Best London shopping streets & shops that tourists love

Wondering where to shop in London? Here are 11 famous must-visit shopping experiences that attract tourists from around the world.

By Annie André ⦿ updated January 10, 2024  
Waterstones-book-store-piccadilly-shopping-uk
Waterstones-book-store-piccadilly-shopping-uk

Whether you want to flex your credit card or do a little window shopping, London is a shopper’s paradise. I’ve put together a list of 11 famous must-visit London shopping experiences that attract tourists from around the world. I’ve also included a map for each location.

London shopping

Recognized internationally as one of the world’s most important fashion capitals,London is jam-packed with designer shops, luxury department stores, exclusive shopping streets and famous markets.

11 London shopping streets that are also tourist attractions

 

1) New Bond Street

For Luxury shopping that rivals Paris

New-Bond Street-shopping destinations

New Bond Street is an 800-metre long street in London which links Piccadilly to the famous Oxford Street.

It’s where the rich and famous with expensive and extravagant taste clamour to find a concentration of sophisticated designer shops like Burberry and Hermes, exclusive jewellers like Cartier and Tiffany and high-end art like the kind found at Halcyon Galleries. The infamous Sotheby’s auction house is also located on New Bond Street. (According to Westminster City Council, Bond Street has the highest density of haute couture stores anywhere in the world. )

In 2017, New Bond Street stole the first-place prize from the Champs Elysées in Paris as the most expensive and sought-after strip of real estate for retailers in Europe. Rents average $1,179 USD per square foot per year on New Bond Street.

You might be interested in reading: 18 of France’s most popular shopping streets for Shopaholics.[

Even if you can’t afford it, it’s worth a trip to do a little window shopping. 

2) Fortnum & Mason ( Luxury fine foods)

Fortnum-n-Mason-shopping-destination-UK

Known as the best grocery store in England and the official grocer to the royal family for over a century, Fortnum & Mason or Fortnum’s, as it’s known in the UK, was founded in 1707 as a small grocery store selling quality and exotic foods.

During the Victorian era, it grew and expanded to include homeware, beauty products, clothing and accessories to become what some people say is the world’s first department store.

The Fortnum logo and iconic turquoise packaging are known by everyone in the UK and are somewhat of a status symbol.

Be sure to check out their hampers, which are some of the best in the world and their impressive tea selection.

Located at 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London

3) Harrods (the largest department store in the UK)

Harrods--shopping-destination-UK

Charles Henry Harrod founded Harrods in 1849 as a humble grocery store, much like Fortnum & Mason.

Today, Harrods is the largest department store in the UK and represents the height of British luxury.

The store’s motto is “Omnia Omnibus Ubique,” which is Latin for “All things for all people, everywhere,” and it delivers on its promise by providing everything a shopper could ever want, thanks in part to its size…

As the largest, most well-known department store in the UK, Harrods boasts over 1 million square feet of retail space spread over 7 floors and over 330 departments that showcase the best luxury merchandise, from high-end fashion and accessories to the finest homewares and latest technology. There is an acclaimed food hall with nearly 30 restaurants, a toy kingdom for the kids, an Ice cream parlour, a donut shop and more.

Wealthy Egyptian-born Al Fayad, who once owned Harrods, put many of his own personal touches into the building, such as the Egyptian elevator and glittering Egyptian room adorned with several busts of himself. Following the death of Mr. Al Fayad’s son Dodi and Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris, he also created a memorial to the couple in the store.

Plan on spending the whole day and braving the overwhelming crowds of people.

Located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London

4) Selfridges (luxury department store)

The inventor of the modern window displays

Selfridges-window-displays

Founded in 1908 by Harry Gordon Selfridge, Selfridges’ flagship store located on the famous Oxford Street is another high-end department store in London—the second largest department store in the UK after Harrods.

If you’ve ever caught an episode of the TV drama Mr. Selfridge (which I love), you know all about how this American-born businessman revolutionized British shopping and invented intricate and artistic window displays that all department stores now have adopted.

Located at 400 Oxford St, Marylebone, London

5. Liberty (Tudor-style luxury department store)

Liberty-London-shopping-destination-UK

Liberty department store, founded in 1875 by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, is one of London’s most traditional-looking department stores—done in the mock Tudor style, also known as half-timbered or “colombage” in French.

When it originally opened, it sold ornaments, fabric and art objects from Japan and the East. Today, Liberty sells luxury goods, including men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, cosmetics and fragrances, jewellery, accessories, homeware, furniture, stationery and gifts.

