The following are some of the top shopping-related commercial areas in London, where eager shoppers can find both designer and bargain-bin items.
Oxford Street is one of the busiest and largest markets in London. With more than three hundred shops that consist of chic designer outlets as well as landmark stores, Oxford Street is widely considered to be the heart of shopping in London. A veritable haven of shopping, the street is home to a wide variety of famous stores like John Lewis, Selfridges and Debenhams.
Vying for a similar status as Oxford Street is the elegant Regent Street, which offers an impressive range of mid-priced fashion outlets as well as some of London's most historic and renowned stores, such as The Apple, Liberty and Hamleys. Numerous stores also scattered along another historic shopping location referred to as Jermy Street, which is particularly well-known for being the go-to destination for men's clothing. Noteworthy stores here include Benson & Clegg as well and John Lobb.
Then there's Notting Hill, now infamous for being the namesake of a popular romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. The area is the place to go for those with more discerning tastes. This includes people interested in more unique items like vintage clothing, books, rare antiques and organic food.
Those looking for more high-street fashion can go to Canada Square, which boasts over two hundred shops that include all up-scale clothing vendors like Gucci, Versace and Zara. There is also King's Road, which is home to trendy boutiques and designer shops as well as cafes and restaurants. King's Road also has many interior design outlets by prominent designers like Catch Kidston and Peter Jones, along with Heal's and Habitat. One of the landmarks of King's Road is Vivienne Westwood's shops, which has been hailed as the progenitor of punk in the 1970s.
Lastly, there is Savile Row, which is the one-stop destination for those who want such niche items as tailor-made suits.
All of these areas are easily accessible via train and taxi. Between these places, and countless others, there are few things that shoppers will not find in London.
Do you like shopping in London? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.
Photo Credits (Flickr Creative Commons): Oxford Street by markhillary/ Regent Street by Magnus D/ Notting Hill by graziano88/ King's Road by martinvarsavsky