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Here are 9 iconic shopping destinations in London for retail therapy

There are plenty of reasons to visit London and shopping is one of them. The city is a shopping capital with plenty of places to shop, offering the latest trendy fashion to unique souvenirs. That said, the only thing to hold you back is the limit on your credit card.

You’ll discover a diverse range of stores in London catering to a multitude of preferences and choices. The mix ranges from the independent shops to the large department stores and everything in between. There are endless options for retail therapy but you want to know the best places to shop in London.

Here’s a shopping guide to London’s 9 famous shopping streets. Even if you’re not in the city for a dose of retail therapy but to sightsee, there’s window shopping to enjoy. It’s a fun thing to do and you won’t be the only one. Without further ado, here are the best streets to shop in London.

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Saville Row

• Location: Mayfair
• Tube stations: Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines), Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines)

Saville Row is a posh street in Mayfair. It’s a short stretch south of Conduit Street and runs parallel to Regent Street. The span is a splendid row of Georgian architecture. Within these buildings are some of the finest gentlemen’s tailors in London. Prices are high but you can expect the very best in custom tailoring.

Savile Row has been synonymous with first-rate tailoring since 1803. A tailored-made suit is not like buying a suit picked off the rack. Each is individually cut and sewn to fit the client, requiring several visits to get the perfect fit. Though most tailors make suits for men, a few do make outfits for women.

Henry Poole & Company is the oldest tailor on Saville Row and has been here since 1806. The shop takes pride in making the first modern dinner jacket (tuxedo) in the 1880s. Huntsmen is another legend and has been around since 1849. Besides custom-made suits, Henry Poole also makes ready-to-wear outfits but they don’t come cheap.

Most likely you didn’t come to London for a tailored suit but are curious to know about this famous stretch. Then take a guided walking tour of Saville Row with a visit to one of the prestigious tailor shops. During the shop visit, you’ll get to meet a tailor for insight into the trade and hear stories about British tailoring on Saville Row.

Check out hotels near Saville Row in Mayfair – an exclusive area of London, home to 4 to 5-star hotels and luxury apartments.

Bond Street

• Location: Mayfair
• Tube stations: Bond Street (Central and Jubilee Lines), Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines), Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines)

Bond Street is another posh street in Mayfair. This street includes Old Bond Street (the southern section) and New Bond Street (the northern section). Since the early 18th century, this stretch has always been linked with the expensive lifestyle. Today, it’s a shopping street in London where the rich and famous come to spend their money.

Bond Street is a trendy place and you’ll find nothing but luxury brands, not to mention the sky-high prices that go along with it. Fashionwear, robes, shoes, handbags, fine jewellery and fragrances are just some of the luxuries. Window shop if you prefer to hold on to your money. For many, it’s just as fun.

Many luxury brands including Ralph Loren, Cartier, Bally, Chopard, Versace, Vashi and Canali have their flagship stores on Bond Street. And there’s Fenwick, a department store that has been around since 1891 offering from high fashion to beauty products. Other top names in luxury include Hermes, Tiffany, Burberry and Gabbana.

This opulent street is also home to several renowned art galleries and auction houses. Richard Green, Eden Fine Art and Halcyon Galleries are highly prized galleries for modern art. Bonhams and Sotheby’s are famed auction houses noted for fine art, jewellery, antiques and other precious collectables.

Check out hotels near Bond Street in Mayfair – an exclusive area of London, home to 4 to 5-star hotels and luxury apartments.

Oxford Street

• Location: City of Westminster
• Tube stations: Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines), Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern Lines)

Oxford Street stretches 2 km (1.6 miles) from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch (via Oxford Circus). The street is in the heart of Central London and is well-known to both Londoners and tourists. As a matter of fact, it’s the busiest shopping street in the city with nearly 200 million visitors passing the stretch each year.

Oxford Street is home to more than 300 retailers including many leading department stores. Those seeking retail therapy could spend a whole day here. Weekends are the busiest days when hordes of shoppers elbow their way searching to buy the latest collection or last season’s bargains.

