Shopping in London: 6 of the capital's best retail therapy spots

You have to agree with the late fashion icon: no place in the world is quite like the English capital – and this is even more true when it comes to shopping in London. The city’s many trendy neighbourhoods are full of character and form a veritable shopping paradise where you’ll come across new trends and surprising up-and-coming labels. But every district has its own vibe, and not every shopper has the same interests. Famous high streets with well-known brands and magnificent luxury department stores, owner-run boutiques and picture-perfect vintage shops, colourful street markets, concept stores and pop-up shops – the choice is vast, but one thing is certain: in London, everyone can find their perfect shopping destination.

When you think of Notting Hill, colourful façades and chic Victorian or Italianate villas immediately spring to mind thanks to the area having served as a film set so many times. At the heart of Notting Hill lies Portobello Road, which runs right through the entire neighbourhood and is best known for its namesake Portobello Market – a magnet for antique dealers and collectors for many decades. As you stroll past the vibrant shops and market stalls, keep your eyes peeled for special vintage treasures and souvenirs.

Don’t forget to meander into Notting Hill’s smaller side streets after exploring the main market. That’s where you’ll find further hidden gems such as The Notting Hill Bookshop (13 Blenheim Crescent), which specialises in travel literature as well as children’s books and might well remind you of the bookshop from the British romantic comedy “Notting Hill”. At Books for Cooks (4 Blenheim Crescent), you’ll find cookery books galore and can watch the owners recreate various recipes in their test kitchen.
 

The selection of upmarket boutiques and designer shops in the charming townhouses and villas along Westbourne Grove is exclusive and exquisite. Just be aware that a stroll here rarely ends at the shop window! Once you’ve stocked up on new favourites at The Kooples, Weekend Max Mara, Jigsaw, Sézane and other British or international designers, it’s time to refuel – you’ll find plenty of cosy cafés in Notting Hill that are perfect for recharging ahead of further shopping in London adventures.

• Nearest tube stations: Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove

There’s not much left today to remind us that one of London’s most popular destinations started life as a medieval monastery garden. Instead of monks, Covent Garden now bustles with hip city dwellers and savvy visitors. Many are drawn by one of London’s most popular markets, the Covent Garden Market, which welcomes shoppers in a huge market hall at the heart of the trendy neighbourhood. It’s also because a search for the latest fashion trends, handmade jewellery and creative chocolatiers stands a good chance of success here.
 

Hidden away in the cobbled alleyways around the historic market hall, you’ll find quaint pubs, cafés and gourmet restaurants as well as the small indie boutiques of British fashion and jewellery designers. Tucked away in a tiny side street near the medieval crossroads of Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard offers charming cafés for a break from shopping in London, but also the chance to buy delicious cheese from English farms (Neal’s Yard Dairy) or sustainable skincare products (Neal’s Yard Remedies).

• Nearest tube station: Covent Garden

Stretching between Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Regent Street lies one of London’s most vibrant and lively districts: Soho, with its pubs, trendy bars, theatres, clubs and top-tier restaurants. But this popular nightlife area attracts more than party-goers and night owls – for keen shoppers, the first port of call is usually Carnaby Street. Its reputation as the centre of London’s fashion culture in the 1960s has stayed with it to this day; back then, bands such as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles used to hang out there.
 

Today, Carnaby Street is still one of the most popular destinations for shopping in London. Admittedly, the shops mainly stock global brands such as Diesel, Office and Muji, with independent boutiques and concept stores becoming increasingly rare, but if you’re not careful, even a leisurely stroll past the boutiques can quickly turn into a major spending spree!
 

Things get very British at the northern end of this famous shopping street, where you’ll come across an impressive half-timbered building, the interior of which was built using wood from two decommissioned naval warships. This is the long-established Liberty department store, a London architectural icon and home of British luxury brands, the famous Liberty fabrics and perfect souvenirs such as orange marmalade, English teas and fudge in all its variations.

• Nearest tube stations: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road

A shopping trip through Soho can easily be combined with a visit to Oxford Street on the northern edge of Mayfair, where international retail chains, designers and fashion brands all come together. It has been home to one of London’s most renowned luxury department stores since the early 20th century. With its imposing marble columns, Selfridges is somewhat reminiscent of a Greek temple – except that here you can worship all manner of luxury goods – think perfumes, designer or mainstream fashion, stationery, home accessories and toys.
 

