Shopping in Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Piccadilly

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London, UK

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Shopping in Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Piccadilly

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: London is a shoppers’ paradise, whether you’re looking for a 20-carat diamond on exclusive Bond Street or a £2 T-shirt on jampacked Oxford Street. This walking tour concentrates on some of the best-known British brands and allows for plenty of ogling and souvenir hunting. It could take half a day if you’re a speedy shopper or a full eight hours if you like to linger.

Tips: If you plan to bring home bulk items such as canisters of tea, biscuits and other goodies, save those purchases for the end of the day. Nothing ruins a good shopping excursion faster than lugging heavy bags from place to place.

Also, everything except food, children’s clothing, newspapers and magazines are subject to a whopping 20 percent VAT (value added tax) in the United Kingdom. The good news is that as an international visitor, you’re eligible for a VAT refund on your purchases. Be sure to carry your passport with you while shopping and ask retailers for a VAT receipt. Visit http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/consumers/overseas-visitors.htm#2 to learn more about how to claim refunds.

Points of Interest

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Oxford Street

Begin your tour on the busiest, densest shopping street in Europe. The crowds can be almost unbearable at peak times, so best to get an early start if you can. Some stores open at 8:30am although most don't unlock their doors until at least an hour later.

While the thoroughfare itself can be claustrophobic, ducking off onto one of the side streets is an easy way to escape the madness--it never seems to occur to the hoards to do the same. The tube stop Oxford Circus starts you off in the center of things.

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Topshop

This buzzing, trendy clothing store is the darling of British models, actresses and singers as well as any anonymous fashionista worth her salt. Items are well priced and the store often invites celebrities to design special collections. (Kate Moss' efforts have been greeted by shopper stampedes.) Dressing room lines can be agonizingly long, so make sure you gather everything you want to try on at once.
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36-38 Great Castle St.
Oxford Circus, West End
084 4848 7487
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Hours
Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm
Thursday until 10pm
Sunday 11:30am-6pm

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Hamleys Toy Store

You can usually spot this 250-year-old toy store by the magician, bubble blower or fairytale character camped in front of the entrance, enticing children inside. It's a bit of a madhouse between the screaming toddlers and the super-slow tourists, but once you take a deep breath you'll appreciate the incredible selection of puzzles, gadgets and other amusements. The store is a great place for gifts.
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188-196 Regent St.
087 1704 1977
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Hours
Monday-Friday 10am-8pm
Thursday-Friday until 9pm
Sunday Noon-6pm

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Fortnum & Mason

The luxury food from this upscale department store have delighted Brits for almost three centuries. Be sure to take some time perusing its famous tea and biscuits section. If you're in need of a treat, stop by the Parlour Restaurant on the first floor for an amazing ice cream sundae.
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181 Piccadilly
020 7734 8040
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Hours
Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday Noon-6pm

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Smythson of Bond Street

Royal warrants (authorization) are issued to companies that have supplied goods for at least five years to the Queen, Prince Philip or Prince Charles. This luxury stationery and leather goods store currently holds three, which basically means its exquisite products have managed to please the whole (royal) family.

Smython's pedigree extends beyond the palace to politics: Its longtime creative director was none other than Samantha Cameron, wife of Prime Minister David Cameron. The store is perhaps best known for its stunning leather diaries (what we otherwise call daily organizers) that can cost up to £200 ($300+) but there are other lovely, less expensive items on hand as well.
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Smythson of Bond Street
40 New Bond St.
020 7629 8558
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Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30am-6pm
Thursday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Closed Sunday

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St. Christopher's Place

If you need a little pick me up, grab a cappuccino from Carluccio's on this charming cobblestone courtyard just off of Oxford Street. There are several little cafes and boutiques to explore and the relaxed atmosphere is a nice change from the frenzy only yards away.
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23 Barrett St. (turn up James Street off Oxford)
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Hours
Vary per merchant; check St Christopher's Place website for details

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Selfridges

This sprawling department store was founded by American retailer H. Gordon Selfridge in 1909 and is a younger, hipper version of Harrods. It carries everything from badger (long, full bristles) shaving brushes for the well-groomed gentleman to scorpion lollipops (with edible scorpions encased in hard candy) for the adventurous eater. The glittering makeup hall alone is worth a visit.
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400 Oxford St.
020 7734 8040
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Hours
Monday-Friday 9:30am-10pm
Saturday 9:30am-9pm
Sunday Noon-6pm

Selfridges_London_-_front_entrance_looking_right.jpg Photo

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Primark

This bargain clothing store used to be a well-kept secret of fashion editors who ventured to its original location on the outskirts of town. Its Oxford Street opening in 2007 created an absolute frenzy and shoppers still elbow each other for the chance to grab "inspired-by-the-runway" outfits at dirt-cheap prices.
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Primark
499 Oxford St.
020 7495 0420
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Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30am-10pm
Saturday 8:30am-9pm
Sunday Noon-6pm

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Harvey Nichols

Fans of the British sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" will recognize "Harvey Nicks" as the place to drop serious cash on designer clothing--ideally while sipping a glass of champagne. It retains an exclusive air and the new fourth-floor "lifestyle" area boasts an array of new British designers.
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109-125 Knightsbridge
020 7235 5000
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Hours
Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday Noon-6pm

Harvey Nichols_Daytime_High_Res4.jpg Photo

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Harrods

The most famous British department store of them all, Harrods is a labyrinth of a place where one can drop tens of thousands on a crocodile handbag--and then pop down to the Food Hall to pick up a pork chop for dinner.

Mohamed Al Fayed sold Harrods to the Qatari royal family in 2010 for $2.2 billion, but so far the new owners haven't touched the store's memorials to Al Fayed's late son, Dodi, and his ill-fated lover, Princess Diana, who were killed in car crash in 1997.
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87-135 Brompton Rd.
Knightsbridge
020 7730 1234
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Hours
Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday Noon-6pm