Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Other subjects

What is the best area in London for Xmas shopping?

17 replies

Pruni · 14/11/2005 11:29

Message withdrawn

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 11:29

Kings Rd?

crunchie · 14/11/2005 11:43

Covent garden area has Space NK and lots of smaller 'boutique' type shops.

Personally I go to Bluewater in Kent, as although it is a shopping centre it has lots of smaller shops too. You can park, you don't have to lug loads of bags around and you can go to the cinema if you want (it also has a Space NK!) Even my dh doesn't mind Bluewater once a year

Marina · 14/11/2005 11:47

It was grimorama this Sunday though Crunchie packed to the rafters by lunchtime...normally I am a fan but we came away spitting tacks and all the poor shop assistants were looking harassed too.
I'd go for Covent Garden too Pruni, with a diversion to Liberty and some of the nice shops around the top end of Regent St...

Earlybird · 14/11/2005 11:52

TBH, so much of London is chock full of chain shops!

I'd head to Marylebone High Street (that way you can duck into Selfridges or M&S Marble Arch or any of the other big Oxford Street department stores if you choose) as it's always pleasant and interesting and usually fairly civilised/quiet.

Also might be worth a trip to Upper Street in Islington between the Angel and Highbury Islington tubes - with detours to the side streets especially around the Almeida Theatre - Cross Street is interesting sometimes.

Also might be worth a wander through Primrose Hill, though tbh it's been a long time since I've been, and don't know exactly what's there any more. You'd need to take a bus there probably, as there's no tube stop.

Or, if you take CountessDracula's suggestion of the King's Road - make sure also detour to Chelsea Green. You could also walk up to Fulham Road to have a look around. There's some delicious shopping around Walton Street, but it's frighteningly expensive.

Another idea is to also check out the shops at the various museums. They often have interesting/unusual things that you wouldn't see absolutely everywhere. You could easily walk to the V&A, Science Museum and Natural History Museum from the King's Road.

Have fun!

binkie · 14/11/2005 11:52

I think Kensington High Street is as bearable as it gets - there's all the obvious shops plus Muji and Urban Outfitters, and the Children's Book Centre and the Party Shop thing down the Earl's Court Road end; and if you are really stuck it's not far from there to the gift shops at the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A - which is where I usually get my best things. Also down in South Ken there is that wonderful Papercraft shop.

Covt Garden is misery for me.

binkie · 14/11/2005 11:53

earlybird, SNAP on museum shops!!!

Pruni · 14/11/2005 11:53

Message withdrawn

OP posts:
Earlybird · 14/11/2005 11:54

binkie - we really are on the same wavelength on quite a few things!

vickiyumyum · 14/11/2005 11:58

there is a great shop in chiswick called london Zu (www.londonzu.com) which has some great jewellery (costume and semi precious stones) fantastic gift ideas which are unusual and different form the usual stuff that people get each year. they do fantastic gift wrapping as well if you tell them your item is a gift (free of charge!). the only thing is i'm not really sure what else is in chiswick as have only been there to meet a friend for lunch and to go to this particular shop a couple of times each year and then we normally head of to selfridges and bond street for some retail therapy.

CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 11:59

Also Kings Rd has Peter Jones at the top, useful for so many things. Plus Heals and Habitat, The White Co, Graham and Green (fab for pressies) and still quite a few individualish shops.

Earlybird · 14/11/2005 12:15

CountessDracula - where on the King's Road is Graham and Green? Have to say I've never been in, and I'm all for knowing about a good/unique shop.

CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 15:34

Down near the Brora Shop - West of the town hall on the N side

CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 15:35

omg look at this - was trying to pinpoint for you more exactly - what a FANTASTIC website!

CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 15:35

omg look at this - was trying to pinpoint for you more exactly - what a FANTASTIC website!

CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 15:35

oh bum

CountessDracula · 14/11/2005 15:36

click on each of the red things and shows you all the shops....

Earlybird · 14/11/2005 15:45

CD - what a cool site! Thanks for posting it. Must say that I don't usually wander that far down the King's Road, as Daisy & Tom is typically my turning around point. Will have to make a point to check out that shop though - looks fab!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page