London shopping

[AliyaS]

Hi to any London local fashion experts!

I'll be going to London for ONLY 3 FULL DAYS EGADS!!!!
It'll be my first time so I'm trying to make a tourist/ shopping schedule as I do want to see the major sites but, try to kill 2 birds with one fat stone by shopping in the areas at the same time.
I'm looking for shops that are UNIQUE TO LONDON (is there such a thing?)such as Portobello market, Topshop, and Vivienne Westwood (choices: which location is best?)
Can anyone help me figure out the tourist/shopping expedition or is it best just to get the whole tourist thing out of the way the first day and then totally devote my time to seeing all the shops. I'll be staying near Hoxton. I'm looking for both mens and womens street fashion/ unusual vintage pieces. I don't want to see any high end brands that I see too much of in Asia (except Vivienne and maybe Martin of course) I'll be in Barcelona and Paris so I can skip the H&M, Mango, and Zara~I think.
ps: what time do the shops open and close?

Thanks so much in advance to anyone who can solve my confusion!

 

[leyla m.]

hello and welcome

i would do as you said. get the sightseeing out of the way the first day and then go shopping.
i would for sure go to Oxford Circus to check out the flagship TOPSHOP , then a quick sting at CARNABY STREET (its around the corner, off regent street) then head off to CONDUIT STREET (by bond street) for VIVIENNE
WESTWOOD. thats all in the west end around OXFORD STREET(as well as SELFRIDGES)
not sure which days you will be there but if i remember correctly PORTOBELLO MARKET is on on Fridays. make sure to doublecheck...
also, its very cliché, but if its your first time i would make sure to check out HARRODS (for being a visitors must) just because... and for sure HARVEY NICHOLS for being the ONLY great REAL fashion store).. again just because
both in KNIGHTSBRIDGE. then i would head off to KINGS ROAD (which was my local hangout) which is renowned for the birth of Punk and the epitimous SEX shop by Vivienne Westwood. however, it has changed and is no longer the same but its a cute road nonetheless
thats it for now, i think thats quite a bit for 3 days...

 

[AliyaS]

Wow! wow! wow!
That's so perfect!!!
What are the main shops that are very London?
I know it sounds vague.
ie: Topshop, H&M, Lush...etc except the ones that are more exclusive to London?
Thanks so much by the way....you've pointed me in the right directions.
I'm going to have to do comfortable shoes after all!

 

[Katie123]

go to Primark (als on Oxford Street)..it's ridiculously cheap

 

[zeldathewitch]

Hi to any London local fashion experts!

I'm looking for shops that are UNIQUE TO LONDON (is there such a thing?)such as Portobello market, Topshop, and Vivienne Westwood (choices: which location is best?)
Can anyone help me figure out the tourist/shopping expedition or is it best just to get the whole tourist thing out of the way the first day and then totally devote my time to seeing all the shops. I'll be staying near Hoxton.
Thanks so much in advance to anyone who can solve my confusion!

Portobello is in my neck of the woods, for vintage/clothes shopping it is at its best on Fridays (Saturdays as well, but tends to be v crowded then). Since you're staying near Hoxton, definitely check out Shoreditch/Brick Lane - & if you're around on a Sunday, Spitalfields market & the UpMarket in the Old Truman Brewery.

 

[AliyaS]

Thank you...I'm getting all giddy with excitment just reading this!

 

[5AvenueMarceau]

You should also go to Liberty, especially if you're doing carnaby st is it is literally at the top of it. Although its not as big and the shopping isn't as broad as the other department places, (harvey nicks, selfridges), the Tudor building and rich history of Liberty is something that will satisfy some sight-seeing urges. I also think it's an innately London brand, which, again, makes it something you definately won't get anywhere else!

It's very easy too, between Topshop and carnaby st and if you were down that way you should go check out the silks in berwick st (although don't buy any as they're hideously expensive), though its not essential.

 

[AliyaS]

Thanks so much

Thanks so much! You rock!!!!!
I love London already but, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the shopping areas. It seems that you have to do an immense amount of walking just to get from one shop to another-is it possible? Ahhhh so little time.
I love and hate that about Hong Kong that everything is compressed in together and really jam packed. Thanks again for the tips!

You should also go to Liberty, especially if you're doing carnaby st is it is literally at the top of it. Although its not as big and the shopping isn't as broad as the other department places, (harvey nicks, selfridges), the Tudor building and rich history of Liberty is something that will satisfy some sight-seeing urges. I also think it's an innately London brand, which, again, makes it something you definately won't get anywhere else!

It's very easy too, between Topshop and carnaby st and if you were down that way you should go check out the silks in berwick st (although don't buy any as they're hideously expensive), though its not essential.

 

[Beautiful Stranger]

i have a huge favour to ask someone. I've just spent an hour finding 22 adresses for various london shops i plan to visit, when i fly over, the 2th of July.

Now. Is there any store missing, that i should add? And, could someone please write which shops that's close, which ones who's not worth a visit, any of the information's wrong, and similar?

