Whitechapel Market and other London, United Kingdom Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: various

Whitechapel market is a popular and busy Asian street market where you can buy all kinds of fruit, veg, clothing, fish and electrical goods. This is such a strong Asian community, you could easily feel like you are no longer in Europe whilst visiting this area of London.

The majority of residents and market stall owners here are Muslim, so respect that and be careful taking photos - some may not like it and it will cause offence.

What To Buy: Almost anything here, particularly handbags and shoes

What To Pay: It's not expensive

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Theme: Other
Address: Whitechapel Road
Directions: East London
Website: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1326/687.php

Name of Shop: Fortnum and Mason Food Hall

Fortnum and Mason - the Queen's corner shop. We all know about glace cherries that come in Christmas cakes don't we?? But did you know that in F&M you can buy just about ANY fruit glaced?? I couldn't believe my eyes - or maybe I just don't get out much - but they had glaced oranges, pineapples, some kind of cactus fruit oh and all kinds of things.... amazing.

Anyway... anything you have NEVER eaten will be on sale here... for a price. It's not cheap so only come here for one or two VERY special things.

What To Buy: They also sell the most faaaaabulous selection of chocolates.... you can buy them loose and they put them in the box you choose, ie 100g, 250g, 500g etc... ?25 for the 500g and ?13.50 for the 250g.

What To Pay: Lots and lots and lots

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: 181 Piccadilly
Directions: Piccadilly tube
Website: http://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Name of Shop: Department stores

I jumped on a number 9 Heritage Routemaster Bus in Piccadilly and jumped off again just across the roads from Harrods. I wasn't really planning on going in but I thought I might just take a look at their luggage dept as I needed a new rucksack and haven't been inside since ohhhhh... somewhere in the late 70's.

Well... the nightmare shopping trip from hell began the moment I walked in the door. It was too hot, too noisy, too crowded, too tacky, too expensive and probably one of the worst shopping moments I have experienced in a long time. There is NOTHING classy about this place - it is gaudy, and sells garish overpriced crap. A scrunchy (a type of hairband) can set you back ?195!!!!!! It bears more resemblance to a theme park than a department store.

And as for the Dodi and Diana Shrine - well.... it would be touching if it wasn't so laughable. I couldn't even bring myself to waste good film on it, unlike the throngs of tourists for whom a visit here was some kind of pilgrimage.

With most of my tips I would include a website - but I won't bother with this one.

What To Buy: Don't bother buying anything here. Go to Harvey Nicks along the street.

What To Pay: More than you earn probably.

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Theme: Department Store
Address: Knightsbridge

Name of Shop: Virgin Megastore

Virgin Megastore - all the film, music and games CDs, DVDs etc etc you could possibly want. We wanted the Embrace Live in Leeds DVD - and we wanted the whole band to sign it! So we turned up at 6pm for their in-store appearance and queued up next to other die-hard fans (I'm not - but my friend is).

People had travelled for miles, lied to their employers about having urgent doctors appointments etc, just to be there. So while my friend had her dream come true and met her idols I took a couple of pics. Oh and I nearly forgot to say... the first 200 people in the queue got a free ticket to their gig in Alexandra Palace worth ?25!

What To Buy: CDs, DVDs, etc.

What To Pay: There are various offers available - check the net first to see if you can get them cheaper before paying out hard cash. This particularly applies to *World* films (foreign language) which are around £20 in store but cheaper on the net.

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Theme: Music
Address: Oxford St London
Directions: Tottenham Court Road Tube Station
Website: http://www.virginmega.co.uk/

Name of Shop: Beigel Bake

I have always known about this place through the media and friends but I had never visited until now. I had been told there would be queues - there were, I had been told the beigels would taste fabulous - they did! Because this place is so popular it is not unusual for the queues to go way down the street but they move very quickly so you really won't have to wait too long.

The beigels are cooked by the traditional Jewish method of boiling then baking. They are soo cheap too 15p each or 80p for 6 (though this may have increased since I first wrote this!). I had a smoked salmon and mayo for 80p but they are also well known for their salt beef or egg and onion fillings too.

This bakery serves the local community which is largely Bengali with a host of other inhabitants of various ethnic groups. It is open 24/7 - a boon for late night revellers!!

Definitely well worth a visit to this thriving, vibrant and colourful part of London with a fascinating history.

