Dr Johnson remarked, ''...When a man tires of London, he tires of life. For there is in London all that man can afford.'' This dictum certainly applies to shopping for London has a incredible array of shopping facilities ranging from fashionable international designers and up market stores in Bond Street to very colourful stalls in the Portobello Road and Petticoat Lane.It is also one of the world's great places to buy antiques.
In this city you can buy a wide range of goods from fashion to furnishings, prints to paintings, Chinese vases, Irish linen, and second-hand clothing.
Ideally, whether you are on your first or fifteenth visit to London, you should set aside several days for browsing and comparing prices. With the appreciating value of the British pound and inflation in Britain, London is no bargain. However, if you shop around, London town, can still provide good value , you just have to make a determined effort to find it.
^^^^Knightsbridge and Kensington
Shopping is marvellous. This is the home of Harrods which some claim is the hub of the retailing universe. Shopping in Harrods is hedonism: the variety of goods on offer is mind-boggling and the setting and presentation so elaborate.
The cognoscenti may still go to Paris for high fashion, to Italy for leather, but they go to London for knitwear. The capricious weather has made the British experts in all things warm and wearable as a trip to the Scotch House, nearby Harrods in Brompton Road, would very soon demonstrate. The place is famous for its Cashmere and lambswool knitwear, kilts and a large selection of tartans.
Harvey Nichols is a first rate store and a good place to search out designer clothing. There is restaurant if you are in need of a good meal.,you will find it on the 5 th floor.
^^^Haymarket and St. James's
The King and Court shifted to St. James's Palace in 1691 when fire destroyed the Palace of Wesminster and soon high society joined the monarch, living in grand stately houses along Pall Mall. Three hundred years later St.James's still has a regal look about it and many stores proudly display the Royal Arms signifying that they supply the Royal Family.
In St.James's Street itself you cannot miss James Lock & Co, who have reputedly occupied premises there since 1676. Here you can buy English bowler hats, sporting hats, caps or sift through their antique collection. At no 29 D.R Harris specialize in traditional men's soaps, bathing and shaving products for famous customers.
Cigar and smokers accessories for the oppulent smoker can be found at Davidoff at No 35 St.James's Street. Round the corner there are the luxury shops of Jermyn Street of which one of the most famous is Turnbull and Asser Ltd. They have been royal shirtmakers for a 100 years, with what many regard as the finest selection of men's shirting fabrics in the world they are truly dedicated stylists for the discerning male. Another smart gentlemens outfitters and shirtmakers, TM Lewin and sons, is located at 106 Jermyn Street.
At nearby Duke Street there is Alfred Dunhills Ltd. The elegant showroom offers the visitor a wide selection of gifts that make it one of the world's leading names in masculine personal luxury.
At the other end of Jermyn Street is the Haymarket at one time it enjoyed fame on account of its inns and ''houses of entertainment''. It still has cinemas and several theatres such as the Theatre Royal and Her Majesty's and also Burberrys at No 18. Here there is an range of English classic clothes but the unsung sartorial hero of numerous ''Gumshoe'' movies the famous Burberry raincoat will set you back a lot more today than Sam Spade paid. Still in the Haymarket look out for the Design Center, where you can find top quality British made goods which represent the pinnacle of combined value, aesthetics and functional appeal.
^^^^Regent Street, designed by John Nash, runs perpendicular to Oxford Street and joins it at Oxford Circus. It is home for two renowned jewellers, Mappin&Webb, holders of two Royal Warrants, sell a wide range of jewellery, silverware and wrist watches including brands such as Cartier and Rolex.
Closer to Piccadilly Circus you'll find Garrard, Crown Jewellers since 1843. A comprehensive range of jewellery is on display including watches such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Ebel and Jaeger Le Coultre, to mention but a few.
Elegant ladies and menswear can be bought at Aquascutum, 100 Regent Street, whilst modern fashions and soft furnishings are obtainable at the Laura Ashley store. Jaeger is the home of the much emulated and admired British Casual look and in Regent Street you will also come across Hamley's the best known toy shops in the world is located at 188 Regent Street whilst Austin Reed the tailors is at No 103 Regent Street.
^^^^ Mayfair
Oxford Street is the main drag in London . In London's busiest shopping street and chain store capital you will find famous names and department stores. John Lewis is known throughout London for its fabrics collection, rivalling many specialist stores, Debenhams is good for fashions, kitchen accessories, linens and home furnishings whilst DH Evans have an extensive range of fashions and furnishings. Selfridges ,founded by an American, is one of London's biggest , best stocked and most famous stores and renowned for their fashions, crystalware, perfumery and luggage. Multiples such as Boots, C+A, Dixons, Mothercare and Marks and Spencer are all represented in Oxford Street.
In Bond Street are specialized art dealers such as Thomas Agnew & Sons, jewellers like Asprey, at 165 New Bond Street, where service and style are immaculate, and international designers such as Chanel, Calvin Klein, , Cartier, Gucci and Kurt Geiger. In Old Bond Street, there is Charbonnel et Walker, a small shop dispensing delicious and pretilly boxed chocolates and Rayne, the ladies shoe shop.
Neighboring South Audley street houses Thomas Goode, one of the most prestigious China shop's in town, in Savile Row, there are courturiers like Hardy Amies and tailors such as Gieves and Hawkes and Huntsman. Zandra Rhodes is located in Grafton Street whilst in South Moulton Street there is a branch of Benetton with Italian knitwear, and great fashion for women at Browns, which is brimming over with top designer names.
