Department Stores in London
John Lewis: http://www.johnlewis.com
John Lewis is a London institution and the place to go for all your household needs. Towels, bedding, kitchenware, electrical appliances and home & garden items are some of the things you will find at John Lewis. Perfumes, clothing and accessories are also for sale, as is sporting gear. The flagship shop on Oxford Street is most popular. Prices are moderate.
Selfridges: http://www.selfridges.com
Another London institution, Selfridges is a relatively upscale outlet. Selfrdiges is massive and it’s easy to get lost in the Bond Street shop. Mens and womens clothing, footwear, housewares, food, cosmetics and much much more can be found at Selfridges. In fact, many people make a whole day out of strolling around the shop. Stop into one of Selfridges wine or coffee bars for a stylish and tasty refreshment. Prices are moderate to high.
Marks & Spencer: http://www.marksandspencer.com
M&S has basic fashions and lots of food. Glassware and flowers can also be found at this popular stop. The lingerie department is a household favorite and you can find high quality socks at M&S. Branches are around the capital. Prices are low to moderate for clothes and moderate to high for food. Prices for ready-made foods are high.
Harvey Nichols: http://www.harveynichols.com
‘Harvey Nicks,’ as the ladies from Absolutely Fabulous always referred to the shop as, is an expensive and trendy luxury shop where you either go to shop or to see and be seen. Luxury handbags, clothing and cosmetics are available but it’s not the place to seek a bargain. Some of the brands Harvey Nichols carries are Armani, Duchamp, Diesel, Paul Smith, Chanel, Juicy Couture and Marc Jacobs, amongst hundreds of others. Up-and-coming designers also showcase their brands at Harvey Nichols. The main London branch is in Chelsea.
Liberty: http://www.liberty.co.uk
Liberty is an upscale, sophisticated retailer with an exceptional cosmetics counter. Accessories like scarves and handbags are also good things to purchase from Liberty. Prices are high.
TK Maxx: http://www.tkmaxx.com
TK Maxx is the place to find all your designer gear for half the price, or maybe less! This shop has everything from ladies dresses and jeans to shoes and handbags. Housewares can also be found. The shop has hundreds of brands. Many of the styles are from last season but by no means out of style. As a result, TK Maxx is often crowded to the max so be prepared to wait in line. The self-serve shoe area is always promising and you don’t have to wait to be served to find the footwear you need. The branch in Hammersmith is one of the best stores in the country. Prices are low.
Fortnum & Mason: http://www.fortnumandmason.com Located on Picadilly. Known as the green-grocer to the Queen. Fortnum & Mason food hall on the store ground floor is magnificent. Light lunch or tea at their house restaurant : St James’ will only be light to digest but the bill might be a little on the heavy side However, this is a real slice of London.
Harrods: http://www.harrods.com Knightsbridge tube station, a fabulous place to visit, just don’t expect to be able to afford anything at all, unless you’re fabulously wealthy, but it costs nothing to experience this huge department store.
Shopping Centres
Here is a directory of most shopping centres in London http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1250.php
In the north: Brent Cross, http://www.brentcross.co.uk, Hendon central tube station, has 120 shops which will definitely retail what you are looking for.
In the south, Surrey Quays Shopping Center is a rather airy place with large indoors streets and a good car park to get there. Take the Jubilee line to Canada Water. For more information visit : http://www.surreyquaysshoppingcentre.co.uk
In the east, Canary Wharf Shopping Center http://www.canarywharf.com/ is a clean, conventional, all under one roof shopping experience. 200 shops, bars and restaurants!
In the west, Westfield London http://uk.westfield.com/london/ the newest shopping centre in London. Full of all the big name brands along with plenty of entertainment
Outside London: Blue Water – is the third largest shopping center in the UK that ranks in the top 10 in Europe. This is the ultimate “shop until you drop” experience. Though served by a few buses from London, this is a place to go by car. It’s built on the site of an old quarry and driving into the 13,000 spaces car park is only the beginning…http://www.bluewater.co.uk.