What To Buy: Beigels!!! And they also do cakes - carrot cake, cheese cake for about 60p per portion.

What To Pay: 15p for a plain beigel - prices vary depending on the filling.

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Theme: Food and Drink
Phone: 020 7729 0616
Address: 159 Brick Lane
Directions: Liverpool Street Station, Shoreditch or Aldgate East tube - or a number 8 bus.
Website: http://www.eastlondonmarkets.com/Brick%20Lane.htm

Name of Shop: Brick Lane Market

Just off Brick Lane there are some covered areas (arches) selling all kinds of bric-a-brac and sundry junk. My observant Italian VT friend Barbaraforza said "look at those!!" and there, hanging from the ceiling, were these four pairs of incredibly strange thigh high lace up boots.

I am guessing they are dancers boots from the 40s or 50s but I really don't know. What a fascinating find though!! (Oh I didn't buy any and I have no idea what they would have cost)

What To Buy: Anything, but you will come across a lot of trash before you find any treasure :)

What To Pay: Depends on what you buy.

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Theme: Other
Address: Brick Lane E1
Directions: Aldgate East Tube or a No 8 bus.
Website: http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/markets.htm

Name of Shop: Fruit and veg stalls

In the streets and lanes and carparks in the Brick Lane area you will find all manner of things for sale. The difficulty is when you have to decide - is it too good a bargain to resist and therefore have to carry it around all day? AND, if you do submit to temptation and buy those giant tomatoes what you are as a tourist, going to do with a rucksack full of cheap fruit and veg? how and where will you store it etc etc? These are the dilemmas you may face and wish you were a Brick Lane Local who can just pop down there on a Sunday morning and take it all back home.

What To Buy: The streets are full of everything you can imagine - much of it is just a glorified boot sale, take your blanket and lay out any old rubbish you have laying around at home - but the real traders are the cockney blokes who call out "Paaahnd a bohw' - evr'yfinn a paaaahn a bohw!!!"

The fruit and veg comes piled high in bowls at £1 each - avocadoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, grapes, kiwis etc etc etc. DON'T waste his time by asking to take out two tomatoes and just pay for them.... he said it long enough and loud enough....even if you can't understand him... "Evr'yfinns a paaaaaahhhn' a bohw'! luv!! And it's well worth it, the quality here is second to none.

What To Pay: Paaahnd a bohw!!!

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: Brick Lane
Directions: Liverpool St or Aldgate East tube.

Name of Shop: Books

Just in front of the National Film Theatre is a huge secondhand book market selling thousands of books of all genres. If you look carefully you might even be able to find a copy of the Lonely Planet Guide to Wales :)

When you have bought your book you can get a coffee and sit outside on a bench by the Thames..... heaven :)) (but not in March!)

What To Buy: Books, but remember if you buy it in the morning, you will have to carry it round all day in your rucksack!

What To Pay: a few pounds

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Theme: Books
Address: South Bank (opposite NFT)
Directions: Waterloo Stn

Name of Shop: Hays Gallery

This is a collection of shops under one roof. There are coffee shops, postcard/souvenir shops and art gallery shops. There are also stalls outside selling *ethnic* style jumpers and hats etc.

There are better places to shop in London but this is ok just to hang out for a little while after a long walk along the South Bank. The London Dungeon is just across the road so you could combine this place with a visit there.

There's a huge metal sculpture in the middle of the floor - I think it's a ship but I guess that's open to interpretation.


What To Pay: It's quite expensive.

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Theme: Other
Address: Counter Street, SE1
Directions: Near London Bridge Tube Station
Website: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1082/11266.php

Name of Shop: Ephemera

A Sunday morning shopping trip to Portobello road. There are hundreds of shops and stalls selling everything from bric a brac and books to clothing and cabbages.. postcards to pottery, funky fashion jewellery and accessories.. in fact everything you could imagine.. There are also hoards of tourists and Sunday isn't the busiest day. It is also very expensive... some of the individual pieces of handmade jewellery and handbags are worth it.... but a lot of it is not. 90 quid for an average teapot? I don't think so.

It's a great place to shop though and there are loads of nice places to eat and drink and then shop some more. It's definitely a "don't miss" if you are in London.


What To Pay: A little to a lot!

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Theme: Other
Address: Ladbroke Grove Tube
Directions: W11
Website: http://www.londontown.com/London/General_Street_Markets