Shopping in London: From Oxford Street to the boutiques of Carnaby Street
London is one of the world's shopping capitals. From the large international chains on Oxford Street to the independent boutiques on Carnaby Street, from historic department stores like Harrods and Selfridges to the vintage markets of Brick Lane, the city offers an experience for every taste and budget. In this guide, discover the best areas for shopping in London, must-visit stores, sale periods, and tips for saving.
The main shopping streets
1. Oxford Street: The mass shopping street
Oxford Street is London's most famous shopping street and one of the busiest in Europe. With over 300 stores, it mainly hosts large international chains and brands of clothing, shoes, electronics, and cosmetics.
What to find:
Primark:The Irish giant of low-cost clothing. The flagship store on Oxford Street is huge (4 floors). Very low prices, adequate quality.
Selfridges:The luxury department store (we'll talk about it later).
Nike Town:The Nike megastore (3 floors, shoe customization).
Marks & Spencer (M&S):Medium quality clothing and famous food department (M&S Foodhall).
Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, Mango:The European chains, all present.
John Lewis:Mid-range department store, famous for electronics, furniture, and textiles.
Hours:Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM (some until 9:00 PM), Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Metro:Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central, Victoria), Bond Street (Central, Jubilee), Marble Arch (Central).
Tip:Oxford Street is very crowded on weekends. Go during the week, in the morning. Keep an eye on your bag and wallet (there are pickpockets).
2. Regent Street: Elegance and architecture
Regent Street is the more elegant sister of Oxford Street, famous for its curves, white Regency-style buildings (UNESCO heritage), and mid-range shops.
What to find:
Hamleys:The most famous toy store in the world (7 floors). An experience just to visit.
Liberty London:Iconic Tudor-style department store (we will talk about it).
Apple Store:Apple's flagship store, in a beautiful historic building.
Burberry:The flagship store of the British brand (luxury clothing and accessories).
Jaeger, COS, & Other Stories, Anthropologie:Mid-range brands.
Hours:Similar to Oxford Street.
Metro:Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus.
Tip:Regent Street is less chaotic than Oxford Street and more beautiful to see (especially in the evening with the lights).
3. Carnaby Street: The heart of alternative and youth fashion
Carnaby Street was the center of mod and swing culture in the '60s, frequented by Jimi Hendrix and The Who. Today it is a pedestrian area (Carnaby Village) with independent shops, alternative brands, and streetwear.
What to find:
Dr. Martens:The flagship store of the iconic boots.
Vans, Converse, Timberland:Single-brand store.
Lazy Oaf:Young, colorful, ironic clothing.
Monki:A young and accessible Swedish brand.
The Cavern Club:A pub and shop dedicated to the Beatles (there's also a statue of Paul McCartney outside).
Kingly Court:A small courtyard with restaurants and independent shops.
Hours:Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Metro:Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus.
Tip:Explore the side streets (Foubert's Place, Newburgh Street) for even more unusual shops.
4. Bond Street (Old Bond Street and New Bond Street): Absolute luxury
Bond Street is London's luxury street. Here you will find boutiques of the biggest high fashion brands, jewelry, and watches.
What to find:
Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Hermès, Dior:The Italian and French luxury brands.
Tiffany & Co.:The jewelry store from "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels:High-end jewelry and watches.
Sotheby's:The auction house (you can visit the free exhibitions on the ground floor).
Metro:Bond Street (Central, Jubilee).
Tip:If you can't afford to shop, the window display is already a spectacle.
Historic department stores
1. Harrods (Knightsbridge)
The most famous department store in the world. Founded in 1834, it occupies 4.5 acres, has 330 departments, and its own postcode (SW1X 7XL). It is a tourist experience in itself.
What to see:
Food Halls:The food departments, with Victorian mosaics, cheeses, teas, chocolates, and fine meats. Even if you don't buy, it's worth a visit.
Egyptian (Egyptian Hall):The central atrium with escalators, decorated with statues of sphinxes and pharaohs.
The jewelry department:With diamonds worth millions of pounds.
The designer clothing department:All the big brands.
The Toy Kingdom (lower floor):A huge toy kingdom.
Hours:Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
Metro:Knightsbridge (Piccadilly).
Tip:No purchase necessary. Entry and viewing are free. There is a casual but respectful dress code (no tank tops or swimwear).
2. Selfridges (Oxford Street)
The rival of Harrods, more modern and less touristy. Founded in 1908 by Harry Gordon Selfridge (the TV series "Mr. Selfridge" is about him).
What to see:
The beauty department:Immense, with all the cosmetic brands.
The shoe department:An entire floor (300 sqm) just for shoes.
The design and technology department:Design products, electronics, books.
The Food Hall:On the ground floor, more modern than Harrods.
Hours:Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
Metro:Bond Street or Marble Arch.
Tip:Selfridges is more accessible than Harrods, with a wider average price range.
3. Liberty London (Regent Street)
Liberty is a unique department store, famous for its floral prints (Liberty prints), the Tudor-style building (carved wood), and high-quality fabrics.
What to buy:
Fabrics and textiles:The famous Liberty prints, also used by artists like William Morris.
Women's clothing:Bohemian, romantic, mid-high range.
Accessories, jewelry, niche cosmetics.
Home and design:Home goods, wallpaper.
Hours:Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Metro:Oxford Circus.
Tip:Even just to see the building, it's worth it. The atmosphere is intimate and fragrant with wood.
