Looking for the best places to go shopping in London and the West End? View our selection of the best brands on each of these iconic destinations.
The West End is as synonymous with shopping as it is with theatre. The world’s high street, millions of locals and tourists visit every year to treat themselves to their favourite fashion, jewellery, watch, and beauty brands with new names winning space on these well-loved streets every year. For overseas visitors, it is a chance to shop tax free and pick up a great deal while you’re in the UK, and for the many who come from around the country this is a chance to shop labels not available in your hometown or explore the enormous flagship stores. London locals benefit from having it all on their doorstep, and is the go-to spot in the city to find everything you need, and everything you didn’t know you needed.
Luxury and high street sit side by side, with the very best of British retail to be found on Oxford Street and Regent Street, while Bond Street boasts some of the most coveted designer labels on one of the most expensive stretches of retail in the world, while Mount Street mixes up-and-coming independent designers with exclusive international names. Famous for its department stores such as Selfridges, Liberty, and Fortnum and Mason too, they add a unique character to the West End and have become tourist attractions in their own right that you won’t want to miss out on. If you’re looking for something more specialist you’ll find the best men’s tailors on the famous Savile Row, shirtmakers on Jermyn Street, and one-off beauty boutiques in Covent Garden.
If you thought it was just about filling your shopping bags with beautiful things, you’d be wrong. In the West End, shopping is about enjoying yourself, receiving a premium service and being treated as a valued customer. From private shopping suites and personal shoppers to personalisation services, in-store fashion shows, and special events. There’s plenty more to thrill you than just swiping your credit card, and it’s not just for elite shoppers either.
Oxford Street has over 300 stores of affordable fashion, beauty, homeware and department stores Selfridges, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams.
Regent Street runs adjacent and is known for premium labels like Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Kate Spade.
Bond Street is the West End’s most luxurious shopping street with global fashion houses such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton, world-famous jewellers and auction houses.
Mount Street offers luxury in a village-like setting. Stores include Loewe, Oscar de la Renta, Balenciaga and Christian Louboutin.
Synonymous with gentlemanly style, Jermyn Street is the destination for handmade shirts and shoes while Savile Row is the home of English bespoke tailoring.
The flagship department stores are some of the most notable. Selfridges, on Oxford Street, Fortnum & Mason, on Piccadilly, Liberty, just off Regent Street, and Fenwick Bond Street are some of the most unique experiences in the West End.
High Street favourite Zara has a four-floor flagship at 61 Oxford Street and Topshop, near Oxford Circus, is one of the biggest fashion stores worldwide. For designer wears, Burberry’s Regent Street flagship is popular.
Tech giants Apple and Microsoft have their flagships on Regent Street and the Leicester Square Lego store regularly attracts a queue.
London’s West End is renowned for being one of the best shopping destinations in Europe. It’s estimated that £9bn is spent here every year.
The unique combination of distinctive historical buildings such as Regent Street’s row of Regency buildings or the Covent Garden market hall, which house modern, global brands is an experience that can’t be replicated.
The number of festivities throughout the year also mean there’s something exciting going on from the Regent Street Summer Streets that offers a fun day of traffic-free shopping, to the Christmas light switch ons, the Pride parade, Record Store Day amd the Lumiere festival of lights to name a few.
London’s West End is glittering with incredible jewellery stores with some notable hubs. For leading names in the world of jewellery, including Harry Winston, Cartier and Tiffany, head to Bond Street. Here you’ll find a premium service and plenty of choice from around 20 jewellery boutiques that also include high-fashion names like Bulgari and Chanel. Make sure you also visit the iconic Asprey of London store, known as “the Queen’s gift shop”, which has occupied the street since 1847.
If you’re looking for something a little bit different, head to Burlington Arcade which has long had a relationship with some of the most respected, yet under-the-radar, names in vintage and modern jewellery and watches. Susannah Lovis, Richard Ogden, Michael Rose, Somlo and Hancocks make up some of the 13 names that squeeze in plenty of sparkle among the arcade’s 196-yard length.
The West End has been a shopping hub since the area was first built upon in the 17th century. Being so close to Buckingham Palace and the mansions of the aristocracy that lined Piccadilly once upon a time (Burlington House, now the Royal Academy, is the only surviving example), it has always been an area for the well-to-do to spend their fortunes.
Some of the earliest shops to start trading in the West End are still in business today. Lock & Co Hatters on St James’s has been on the street since 1676 and is the oldest hat shop in the world. You’ll also find the world’s oldest toy store, Hamleys, which was established in 1760, on Regent Street and the world’s oldest tailor, Ede & Ravenscroft, which has been trading since 1689 on Burlington Gardens.
We have hand picked a selection of luxury hotels that are ideally located near to the most famous shopping streets in London’s West End. Make your London shopping trip extra special by booking into one of these beautiful five star hotels in the heart of the capital.
