What places do people recommend in London?

Question

I'm going to Carnarby Street and Convent Garden market and probably Oxford Street, I'm just wodering if there's any places round that area people would suggest for me to go for shopping or other reasons?

Answer 1

Thanks for your question.

This - and lots of other information which you'll find useful - is at

http://islondonexpensive.com/is-london-e...  

- produced by Alun Hill, a London Journalist.

There's loads of vouchers for discounts on entry, purchases and travel, too.

Feel free to use this site to get even more information - and do leave comments to help others, please.

Answer 2

You could find a lifetime's shopping (or window-shopping) in London. No wonder Napoleon called us "a nation of shopkeepers". ;D

Starting from the top... Carnaby Street is just off Regent Street, one one of my favourites for shopping and browsing.

You don't say if you have any things you're particularly interested in, so these are a few of the highlights.

Hamleys, a toy store with near-legendary status. It doesn't matter if you don't have kids (or even if you don't know any) - this is a brilliant, entertaining place you could lose hours in.

Another nearby must-look-inside is Liberty's. This is a department store that looks as if some fairytale designer created it: all Tudor-style wood panels and carving. It sells gorgeous, gorgeous fabrics, rugs, housewares etc, plus soaps, stationery etc that make great gifts for lucky friends and family.

More stops on Regent Street include Aquascutum and Jaeger, Lacoste, Laura Ashley and Penhaligon's.

Oxford Street crosses Regent Street towards its northern end (Oxford Circus tube station is right on the junction). But unless you're after chain-store things (John Lewis, Debenhams, Primark and M&S all have flagship stores there), or nasty take-out food or tourist souvenirs, it's a bit of a disappointment. That is, with one amazing exception -- Selfridges (between Marble Arch and Bond Street tubes -- just hop on a bus if you don't want to stroll). Fab-looking store to browse in, with great clothes franchises, excellent homewares and irresistible food hall.

At the southern end of Regent Street, you come out in Piccadilly Circus, with the statue of Eros in front of you and all the lighted billboards.

From here, you can head west, up Piccadilly itself (a hairpin-turn from Regent Street) and stroll to Fortnum & Mason's, in its delicate pale green livery. It has some of the best window displays in town, plus some of London's most superior edibles. (More going-home prezzies!) Round the back of Fortnum's is Jermyn Street -- top-class menswear boutiques and tailors... real old-school London shops, lovely to wander by.

You'll also find lots of art galleries along Piccadilly, clustered around the Royal Academy. It's worth checking the RA's website to see if you're interested in any of its current exhibitions (many are free): http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/events/  

In the opposite direction to Piccadilly, it's an easy walk through Leicester Square towards Covent Garden. You cross Leicester Square on its northern side, past Haagen Dazs, and just keep going.

The next junction is Charing Cross Road (theatres and amazing bookshops). If that doesn't appeal, cross the road to Great Newport Street (past the Arts Theatre). Don't blink: this is a short street and almost immediately you come to a crossroads where it changes to Long Acre. This street has stacks of designer fashion boutiques and is also your quickest route to Covent Garden. When you come to Covent Gdn tube station, turn right and you're there.

If you want more designer clothes, jewellery etc, don't miss Floral Street. This little alley runs parallel to Long Acre and is home to Paul Smith, Diesel, Ted Baker, Nicole Farhi and stacks more. If you have the time and money, the Sanctuary spa is also here. =)

Here's Floral Street on multimap's site: http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=WC2E+9E... The best way to find it if you're not really familiar with the area is to turn right by Covent Garden tube as if you were going straight down to Covent Garden market. The next street you cross is Floral Street.

And you already know that Covent Garden is great for shopping. The old market (now called Covent Garden Piazza) houses lots of boutiques, arts and crafts stalls and eating places. And the London Transport Museum and Theatre Museum are also here, if you fancy a break from shopping.

If you want a spot to eat a picnic, do as lots of locals do and take your lunch into the garden of St Paul's church (the "actors' church"). This is the church whose columned portico faces onto the piazza. You'll find little side entrances from Henrietta Street and King Street. Here's the pretty view of the garden from its main entrance on Bedford Street. http://www.actorschurch.org/sharedassets... Such a peaceful place to find in such a busy corner of the West End... =D

The scary thing is I've hardly scratched the surface with my selection above... but at least you now have lots of tasty ideas.

I hope you have a wonderful time here --

love from a Londoner born and bred.

Answer 3

Camden Town Markets

Answer 4

Might not be your thing, but if the weather isn't nice and you don't want to spend too much in London you could go to one of the museums.

The natural history museum is great for ALL ages. It's free, but you can make a donation if you want.

Answer 5

Elephant and Castle is a good shopping area, and used by the locals as well as tourists. Its quite reasonable prices and is near to the London Eye, Aquarium, St Thomas Hospital (though I hope you wont need that).http://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/...

Also heres another website.

http://www.londontown.com/shopping

Answer 6

http://travel.mapsofworld.com/england/lo...

That has all the major hot-spots in London.