SD › London › Best Shops & Markets
Updated: May 24, 2022
By Santorini Dave
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Liberty department store off pedestrianized Carnaby Street in Soho.
The 9 Best Places to Shop in London
Carnaby Street • Soho
The birthplace of the fashion and cultural revolution during the Swinging 60s. The 13 narrow, largely pedestrian streets that make up Carnaby are lined with independent boutiques, up-and-coming designer names, heritage brands, cafes, and pubs.
Location
Oxford Street • Soho
London’s most famous shopping street. Bordering Soho to the north, Oxford Street is lined with over 300 shops – from high street fashion and souvenir stores to designer outlets such as Selfridges, as well as Debenhams and John Lewis department stores.
Location
Harrods • Knightsbridge
Iconic luxury department store. Going strong for over 160 years, Harrods is dedicated to high-end designer fashion (think Prada and Dior), luxury gifts, fashion accessories, exclusive perfumes, and gourmet food. Hungry? There are nearly 30 restaurants to choose from, as well as a great deli/ food hall.
Location • +44 20 7730 1234
Covent Garden Market • Covent Garden
Hip shopping neighborhood in the West End. If you’re after imaginative arts and crafts and street theater, head for the Covent Garden Market, housed inside a Victorian wrought-iron building. Nearby Neal Street is a good place to hunt down urban streetwear and shoes.
Location • +44 20 7420 5856
Savile Row • Mayfair
The home of bespoke British tailoring. Tailors set up shop in this Mayfair street in the late 18th century and it remains the place to visit if you want a handmade suit made the old-fashioned way (but with soaring price tags of today). Look out for big names such as Ozwald Boateng, Huntsman & Sons, and Henry Poole & Co – the original Savile Row tailor credited with inventing the tuxedo.
Location
Notting Hill • Notting Hill
Hip, offbeat neighborhood made famous by the movie of the same name. Notting Hill’s streets are lined with large, attractive Victorian townhouses and an array of small, unique shops specializing in vintage clothing, antiques, organic food, and books. Nearby Westbourne Grove is more high-end, with a mix of quirky boutiques, designer shops, and art galleries.
Location
Spitalfields • The City
The streets of Spitalfields are dotted with boutiques by up-and-coming designers, as well as quirky independent shops and small galleries. Look out for Collectif Clothing and Mercantile, as well as established brands such as Belstaff and Barbour. The Victorian arcade of the Old Spitalfields Market houses antique, fashion, and street food stalls.
Location
Harvey Nichols • Knighstbridge
Flagship luxury department store. Harvey Nichols’ flagship store opened on the corner of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street in the 1880s. There are designer boutiques and lifestyle shops spread across eight floors here, with the fifth floor dedicated to chic restaurants.
Location • +44 20 7235 5000
Vinegar Yard • South Bank
Former car park now filled with boutique stalls (former shipping containers) with shops, art installations, restaurants, and bars, plus a flea market every weekend.
Location
The 5 Best London Food & Flea Markets
Borough Market • London Bridge
The oldest and most famous of London’s covered food markets. Borough Market dates back to the 13th century and today its specialty food stalls and shops are where London’s top chefs come to shop for fresh ingredients – while crowds of visitors are drawn to the smoothie stands and the street food stalls with cuisine that spans the globe.
Location • +44 20 7407 1002
Camden Market • Camden
Camden Market comprises four main markets that cluster around Camden Lock and along Camden High Street. Head to Stables Market for antiques, independent stores, clothing, and Goth accessories. Electric Ballroom stocks independent designers, vinyl records, and vintage clothing. Buck Street Market carries more mainstream clothing, while Camden Lock Market is a terrific gourmet street food market.
Location • +44 20 7485 5511
Portobello Road Market • Notting Hill
One of London’s oldest markets. Particularly famous for its antiques since the 1950s, Portobello Road Market is a good place to scout out vintage clothing, vinyl records, and assorted bric-a-brac. Best and busiest on Saturdays.
Location
Greenwich Market • Greenwich
Excellent British arts and crafts. Local artisans gather at this historic market to sell handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, and unique gifts. The adjacent food court serves street food from around the world and the market is surrounded by independent shops, bars, and cafes.
Location • +44 20 8269 5096
Brick Lane Market • Spitalfields
Part flea market, part food market, this Sunday market is centered on the Old Truman Brewery, with stalls selling antique furniture, spices, saris, and international street food. The surrounding area is home to several other markets — the Sunday UpMarket, the Backyard Market, the Boiler House Food Hall, the Tea Rooms, and the Vintage Market.
Location • +44 20 7770 6028
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