Guide to shopping in London

When you think about shopping in central London your mind probably jumps to Oxford Street and Regent Street. This famous shopping area is best-known for big chains, luxury brands, and those mysterious American candy shops. If you want to avoid all that and find the coolest independent stores there's still plenty to check out around here - our shopping guide will help you discover them.

Dege & Skinner is one of the last remaining bespoke tailors on Savile Row and has been suiting up everyone from royalty to rock stars since 1865. Swing by to browse their range of sophisticated business suits, alongside unique items like opera capes and velvet smoking jackets, all crafted right there at No.10, with tailors spending up to 80 hours on a single piece. 

Under the Waterloo Bridge, this long-running outdoor book market is a London institution. Piles of paperbacks, secondhand hardcovers, and vintage prints make it the kind of place where you can lose an afternoon rummaging through all that there is on offer. It's cash-in-hand, unpretentious, and always a little bit romantic.

Even if you're not shopping, Liberty's Tudor-style façade is worth a visit. Inside, it's a design-led maze of fashion, homeware, and beauty, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and print. The store supports plenty of independent and sustainable designers, so it's as much about discovering new names as it is about heritage luxury.

The oldest hat shop in the world and still one of the best. Lock & Co. has been in business since 1676, crafting everything from silk toppers to soft felt trilbies. Whether you're royal, rockstar, or just after a perfectly cut bucket hat, it's a masterclass in slow fashion done right.

Home to over 200 dealers, Grays is an Aladdin's cave of fine jewellery, vintage watches, art, and antiques. It's all about the thrill of the hunt here — part museum, part marketplace — and a great example of how shopping secondhand can feel anything but second-best.

For the creatives, this Covent Garden institution is heaven. Stocking everything from sketchbooks to specialist paints and design materials, it has been a favourite among artists and students for decades. Staff are also extremely knowledgeable, so it's as much a place to get advice as it is to shop.

Family-owned since 1730, Floris makes elegant, old-world fragrances that feel very London. The wooden shelves and glass bottles are straight out of another era, and the staff will help you find the perfect scent. It's a quiet, refined antidote to the city's louder shopping streets.

Yes, it's a department store, where you can pick up all your favourite designer brands, but Selfridges is also a hub for circular fashion and sustainable retail. The 'RESELLFRIDGES' initiative gives pre-loved designer pieces a second life, and there's always something new happening — pop-ups, exhibitions, or cafés tucked between the fashion floors.

A London institution and the city's go-to spot for anyone who takes food seriously. Borough Market is packed with artisan producers, bakers, and cheesemongers, with the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling street food filling the air. Come hungry, because sampling is half the point.

Camden has always had a rebellious streak, and its shopping scene is no exception. You'll still find the odd big name on the High Street, but it's the independent shops and buzzing markets that make this corner of North London special. From vintage furniture and vegan fashion to handmade homeware and sustainable design, the area's packed with spots that put creativity first, and our guide lists some of our favourites.

Hidden in Coal Drops Yard, Kiosk N1C is a compact design store with a sharp eye for detail. Its shelves are filled with independent brands and one-off finds, like ceramics, stationery, art books, and lifestyle bits you'll want to take home immediately. A go-to for unique gifts or a quick browse between King's Cross coffees.

Niddle Noddle is a colourful boutique selling new and vintage children's clothes, handmade toys, and storybooks, all with an eye for design and sustainability. Most pieces are limited edition, and yes, there's a bright yellow slide in the shop. You might struggle to leave without a little something (even if it's technically not for you).

A North London staple on Upper Street, this family-run shop is full of character and has a mix of vintage and modern furniture, homeware, toys, and gifts. You'll also find a workshop out back where old pieces are restored and brought back to life. It's a go-to if you like your interiors with a bit of history.

This boutique champions vegan footwear and ethically made clothing from independent designers, with fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo. Everything here is carefully chosen, timeless, comfortable, and designed to last. It's conscious shopping, without the preachiness.

Set over three floors in Coal Drops Yard, Wolf & Badger is a modern marketplace for independent designers and slow fashion brands. The edit covers everything from clothing and jewellery to skincare and homeware — all beautifully made and often sustainably sourced. It's polished but approachable, and one of the best spots in King's Cross if you're after something unique that'll outlast the season.

An icon of Camden's alternative fashion scene, The British Boot Company has been fitting Londoners (and the occasional punk legend) with sturdy footwear since the 1950s. It was one of the first UK shops to sell Dr. Martens, and it's still the place for boots with attitude — from rare and vintage pairs to exclusive collabs.

Shoreditch has long been the cool kid of London's shopping scene — part boutique, part market, part treasure hunt. Expect an easy mix of streetwear, design-led homeware, and vintage gems, accompanied by plenty of cafés and a creative atmosphere to keep you going. Our guide lists some of the best places to browse and buy in the area.

Folk keeps things simple — think well-made, low-key clothing with just the right amount of polish. Their pieces are built to last, made with carefully chosen fabrics and a subtle design touch. The Shoreditch flagship stocks both men's wear and women's wear, while the Soho stores focus on one or the other.

Aida is the kind of place that feels like Shoreditch distilled, modern, independent, and full of easygoing style. Run by a family of sisters, it's part fashion boutique, part coffee hangout, stocking emerging labels, homeware, and art. Perfect for picking up a new favourite shirt, then staying for an oat flat white.

Goodhood is a Shoreditch institution, a sharp, design-forward store mixing global streetwear labels with cool homeware and lifestyle gear. It's the sort of place where you go in for a T-shirt and come out with incense, enamel mugs, and a new favourite hoodie.