Here's the list:

Topshop:

400 Oxford Street

Selfridges:

400 Oxford Street

Chanel:

167/170 Sloane Street

Marni:

26 Sloane Street

Hermes:

179 Sloane Street
155 New Bond Street

Dior Homme:

31 Sloane Street

World’s End:

430 King’s Road

Steinberg & Tolkien:

193 King’s Road

Yohji Yamamoto:

14-15 Conduit Street

Vivienne Westwood:

6 Davies Street
44 Conduit Street (flagship)

Dover Street Market:

17-18 Dover Street

Beyond Retro:

110-112 Cheshire Street
58-59 Marlborough Street

Lara Bohinc:

51 Hoxton Square

Rellik:

8 Golborne Road

Rokit:

42 Shelton Street

Liberty:

210-220 Regent Street

Alexander McQueen:

4-5 Old Bond Street

Stella McCartney:

30 Bruton Street, Mayfair

Harrods:

87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge

Harvey Nichols:

109 - 125 Knightsbridge, 10:00am - 8:00pm

Matches:

60-64, 85 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill.

Browns:

South Molton street, 23-27, 50. 10am – 6,30pm

 

[Beautiful Stranger]

Update, can someone please tell me if the shops in the right area?

Knightsbridge:
Chanel:
167/170 Sloane Street

Hermes:
179 Sloane Street

Marni:
26 Sloane Street

Dior Homme:
31 Sloane Street

YSL
171 Sloane Street

Harvey Nichols:
109 - 125 Knightsbridge

Harrods:
87-135 Brompton Road

Cutler & Gross:
16 Knightsbridge Green


Chelsea:
World’s End:
430 King’s Road

Steinberg & Tolkien:
193 King’s Road


Nothing Hill:
Matches:
60-64, 85 Ledbury Road


Mayfair:
Vivienne Westwood:
6 Davies Street
44 Conduit Street (flagship)

Yohji Yamamoto:
14-15 Conduit Street

B Store
6 Conduit Street

Hermes:
155 New Bond Street

Chanel:
26 Old Bond Street

Browns:
South Molton street, 23-27, 50

Butler & Wilson
20 South Molton Street

Stella McCartney:
30 Bruton Street

Dover Street Market:
17-18 Dover Street


Regent Street:
Liberty:
210-220 Regent Street


Marylebone
Topshop:
400 Oxford Street

Selfridges:
400 Oxford Street


Ladbroke Grove
Rellik:
8 Golborne Road


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rokit:
42 Shelton Street
101, 107 Brick Lane
225 Camden High Street

Beyond Retro:
110-112 Cheshire Street
58-59 Marlborough Street

( i didn't manage to find the areas for these two)



Thanks in advantage

 

[travis_nw8]

streetsensation.com lists most of the shopping streets (throughout london)- with pics

 

[justlooking]

which of these aren't worth going to? top three?

Matches
The Cross
A La Mode
Koh Samui
Paradiso
Ross and Bute
Mimi
Coco Ribbon
Dover STreet Market --- having gone through the thread am definately going here
Rellik
selfridges- am reconsidering after reading the opinions but we don't have massive department stores with big designer range in Australia so it would be good... **Is it like Macy's in the US-- cause i thought that was terrible!!

 

[zeldathewitch]

which of these aren't worth going to? top three?

it depends what you're looking for exactly? i'd personally skip ross & bute, matches, & coco ribbon - while all three have well-edited designer ranges, i wouldn't think they were particularly special.

i'd definitely go to dover street market, rellik & maybe the cross, if i had to pick from the list above - otherwise, go to liberty.

 

[aris]

I get lots of advise to go to Liberty. Never been there, what is it like?
why is it better than Harrods or Harvey nichols?
When I go to London I have very limited time to shop - like 2-3 hours the most. I saw that Liberty is just 2 min from my hotel.
Which one would you recomend for oone stop shopping?

 

[Kate_Moore]

Hello!
I'm flying to Ldn by August and I want to find the Minnetonka's, do you know where I can find them the cheapest? TIA

 

[chanelnumber5]

Hey, I wondered which were the best markets for clothing, accessories etc and which days they are open. Portobello sounds great, but is it only open on Saturdays? Also is Spitalfields worth a visit?

Another question: Is Carnaby Street and the SoHo area any good for shopping?

 

[Kate_Moore]

^Want to know that too.
And, is there any place in Sales?

 

[chanelnumber5]

Hey, I wondered which were the best markets for clothing, accessories etc and which days they are open. Portobello sounds great, but is it only open on Saturdays? Also is Spitalfields worth a visit?

OK, I've just found the answers to this online. But does anyone have any thoughts on Carnaby Street/SoHo?

 

[just_me]

I would go to Liberty such a great atmosphere.

 

[leyla m.]

i would leave out coco ribbon, a la mode (very boring), ross and bute (?)
selfridges is nothing like macys. it is very high end and i dont think there is a dept store like it in the US. its young and fresh for most part of it.
but my fae is still harvey nichols!