London Shopping Tips by Airpunk

Name of Shop: Many many shops

Oxford Street is one of the most popular places for shopping and said to be the world's largest street for shopping. It is frequented by tourists and locals as well and offers a large number of shops, including the famous Virgin Megastore. Unfortunately, the prices are quite high - even for London standards. Anyway, it's a nice place to look around where you can spend some time.

Please take care when you go window shopping in Oxford Street. As I said, this is a very frequented area, so it's also a frequented place of pickpockets, frauds and other people you won't like to meet. So keep an eye on your wallet.



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Theme: Other
Address: Oxford Street, London
Directions: Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus tube stations

Name of Shop: Books

This shop was once the world's largest bookshop and is still one of the largest. The first time I visited this shop was in 1995 and I was really amazed. Somehow, it remembred me of the library in Terry Pratchett's Unseen University. It was a chaotic place with a large variety of choice. I wondered how I did not get lost in the building. In the early 2000s, the building was refurbished and the shop reorganized. It made it easier to find the books you want but it lost a lot of its original charme.

What To Buy: Books, books and books. Can't find a book at an online shop? Look here!

If you Like books, this is the right place to spend a couple of hours!


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Theme: Books
Address: 113-119 Charing Cross Road
Directions: Tottenham Court Road Tube Station
Website: http://www.foyles.co.uk

Name of Shop: Harrods

Harrods is one of the best known - if not THE best known - department store in the world. It has a long tradition dating back to 1835 when it was founded by Charles Henry Harrod. Harrods grew during the years and became a leading authority in luxury merchandise.

Harrods relationship with the royal family was very tight, but this changed after the accident in which Dodi Al-Fayed (son of owner Mohamed Al-Fayed) and Diana, the Princess of Wales were killed.

What To Buy: Harrods always wanted to be everything to everybody and this tradition is kept on today. You will find everything you expect from a typical department store and even more. Many people come in to buy anything just to get one of the green plastic bags (imagine how angry my mom was when I lost hers when I was 16...).

What To Pay: Prices are quite high, even for London standards. But Harrods focuses more on quality and service.

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Theme: Department Store
Address: Brompton Road
Directions: Knightsbridge Tube Station