A London icon, Columbia Road Flower Market transforms this little East End street every Sunday into a riot of colour and scent. Dozens of independent traders line the road selling everything from wild bouquets to potted succulents. Grab a coffee, pick up a bunch, and soak up the neighbourly buzz.

Housed in a converted Shoreditch pub (with other locations in Marylebone and in Dover Street Market), Labour and Wait is a love letter to utility and good design. Inside, you'll find enamel mugs, cotton aprons, and timeless household tools that make the everyday feel special. Everything is built to last — simple, functional pieces that turn practicality into an art form.

A Shoreditch staple, Brick Lane Vintage Market is a goldmine for fashion hunters. Spread across multiple stalls, it offers everything from 1920s dresses to '90s sportswear and classic Levi's. Whether you're after something rare or just browsing, it's one of the city's best spots for pre-loved finds.

Part curiosity shop, part charity project, Hoxton Street Monster Supplies sells “everyday essentials for monsters” — think tinned fear, werewolf coffee, and marshmallow brains. It's delightfully odd and supports the Ministry of Stories, a creative writing charity for kids. Ghoulishly good fun, all for a good cause.

Just off Brick Lane, Atika is a vast vintage department store packed with rails of reworked and original pieces from the '70s to '00s. Expect classic brands like Levi's and Nike alongside small independent designers, homewares, and art books. A one-stop shop for retro lovers.

Over on Broadway Market, 69b Boutique champions independent labels that do things the right way — responsibly, beautifully, and with minimal waste. Expect clean, contemporary fashion for men and women, plus a few stylish extras like dog accessories and eco-conscious gifts.

This Shoreditch mini-department store feels part boutique, part cabinet of curiosities. Luna & Curious is a collective space where you'll find womenswear, jewellery, kids' toys, and thoughtful homeware, all chosen for their craftsmanship and charm. A fun stop for creative gifts and design inspiration.

Brixton Village and Market Row are loud, crowded, and brilliant. You'll find vintage shops, fabric stalls, houseplants, and secondhand bits crammed into every corner. There's also a global food scene happening inside — jerk chicken next to Ethiopian coffee next to vegan noodles. It's messy, colourful, and exactly what you want from a London market.

Lowie in Herne Hill is one of those neighbourhood boutiques that does everything right — cheerful colours, well-made clothes, and a proper focus on sustainability that doesn't feel performative. Everything is made using low-impact techniques and upcycled fabrics, and they offer free repairs for life. It's bright, unfussy, and quietly cool.

Persepolis is part deli, part café, part organised chaos. It's packed floor-to-ceiling with Persian ingredients, pickles, nuts, and colourful tins you'll want for the labels alone. There's also a tiny upstairs café doing veggie meze and sweet tea. It's a bit mad in the best way — and that's exactly why people love it.

Bookmongers has been around long enough to feel like part of Brixton itself. The secondhand shelves are piled high with everything from battered paperbacks to first editions, and there's usually a dog snoozing by the door. It's the sort of shop you can lose half an hour in without trying.

Part shop, part gallery, part café — Deptford Does Art brings together local designers, craftspeople, and artists under one roof. You'll find ceramics, jewellery, prints, and the odd zine worth taking home. The space hosts regular exhibitions and events too, so there's usually something new going on.

Greenwich Market is packed with small traders selling jewellery, prints, vintage clothes, and crafts, alongside some excellent food stalls for when you get hungry. It's one of London's more polished markets, but still full of personality — a solid weekend stop if you're after gifts or just want to browse.

D.A.Y Boutique in East Dulwich keeps things simple — clean lines, soft colours, and a well-edited mix of clothing, accessories, and lifestyle pieces. The vibe's very “I woke up like this” minimalism, but the team behind it are all about small, sustainable brands. It's calm, grown-up, and quietly confident.

Roullier White in East Dulwich is part perfumery, part interiors shop, and full of beautiful things you probably don't need but will absolutely want. The fragrance range is huge — think cult brands and niche names — with shelves of glassware and home accessories tucked in between. It's independent London at its best.

Casbah Records in Greenwich is exactly what you want from a record shop: stacks of vinyl, slightly chaotic shelves, and staff who know every B-side ever released. There's everything from classic rock and soul to cult soundtracks and the odd rare pressing. No playlists, no algorithms — just good music and good chat.

Notting Hill is arguably one of the top places for shopping in West London, full of exclusive boutiques as well as the famous Portobello Road market. Although you'll find great spots around here to shop for fashion, books, and homewares, the area has long been known as a top place to shop for antiques. Find out more about shopping in Notting Hill with our guide.

If bookshops were churches, Daunt in Marylebone would be a cathedral. The wood-panelled rooms and stained glass windows have barely changed in a century, and the travel-by-country layout gives it an almost obsessive order. You'll find people lingering here, browsing for hours, and walking out with more books than they planned.

Portobello's Honest Jon's has been around since the late '70s and still feels like the real deal. You'll find a mix of soul, reggae, jazz, and obscure oddities in the racks — the sort of place where the staff actually know what they're talking about and will happily argue over which pressing sounds better.

Once an Edwardian picture house, now a sprawling antiques emporium. The Old Cinema pulls in dealers from across the country, so the stock's always changing — mid-century furniture next to art deco lighting and the occasional bit of Hollywood kitsch. It's one of the few places where vintage still feels fun.

This Notting Hill townhouse holds two shops under one roof: womenswear upstairs, menswear below. Both have the same approach — labels you've probably never heard of, but will immediately want to wear. The vibe's clean, understated, and quietly cool, somewhere between Tokyo and Hackney.