Whether it's time or money you've got to burn, London is one big shopper's playground.
And although chains and superstores predominate along the high streets, you're still
never too far from the kind of oddball, one-off establishment that makes shopping an
adventure rather than a chore. From the folie de grandeur that is Harrods to the frantic
street markets of the East End, there's nothing you can't find in some corner of the
capital.

In the centre of town, Oxford Street is the city's most frantic chain store mecca, and
together with Regent Street , which crosses it halfway, offers pretty much every
mainstream clothing label you could wish for. Just off Oxford Street, high-end designer
outlets line St. Christopher's Place and South Molton Street , and you'll find even pricier
designers and jewellers along the very chic Bond Street .

Tottenham Court Road , which heads north from the east end of Oxford Street, is the
place to go for electrical goods and furniture and design shops. Charing Cross Road ,
heading south, is the centre of London's book trade, both new and secondhand. At its
north end, and particularly on Denmark Street , you can find music shops selling
everything from instruments to sound equipment and sheet music. Soho offers an offbeat
mix of sex boutiques, records and silks, while the streets surrounding Covent Garden yield
art and design shops, mainstream fashion stores and designer wear.

Just off Piccadilly, St James's is the natural habitat of the quintessential English
gentleman, with Jermyn Street in particular harbouring shops dedicated to his grooming.
Knightsbridge , further west, is home to Harrods, and the big-name fashion stores of
Sloane Street and Brompton Road .

Opening hours
Opening hours for central London shops are generally Monday to Saturday 9.30am to
6pm, although some stay open later, especially on Thursdays. Many are now open on
Sundays, although hours tend to be shorter, from around noon to 5pm.

Department stores
Fortnum & Mason 181 Piccadilly, W1 tel 020/7734 8040. Tube: Green Park or Piccadilly
Circus. Beautiful and eccentric store featuring heavenly ceiling murals, gilded cherubs,
chandeliers and fountains.

Bookshops
As well as the big-name chain bookstores , most of which have branches throughout the
city, London is blessed with a wealth of local , independent and specialist bookshops.

Markets
Bermondsey (New Caledonian) Market Bermondsey Square, SE1. Tube: Borough or
London Bridge. Fri 5am-2pm. Huge, unglamorous but highly regarded antique market
offering everything from obscure nautical instruments to attractive but pricey furniture.