4. Harvey Nichols (Knightsbridge)
"Harvey Nicks" is the trendiest and youngest department store, a direct rival to Harrods (but smaller). Famous for its beauty department and the restaurant on the fifth floor (Fifth Floor).
What to find:
Designer clothing:High fashion brands and emerging designers.
Beauty:Luxury and niche cosmetics.
Wines and spirits (Fifth Floor).
Restaurant and bar (Fifth Floor):Great for a drink after shopping.
Metro:Knightsbridge.
Tip:The bar on the fifth floor (Fifth Floor Bar) has a nice view of Knightsbridge.
Niche shopping: boutiques, vintage, and design.
Covent Garden
Main square with craft shops, designer brands (Paul Smith, Mulberry), tea shops (Whittard), the covered market of Apple Market (jewelry, art, crafts), and the famous chocolate shop (Hotel Chocolat).
Seven Dials (between Covent Garden and Soho)
A series of streets with independent fashion, shoe, jewelry, design shops, and trendy cafes.
Marylebone High Street
High-end but relaxed shops: The Conran Shop (design), Daunt Books (independent bookstore in an art deco building, specializing in travel), British fashion shops (Ralph Lauren, Toast).
Notting Hill (Portobello Road)
On Saturdays, Portobello Road Market is the best place for antiques, vintage clothing, and art prints.
Brick Lane (East London)
On Sundays, the Brick Lane market is a vintage paradise (leather jackets, Levi's jeans, vinyl records, retro furniture). On other days, independent boutiques and street art.
Sales periods in London
Winter Sales:FromDecember/December 26 (Boxing Day)until the end of January. The best discounts.
Summer Sales:Frommid-Juneto the end of July. Discounts of 50-70%.
Black Friday (November):Huge discounts, but a lot of crowds.
Tip:Boxing Day (December 26) is the day with the best discounts, but also the most chaotic. If you don't like crowds, wait for the first week of January.
Tips for saving on shopping
Ask for tax-free:If you are not a resident of the UK, you can claim a VAT refund (20%) on purchases over £30. Fill out the form in-store and have it stamped at the airport. Note: since 2021, tax-free for tourists has been abolished for goods carried on hand at the airport? Check the updated rules.
Visit the outlets outside London: Bicester Village(luxury outlet 50 minutes by train from Marylebone) has discounts of 30-60% on brands like Prada, Gucci, Burberry, Mulberry.
Shop at markets (vintage and crafts):Brick Lane, Portobello, Camden. You can negotiate (slightly).
Avoid overly touristy areas:The souvenir shops in Leicester Square are expensive and low quality.
Take advantage of supermarkets:If you're looking for chocolates, tea, or English biscuits to take home, supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S) have better prices than tourist shops.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best street for shopping in London?
It depends.Oxford Streetfor big chains and affordable prices,Regent Streetfor elegance,Carnaby Streetfor alternative streetwear,Bond Streetfor luxury.
Harrods or Selfridges?
Harrodsis more touristy, historic, and scenic (go there just to see it).Selfridgesis more modern, less crowded, and has a wider price range.
When are the sales in London?
The winter sales start onDecember 26 (Boxing Day)and last throughout January. The summer sales start inmid-June..
Can you bargain in London?
In regular shops,no(prices are fixed). In markets (Camden, Portobello, Brick Lane),yes, you can bargain a little (especially if you buy multiple items).
What are the most famous shops on Oxford Street?
Selfridges, Primark (the largest in the world), Nike Town, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Zara, H&M, Uniqlo.
Where to buy vintage clothes in London?
Brick Lane(Sunday),Portobello Road(Saturday),Camden Market, Rokit(Covent Garden, Shoreditch),Beyond Retro(Soho).
What to buy in London as a souvenir?
Tea (Fortnum & Mason, Whittard), chocolates (Hotel Chocolat, Thorntons), biscuits (M&S, Fortnum's), t-shirts, water bottles, umbrellas (James Smith & Sons), vintage jewelry.
What time do shops close in London?
Monday-Saturday: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (department stores until 9:00 PM). Sunday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM (many close at 5:00 PM).
Where to park for shopping in London?
Don't come by car. Parking is very expensive (£4-6 per hour). Use the subway.
What is the closest outlet to London?
Bicester Village(50 minutes by train from Marylebone station). Luxury brands at discounted prices.
Summary table of shopping areas
| Area | Type | Prices | Metro | Must see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford Street | Large chains | Low-medium | Oxford Circus | Primark, Selfridges |
| Regent Street | Medium-high range | Medium-high | Oxford Circus, Piccadilly | Hamleys, Liberty |
| Carnaby Street | Alternative, streetwear | Medium | Oxford Circus | Dr. Martens, Lazy Oaf |
| Bond Street | Luxury | High | Bond Street | Tiffany, Cartier |
| Knightsbridge | Luxury, department stores | High | Knightsbridge | Harrods, Harvey Nicks |
| Covent Garden | Craftsmanship, boutiques | Medium | Covent Garden | Apple Market, Whittard |
| Brick Lane | Vintage, vintage, vintage | Low-medium | Liverpool Street | Sunday market |
Shopping for every budget
Shopping in London is a varied experience suitable for every budget. From Oxford Street with its department stores and low-cost chains, to Carnaby Street with its alternative spirit, from Bond Street with its unrestrained luxury to the vintage markets of Brick Lane and Portobello, each area has its own soul. The January and July sales offer unmissable deals. Remember to wear comfortable shoes (you will walk a lot), use the subway (leave the car at home), and take a break in a pub or café between shops. Happy shopping!
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Review date:April 2026