London Shopping Tips by phil_uk_net

Fortnum and Mason: The Queen's grocers Department stores Review

The Royal Crests and 'By Appointment to ....' statements outside the store indicate that Fortnum and Mason supply goods to the Royal family, including the Queen.
Inside are all manner of food and drink goodies. If you are looking for small gifts to take back this would be a good place to look.
There are also 3 restaurants inside catering to different tastes and budgets.

What to buy: Tea, coffee, chocolates maybe for gifts. Whatever takes your fancy.

What to pay: More expensive than buying the same things elsewhere.

Address: 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER

Directions: Piccadilly

Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 8040

Theme: Food and Drink

Website: http://www.fortnumandmason.com

A. Angelucci: Coffee beans Food and Drink Review

Almost next door to Bar Italia, A. Angelucci is a specialty coffee bean shop made famous in a track from the first Dire Straits album - Wild West End. They only sell the raw product but if you want to sample the coffee go along to Bar Italia and ask for a Mokital, Angelucci's secret coffee blend.
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Wild West End by Dire Straits

"Stepping out to Angelucci's for my coffee beans
Checking out the movies and the magazines
Waitress she watches me crossing from the barocco bar
I'm getting a pickup for my steel guitar
I saw you walking out shaftesbury avenue
Excuse me talking I wanna marry you
This is seventh heaven street to me
Don't be so proud
You're just another angel in the crowd
And I'm walking in the wild west end
Walking with your wild best friend

And my conductress on the number nineteen
She was a homey
Pink toenails and hands all dirty with money
Greasy hair easy smile
Made me feel nineteen for a while

And I went down to chinatown
In the backroom it's man's world
All the money go down
Duck inside the doorway gotta duck duck to eat
Right now fells alright now
You and me we can't beat

And a gogo dancing girl yes I saw her
The deejay he say here's Mandy for ya
I feel alright to see her
But she's paid to do that stuff
She's dancing high I move on by
The close ups can get rough
When you're walking in the wild west end"

What to buy: Coffee beans - whole or ground.

Address: 23b Frith Street

Directions: Soho

Phone: +44 (0)20 7437 5889

Theme: Food and Drink

Neal's Yard Dairy: Great cheese shop in Covent Garden Food and Drink Review

This is as far away from the mass produced, pre-packaged supermarket 'cheese' as you can get. Neal's source only the best quality cheese from independent producers around the country.
In addition to cheese they also sell real British apples and pears. More expensive than the supermarket of course but worth it for the taste.

What to buy: Cheese and apples.

What to pay: A little more than usual.

Address: 17 Short Gardens, London, WC2H 9AT

Directions: Covent Garden

Phone: +44 (0)20 7645 3550

Theme: Food and Drink

Half price ticket booth in Leicester Square: Theatre tickets

Half price theatre tickets are sold here every day for performances on the same day. However, it is unlikely you will be able to get tickets for the big, popular shows. It's a question of supply and demand and for the big shows there is so much demand that there is no reason to sell the tickets off cheap.
Open every day from 10am to 7pm.

What to buy: Theatre tickets

What to pay: Half price of face value plus a service charge up to £2.50.

Address: Leicester Square

Theme: Other

Jermyn Street: Exclusive traditional menswear Clothes and Shoes Review

Jermyn Street represents something from a bygone age. This is the place to buy handmade suits and shirts - at a price. Expensive but there are still lots of people around who can afford it.
There is also an old-fashioned barber shop with all kinds of fancy shaving gear and lotions.
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Note - the blue plaque next to the shop in the photo is a common sight in London. It indicates that someone famous once lived at that location. They are everywhere. This one tells us that Isaac Newton lived here from 1642 - 1727.

What to buy: Mens clothes and shaving gear.

What to pay: A lot more than M&S or Next!

Address: Jermyn Street

Directions: Jermyn Street runs parallel and to the south of Piccadilly between St James's Street and Regents Street.

Theme: Men's Clothes

Piccadilly Arcade: Small specialist shops Jewellery and luxury goods Review

Despite sky-high rents and competition from the big chains there are still a lot of small, independent, specialist shops in London.
This small arcade contains a variety of small shops and is far nicer to walk around than a huge store or shopping mall.

What to buy: Anything

What to pay: A bit more than normal high street prices.

Theme: Other

Rohan: Travel clothing Sports and games Review

Rohan are a British travel clothing manufacturer with a loyal following. As with most specialist travel clothing it does not come cheap but Rohan produce real quality clothes. Most outer garments come with several pockets (the majority zipped) which is great when travelling. The materials are light, pack small, are easy to wash, and dry quickly. Clothing is available to suit all climates and activities. The garments are as tough as anything and last forever. After sales service is brilliant if required. The only downside is that if you go to the Lake District waering Rohan you will find yourself dressed the same as hordes of middle-aged (and older)fell walkers. There are branches all over the country and a mail order service. The Covent Garden store is the most convenient for me.

What to pay: More than normal clothing but competitive in the specialist travel clothing segment.

Address: 10 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8PS

Directions: Covent Garden

Theme: Other

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

The Australia Shop: Aussie stuff in London

A place for Australians to buy all those things that they miss from home like Vegemite, Tim Tams, kangaroo steaks and possum juice.

What to buy: The wombat pretzels are great.

What to pay: Certainly more than in Australia!

Address: 26 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8NA

Directions: Covent Garden

Phone: +4 (0)20 7836 2292

Theme: Other

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

Liberty: Liberty Department stores Review

Liberty is a beautiful shop. It sells nice, expensive things - if you like (and can afford) nice expensive things. Whenever I go in I normally look more at the building than the items for sale. The wooden carved walls and staircases are really lovely. The place has lots of character.

What to buy: Whatever takes your fancy.

Address: Regent Street, London, W1B 5AH

Directions: Oxford Circus

Other Contact: Fax: +44 (0)20 7573 9876

Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 1234

Theme: Department Store

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

Hamleys: Toys for everyone Hamley´s Review

Probably the most famous toy shop in the country, it was a real treat coming here as a kid. The shop is large and has toys for all kids, both young and old.
Gets so full in the run up to Christmas that you may have to queue outside before they let you in.

What to buy: Toys!

What to pay: You will pay more for toys bought here than elsewhere.

Address: 188-196 Regent Street, London

Phone: +44 (0)20 8752 2278

Theme: Toys and Games

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