This famous high street in London overflows with shops selling from high fashion to chocolate truffles. It’s a mix of popular high-street brands that include names like H&M, Uniqlo, Topshop, Timberland, Sketchers, Clarks and Benetton. The famous Disney Store is also here, where you’ll find loads of wonderful toys and costumes.

The stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch is home to some of London’s most famous department stores. Marks & Spencer’s flagship department store here offers quality at affordable prices. At John Lewis, you can shop from fashion to homeware. The 6-floor Selfridges department store is another famous flagship store.

Check out hotels near Oxford Street – besides shopping, this lively location has a bustling nightlife.

Regent Street

• Location: City of Westminster
• Tube stations: Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines), Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines)

Regent Street is another famous high street in London. It’s 1.3 km (0.8 miles) of retail stretching from Mortimer Street to Piccadilly Circus via Oxford Circus, which meets up with Oxford Street. Regent Street is upmarket compared to Oxford Street but not in comparison to the luxury prices on Bond Street.

Here, you can find a mix of high-street stores and designer boutiques. It’s a mix of global and British brands that include fashionwear, accessories, technology, fragrances, wellness products and homeware. Don’t miss the beautiful coloured lights adorning Regent Street if in London during the Christmas season.

There are over 70 flagship stores on Regent Street! The Apple Store here opened in 2004 and is the first in Europe. Liberty is an upscale department store offering high fashion to homeware. Jaegar is a famous English fashion brand that uses only natural fibres. Other flagship stores include Burberry, Tory Burch, J. Crew and Coach.

Shopping here wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Hamleys, especially if you’re with young kids. After all, this is the oldest and largest toy store in the world! It’s been at the same place since 1861. The huge toy heaven of 7 floors draws more than 5 million visitors each year, shopping for all kinds of toys.

Check out hotels near Regent Street – a bustling location near lively Soho and many city attractions.

Carnaby Street

• Location: Soho
• Tube stations: Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines), Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines)

Carnaby Street is in the Soho neighbourhood and home to more than 100 shops. The shopping scene also includes (to a lesser extent) nearby Fourbert’s Place, Berwick, Kingly and Newburgh Streets. There’s more than just shopping in the Carnaby Street area. It’s also a great place to dine with over 60 restaurants and cafés in the area.

In the 1960s, Carnaby Street was popular with young hipsters for the mod and hippie fashion. It’s now mainstream but the creativity is still there and popular with the young generation as well as budget-minded shoppers. British labels dominate the fashion scene and are on par with global brands.

It’s mostly independent boutiques here. Shopping is within the budget of most shoppers without sacrificing quality. There are over 100 shops and there’s plenty to buy. Carnaby Street is a pedestrian-only zone. With this in mind, you can easily walk around browsing the window displays without worrying about the traffic.

Here you’ll find the latest in fashion, vintage clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery and cosmetics from some of the coolest shops in London. British heritage labels include Paul Smith, Howies, Barbour, Dr Martens and Mark Powell. Other notable brands include Adidas Originals, Annie’s, Sweaty Betty, Lyle & Scott, Finlay and Diesel.

Check out hotels in Soho – a hip area well-known for its entertainment including theatres, cinemas and clubs.

Knightsbridge

• Location: South of Hyde Park
• Tube station: Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line)

Knightsbridge is an upscale neighbourhood. This area is home to some of the most prestigious apartments, luxurious hotels, exclusive clubs and finest restaurants in London. To add further, Knightsbridge is a retail paradise for shoppers searching for luxuries from some of the most illustrious designer brands.

You can expect nothing but the best in Knightsbridge. It’s home to elegant boutiques, flagship stores, specialist shops and department stores. The main shopping streets are Brompton Road and Sloane Street. The status of luxury on Sloane Street is on par with the exclusivity of Bond Street.

Knightsbridge is home to Tommy Hilfiger’s flagship store in Europe, focusing on casual fashion that draws styles from the hard rock and pop music industry. Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik are renowned names for shoes. British luxury brand Burberry also has a flagship store, offering an array of high fashion for the young generation.

Hugo Boss, Zara, Mulberry, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Ted Baker and Saint Laurent are other top brands but these are just a few. Mention Knightsbridge and you must not forget the Harrods and Harvey Nichols. These two huge department stores are legendary and are among the famous department stores in London.

