LONDON WEEKEND BREAKS - Stores and Boutiques

With internationally famous stores like Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, London has a central shopping district to rival those of Paris and New York. In fact when it comes to variety and choice, London probably beats them both, and by some margin. London has everything from street side markets to the worlds largest toy shop (Hamleys), along with all that the would be shop-a-holic, or casual window shopper, is every likely to want.

London weekend breaks offer great opportunities to do some unique shopping and to purchase some unusual products or gifts. Indeed, the winter period leading up to Christmas sees many weekend breaks centred solely around retail therapy.

London is also known the world over for its expensive boutiques, people watching cafes and yuppie wine bars. All of this adds to the mystique of a weekend break in London and means that, even if you tire of sightseeing, you can always fall-back on London's shop-till-you-drop culture.

London's shopping districts

It is impractical to produce a list of every shop, store and boutique in London, but it is possible to divide London up into a number of main shopping districts. This can be useful because each of these districts has an association or historic reputation for specialising in certain niche products or areas of the retail market. So, here is the London weekend breakers guide London's main shopping districts.

Oxford Street and Knightsbridge

These two areas feature nearly all of the big department stores and flagship stores of the UK's national high street retailers and they number, Harrods, M & S, Harvey Nichols and Debenhams.

Piccadilly

Flag shipped by Savile Row, Piccadilly is best known as the home of bespoke men's tailoring. You can of course buy ready to wear off-the-peg garments, but it is the traditional hand cut gentlemen's suit that most visit Savile Row for. These days many low price fashion retailers also compete in this area, so there is something for everyone.

Hatton Garden and New Bond Street

Throughout the years Hatton Garden and New Bond Street have gained a strong reputation for selling watches and Jewellery. These districts cater for buyers at the budget and top-end price ranges and offer unbeatable variety and choice. They are worth looking at if you have a jewellery purchase in mind.

Sloane Street and both Bond Street (New and Old)

With a world wide reputation for top fashions, designer labels and chic boutiques, Sloane Street and both Bond Street offer every designer label and every price tag imaginable. A great place to shop if you can afford to.

Covent Garden and Carnaby Street

The small districts around Covent Garden and Carnaby Street are popular with many of London's boutiques and smaller niche fashion retailers. These boutiques tend to offer fashion at the more affordable end of the price scale and are popular with those wanting style rather than labels and badges. This area also has quite a few book shops close to Covent Garden.

Soho

Soho has a reputation for a number of things and its nightlife and gay scene are strong themes after dark. In the day though, Soho is a good place to source music stores, many of them specialising in different genres and style of music from cutting edge dance to jazz and blues. It is also an interesting area to walk around.

London's main department stores

London does have a number of department stores and specialist shops that are worthy of an individual mention, so here are a few of the better known ones to start you off.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.