London's best known shop - Harrods and other London, United Kingdom Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Harrod's

Harrod's is famous around the world. Sometimes I think some people come to London just to go there! It is huge and has some very expensive items for sale. it is possible to buy some things at average London prices and you'll be able to buy something at almsot any budget of you want one of those green and gold carrier bags!

Harrod's is nice just for strolling through - they do have some dress codes in place, so don't be too scruffy of have ripped clothes.

I remember the Egyptian Hall as being very impressive and the Toy Hall is good too.

Opening hours are:

Monday 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday Closed

Best time to see the outside is at dusk when it is lit up with over 11,000 light bulbs!

What To Buy: Where would I start! Their food is popular and items like tea in a Harrods tin.

What To Pay: Probably more than in many other places.

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Theme: Department Store
Directions: Knightsbridge Underground
Website: www.harrods.com

Name of Shop: Clothes


What To Buy: If you want a horrifically tacky souvenir of London, then you can't go to far wrong with a pair of these! I saw them for sale in the Halls Arcade which is right next to HMS Belfast where she is permanently moored on the Thames. However I think you can buy them in many places all over London. In case you are wondering about what the excuse is for a slogan like that, it is a famous phrase on the Underground in London. When the train pulls into a station which is on a bend, the trains don't fit snuggly against the platform, resulting in a gap between train and platform. Hence the warning.

I think they cost about £7 which makes them pretty bad value too! I can't imagine they would go down too well with many intended recipients, so unless you are trying to upset somebody, you are better off steering well clear of them.


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Theme: Women's Clothes

Name of Shop: Stanley Gibbons

Stanley Gibbons are world famous for their stamp catalogues for helping to price both rare and everyday stamps. They also sell loads of different stamps.

There is also a place inside selling autographs of famous people. Dave Prowse (dressed up as Darth Vader springs to mind), but there are numerous others

What To Buy: A Penny Black. If you aren't after a perect one, you can pick one up pretty cheaply.

From what I see of modern British stamps though they are best off avoided as they are mass produced and often designed pretty badly.


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Theme: Hobbies
Address: On The Strand
Directions: Charing Cross Tube, and the walk down The Strand away from Trafalgar Square. It will be on your left.

Name of Shop: In the market next to St Martin in th Fields

Whilst I can't imagine too many British people buying one of these, they may well appeal to foreigners. Pubs are one of the very traditional things in Britain that foreigners love to see (especially the more olde worldy type ones).

I can therefore imagine that people may want to buy one with a typical type of name. A traditional type name is the "Queen's Head", a more modern psuedo-traditional type name is the "Slug and Lettuce". There are loads of different signs and names, so take your pick!


What To Pay: Several pounds, depending on size.

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Theme: Other
Directions: These were in a market alongside the church of St Martin in the Fields (by Trafalgar Square), although I should imagine they are in many more places.

Use Charing Cross Underground

Name of Shop: Books

Foyles claim to have over 1.4 Million Books in its shop, over 5 floors. It was the World's Largest Bookshop not so long ago.

You can find all sorts of books that you would never normally see in a bookshop. The internet may be good for buying books cheaply, but if you want to see before you buy, then Foyles is a great place to browse. The employees never try and rush you.

I have bought some great (but unusual) travel books in there that I would not have even known existed if I hadn't looked in!


What To Pay: Typically the books cover price.

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Theme: Books
Phone: 0207 437 5660
Address: Charing Cross Road
Directions: Use Tottenham Court Road Underground

Opening Hours are:
Monday - Saturday: 9.30am - 9.00pm
Sundays: 12.00pm - 6.00pm
Public holidays: 11.00am - 8.00pm
Website: http://www.foyles.co.uk/foyles/index.asp
Other Contact: orders@foyles.co.uk

Name of Shop: Clothes

Not a shop, but a whole street of clothes shops for both genders.

Once upon a time, Carnaby Street used to be really fashionable (during the 1960's). It then seemed to hit a slump and went very down market.

These days it seems to be picking up again, but it primarily seems to be targetting tourists. It has plenty of Quiksilver, Ben Sherman and FCUK clothes in the many boutiques that line the street. The street has never quite regained its original iconographic status though...

What To Buy: Clothes

What To Pay: Doesn't tend to be cheap...

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Theme: Men's Clothes
Address: Carnaby Street
Directions: Oxford Circus Underground