London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [180]
A. Gold.
All the foodstuffs sold in this Dickensian-looking shop, occupying an old milliner’s premises near Spitalfields Market, are sourced from or grown in the United Kingdom. A bottle of mead, a jar of English wildflower honey, or Somerset brandy are all great Brit gifts. Stylish gift baskets and old-fashioned picnic hampers are available. | 42 Brushfield St., East End | E1 6AG | 020/7247–2487 | Liverpool St.
Geo. F. Trumper.
If you don’t have time for their old-fashioned hot towel shave, pick up some accessories to take home for yourself or as a gift. The Extract of West Indian Lime is a popular, zingy aftershave, or pick up a Coconut Oil Hard Shaving Soap, which comes in a hand-turned wooden bowl. There is also a store at 9 Curzon Street in Mayfair. | 1 Duke of York St., St. James’s | SW1Y 6HP | 020/7734–1370 | www.trumpers.com | Closed Sun. | Piccadilly Circus.
Labour & Wait.
Although household items like colanders and clothespins may not sound like ideal souvenirs, this shop may make you reconsider. The owners are on a mission to revive functional, old-fashioned British goods, such as enamel kitchenware, “Brown Betty” glazed teapots, Guernsey sweaters, and vintage Welsh blankets. | 85 Redchurch St., East End | E2 7DJ | 020/7729–6253 | Closed Sun. | Shoreditch High St.
Shelf.
Near Labour & Wait, this gift shop, run by an artist and designer, sells stationery, books, small household items, and original artworks and oddities made in London and Europe. | 40 Cheshire St., East End | E2 6EH | 020/7739–9444 | By appointment only Mon.–Thurs. | Aldgate East, Liverpool St.
LONDON SHOPPING STEALS AND DEALS
Although London has never been known as a budget-shopping destination, when the pound is strong, prices can seem stratospheric. No matter what currency you are using, there are still bargains to be had, as long as you know where, and when, to look. To get the maximum mileage out of your cash, visit during the widespread biannual sales, which kick off in late June and just after Christmas, and last about a month. For the best choices and biggest discounts, head to a department store such as Selfridges.
Fashion insiders attend the many sales held throughout the year, from big warehouse clearances, such as the Designer Warehouse Sales (www.designerwarehousesales.com) and Designer Sales UK (www.designersales.co.uk), to individual designers’ sample sales—check out | www.fashionconfidential.co.uk or | www.dailycandy.com/london for information, and to register for updates. London outlets, such as Browns Labels for Less, Paul Smith Sale Shop, and the Joseph Sale Shop on the King’s Road, offer year-round designer bargains. If time permits, travel outside London to Bicester Village (www.bicestervillage.com), a luxury outlet mall in Oxfordshire. It’s completely worth the nearly one-hour train journey, if only for the opportunity to score an item from such highly coveted British brands as Alexander McQueen, Temperley, Mulberry, and Thomas Pink.
If you’re not fussy about labels, there are even more choices. Primark (499 Oxford St., Soho | W1K 7DA | 020/7495–0420 | Marble Arch) is fantastic for low-cost, high-fashion clothing. The huge, two-story Oxford Street flagship is the best place to shop, although keep in mind you get what you pay for; some of the fabrics and finishes betray their low prices. You may think having a suit custom-made in the city famous for its tailoring traditions is beyond your means, but there are less costly options away from hallowed Savile Row. Contemporary tailors Pokit (132 Wardour Street., Soho | W1F 8ZW | 020/7434–2875 | www.pokit.co.uk | Closed Sun. | Tottenham Court Road) offer sharp but comfortable made-to-measure suits for men and women from just £500. And if your budget is tighter, you can score a secondhand Savile Row suit at Old Hat ().
VINTAGE LONDON
The trend for vintage clothing on both sides of the Atlantic shows no sign of letting up, and the British, with their love of theatrical style, have embraced