London Shopping GuideLondon is world famous for its shopping streets and famous shops, some of which have existed for over 150 years. Some of the main shopping areas are highlighted in this guide, but this is not to say that there are no others. See other Central London markets on a map. Every part of London has its own unique shopping areas. Many local markets have also existed for centuries and they offer a good alternative to the bustling city areas.
In addition, London is also a place for many foreign communities, and they bring a rich shopping experience. For example, you will find East London offering variety of goods from the Indian subcontinent, North London has a large Turkish presence, Arabic community exists in West London, and South London offers goods from West Indies.
 Charing Cross Road
Charing Cross Road is famous for its bookshops. Perhaps the most well-known bookshop is Folyes, which has been around since 1903. Other names to be found include Blackwell's.
Charing Cross Road is also well known for its second hand bookshops, and although these have declined somewhat in number, they are still worth a visit. They are found in a row near Leicester Square station. They vary in price and stock, but bargains may be found in the stuffy basements of these shops. Off the lower part of Charing Cross Road, between Leicester Square station and Charing Cross station, is Cecil Court, where may be found a range of more specialist antiquarian bookshops with higher prices.
 Chinatown
London has many thriving international communities, and they add a distinctive touch to London. One of the smaller communities is the Chinese. Like many other cities in the world, London too has its own Chinatown.
Chinatown, which is the unofficial name for the area centred around Gerrard Street, just below Soho in the three blocks between Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue, has many shops offering a very unique Chinese experience. The restaurants are exceptionally good, and a visit there is a must.
Commercial Street
Forming part of London’s inner ring road, Commercial Street joins Aldgate and Shoreditch, also acting as a boundary between the affluent City and the traditionally less well-off East End. However, the expansion of the City eastwards, and the development of the local businesses in and around Aldgate has resulted in thriving market areas. Commercial street not only offers clothes at wholesale prices, but there are also many excellent Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurants, which are frequently visited by the City executives.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is one of the top shopping and entertainment areas in London. Filled with exquisite restaurants and big fashion labels, it has become a popular venue for tourists.
 
HamleysHamley’s is one of the largest and most famous toy shops in the world. Situated on one of London’s busiest shopping areas, Regent Street, the giant store occupies six huge floors.
Harrods Spread over seven floors and encompassing an estimated five acres of floorspace, Harrods is one of the world’s most famous department stores. It is situated in Knightsbridge area, the most prestigious of the London areas, close to many embassies and consulates.
Oxford Street In the heart of central London’s busiest shopping district lies Oxford Street, which runs from Marble Arch to St Giles’ Circus, crossing Tottenham Court Road and Charing Cross Road.
Petticoat Lane Based in Aldgate area, which is at the edge of east side of the City, Petticoat Lane Markets is a thriving markets for all sorts of good. This market has been around for over 150 years, and it still attracts vast number of people. This market is famous for its leather jackets and clothes.
Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus is London’s equivalent of New York’s Times Square. There are massive neon advertisments at the main junction of the streets, and plenty of traffic and people.
Portobello Road
Portobello Road is 3 kilometres west of Marble Arch and easy to reach by road or underground from anywhere in London. It is claimed to be the largest antiques and second-hand market in the world. Statistically it features in the top ten rankings as the most visited tourist site in London. It is regularly the focus of press and media attention and mostly remembered from the Disney film "Bed knobs and Broomsticks" and more recently the film "Notting Hill". Its history and culture span approximately 300 years of existence.
Regent Street
Famously part of the green set in Monopoly, along with Oxford Street and Bond Street, Regent Street is a cental place for shoppers. Home of Hamley’s, the famous toy store.
Soho
In the midst of Piccadilly Circus to the south and Oxford Street to the north, and Regent Street to the west and Charing Cross road to the east, lies Soho. This area, dating back to over 400 years, is now famous for music shops, film productions and advertsing agencies.
Tottenham Court Road
Running south from Euston Road and intersecting with Charing Cross Road and Oxford Street at St Giles’ Circus, Tottenham Court Road forms part of the edge of the City. Tottenham Court Road has many large electrical and electronic stores, and it is the palce to pick up the latest gadgets at rock-bottom prices. |
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