If you’re looking for the best shopping experience in the UK then you should be heading for London.  Like Paris and New York, London is a great place to shop and has the best variety of shops and markets.

Most of the major international British Brands can be found in the popular shopping areas of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Knightsbridge. Those who have got some serious money to spend should head to New Bond Street and Sloane Street which is home to some of Britain’s most exclusive designer shops.

If you prefer independent smaller fashion shops and boutiques then Convent Garden is the place to head.  You can always enjoy a bit of street entertainment here which makes a nice shopping break.    Carnaby Street is another area to gravitate towards and offers a nice pedestrianised area with lots of unusual brightly painted shops.

If you’re a music fan and like to find rare vinyl records then you should head to Soho where you will find a number of shops covering all types of music.  Book lovers will not have to go far as Waterstone’s and Borders are found all over London .  For electrical goods you should head towards Tottenham Court Road and for jewellery Hatton Garden is a must.

If you’re after a bargain you should head to one of the many markets in the city. In north London you will find Archway Market which is open every Saturday and offers a huge variety of organic and speciality food.  As well as food you will find many market traders selling antiques and lovely items for your home and kitchen.  You will also find jewellery, books, music and pottery at Archway Market.  Camden Market is another market in North London which is open 7 days a week and draws in a mixture of people attracted by its reputation for ethnic arts, crafts, jewellery and second hand clothing.  Once of the biggest markets in North London is Wembley market which is only open on a Sunday – here you will find over 500 stalls selling everything from sportswear to lingerie and all electrical items.  This market is also popular for those looking for car parts and accessories.

The South London offers a mixture of markets.  Bermondsey Market is only open on Fridays 5am to 12pm but is the place for antiques and there you will find many dealers and collectors. Brixton Market is one of Europe’s largest Caribbean food markets and is open Monday to Saturday.  Greenwich market which is open from Monday to Saturday offers hand-crafted items including paintings and ornaments.  For quirky clothes and to see some of the up and coming fashion you should head for Gabriel’s wharf which is only Tuesdays to Sundays.

Portobello Road market is a vibrant interesting market which sells a large variety of items.  It may not be quite as large or lively as Camden but it is definitely worth a look.  Saturdays are the best days to go as all the stall holders are out compared to the week when its mainly fruit and veg.  On a Saturday you will find a large selection of clothing stalls from the usual clothing to more alternative clothing.  There are also a number of antique and second hand stalls selling a variety of stuff.

Wherever you choose to shop in London make sure you are wearing a comfy pair of shoes because there will be lots of walking involved.  You will be able to use the tube to get around of course but from my experience, once you have chosen your area you can spend all day walking around.  Just when you think you’re done another shop or stall catches your eyes, so be prepared and leave the stilettos at home!

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