In the basement, there’s a tempting food court sure to delight all epicureans. As well as being the perfect place to sample global cuisine while reviewing your purchases after a busy morning shopping in London, you can also pick up first-class culinary souvenirs such as cheese, tea or truffles.
 

In the immediate vicinity, on famous Regent Street – which winds its way from Piccadilly Circus up to Oxford Street and is lined with elegant façades – you can continue your shopping trip in some of London’s oldest and best-known stores. You should definitely plan a stop at Hamleys, which has long enjoyed cult status as one of the oldest and largest toy shops in the world. Across seven floors, amid costumed staff, glittering soap bubbles and brightly coloured toys, you’ll have the chance to rediscover the magic of childhood. The upmarket shopping experience continues a few streets over on Bond Street in upmarket Mayfair; nowhere else in the city will you see so many luxury labels and jewellers lined up side by side – and as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world, it’s not uncommon for a store to close its doors for a single (celebrity) customer.

• Nearest tube stations: Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus

In the 1960s and 1970s, Camden in north London was a bustling hub for the counterculture movement. Today, it’s still a hub for alternative fashion, with a host of goth and emo clothing stores, vintage boutiques, record shops, cafés, pubs and galleries, all found on the ground floors of Victorian townhouses. The area is also home to Camden Market, which, strictly speaking, comprises not just one but several street markets. At stalls lining labyrinthine alleyways, you’ll find everything a shopper desires, from quirky music-inspired fashion – mod, punk and goth – to handmade jewellery and fair-trade crafts, games, books and art – it’s particularly lively at weekends, when the stalls stay open until late in the evening.

• Nearest tube station: Camden Town

For more alternative shops and street markets, head to multicultural Shoreditch to the east of the city. Several decades ago, London’s creative scene discovered this small district north of Tower Bridge. Unique boutiques and second-hand shops, concept stores, galleries, cafés, pubs and bars followed suit, and the area around Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market developed into a trendy, up-and-coming neighbourhood.
 

Every weekend, iconic Brick Lane transforms into a huge street market where you can pick up anything from flamboyant punk outfits to vinyl and jewellery by young designers. Among the unusual trinkets and antiques, you’ll also find spectacular street art, buskers and ethnic street food. Even in week, the area around Brick Lane is a real treasure trove when it comes to shopping in London.
 

In the charming Goodbond design studio at Brick Lane Market, you can browse fantastic art prints, jewellery and soft furnishings for your home. Just round the corner on Bethnal Green Road, Nordic Poetry concept store demonstrates a real flair for vintage designer fashion. The fact that the selection is carefully curated is evident from the designer pieces and one-offs from well-known names such as Vivienne Westwood, Miu Miu, Prada and Gucci.

• Nearest tube station: Shoreditch High Street

It is said that BOXPARK Shoreditch, built in 2011, was the world’s first pop-up mall. Back then, trend-conscious brands, bars and restaurants rented space in stacked shipping containers to showcase their products in a hip atmosphere. It proved so popular that the concept took hold in the long term, and there are now further such venues both in and outside London (including at Camden Market).
 

As this is a pop-up, the range of vendors at BOXPARK is constantly changing, so just let yourself be surprised when you visit. On a leisurely stroll around this unique shopping destination, there’s a chance you’ll come across stores featuring a young design student or artist at the start of their career, making souvenirs something very special.

• Nearest tube stations: Liverpool Street and Old Street

Another reason to head east on your shopping trip through London is Old Spitalfields Market. Housed in a Victorian market hall, it’s one of London’s largest covered vintage and designer markets, where you can browse for arts and crafts, accessories, clothing and second-hand goods – and, with a bit of luck, snap up a bargain.
 

If you’re on the hunt for truly special pieces, do wander on to The Mercantile London, a charming little boutique right next to Old Spitalfields Market where you’ll find an eclectic mix of clothing, jewellery and accessories from established and up-and-coming designers. As is so often the case in the British capital, your shopping can be combined with culinary delights, with global street snacks on offer at food trucks and stalls.

• Nearest tube station: Liverpool Street