London Shopping Tips by pieter_jan_v

Borders [CLOSED]: Books (and coffee) [CLOSED] Books Review

Borders is probably the biggest bookstore chain in Greater london. It's N-American based.

2010 Update: It's seems that Borders CLOSED!

Often their shops are combined with a small Starbucks coffee.

The biggest stores are at:
203 Oxford Street
120 Charing Cross Road

What to buy: Books (and an occasional CD) and magazines.

Theme: Books

James Smith and Sons: Umbrella's, Walking Sticks and more Personal accessories Review

The James Smith and Sons Umbrella Shop was founded in 1830 and is still owned and run as a family business.

The store is a real gem in between the more modern appereance of the others around.

Address: Hazelwood House, 53 New Oxford Street - London WC1

Directions: Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road Underground station.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.james-smith.co.uk/

Music, video, DVD's etc.: In search of Rough Trade: Neil's Yard Music, video, DVD's etc. Review

In search for Rough Trade Records I discovered that the shop at 16 Neal's Yard is closed; their website is still alive!

2010 Update: Rough Trade is back (and I still have to check out both shops!):
Rough Trade East-'Dray Walk'-Old Truman Brewery-91 Brick Lane-London E1 6QL
Rough Trade West-130 Talbot Road-London W11 1JA

Nonetheless, visiting Neil's Yard was a nice thing to do. There are interesting businesses around, like:

-Neal's Yard Salad Bar at #2
-Neal's Yard Therapy Room at #2
-Neal's Yard Bakery & Tearoom at #6
-Nails By Baptiste at #8
-Hair By Fairy at #10
-The Walk-in Backrub at #14
-Neal's Yard Remedies at #15
-Slam City Skates at #16

Address: Various

Theme: Food and Drink

Spitalfields Market: Old Spitalfields Market Petticoat Lane, Spitalfields and Brick Lane Review

Spitalfields Maket is a larged covered area with shops and bar/restaurants at the sides.

Market is held at the court area according the following schedule:
Th: Antiques & vintage 10AM - 4PM
Fr: Fashion & art 10AM - 4PM
Su: Various 9AM - 5PM

Business hours:
-Shops:
Daily: 11AM - 7PM
-Restaurants:
Mo-Fr: 9AM - 11PM
Su: 9AM - 5PM

Address: Spitalfields Market - London E1

Directions: 500 meters East of Liverpool Street station.

Phone: +44-20-73752963

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.visitspitalfields.com/

Spitalfields Music stall: Spitalfields Music stall Music, video, DVD's etc. Review

At Spitalfieldsmarket you can find music stalls as well, especial when you visit at the first and third Wednesday of the months at the records & books fair.

Address: Spitalfields - London E1 6BG

Directions: Spitalfields Market; 500 meters East of Liverpool Street station.

Phone: +44-20-73752963

Theme: Music

Website: http://www.visitspitalfields.com/index.html

Reckless Records (ex-Revival records): Vinyl record shop at Berwick St (Reckless) Music, video, DVD's etc. Review

Reckless Records is a small clean shop with vinyl records of all musical genres from the fifties through the seventies.

Average prices.

Hours:
Mo-Sa: 10AM - 6:30PM
Su: Closed

Address: 30 Berwick St - Soho - London W1F 8RH

Directions: Side street of Oxford St (Opposite Sister Ray shop)

Phone: +44-20-74374271

Theme: Music

Website: http://www.reckless.co.uk/

Petticoat Lane Street Market: Looking for clothes at the market Petticoat Lane, Spitalfields and Brick Lane Review

The Petticoat Lane Street Market is the place to go to look for a deal in clothing.

This East End market has been held since the 1750's.

Business hours:
Mo-Fr: 10AM - 2.30PM
Su: 9AM - 2PM

What to buy: Clothes.

What to pay: Lower prices than in the shops.

Address: Middlesex Street - London E1

Directions: Closest tubes: Liverpool Street and Aldgate East

Theme: Women's Clothes

Dereks Records: At the Petticoat Lane Market Music, video, DVD's etc. Review

Dereks Records is a market stall with loads of interesting CD's of many genres.

What to buy: CD's.

Address: Petticoat Lane

Directions: Petticoat Lane Street Market

Theme: Music

Oxford Street: My favorite shopping street

Oxford Street is my favorite shopping street. It's a living shopping area with new looks each year. I like to include the Soho side streets and Carnaby street.

Address: Oxford Street - London W1

Directions: Oxford Circus tube station.

Phone: +44-20-74620689

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.oxfordstreet.co.uk/

HMV: Loosing my sense of direction: HMV Music, video, DVD's etc. Review

The trouble with not visiting London for 25 years is that all major shops are still there, but have been moved or renamed.

For me HMV was a 4 story shop at the Southside of Oxford street (with vinyl at the time, haha).

Well, welcome to 2009 London with HMV at these downtown locations:
-150 Oxford St
-360 Oxford St
-18 Coventry St
-40-42 King St
-1 Whittington Av
-332-334 Norwich Rd

The shop at 150 Oxford St is the biggest, with a huge classic department and many books too.

Opening Hours:
Mo-We: 9AM - 8.30PM
We: 9AM - 8.30PM
Th: 9AM - 9PM
Fr-Sa: 9AM - 8.30PM
Su: 11.30AM - 5.30PM

My personal tip: Discount merchandise (especially books) is in much better shape at the 360 Oxford St shop.

What to buy: CD's, T-shirts, books and more.

What to pay: From 5 pound per CD.

Address: 150 Oxford Street - London W1D 1DJ

Directions: Oxford circus (corner Poland St) for the biggest store.

Phone: 0845 602 7800

Theme: Music

Website: http://hmv.com