London for the day with independent shops

[Wistful977]

I'm coming to London next Monday with my mum and would like to shop somewhere with lots of independent shops not chains if possible? She has limited mobility so I wondered about Spitalfields or perhaps northcote road or Chiswick? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

That's great news thank you. Still think we need to avoid Camden passage until we win the lottery though!!

@Wistful977 It is a small area, but that means you can take your time in the shops and cafes. It feels like quirky London still, lots of character compared to what Upper Street is now. Good Egg has lovely brunch, and cinnamon buns from the Spence go down well! Come back and share your wares if you do go - I need to plan my pre-xmas shopping trip

Greenwich Market is most lively with stalls at the weekend. Monday not so good. I would also say Upper St or Marylebone.

Columbia Road is lovely but I’d avoid it on Sundays when the flower market’s on - there’s usually a very long queue.

By mobility issues do you mean wheelchair/scooter accessible or she'll be on foot with a walking aid so realistically needs to have a high concentration of shops in one place.

I'd second Marylebone High Street and St Christopher's Place. Easy to get to and very pleasant.

Church Street sounds like a good option and a taxi should be easy enough. I actually think it used to only be traffic free on the weekends rather than all the time but I'm not sure if this has changed following evaluation of how it was working at the weekends.

Anyway it should be easy enough to walk up and down the closed bit and get a cab or a bus at either end.

Upper street is on a gentle slope but if you start at the Highbury end and walk down you will be alright. It's more spread out though I would say about a mile from one end to the other.

Hampstead? Some lovely shops, pretty close together.

You can take the Thames Clipper out to Greenwich which is a nice way to travel but the market is extremely busy on weekends and also a cobbled surface. Blackheath or Dulwich have similar vibes to Marylebone but not the same range or price point and if you're coming into North London stations, bit of a mission.

I was in Cambridge recently and that was absolutely lovely shopping. Small city centre and very buzzy without the sheer stress of central London people numbers.

Thanks everyone. She walks with a stick and can manage pretty well but cobbles are a challenge! She doesn't want to do Marylebone again and is not keen on Greenwich. Stoke Newington is the favourite so far! I quite fancy trying somewhere like Blackheath but it would be a long taxi ride from where we are staying and she can't manage the tube anymore.

I suggested Hampstead as she used to live there decades ago but she seems to think it would be too hilly? I don't know the area so can't really say

There is a hill with some nice shops on it but most of the shops are clustered near the stations and not hilly

the Heath yes is hilly in places

It’s a long time since I’ve been out the way but I think Upper St with Church St sounds like a pretty good plan.

Actually, last time I was out that way I came via Angel & the up escalator was broken so I think taxis are a pretty good plan too.

Stoke Newington Church street is great and lots of interesting places to eat.

Don't forget the King's Road - it's very long but lots of buses to hop on/off .The western end has more independent shops - pricey yes, but so are some of the shops in Stokey!

https://www.kingsroad.co.uk/shop-kings-road-london/page/5/

Northcote Road has lost lots of its independent shops now. It’s mainly bars and restaurants and, for some reason, loads of opticians….

Covent Garden is full of independent shops. 🙂

I went for lunch in Hampstead with a friend lately and I was knackered walking up hills. We had to sit down for a breather every so often!

That's a good idea about the kings road - hmm! Need another day now!

Blackheath is pretty hilly, I wouldn’t recommend it for your mum, particularly with all the leaves on the ground at the moment. Second Lamb’s Conduit St. When you’re done with the wander, it’s also near enough to the Brunswick centre at Russell Square.

I have just googled lambs conduit street and that looks good too! Wondering if mum might manage both here and Stoke Newington?!