The best sports shops in London

Lillywhites, initially established as a family-owned sports shop in the latter half of the 19th century, joined the Sports Direct group following financial challenges around the year 2000. Today it's still considered as one of the UK's premier sports retail outlets. Its flagship store at Piccadilly Circus occupies five levels of a historic building, providing a vast selection of budget-friendly sports footwear, athleisure clothing, outerwear, football kits and equipment, along with various accessories, all by top international brands.

Across the city, you can find many Nike shops, showcasing their globally-renowned range of athleisure and sporting goods. The flagship store in Oxford Circus even provides specialised services for runners. If you're in search of customised trainers, gait analysis, or simply want to replenish your gym bag with sports attire and accessories featuring the iconic Swoosh, this central London location is your go-to destination.

Wigmore Sports, located in Marylebone, specialises in racket-centric sports such as tennis, badminton, squash, among others. Boasting a collection of over 2,000 rackets from various leading brands for both adults and juniors, their expert staff are on hand to assist you in selecting the ideal racket tailored to your abilities, stature, and playing technique. Furthermore, the shop offers a range of footwear, apparel, and accessories for these sports, in addition to providing an on-site restringing service. This is definitely a sports store London tennis players should bookmark.

Decathlon is the leading sporting goods retailer in the world and its sports shops can be found at malls and retail parks around the UK. It also operates big standalone stores, including the London flagship in Surrey Quays. At these superstores, you can find gear and accessories for more than 70 different sports, from eternally popular ones such as football to more niche disciplines such as archery. Decathlon stocks both major global brands and its own products, and the Surrey Quays branch also has a workshop for sports-related repairs and care.

Ellis Brigham, a UK chain of outdoor shops, specialises in high-quality outdoor and mountaineering attire, along with winter sports gear for activities like skiing and snowboarding. They also cater to trail runners with a selection of essentials for the sport. You'll find several comprehensively-stocked Ellis Brigham stores throughout the city.

Founded in 1976 as a family-operated sports goods retailer, Euro Sports is now part of the Intersport group. It maintains its community-focused ethos and a reputation for friendly, personalised service. The compact sports store in Swiss Cottage is densely stocked with a wide array of sports equipment, gear, and accessories, serving the needs of both amateur sports enthusiasts and professional athletes.

New Balance, a leading international brand in sports footwear and apparel, has situated its global flagship store in the heart of London. This central hub in the city's famed Oxford Street is a go-to destination for a wide assortment of sporting essentials, including comfortable everyday trainers, casual attire, specialised sports equipment, and exclusive collections like the New Balance London Marathon range. New Balance outlets can also be found at various malls and retail parks across the capital.

When it comes to sports shops London gym rats won't want to miss out on, Gymshark is up there with the best of them. Established in Birmingham more than ten years ago, the growing sports brand is committed to creating comfortable and practical fitness apparel. With designs inspired by the founders' personal training and exercise experiences, their products are tailored for both ease of movement and style. The Gymshark collections encompass a variety of items from base layers to hoodies and jackets.

This boutique running store boasts an extensive collection of over 290 different types of shoes. They offer a variety of specialist brands like Zoot and Mizuno, alongside well-known names such as Nike and Adidas. Recognised as one of the UK's pioneering running shops, it also features an on-site sports clinic, where you can take advantage of their injury treatment and form coaching, engage in workshops and training sessions, and attend motivational talks.

Thanks to decades of crafting quality, fashionable apparel, Adidas has made its three stripes and trefoil logo synonymous with both urban and sports style. The brand's flagship store in London showcases a vast array of their products, ranging from trendy athleisure and trainers to specific sports apparel and training equipment. The sports store also features unique services like "endless aisle" browsing technology and trainer customisation.