London Weekend Break

Shopping in the city of London

With internationally famous stores including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and the worlds largest toy shop, Hamleys, London has everything that the window shopper or shop-a-holic could ever need.

London is also renown the world over for its many boutiques, cafes and wine bars, making it one of the best shopping and people watching experiences available. If that is not enough, the city also has markets large and small and every major high street retailer you can think of. Many of the larger department stores have cafes, salons and some even offer a delivery service to your hotel.

As a major tourist attraction London also has more than its fair share of novelty shops selling every kind of keep sake and trinket that you can imagine. You will also spot the typical "Dell boy" street traders offering those "not always so legitimate" items at far from legitimate prices.

• To find out about the top stores and boutiques in London continue reading further down this page. There you will see summaries of some of the better known department stores and city retail names.

London's main department stores

Fortnum and Mason are one of London's oldest and best known retailers of note. Established in 1707, they epitomise quality and are particularly famous for their food hall for which the Royal family are one of their better known customers. The store also sells home ware and fashion goods and has the popular and highly rated Fountain Restaurant and St. James's restaurant.
Location, 181 Piccadilly.

Selfridges If you plan to shop in the west end then this is the place to start. Specialising in women's fashons, home goods as well as having departments for electrical items and children, Selfridges is an enjoyable but expensive shopping experience.
Location, 400 Oxford Street.

Harrods As quite probably the world's best known single location department store, Harrods offers something for everyone and the claim that you can find any item available to the shopper is rarely disproved. The internal fittings of Harrods are a spectacle in themselves and they even have their own strictly adhered to dress code for customers, so be warned. The store has no less than seven floors and is frequented by everyone who is anyone.
Location, 87 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge.

Harvey Nichols If you want to continue your Knightsbridge experience, then Harvey Nick's is next on the list. Best known for high fashion at high prices this store also has a food hall plus departments selling furnature and beauty products.
Location, 109 to 125 Knightsbridge.

Fenwick Having started trading in 1882 this is yet another of London's cornerstone department stores. Fenwick's are best known for "everything" fashon, but sell many other items as well.
Location.

For a more extensive list of London's stores, see the London Stores link in the header bar at the top of the page.

Christmas shopping in London

There are even more reasons to visit London at Christmas.

The Christmas lights, especially on Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regents Street, are spectacular and all the major stores have both their latest winter stocks and Christmas gifts in store.

The Spring sales are the time for bargains - but if you want the best selections and the broadest possible scope of Christmas gifts and winter fashions, now is the time to visit London. You can enjoy possibly the best shopping in the world and with the magic of the seasonal illuminations.

It is also a good time for children who are easily occupied by the spectacle of the lights.

Also check out special offers with coach companies and on rail networks. Off peak tickets can be cheap and with fast intercity trains you can easily make London a single day shopping visit rather than a full weekend break.

Antique fairs

If you like visiting antique fairs and sales this London antique fairs page will tell you about some of the better established fairs that take place in the London area. You also need to be on the look out for notices in papers and on billboards that may alert you to a small or specialist fair.

If you have an interest in auctions this auctions in London page may interest you.

Something else that London is famous for is award ceremonies. The city hosts more of these events than any other UK city, perhaps not surprisingly. The events range from the great to the small and the publicly broadcast to the privately held and attended.