Check out hotels in Knightsbridge – a prestigious area featuring Victorian homes and charming garden squares.

King’s Road

• Location: Chelsea
• Tube stations: Sloane Square (Circle and District Lines)

King’s Road is a long 3 km (2 miles) stretch through the posh Chelsea neighbourhood. The street gets its name for once being the private road of the kings until 1830. Today, it’s a famous shopping street in London. Not only that, King’s Road is one more great destination in the city for dining and enjoying the nightlife.

King’s Road is a mix of leading retail chains, trendy boutiques and department stores. Most outlets here are smaller compared to Oxford Street and Regent Street but the shopping scene here is unhurried. Many of the rich picks are within the first km or so (half a mile) from Sloane Square Underground Station.

You won’t be disappointed on King’s Road. British labels are just as prominent as global brands. You’ll find big names like Hugo Boss, French Connection, Jane Taylor and Marks & Spencer. Peter Jones department store, on Sloane Square, is the largest retailer with 8 floors of retail to spend your money on.

Check out Duke of York Square, home to over 30 stylish boutiques as well as 7 restaurants offering al fresco dining. You may also want to check out Vivienne Westwood, the famous outlet where punk fashion began in the 1970s. And there’s the Chelsea Antiques Market (near Sloane Square) for all things vintage.

Check out hotels near King’s Road in Chelsea – a chic area of shops, cafés, restaurants and beautiful gardens.

Marylebone High Street

• Location: Marylebone
• Tube station: Baker Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Bakerloo, Jubilee Lines), Bond Street (Central and Jubilee Lines)

Marylebone High Street runs in a north-south direction through Marylebone, a charming neighbourhood with a small-town feel and unhurried. This shopping street is a hidden gem. Though only a few minutes from the frenzy of Oxford Street, most tourists are unfamiliar with the street but it’s well-known to Londoners.

For the fashionistas, there’s a wonderful range of upscale boutiques and fashion stores. The storefronts carry both established and emerging brands including many British labels. There are also specialist shops. But it’s not just about shopping here, the street also features an enticing dining scene that’s worth exploring.

To kick off the shopping adventure, start by exploring the clothing stores. You’ll find iconic names like Sandro, Maje, Reiss, Brora and Whistles to name a few. La Portegna and Bobbies offer a range of leather goods including shoes, bags and wallets. Mejuri, Anna and Monica Vinader feature a range of inspiring jewellery.

Don’t miss Daunt Books, a famous bookshop noted for its beautiful Edwardian interior. Here, you’ll find a vast collection of titles including travel books. The Oxfam and Cancer Research UK thrift shops offer vintage clothes, accessories and books. Besides the bargains, your purchases help to support their charitable causes.

Check out hotels near Marylebone High Street in Marylebone – a chic residential neighbourhood with a small-town feel.

Seven Dials

• Location: Covent Garden
• Tube station: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)

Seven Dials is named after a group of intersecting streets that radiate in 7 directions from a circular roundabout. At the centre of the roundabout is a tall sundial column. The Seven Dials area goes back to the 17th century and is a charming part of London with its narrow cobblestone streets and and Georgian architecture.

The main shopping streets in the Seven Dials area include Monmouth Street, Earlham Street, Mercer Street, Short’s Garden and Neal Street. The attraction is the host of independent boutiques and speciality shops. The area is a haven for shoppers looking for something different from London’s high street shops.

Fashion enthusiasts will discover a diverse range of clothing stores, showcasing both established and emerging designer brands. Gramicci, Finisterre and Carhartt offer a stylish selection of clothes as well as accessories for men and women. Looking for vintage clothes? You’ll find a couple including Cow, Check It and Vintage Thread.

At Nappa Dori, you can find handcrafted leather goods including bags, wallets and belts. Visit Stetson for its famous range of hats for every occasion. Astley Clarke and Dinny Hall offer their fine jewellery while Tatty Devine offers fun-style costume jewellery. Grovesnor Print has a large stock of antique prints from the 17th to early 20th century.

Check out hotels near Seven Dials in Covent Garden – a lively area and nearby many of the London’s top attractions.