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High Fashion. Gucci Dress |
Lying at the heart of London's West End, Mayfair is bounded by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Hyde Park, cornered by Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park Corner. Bond Street, running though Mayfair from Oxford Street to Piccadilly, is world famous for its select and prestigious mix of High Fashion salons and Jewelry shops, Fine Art Galleries and Auction Houses. You will not find any High Street department store multiples or provision stores here however.
Less well-known but also worth looking at are South Molton Street, Conduit Street, Savile Row, North Audley Street and Brook Street, and those, like Bruton Street, leading into Bond Street itself. For a description of the pleasures of Bond street browsing or serious shopping, see Shophound Alexia's West End Wanderings. Shophound is preparing a detailed resume of the High Fashion Salons of Bond Street in a separate report.
London Transport Tube: Marble Arch, (Central Line); Bond Street, (Central and Jubilee Lines); Oxford Circus, (Central and Bakerloo Lines); Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, (Piccadilly Line). If you can afford to shop or stay in Mayfair you will probably prefer to travel by taxi.
Burberry 21 -23 New Bond Street, W1S 1RJ .
Quintessentially English weatherproofed country clothing for men and women. Celebrating 150 years trading and 51 years holders of The Queen's Royal Warrant.
Fenwick 63 New Bond Street W1S 1RJ.
Exclusive Womenswear store for the well heeled lady.
Shophound's Accommodation Choice
As might be expected, Mayfair abounds with 5-Star hotels. Many, like Claridges and the Connaught, have interesting historical connections. Others like the Dorchester, Grosvenor House and Hilton are blessed with superb views over Park Lane and Hyde Park. All are noted for their fine dining, sophisticated and comfortable cocktail bars and famous clientele. Shophound particularly likes The Fleming Mayfair , 7-12 Half Moon Street, W1., on the south side of Mayfair. It is a firm favourite with Americans who enjoy personal service in the relaxed inimacy of a quiet and elegant Georgian house. It is a moment's walk from Old Bond Street and close to the "Cries of London" charm of old Shepherd Market built about the same time as the hotel on the site of the original May Fair of Stuart times. The Market is now a colourful area of pavement restaurants and boutiques.
Book a Mayfair hotel
Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in England, if not Europe. Running along the northern side of Mayfair from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus and beyond to Tottenham Court Road, it houses a number of big department stores, dominated by Selfridges with its neo-classical frontage, as well as most big-name multiples in its one and a half mile stretch from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road. Not for the faint-hearted during Sales time. The list below is a small sample of what to expect in this busy street.
Normal shopping hours: 10am-6pm, late night Thursday. Sundays 12 - 6pm. Times may vary from store to store.
London Transport Tube: Marble Arch, (Central Line); Bond Street, (Central and Jubilee Lines); Oxford Circus, (Central and Bakerloo Lines); Tottenham Court Road, (Central and Northern Lines).
Evans 538-540 Oxford Street, W1.
Multiple High Street Womenswear store for the larger woman. Online shopping facility.
Wallis 215-217 Oxford Street, London , W1D 2LG.
Multiple High Street Womenswear store. Online shopping facility.
Dorothy Perkins 334-348 Oxford Street, London, W1C 1JG.
Multiple High Street Womenswear store. Particularly good smaller women, pregnant women and young girls. Online shopping facility
Next 201-203 Oxford Street, London , W1D 2LF
Multiple High Street department store. Budget priced style in Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, Home and Electricals. Online shopping facility
Russell & Bromley 395/397 Oxford Street, London W1C 2JY
Multiple High Street Shoe shop. High quality shoes for day, evening and sportswear.
Marks & Spence 458 Oxford Street W1C 1AP.
International Multiple High Street department store. Womenswear, Menswear, Lingerie, Kids, Beauty, Home, Food, Wine. Exclusive fashion labels. Online shopping facility.
Selfridges |
Selfridges 400 Oxford Street W1C 1JS.
One of London's major Department Stores. Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, Beauty, Food Hall. Restaurant. A great shopping experience if you can stand the pace. Highly successful Superbrands area features top Designer labels in women's fashions from Warehouse to Lanvin. Seasonal Catwalk fashion shows and other events. Summer and Winter Sales are a big draw. E-newsletter. A Shophound favourite.
Gap 315-321 Oxford Street, London , W1C 2DZ
International multiple High Street Fashion store appealing to the smart younger set. Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, Babies, Maternity. Online shopping facility. A Shophound favourite.
