London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [184]
Liberty. In a Tudor-style building, Liberty has an outstanding collection of clothing crafted from its famous prints and furniture, as well as cutting-edge fashion.
Mint. Fans of contemporary furniture and housewares should head to Mint, which showcases the work of both leading and up-and-coming designers.
Portobello Road Market. Whether you are a serious antiques buyer or just want to browse the stalls and people-watch, Portobello Road is London’s most dynamic market.
Rellik. Celebs like Sienna Miller love Rellik for its superb collection of vintage clothing, ranging from classic Dior to Ossie Clark and Vivienne Westwood.
OPENING HOURS
Most shops are open from about 9:30 or 10 am to 6 or 6:30 pm. Some may open at 11 and stay open until 7. Because shop hours, particularly for the smaller shops, are varied, it’s a good idea to phone ahead. Stores that have late shopping—and not all do—are usually open until 7 or 8 pm on Wednesday or Thursday only. Most department stores stay open late during the week. On Sunday, many shops open between 11 am and noon and close at 5 or 6 pm. Most stores are open on Sunday in December for the Christmas season.
A WORD ABOUT SERVICE
American standards of customer service are rare in London—salespeople can seem abrupt or rude, but don’t take it personally.
WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
Locals like to say that Brits and Americans are separated by a common language. Here are a few confusing terms to watch for when out and about in the shops:
Pants means underwear. Every other type of long-legged bottoms (except jeans) are called trousers.
Knickers are ladies’ underwear. If you want pantyhose, ask for tights.
Jumper means sweater—unless it’s a cardigan, in which case it’s often shortened to cardie. If you ask for a sweater, you may be offered a sweatshirt.
Men use braces to hold up their trousers; in England suspenders is another word for garters.
If you want some Adidas- or Nike-type athletic shoes, ask for trainers, not sneakers.
Don’t ask for a pocketbook or a purse if you mean a handbag—the former will be incomprehensible, and the latter will produce a coin purse.
Nightgowns are usually abbreviated to nighties and bathrobes are always dressing gowns.
KNOW YOUR SHOPPING PERSONALITY
“Where is the best place to shop in London?” is an age-old question, akin to “How long is a piece of string?” There are thousands of shops in the city, and dozens of neighborhoods worth shopping in. Start by identifying your shopping personality to narrow your choices for a successful outing.
Whirlwind. If you’re after a one-stop shopping experience, head to one of London’s biggest department stores. Selfridges and Liberty are near the Bond Street and Oxford Circus Tube stations, while Harvey Nichols and Harrods share Knightsbridge Tube.
Fashionista. When only the top designers will do, start at Harvey Nichols, in Knightsbridge, then take in the designer boutiques along Sloane Street before hopping on the Tube for Green Park. From there, peruse New and Old Bond streets, and finish at Fenwick. If you still have time and energy, aim for South Molton Street or St. Christopher’s Place, opposite Bond Street Tube, for more independent boutiques.
Eclectic. If you don’t want to be pinned down and prefer beautiful workmanship and originality, start at Liberty on Regent Street, then head to either the Holland Park/Notting Hill or Marylebone neighborhoods. Both provide enough idiosyncratic lifestyle shops for hours of browsing.
Funky and Avant-Garde. For cutting-edge fashion and housewares, head east to the city’s coolest neighborhoods, chiefly Hoxton and Shoreditch. Start at Columbia Road, and then have a wander around Spitalfields and Brick Lane, which boast excellent markets. Then work your way north to Hoxton and Shoreditch, which are chock-full of less mainstream stores.
Easygoing. If you want to pop in and out of a variety of shops, as well as avoid the crowds around Oxford Street, head to the King’s Road in Chelsea. You’ll