Top Shopping Destinations in London

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Shopping Destinations in London

 Two hundred years after the famous “a nation of shopkeepers” remark by Napoleon, London remains one of the best places in the world for shopping.
Here is a list of the most popular places to shop around in the British capital.

1. Spitalfields Market

Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street
This is one of the trendiest shopping locations in London. The Sunday Spitalfields Market is where several independent boutiques and young designers display their creations. You will find something unique in the small shops. Places like Dray Walk, Brick Lane, Cheshire Streets and Redchurch are known for their vintage dens, quirky shops, and cool homeware. Also, don’t forget to visit the Old Spitalfields Market, a 350-year-old market that offers an array of stalls selling fashion items, food, and antiques under a beautiful Victorian arcade.


2. Covent Garden

Nearest Tube: Leicester Square or Covent Garden
Looking for a unique gift, hip fashion accessories, handmade jewelry, or rare sweets? Covent Garden is a great place to explore. The place is also home to many high street stores and the super impressive multi-storey Apple Store located in a carefully restored 1876 building. The old market hall is usually a bit crowded so instead, you can head to one of the side streets for a less crowded experience. Visit Neal Street (best for shoe shopping), Monmouth Street, Floral Street, St Martin's Courtyard, and Short Gardens to get a true taste of London's most distinctive shopping areas.
Also, read the various accomodation options you can try in the UK.


3. Oxford Street

Nearest Tube: Bond Street, Oxford Circus, or Tottenham Court Road
This is probably the busiest street in London with over 200 million visitors a year. The street is home to more than 300 shops, designer outlets and every well-known high street chain imaginable. You can also get to the side streets like Berwick Street or St Christopher’s Place to find some real treats.

 Also, read about other outdoor activities you can try in London.


4. High Street Kensington

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington Tube Station
This is a less crowded and more pleasant alternative to Oxford Street. The street has all the trendy stores and high-street chains and also an array of antique shops along the nearby Church Street.


5. King’s Road

Nearest Tube: Sloane Square
Famous faces are regularly seen in this posh and fashionable road of Chelsea. Alongside the vast array of restaurants and cafes offering delicious food, you’ll find an extensive mix of unique labels, chic boutiques, designer shops, and high-street staples. The area was made famous by a lively local scene during the 60s and punk-fuelled 70s. Vivienne Westwood, the doyenne of punk fashion, still runs her first ever store here. It's also a great place for inspirational interior design. Visit the Chelsea Antiques Market for a treasure trove of antiques.
Love visiting historical places? Perhaps you should consider visiting Warwickshire, the heart of England history.

6. Camden Market

Nearest Tube: Camden Town or Chalk Farm Road
Buzzy Camden Market is packed with more than 200 stalls and is enormously popular among the locals. You will find plenty of fashion accessories, jewelry, club-wear, shoes and classic alternative gears.

7. Knightsbridge

Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is one of the most attractive areas of central London that has remained almost unchanged. There are plenty of ways to spend money in this beguiling corner of the capital. Visit Harrods, one of the most famous local shops and a huge tourist attraction, to try the food and to witness the dramatic Egyptian Elevator. In case, you prefer a less crowded option, visit Harvey Nicholas. If you are looking forward to spending a few thousand Euros on designer clothes, look no further than Sloane Street. Chanel, Christian Dior, Prada, Armani, Gucci, Alberta Ferretti, Katharine Hamnett, and Nicole Fahri are just some of the designers with shops on the street.

8. Marylebone High Street

Nearest Tube: Baker Street Tube Station
You’ll feel like you’re in a small town of its own along this quaint and elegant street, where there are plenty of homeware stores. Food is another specialty of the street.

9. Regent Street

Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus
This elegant shopping street not only features a number of the city’s famous outlets but also a good range of mid-priced fashion stores. The nearby, historic Jermyn Street is well known for men's clothing shops.

10. Bond Street

Nearest Tube: Bond Street or Piccadilly Circus
Bond Street is one of the best concentrations of designer shops in the world. If you are a serious fashionista and want to splash out on the very best in designer clothes or just love luxury window shopping, Bond Street is the ideal place to go. Popular with celebrities on a spree, this is probably London's most exclusive shopping area, home to big names.

11. London markets

Nearest Tube: Varies according to the location
Apart from the above-mentioned high street giants, London is equally renowned for its diverse range of street markets. Ideal for prudent shoppers, these markets offer stylish vintage items for much-reduced prices. If you are a fashion lover, visit Camden for a unique canalside shopping experience where you will find both vintage and new clothes, quirky pieces of jewelry and accessories, and a range of crafts. Sunday market of Petticoat Lane is world famous and another option to buy designer goods that are left over from the high street at a much cheaper price. London's markets are also popular for high-quality street food.

Conclusion

So next time you are in London, just don't forget to visit one of these markets for a better and authentic shopping experience and do let me know how was your trip!

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Happy Traveling!


Note: This article was originally published by me on Quora.