Local Information - Shopping

London is famous for it’s top designers cutting edge glamour and some of the best shopping in the world. So if it’s for a cheap outfit or a glamour designer gown London has it all.

Shopping Areas

Oxford Street
As one of the busiest streets in the world, Oxford Street is the perfect place to shop until you drop. The mixture of chain stores and cut-price shops run for two miles from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch. Selfridges is the largest and best-stocked department store on the street, which also boasts John Lewis, Debenhams, DH Evans and Marks & Spencer.

Just off Oxford street at Oxford Circus is Carnaby Street which is enjoying a revival thanks to designers' current obsession with the sixties.

• For more information on shops and opening times on Oxford Street click here

Regent Street
Visitors are drawn by the world’s most desirable brand names, the contemporary elegance of the shops, the sweeping grandeur of the architecture all blending seamlessly to create a unique destination for taking time out, day or night. All join the community to enjoy the busy stores, the stylish restaurants, the buzzing cafés, the distinctive ambience where the metropolitan meets the cosmopolitan in Regent Street.

Regent Street boasts world famous stores like Hamley’s Toy store, Hawes & Curtis, Burberry and Apples original London store. It also contains store you wouldn't expect on the ordinary high street like the new Farrari store and the National Geographic store and café.

• For more information click here

Bond Street
London’s famous Bond Street is revered throughout the world for its wealth of elegant stores, exclusive brands, designer fashion, luxury goods, fine jewels, art and antiques. Set in the heart of Mayfair, Bond Street is a landmark for all things sophisticated.

Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a cosmopolitan byword for wealth, taste and discernment. Home to such world famous stores as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Bonham’s the auctioneers.

Markets

Portobello Road
Less than 5 minutes by taxi from The Darlington Hyde Park Hotel - Portobello Road is the world's largest antiques market, with over 1500 dealers selling every kind of antique and collectable. The market is open every Saturday, while the shops are open six days a week.

Market days start gradually from around 5.30am with trading between dealers from the UK and overseas. Most stall holders have arrived by 8.00am and the market is in full swing for the rest of the day, with collectors and visitors from all over the world.

The shops and stalls of Portobello Road offer an extraordinary variety of goods ranging in price from a few pounds to several thousands. Visitors come from all over the world because they know that in Portobello Road they will find the most extensive selection of antiques in Britain.

• Click here to visit the official web site for Portobello Road Antiques Market.

Camden Market
A short taxi or tube ride away is the bustling Camden Market which has been fascinating tourists and locals since the early seventies. Camden "Market" is actually a collection of five markets as well as a vast range of shops and stalls along the main Camden High Street.

There is something for everyone there from vintage and alternative fashions, to exotic furnishings, jewellery and 20th century antiques.

The main action is centered around the weekend, though there is still much to see on a mid-week visit. The shops and stalls start at a leisurely pace around 10am and carry on till around 6pm, though some may stay open longer.

And when you are weary of shopping there are plenty of bars and restaurants to watch the world go by.

• Click here to visit the offical web site for The Camden Market

Borough Market
One of London's oldest fresh produce market, established in 1756 the capital relied on the market for its supplies. Once know as London's Larder its wholesale trade has been opened to the public. Open from 12-6pm on Fridays and 9-4pm on Saturdays.

Situated on the south bank of the Thames by London Bridge station, its 4.5 acre site houses a vast array of organic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats and seafood as well as an assortment of exotic foods.

All the stalls are run by the farmers who produce the food and give a real flavour of country life.

As you would expect this is a great place to grab a bite to eat either from one of the stalls or from surrounding restaurants such as Fish!.

Avid film goers might also recognise Borough Market and its surroundings as the setting for the recent Bridget Jones film.

• Click here to visit the official web site for Borough Market

Old Spitalfield Market
Trading since 1887 Spitalfield market is one of London’s finest Victorian market halls set in an historic location in the heart of the City and one of the crown jewels of East London. You can dine in style, browse through the antique market, buy unique designer clothes and relax with a glass of fine wine watching the hustle and bustle of the City pass you by. Easy to find, Old Spitalfield Market is a short walk from both Liverpool Street and Aldgate East stations, Sundays are the busiest day for people to look for that all important bargain, and an Antiques market every Thursday.

• For more information click here

Shopping Centers

Westfield
Just 20min by bus or 10 minutes by underground from the Darlington Hyde Park, Westfield one of the largest in-town shopping destination in Europe.

With a distinctive mix and match of designer and high street labels, Westfield London offers the ultimate shopping experience. Under one stunning roof, Westfield has more than 300 shops so there is something for everyone.

• For more information click here

Brent Cross
Brent Cross was built in 1976 and was the first large enclosed shopping center to be built in the UK. With more than 120 stores and cafes many of the original retailers are still in the center. John Lewis, Fenwick, Marks & Spencer, Boots, WHSmith, Dixons, Mothercare, and Russell & Bromley are just some of the shops which have been at Brent Cross throughout. These have been joined by HMV, PC World, Bannana Republic Miss Selfridge, River Island, Apple and Sony.

• For more information click here