpark Croydon provides a much-needed cultural hub just a stone’s throw from East Croydon…
Kensington & Hyde Park
Walking into Pickett as an adult is a bit like walking into a sweet shop as a child: the exquisite leather goods are all so colourful and beautiful that…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden design the witty laser-cut acrylic jewellery on sale in this small space. Their original creations feature flora- and…
Notting Hill & West London
This fine, rather small, general bookshop – the inspiration behind the bookshop in Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts' monster rom-com Notting Hill – still sees…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This much-loved shop sells a quirky collection of coffee-table books, magazines, card games and stationery, most on the themes of typography, graphic…
The West End
A whiskey shop that has achieved iconic status over the half century it’s been around. Every bottle is handpicked by the passionate staff, with prices…
The West End
Taking a commendable stand against tacky souvenirs, We Built This City sells locally themed merchandise that the recipient might actually want – most of…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
It's no longer directly associated with the legendary record label (home to the Smiths, the Libertines and the Strokes, among others), but this huge…
Notting Hill & West London
All the recipe books from celeb and nonceleb chefs you can imagine are sold here – perfect for more adventurous cooks or for those looking for ‘exotic’…
The West End
The price tags might make you more dizzy than the alcohol content in this aptly-named fine wines and spirits boutique in Mayfair: its two floors are…
Notting Hill & West London
This Notting Hill butcher shop, run by a Kiwi couple, prides itself on its quality, free-range meat – the beef is grass-fed and the lamb comes from the…
The West End
Specialising in lesser-known literature by mostly women writers from the mid-20th century, Persephone Books has carved out an interesting and valuable…
Notting Hill & West London
The heady smell emanating from the Spice Shop says it all: from run-of-the-mill curry powder and herbs to Sichuan pepper (£5.99), other rare spices and…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This small bohemian bookshop grew out of community initiatives and has been a fixture on Brick Lane for more than 30 years. Among the usual popular titles…
Notting Hill & West London
Achieving an almost surreal level of quaintness, Biscuiteers is a Notting Hill cafe specialising in hand-iced treats, ranging from biscuits to cupcakes to…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
If you love the feminine silhouette of the 1940s and the pin-up look of the 1950s, you will swoon over Collectif's vintage-inspired dresses, shirts, coats…