Body Shop 268 Oxford Street, London , W1C 1DS
The famous international multiple specialist store with Green credentials. Beauty, Fragrances, Aromatherpy etc. Online shopping facility.
Mexx 350-352 Oxford Street, London W1C 1JH
International multiple High Street department store appealing to the smart younger set. Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, Babies, Online shopping facility.
Debenhams 334-348 Oxford Street W1C 1JG.
Long established multiple City Centre department store. Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, Accessories, Electricals. Online shopping facility.
House Of Fraser 318 Oxford Street W1C 1HF.
Multiple High Street department store. Womenswear, Menswear, Beauty, Home, Electricals. Online shopping facility.
John Lewis 278-306 Oxford Street W1C 1DX.
Multiple City Centre department store. Particularly strong on Homeware and furnishings. Online shopping facility.
Topshop 216 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LA.
Multiple High Street Fashion store appealing to the smart younger set. Cutting edge, keenly priced urban couture. Online shopping facility. A Shophound favourite.
HMV 150 Oxford Street, London
The "original" His Master's Voice record shop now cutting it in the 21st century. Music, DVDs, Games Cinema, UMD and comeback retro 45s. Online shopping facility.
Virgin Megastore 14-16 Oxford Street W1D 1AR
Multiple Specialist store. Music, DVDs, Games Cinema, UMD and comeback retro 45s. Online shopping facility. Sir Richard Branson's answer to HMV. Online shopping facility with free UK delivery. Shophound's daughter seems to live in there!
Ann Summers 95 Oxford Street, W1.
Multiple Specialist store. Sexy Lingerie, playwear, clubwear, boudoir accessories, lotions, hen and stag, novelties, videos. Adult. Online shopping facility
Accessorize 293 Oxford Street, London , W1C 2DX
Multiple High Street Lifestyle store. Fashion and Home accessories. Bang up to date with latest trends. Online shopping facility. A Shophound favourite.
Bhs 252-258 Oxford Street W1C 1DL.
Multiple Home and Clothing store. Keen prices. Great for basics like undies, hosiery, etc. In-house Tammy label offers cool clothes for teenage daughters.
Heal's 196 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7LG.
Long established Specialist Furniture and Home store. Online shopping facility.
Shophound's Accommodation Choice
Cumberland Hotel , Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, W1.
If you like the bustle of Oxford Street, the lively Cumberland Hotel with is busy cocktail bar and restaurants is probably just for you. Added comfort and a more relaxed accommodation can be found at the Thistle Marble Arch , Bryanston Street, Marble Arch, W1H 7EH
Regent Street. Credit: Mark, UK Student Life |
Stately Regent Street borders Mayfair on the east, running from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus. Always a popular up-market shopping area, since it first opened in the 1820s, it remains one of the finest thoroughfares in town thanks to the original concept of architect John Nash and provides the dividing line between West End Mayfair and cosmopolitan Soho. A number of top name outfitting stores have their flagship outlets here. Liberty's, the 130 year old department store renowned first for its sumptuous dress and furnishing fabrics sourced from all over the world and later for its influence in promoting the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau Movements will be on every visitor's must see shopping list.
Carnaby Street , icon shopping venue of the Swinging Sixties, (the Beatles had the shop 'Apple' here), is a two minute walk to the east. After a tacky period it is now reinventing itself as a venue for fashionable boutiques and worth a look on your way to lunch in Kingly Street next door or into Soho for lunch at Bertorellis.
London Transport Tube: Oxford Circus, (Central and Bakerloo Lines); Piccadilly Circus, (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines), Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, (Piccadilly Line).
Liberty |
Liberty & Co 210-220 Regent Street W1B 5AH.
One of London's great Department stores. Historically most famous for its cutting edge furnishing and dress fabrics and home accessories, Liberty's maintains a distinctive presence in High Street Fashion with their Designer labels from Martin Grant of Paris, Sonia Rykiel and Madeleine Pauw of Amsterdam . This is backed by a superb Accessories department featuring some 50 labels including Mark Jacobs, Mulberry and Celine, and a Beauty department. A Tea Room and a cafe restaurant provide rest and sustenance for weary shoppers. Online sales facility. A Shophound favourite.
Burberry 157 - 167 Regent Street, W1.
Flagship store selling quintessentially English weatherproofed country clothing for ladies and gentlemen. Celebrating 150 years trading and 51 years holders of The Queen's Royal Warrant.
