Out of town shopping malls may well have started the decline of the traditional British high street over the last few years, and it's easy to see why. However whilst London doesn't offer any of these - it doesn't need to!
London literally has it all. From market stalls to the world's biggest department stores, from inexpensive bric-a-brac to extortionately priced cutting edge fashion from the world's top designers, everyone is catered for by London's many and varied shopping areas.
As convenient as malls are, they don't even scratch the surface of what London is able to offer the shopper in terms of diversity and wherever you are in the city, it's all just a short tube or bus ride away. With the chance of seeing some of the world's most famous landmarks as well, the London shopping experience cannot be beaten.
Oxford Street
Britain's busiest high street and London's best known shopping area is chock-a-block full of the nation's most popular shops - over 300 in fact. Many of the biggest high street names have their flagship stores here and the street also boasts the oldest record shop in the world (HMV at number 363). Also home to the world famous Selfridges department store, Oxford Street is 1 ½ miles of shopping utopia for those that don't mind the experience being a little on the hectic side.
Nearest Tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is the home of classy fashion boutiques and quality department stores - the jewels in the crown being the absolutely fabulous Harvey Nicholls and the world's most famous corner shop, Harrods. Big name fashion designers can be found in Sloane Street and equally chic but smaller outlets at Beauchamp Place.
Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge
Kensington High Street
Kensington offers a bit of everything to those shopping in London. It features all of the well known chain stores, plenty of one-offs, department stores (the main one being Barker's), an array of antique shops (in nearby Kensington Church Street) and numerous restaurants. It's less busy than the West End and certainly a touch classier.
Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington
Regent Street
Regent Street, running the ¾ of a mile between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, certainly provides the most visually elegant shopping experience in London as all the shops conform to the same ornate architectural style. It features department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants and well known high street names and is also home to the world's best known toy store, Hamley's.
Nearest Tubes: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus
Bond Street
If you're looking for a London shopping experience with a touch of class - and you don't mind paying for it - then Bond Street is for you. Full of the biggest designer names including Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Cartier and Tiffany & Co, the street boasts more suppliers to the royal family than anywhere else in London. A world away from the 'every man for themselves' experience of Oxford Street, many stores have their own doormen. The street is also home to the world famous Sotheby's auction house.
Nearest Tube: Bond Street
Tottenham Court Road
If you're shopping in London for electrical items or home furnishings then Tottenham Court Road is well worth a visit. The backstreets of the area offer an array of interesting pubs and specialist shops and nearby Charlotte Street features a wide variety of restaurants.
Nearest Tubes: Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Warren Street
Soho & Chinatown
Soho has cleaned up its act over the years and no longer has the seedy reputation it was once known for. If it's sex shops you're looking for in London, you'll still be well catered for but its reputation nowadays is built just as much on the many cafes, bars and restaurants, all of which make the area an extremely popular attraction 24 hours a day. It's an incredibly diverse area racially and culturally, has a thriving gay community and has also become the media capital over recent years. Soho is busy and untidy but well worth the experience.
Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square
Carnaby Street
London's fashion Mecca of the swinging 60s has today become almost as famous for souvenir shops cashing in on tourists who are drawn to the street by its iconic name, however it is now starting to regain something of a cutting edge reputation, particularly at the southern end of the street. Newburgh Street (which runs across Carnaby Street) features the shops of a number of top designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and John Richmond and nearby Kingly Court has 3 floors of concept shops set around an open courtyard offering items not sold anywhere else in London.
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
King's Road
The road gained a reputation for cutting edge fashion back in the 1960s and 70s which perhaps it doesn't quite have nowadays, however it still features many independent clothes and shoe shops. There are also a number of contemporary furnishing stores and a huge array of bars and restaurants. The large Peter Jones department store is at the Sloane Square end of the road and opposite is the new Duke Of York shopping precinct. The road has always had something of a glamorous reputation and as well as providing a great London shopping experience, is also a top place to go celeb spotting.
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square
Fulham Road
The Fulham Road runs parallel to the King's Road and offers an altogether more laid back London shopping experience. If it's antiques you're after or specialist interior furnishings then you'll be more than ably catered for here.
Nearest Tube: South Kensington
Portobello Road
Notting Hill has become quite a fashionable area of late but long before the film and even the annual carnival - in fact ever since the 18th century - the Portobello Road market has drawn large numbers of visitors. Known predominantly for its antiques, bric-a-brac and collectables, there's also shops and stalls selling everything from fruit and veg to trendy clothing. And if all that shopping makes you thirsty, there's no shortage of pubs for you to choose from.
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Islington
Another area of London that has become fashionable in recent years, Islington has a bit of everything to cater for both its inhabitants and visitors. Upper Street is the area's 'high street' and features all of the familiar chain stores as well as lots of bars and restaurants. Chapel Market offers all of the usual market fare such as fruit and veg, clothes and homeware whilst Camden Passage has some nice antiques shops. Islington is not the obvious London shopping destination, but well worth a look.
Nearest Tube: Angel
Camden Town
If you're after a more bohemian London shopping experience than that offered by Knightsbridge or Bond Street, then get yourself up to Camden. One of the city's coolest areas has a seemingly endless array of shops and stalls selling such items as clothing (new, second hand and retro), customised Doc Martins and trainers, jewellery, bootleg CDs and DVDs and craft ware. Open daily (and very busy at weekends), it's a multi cultural experience with some great little food outlets dotted all over.
Nearest Tube: Camden Town
Covent Garden
Formerly a fruit and vegetable market, 'The Garden' is now a constant and varied hive of activity. It has a hugely diverse selection of shops, eateries, bars, a market selling art, crafts, antiques and souvenirs, historic buildings, theatres, the Royal Opera House and fantastic free entertainment provided by street entertainers and musicians. If you can't find something to capture your interest at Covent Garden then there really is no hope.
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden
Lisa Mills is a freelance writer and is available to write articles for you. Email her Lisamills321 at hotmail dot com. Rock-a-Bye-Baby Gift Boxes is a site offering a baby gift box service.
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