London shopping advice

[WonderfulSmith]

I’m heading into London next week and was thinking about doing some shopping. Are Oxford and Regent Streets still worth visiting or are they all just American candy shops now?

I would like brands that I don’t have at home so H&M, Uniqlo, Zara but also nice home things and shops I’ve not heard of.

Where would be best for that?

Yeah probably still worth a look. There's obviously the two Westfields but they're probably similar to malls in other countries. Covent garden maybe as well?

I’m from the U.K., but a small town where we don’t have big stores like H&M!

Covent Garden might be worth a look.

Marylebone High St, which is behind selfridges is nice, has shops like Sézane

those candy shops are now boarded up, oxford st is pretty grim but has the shops you are looking for.

Yeah in that case west end and covent garden, then Westfield would be good bets.

Westfield has big versions of the ones you mention, plus a million other shops. I'm not sure there are any unique/different shops there though.

I still like Oxford Street, I enjoy the experience of wandering around Selfridges and John Lewis, looking at the perfume and make up, etc. There’s no department stores in my town anymore so don’t get to do this very often. For clothes there Uniqlo, H&M, Zara, etc. I prefer it to Westfield, I find large shopping malls too overwhelming.

Tottenham Court Road is excellent for homeware

Regent St is nicer than Oxford St, but Selfridges and John Lewis both still marvellous, of course. If you start at Selfridges and work down, you can trot along from Piccadilly to Covent Garden.

I only ever go to the shops on Oxford St that are around Oxford Circus I.e. around Regent St, then bob down RS. The shops around Covent Garden side streets are worth browsing

Covent Garden market area can feel a bit touristy but keep wandering as the shops around Floral Street are excellent. There are quite a few stores in that area that you don’t find often - Reformation, Theory, American Vintage, Free People, Abercrombie, Vuori. Also excellent bakeries for coffee or brunch. Fair Shot Cafe is run by and for those with learning disabilities and is top notch. Also Chestnut Bakery.
I also love Marylebone High Street which has Me+Em and Sezane as well as Monica Vinader and Mejuri. Ooh and Delamina for brunch or lunch.