Jaeger
International multiple City Centre Fashion store. The historic Jaeger label dating back over 150 years epitomizes quietly stated styling and quality in women's and men's clothing, primarily using woolen fabrics.
Shophound's Accommodation Choice
Courthouse Hotel Kempinski , Great Marlborough Street, W1
5-Star hotel of great comfort situated in what was the historic Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court.
Book your hotel
Piccadilly marks the southern border of Mayfair, running from Piccadilly Circus to Hyde Park Corner, though its shops effectively end at Green Park and the Ritz Hotel. While notable for Royal Warrant holders Fortnum and Mason at 181/6 and the flagship branch of UK's leading booksellers Waterstones at 203/6 Piccadilly, Shophound finds it a disappointing shopping venue as so many of the street frontages are now taken over by Airline offices. Jermyn Street however which runs parallel to it into St. James is a favourite haunt of Burlington Bertie, noted as it is for men's quality outfitters, shirtmakers, shoes, grooming, and Davidoff cigars. Drag your man away from Jermyn Street and into the magnificent Burlington Arcade on the north side of Piccadilly. The jewellery and accessories boutiques in this gated arcade with top- hatted beadle guarding its entrance will entrance you. The last time Shophound was there she swooned over an emerald and diamond pendant once worn by a Russian Tzarina.
London Transport Tube: Piccadilly Circus, (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines), Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, (Piccadilly Line).
Burlington Arcade |
Burlington Arcade Intimate luxury arcade of boutiques selling luxury; accessories, antique jewelry, silver, shoes and leather goods. A browser's delight and great for some surprisingly reasonably priced gifts for him, her - or you! A Shophound favourite.
Waterstones 203 - 206 Piccadilly, W1. Open: Mon - Sat 10am-10pm. Sun 12 - 6pm.
Europe's largest bookstore, this is Waterstones flagship. 14 other London branches including Harrods. Top floor lounge bar overlooking London and good list of book signings and events.
Fortnum & Mason 181-186 Piccadilly W1J 9EH.
Suppliers of fine foods and groceries to members of the British Royal Family, nobility and gentry for over 150 years, the store celebrates its tercentenary in 2007. As well as its superb food hall, the store has excellent lingerie, perfumery and accessories departments on the upper floors. Excellent online sales facility for UK and USA. Store open Mon - Sat from 10.00am to 6.30pm. Sun from 12noon to 6.00pm - Food Hall and Patio Restaurant only.
Shophound's Accommodation Choice: The Ritz London
Much patronised by the British Royal Family since it opened in 1906, it is an established favourite of the Prince of Wales and his courtiers from nearby St. James's Palace. Now recently restored to its Beaux Arts splendour of the Louis XVI era, the rooms are opulent and the service matches. A luxuriantly elegant and spacious dining room with summer terrace provides classic cuisine and silver service.
Harvey Nichols |
Knightsbridge is one of the most exclusive and expensive districts in London. Lying on the southern boundary of Hyde Park, it was once a boggy area renowned for footpads and highwaymen who waylaid the stagecoaches travelling west out of London which then ended at what is now Hyde Park Corner. Later known for its inns and taverns as London expanded westwards, (those few remaining are now very smart mews venues where locals and their sleek ladies meet up for a Sunday morning pick-me-up), the entire area is now home to 5-Star hotels, interesting restaurants like Zefferano, (15 Lowndes Street), and arguably the most exquisite stores and shops in town. World famous department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols are essential stops for every visiting shopper and much patronized by the rich residents of the leafy squares of neighbouring Belgravia. Major Designer names have recently joined them. Armani, Chanel, Dior, Eves St. Laurent, Ferragamo, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Luis Vuitton, Prada and Versace have opened showrooms in Upper Sloane Street, while Shophound's favourite couturier Maria Grachvogel has her flagship store a little further down in Lower Sloane Street opposite Tiffany.
If you like antiques, the boutiques of Beauchamp Place off Brompton Road will delight.
London Transport Tube: Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, (Piccadilly Line)
Harrods 87-135 Brompton Road SW1X 0LZ.
Harrods and its superb frontage in London's, Knightsbridge needs no introduction to the millions of tourists who visit each year. Describing itself, probably correctly as "the most famous department store in the world", Harrods is on the itinerary of most visitors. They say you can buy anything from a pin to an elephant there, though what you would do with the latter, I don't know. Designer labels include Biba, Jaeger, Mulberry, Vivienne Westwood. Great web-shopping site.
