Experiences
The 6 Best Shopping in London
Where to spend an afternoon and a good deal of money in London, from the Bond Street arcades to Liberty's beauty hall and the brick arches of Coal Drops Yard.
In short: our top picks are Selfridges, Liberty London and Fortnum & Mason. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Shopping in London splits into two camps, and the trick is knowing which day you’re having. There’s the grand institution, all marble and doormen, where the building is half the point. And there’s the curated, slightly contrary end, where the labels matter more than the ceiling height. We’ve kept both here. The list runs from Piccadilly’s old guard to a Victorian coal yard behind King’s Cross, because the city does luxury in more registers than the Bond Street cliche suggests. None of this is about bargains. It’s about the version of an afternoon where you start with coffee, end with a carrier bag you’re quietly pleased about, and don’t once feel rushed.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| Selfridges | Marylebone |
| Liberty London | Soho |
| Fortnum & Mason | |
| Dover Street Market | |
| Burlington Arcade | Mayfair |
| Coal Drops Yard |
-
Editor’s choice
Selfridges
Why we pick itThe one that still feels like an event. Best for the sheer range, from the much-photographed Accessories Hall to the basement of cult trainers and the Corner Shop, where a different brand takes over the space every few weeks. The window displays alone are worth the walk down Oxford Street.
Department store
-
Liberty London
Why we pick itThe mock-Tudor building, built from old ship timbers in 1924, is reason enough to go. Best for fabric, scarves and that famous floral print, plus a beauty hall that buyers trawl for niche fragrance and small labels you won't find three doors down. The haberdashery still draws people who actually sew.
Department store
-
Fortnum & Mason
Why we pick itTrading on Piccadilly since 1707 and best for edible gifts that travel well, the tea, the hampers, the eau-de-nil packaging that signals you've made an effort. Take the lift to the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon for a proper afternoon tea, or just raid the ground-floor food hall for a present.
Food hall and department store
-
Dover Street Market
Why we pick itComme des Garcons' six-floor concept store, and the antidote to the polished department-store experience. Best for serious, directional fashion staged like an art installation, with Rose Bakery up top for a flat white when your feet give out. You come to look as much as to buy, and that's rather the idea.
Concept fashion store
-
Burlington Arcade
Why we pick itOpened in 1819 and still patrolled by the Beadles in their top hats. Best for jewellery, watches, cashmere and old-school cobblers and perfumers in a glass-roofed Regency run between Piccadilly and Burlington Gardens. Small, smart and unhurried, the opposite of a shopping centre in every way that counts.
Covered shopping arcade
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Coal Drops Yard
Why we pick itHeatherwick Studio turned two Victorian coal sheds into the most considered shopping spot north of the river. Best for a relaxed afternoon mixing design-led labels and independents with Paul Smith and COS, then tapas at Barrafina. The cobbles and brick arches do a lot of the work; it never feels like a mall.
Shopping and dining quarter
Before you book
Go midweek and early if you can; Saturdays on Oxford Street are a contact sport. Most stores open around 10am and run to 8 or 9pm, with shorter Sunday hours. The flagships do personal shopping free of charge if you book ahead, which is the civilised way to handle Selfridges or Harrods. Burlington Arcade and Coal Drops Yard reward a slow wander rather than a list.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Selfridges is our editor's choice: The one that still feels like an event. Best for the sheer range, from the much-photographed Accessories Hall to the basement of cult trainers and the Corner Shop, where a different brand takes over the space every few weeks. The window displays alone are worth the walk down Oxford Street. Selfridges, Liberty London and Fortnum & Mason lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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