Napoleon famously referred to England as a nation of shopkeepers. Two hundred years later, London remains one of the best places in the world to go shopping, and Christmas with all shops elegantly decorated it is the best time to browse around. All this plus the convenient Christmas sales starting before Christmas itself!
Here we present you with some London shopping Christmas destinations off the beaten track.
THE 3 CLASSY ARCADES: Burlington, Picadilly and Royal
Copyright Luxworldwide
These 3 elegant shopping arcades are based in Mayfair, not very far from Bond Street. They house several small and exclusive independent shops selling silverware, art, clothes, bespoke shoes and chocolate.
These arcades are the precursors of the mid-19th-century European shopping gallery and the modern shopping arcades, beginning with the Saint-Hubert Gallery in Brussels and The Passage in St. Petersburg, the first of Europe’s grand arcades, to Galleria Umberto I in Naples and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan
MARYLEBONE HIGH STREET
Copyright All about London
Being in Marylebone you will feel like you are in a small town of its own, along this quaint and elegant street with independents stores. You will find from home ware to fashion and food shops. This neighborhood, located between Baker Street and Oxford Street, it is also home of one of the trendiest restaurants in town, where you will see more than one celebrity walking by.
KINGS ROAD
Copyright Alamy
This shopping heaven located in Chelsea was at the counter-cultural forefront of London fashion during the Technicolor ’60s and anarchic ’70s. However, the last red-haired Mohawk punks shuffled off sometime in the 1990s.
Today King’s Road is more a stamping ground for the leisure-class shopping set. You will find posh shops and very well groomed neighbors with their pets snappily dressed.
NEAL STREET/SEVEN DIALS
Copyright: Trey Ratcliff
Neal Street and neighboring Seven Dials are located in the heart of Covent Garden, and you will find that when most Londoners say they are “off to Covent Garden”, they are talking about this area. Just around the corner from Covent Garden station and the madness of the Piazza, Neal Street is a haven for independent retailers and funky, youthful chains. It is particularly strong on hipster stores, urban fashion and the kind of free-minded indie store beloved by the media and creative set.
SOUTHBANK
Copyright: Southbanklondon.com
This area of London is an unusual and unique place to find your Christmas gifts. There is a surprising array of retailers to discover in this extensive area of south London and a perfect place to go for a romantic stroll following the river Thames path. In this so called Southbank shopping area, you will find from the artisan makers and designers in Oxo Tower Wharf, to gift shops in the major cultural venues and quirky stores in Gabriel’s Wharf as well as traditional Winter Market traders.
Still no knowing, where to stay whilst in London. Try The Caesar, a wonderful boutique and design hotel, just 1 minute walking distance from London’s Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland and best shopping areas.
