Where to Christmas shop in London?

[buzzing]

I have a work meeting in London on Monday and thought it might be nice to stay after and make a start on my Christmas shopping, but I'm not sure where is the best place to go for a good variety of shops. I'm only after high street style, nothing high end. I guess Oxford Street? Will there be late night shopping on a Monday?

My meeting is in Victoria if that makes a difference.

Thanks

There’s not really anything in Oxford street any more. Peter jones at Sloane Square and then down the kings road? Battersea Power?

You might be best off going to one of the Westfields.

See this is why I needed to ask where to go! I always feel a bit country bumpkin in the big smoke as it is, but if I'm going to spend some time shopping I want to get to an area with lots of options.

What shops are you hoping to explore?

I think there’s still plenty around Oxford st and regent st. John Lewis for a start, Zara, mango, a big m&s, Disney store, uniqlo, H&M, urban outfitters etc. Then on Regent street you have some of the more luxury brands like Reiss, Hamleys for kids, Liberty, & other stories, ted baker, Anthropologie, Massimo Dutti, Lululemon, hollister, Hobbs etc… and loads more. Then there’s the big Lego store down the bottom of regent st at Leicester Square.

The westfields are quite a bit further than Victoria.. depending on where you are going home to anyway.

Another option is the new development at Battersea Power station

If you're going after work it's going to take ages to get to Westfield in rush hour and will also be a nightmare on the tube, agree with pp with list of Oxford st / regent st shops, plus it has Christmas lights!

Don't go in the American candy stores.

If you're looking for toys go to selfridges not hamleys.

Look on Google maps where the shops you want to visit are and start that end of the street as you might not manage the whole thing especially if you do Covent Garden too (seven dials has lovely shops but higher end).

There's not much "high street" in Battersea Power Station. It's all quite expensive.

Yes, or Covent Garden/Seven dials. Get off at Leicester Square though, because Covent Garden can get crushed.

I live in London, and my main shopping areas (other than my sofa with my laptop or phone!) are (1) covent garden area (2) Westfield (White City) and (3) Carnaby Street/Regent Street/Oxford Street. Although a lot of Oxford St is not great any more, I like Carnaby Street plus Liberty, and John Lewis and Selfridges are also in reach. The part of Oxford Street closest to Carnaby Street (near Oxford Circus heading to Tottenham Ct Road) has got the main chains and does not feel as run down as walking the other way from Oxford Circus (although both JL and Selfridges are that way).

Oxford Circus /Carnaby St is easiest from Victoria as it is on the Victoria Line.

I dont often go to Kings Road as it is not a great journey for me, but think it is still ok and is easy from Victoria to Sloane Sq on the district/circle

What sorts of things are you looking for?

For high street, Westfield will be better than Oxford Street.

For lovely little bits and bobs, Liberty.

Books- the big Waterstones on Piccadilly (can combine with Fortnums)

Covent Garden is a good shout for a bit of everything.

Which high street brands do you want? The extra travel time to Westfields might be offset by the walking time around Oxford Street if, say, you want to go to M&S (Marble Arch) and Waterstones (Piccadilly).

It's always late night shopping every day and all year round on Oxford Street and Westfields! John Lewis tends to close earlier (8pm I think) but most shops are open until 9pm, some 10pm, especially close to Christmas.

If you want high street brands, is it worth the hassle? Prices will be the same online from the same stores, and for brands that aren't store specific you will probably find cheaper prices for the same things online if you search eg toys, homewares, toiletries, perfume. Personally, I would be heading to somewhere like Marylebone High Street, Kings Road, Covent Garden, the back streets off of Oxford Street, Soho, Camden Market, Spitalfields, Brick Lane, a Christmas market etc where you might find something a bit different.

If you just fancy going because you think it would be more fun than online shopping, I would pick the most convenient area with the best atmosphere.

Depends how much you want to spend but a wander to Fortnum and Mason is lovely, can pick up some bits from there that doesn't need to be super expensive. Covent garden has some lovely little shops too.... I am heading out with my friend and will be heading up to Carnaby street and John Lewis and Selfridges. Will pop into liberty as it is lovely and pick up some nougat!!.

Westfields won't have anything that other shopping centres don't have anything other shopping centres don't have, including ambience. If you're in London, I'd go to Selfridges, Liberty, and pop in high street shops along the way. Even if you don't buy much, the shops will just be more interesting and you can get a few bits you may not be inspired to get online.

I'd stick around Oxford St, but have a look at a map before hand so you can plan. It's really easy to get to Liberty and then to Carnaby St. from there which will be a lovely Christmassy experience alongside useful shops.

I'd head for somewhere like spittle field market indoor.. Gorgeousness hand made things and unusual stuff

While you are in Fortnums pop along to Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy for very expensive but lovely smellies.

Museum and art gallery shops often have nice things, if you happen to be near one often worth a little browse. Places like the science museum / natural history shop/ British museum shops are good for kids stuff and stocking fillers. The V and A is more nice jewellery, scarves, little decorative pieces. See also the Tate shops.

Muji is another shop that does quirky.

This ^

The only reason I head up to the top end of Oxford Street now is to go to Selfridges and JL.
If it's a rainy day I tend to head to Westfield (White City)

I would shop online and spend your time in London window shopping and having a nice lunch!

haha me to. And I live in London. You couldn't pay me enough to go near Oxford St or Westfield in December.

There's John Lewis

I went on Saturday afternoon as I wanted to pick up some travel bottles and I needed to go to Marylebone High Street anyway. I expected it to be hell on earth on Black Friday weekend, especially as Winter Wonderland is open, with Marble Arch station closed for overcrowding and the pavements jammed. It was really quiet...

I checked the Google live feed before I ventured out and it was showing numbers at about 1/5th of the usual figures for that time. It was weird... maybe everyone was nabbing Black Friday bargains online or people were put off by the weather or the protest earlier in the day.

I don't suppose it will be too busy on a Monday evening.

Oxford Street/Regent Street have John Lewis, Selfridges, Liberty, Fenwicks, the flagship M&S, Hamleys, 2 huge Primarks, the Uniqlo flagship store, the big H&M etc that all have things that smaller branches don't have plus all the usual high street brands, which is what OP wants. There is more choice of high street brands than there is at Sloane Square or Battersea Power station.

From Victoria get the tube one stop to Sloane Square (or a bus, or even walk) and then you have the wonder that is Peter Jones plus the Kings Road which is 10,000 times more pleasant than Oxford Street.

@TheShoulder - yes I know. I was reacting to people saying there's nothing in Oxford Street. When you could buy most people a gift in JL even if you went nowhere else.

Sorry, I was responding to LaLoose's comment that there is nothing on Oxfird Street that you were replying to too, @luckylavender . It seems that "double or multiple quotes" only display the last comment unless you click on "show quote history"... I didn't realise that had changed!

I suppose I meant what @LindorDoubleChoc said. It's just more pleasant to go to Sloane Square / Kings Road. Though speaking as a Londoner myself, I shop online. Probably see the lights at Carnaby St but usually only because going for drinks with people...