Burberry 2 Brompton Road, SW1.
Quintessentially English weatherproofed country clothing for men and women. Celebrating 150 years trading and 51 years holders of The Queen's Royal Warrant.
Harvey Nichols 109-125 Knightsbridge SW1X 7RJ.
"Harvey Nicks" has been a prominent feature of Knightsbridge since it opened in 1880. It's absolutely tops for womens fashions, lingerie, accessories, fragrances and cosmetics and a joy to shop there. Among the many Designer labels stocked here are Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Dries van Noten, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Prada, Stella McCartney, Versace. Super lingerie collection including Calvin Klein, Agent Provocateur. Excellent for lunch at the Fifth Floor Restaurant. Branches now in Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds.
Hermes Knowsley House 173-176 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QG.
Varied selection of traditionally styled luxury goods, designer clothes and accessories for men and women. Website under construction at time of writing.
Shophound's Accommodation Choice: There are a number of 5 and 4-Star hotels to choose from. Shophound is particularly fond of the Berkeley Hotel , a chic retreat in the heart of Knightsbridge with a buzzy cocktail bar and two fine restaurants. The rooftop pool, with its glorious views, is one of London's best kept secrets, while the Berkeley Health Club and Spa are a bonus for tired shoppers. London's most exclusive shopping scene is on the doorstep, and Zefferano, Shophound's favourite local restaurant, is next door in Lowndes Street.
Book a Knightsbridge hotel
Chelsea's once raffish King's Road is now an exciting mix of boutiques, neighbourhood shops and antique markets, with the ever stylish Peter Jones department store and the spectacular new Duke of York Square Piazza development at the Sloane Square end. The further (west) you walk towards "World's End", the greater the number of smaller, independent clothes and shoe shops, plus a good selection of contemporary furnishing stores selling wallpapers, fabrics, handmade carpets, storage and lighting.
London Transport Tube: Sloane Square, (Circle and District Lines); South Kensington, (Piccadilly, Circle and District Lines) .
Maria Grachvogel |
Peter Jone s Sloane Square, SW1. Mon-Sat. 9.30am-7pm.Weds. 9.30-8pm. Suns.11am-5pm.
Smart West End store strong on all aspects of Home. Recently refurbished, it maintains its cutting edge on home decor and furnishings. Made to measure linens, men's suiting. Interesting costume jewelry department. Spa and restaurant.
The General Trading Company 2-4 Symons Street, Sloane Square, SW3 2TJ. Mon-Sat. 10am-6.30pm. Suns. 12-5.30pm.
Exclusive West End Furniture and Home store. Exclusive, quirky, eclectic, exciting. Sourcing from all over the world, GTC has become a much loved institution over the past half century. Online shopping facility. A Shophound favourite.
Maria Grachvogel 162 Sloane Street
London SW1X 9BS.
Exclusive Fashion store of Couturier Maria Grachvogel whose dramatic evening dresses in sumptuously sensual fabrics, elegantly cut trousers and glamour jeans have a dedicated celebrity clientele. A Shophound favourite.
Marks & Spencer 85 Kings Road, SW3 4NX.
International Multiple High Street department store. Womenswear, Menswear, Lingerie, Kids, Beauty, Home, Food, Wine. Exclusive fashion labels. This branch is a smaller version of that in Oxford Street. Online shopping facility.
Heal's 234 King's Road SW3 5UA
Long established Specialist Furniture and Home store. This is a much smaller branch of the Tottenham Court Road flagship store. Online shopping facility.
Daisy & Tom 181-183 King's Road SW3 5EB.
Childrens clothes, shoes, toys and accessories.
Antiquarius 131 - 141 King's Road, SW3.London's famed antiques centre with 70 specialist dealers in diamonds, silver, watches, paintings, luggage, bronzes and more. A delightful place to browse and worth a trip to King's Road for this alone. Open Mon-Sat 10-6. Chelsea Town Hall, venue for regular Antiques Fairs, is nearby.
Tesco 18-24 Warwick Way, SW1V 1RX.
No longer just a provision shop for food and alcohol, Tesco has led the way in introducing superbly priced and very wearable casual clothes. Check out their recently launched F&F Collection by Lee Rees-Oliviere; it's premium clothing at budget price. Be subtle however and tart up your Tesco buys with a Designer accessory or two.
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