Located at Great Marlborough Street in the West End of London.

6. Harvey Nichols (Princess Diane used to shop here)

Harvey-Nichols-department-store-shopping-london-uk

Founded in 1831 by Benjamin Harvey, Harvey Nicols was originally opened as a linen shop but expanded over the years to become an upscale department store.

Located just a few blocks from Harrods, some might say that Harvey Nichols is the younger, more fashionable version of the two.

Princess Diana often frequented the 5th-floor restaurant.

Located at 109-125 Knightsbridge, Belgravia, London

7. Mount Street (Luxury shopping street)

Mount Street-shopping in London UK

Not to be missed when visiting London is Mount Street in London’s affluent Mayfair district.

The street is an aspiring mix of old-world charm and 21st-century niche, luxury, beauty, fashion, art, antiques and exclusive restaurants. It gives Bond Street a run for London’s luxury retail supremacy.

Prestigious brands that call Mount Street home include Balenciaga London, Lanvin Ladies Boutique, Goyard, Moynat, Marc Jacobs,  Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Webster (jeweller shop), and niche retailers like antique and cigar shops. There’s even a Porsche showroom.

Located at Mount Street in London

8. Saville Row (a street lined with stores for finely tailored suits)

Savile Row-street-bespoke-tailoring-london-UK

If you’re interested in getting something tailored, then head over to Saville Row. A short little street that has become synonymous with good tailoring.

Henry Poole & Co., who is credited as being the founder of Saville Row and its reputation as THE PLACE FOR BESPOKE TAILORING, is also credited with creating the modern Tuxedo in 1864. The shop still exists at No.15!

Bespoke tailoring: clothing cut from a pattern drafted from scratch for the customer. Think of bespoke tailoring as the opposite of off-the-rack ready-to-wear suits.

In 2018, the website GQ British featured the article “Savile Row tailors: the GQ Guide,” which called “London the menswear’s global capital with Savile Row being the most important street in that world because it creates the best suits in this world.”

The street is so legendary for the quality of its tailoring that the Japanese word for a three-piece business suit is “Sabiro,” which is a Japanified way of saying “Savile Row.”

Located at Savile Row, Mayfair, London

9. Waterstones at Picadilly (For Book Lovers)

Waterstones-book-store-piccadilly-shopping-uk

Waterstones is a British book retailer with over 200 retail outlets. The Waterstones flagship building at Piccadilly is the store to visit, though.

Be prepared to spend the whole day here because the book selection can’t be beaten, and the location is huge. It’s literally an 8 story department store of books —the largest bookstore in Europe.

There are comfortable sofas, an excellent restaurant & café on the 5th floor open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can even enjoy a glass of wine and settle down with a good book.

Located at 203-206 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London

10. Hamley’s (For Toy store Lovers)

Hamleys-Toy-Store-Regent-St-London-UK

If there were a paradise on earth for kids, it would probably be Hamley’s—the oldest, largest and best-known toy shop in the world. This place makes Toys R Us look like a dump.

Set over 7 floors; it’s considered one of the cities’ top tourist attractions. Entering the store, you will be amazed. There is so much going on on every floor.

There are wonderful toy displays and live toy demonstrations by the staff renowned for their fun, friendly demeanour. There are also themed areas like the Harry Potter-themed area on the lower floor.

What else would you expect from the best toy shop in the world!!

Get there early; the shop fills up fast. And be prepared to spend a lot of money. Most travellers complain that this store is extremely expensive.

Located at 188-196 Regent St, Soho, London

11. Borough Market (Covered outdoor Food Market)

Borough-market-londons-best

This bustling covered market located next to London Bridge is London’s most renowned and oldest food market, dating back to the 12th century.

A visit to the market is like taking a culinary trip around the world, with its fascinating maze of stands, stalls and carts selling anything and everything from all four corners of the earth. From Spanish Tapas and spicy Thai Curry to favourite local dishes, you can’t go wrong here.

There is no smoking allowed, and no dogs are allowed, except for seeing-eye dogs.

Hours of Operation: Open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. On Fridays, the shops close at 6 pm.  (closed on public holidays). On Monday and Tuesday, not all of the traders are present, but still plenty of choices.

Located at 8 Southwark Street, London

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Annie André

Annie André

About the author

I'm Annie André, a bilingual North American with Thai and French Canadian roots. I've lived in France since 2011. When I'm not eating cheese, drinking wine or hanging out with my husband and children, I write articles on my personal blog annieandre.com for intellectually curious people interested in all things France: Life in France, travel to France, French culture, French language, travel and more.

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