|
Home
Up
London hosts 2012 Olympics
| |
London Hotels
London Theaters
Tours
HOT SPECIAL OFFER
Central
London hotel at a very special rate!
3
Stars from 27.50 pounds
per person in a double room
This offer is subject to availability and can be withdrawn without prior
notice.
please note that our special rates change from day to day so please e-mail or call us to provide you with the best guaranteed discount.
Shopping Tips
When
to shop - Most London stores and shops open by 09:30 and close at
17:30 or 18:00 from Monday to Saturday, although Covent Garden shops are
usually open until 20:00. It is rare for shops to close for lunch. Late night
openings differ from area to area e.g. Wednesday for Knightbridge and Thursday
for Oxford street and Regent Street. A large number of London stores are now
open on Sundays-usually for 6 hours, from 11:00 to 17:00 or 12:00 to 18:00.
|
How
to pay - Major credit cards (American Express, Visa, MasterCard
etc) are accepted in the majority of London stores. Travelers cheques are accepted in some shops and some of the large
stores have their own bureau-de-change. There are also bank branches
located throughout the major shopping areas.
Traveling
around - London's extensive underground and bus network
provides easy access all around the capital. For details call London
Regional Transport 0207
222-1234.
|
 |
Tax
Free Shopping - Most major stores and shops in the West End are part
of the Tax Free Shopping scheme. The refund scheme applies only to people who
are resident outside the European Union. Make sure the shop where you purchase
the goods is part of the scheme; there may also be a minimum spending limit.
In total, you get back 14.89% of the purchase price, less an administration
charge. The 14.89% represents the purchase price exclusive of VAT. For further
information on how to reclaim tax, call Tax Free Shopping on their free phone number 0800 829-373.
Where
to shop?
Each of
London's shopping areas has an atmosphere of its own as well as its own range
of shops and stores which makes that street special. On a short visit to
London choose one or two areas to explore. For those who know London well it
is easy to go to the same places - so try something different. Here are some
of the characteristics of London's shopping areas.
Bond
Street
Bond Street was
once home to the Regency Dandies and is now an enclave of designer fashion, jewelers
and art galleries. The street is enjoying a renaissance as stores
and shops invest in greater and grander premises.
 |
Covent
Garden
At the end of
the century Covent Garden was a crowded, colorful and bawdy fruit and
vegetable and flower market. After a period of decline the refurbished
market buildings have revitalized the surrounding area, making it one
of the liveliest in London for shopping, eating and entertainment.
This is a fascinating area with a crafts market and many different
shops and stores in the market building and side streets. Street
performers provide a lively accompaniment to shopping and eating seven
days a week.
|
Kensington High Street
Kensington High
Street really comes alive on Saturdays when young Londoners head for the
market and the fashion shops. Kensington Church Street running between
Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate is home to many wonderful antique
shops.
Knightsbridge
Once a village,
Knightbridge is home to two of the most famous department stores in London,
Harrods and Harvey Nichols, along with several top designer boutiques.
Exclusive Sloane Street is lined with the ultimate in high fashion, with all
the popular designer "names".
Oxford
Street
Europe's most
famous shopping street hardly needs any introduction but it is always
changing. Selfridges, Marks & Spencer and dozens of other stores and shops
have invested millions of pounds to provide elegant and comfortable shopping
surroundings. Most high street names can be found on Oxford Street.
Piccadilly
- Jermyn Street
In Piccadilly,
Simpson - home of elegant fashion - is almost next door to the culinary
pleasure of Fortnum and Mason. The fantastic Georgian architecture of the
Burlington Arcade on the north side houses elegant shops and is policed by the
famous Beadles.
For 300 years Jermyn
Street (to the south) has been the smartest of London's shopping areas serving
royalty and the upper echelons of the aristocracy. Today Jermyn Street is home
to a standard of craftsmanship and quality rarely seen. It boasts a variety of
merchandise from handmade shoes and shirts, to perfume.
Regent
Street
The graciously
curved Regent Street may once have been quite staid but today Warner Bros.,
Levi's and Liberty sit comfortably together. Cashmere. China, jeweler and
Hamleys, the world famous toy shop, are all here.
West
Soho
Just to the East of
Regent Street is a throbbing shopping haven - West Soho incorporating trendy
Carnaby Street. Fashion and fun with a buzz. Pubs and cafes give this area its
special atmosphere.
| Dickens
& Jones |
224
Regent Street, London W1. Tel: 0207
734-7070.
 Knightsbridge
station
Open: Mon, Tue 10:00-18:30, Wed 10:00-19:00, Thur
10:00-20:00, Fri 10:00-18:30, Sat 9:30-18:30, Sun 11:00-17:00.
Since 1790 Dickens & Jones has maintained a worldwide
reputation for quality and service. Choose from a wonderful
collection of men's and women's fashion, accessories,
cosmetics and a spectacular decorative home department.
Dickens & Jones offers a personal shopping service for men
and women, as well as the unique women's personal beauty
studio and men's grooming studio.
|
| Fortnum
& Mason |
181
Piccadilly, W1. Tel: 0207
734-8040.
Piccadilly
Circus station.
Open: Mon-Sat 09:30-18:00.
Fortnum & Mason opened in 1708 and is famous around the
world for the food hall, on the ground floor. It has been a
royal purveyor of food for centuries and royalty from all over
the world are amongst their faithful clients. The store is
renowned for its hampers, preserves, sauces, mustard, tea and
spices which make excellent gifts. Clothing, accessories,
antique furniture are also important. Particularly exclusive
is the china, glass and silverware department.
|
| Harrods |
Brompton
Road SW1. Tel: 0207
730-1234.
Knightsbridge
station.
Open: Mon-Tue 10:00- 18:00, Wed-Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat
10:00-18:00.
An impressive building with 6000 m2 of selling space and
nearly 250 departments. Harrods is one of only a number of
establishments to hold four Royal warrants. It supplies
provisions and household goods to the Queen; china, glass and
fancy goods to the Queen Mother more and clothes to the Duke
of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales. Harrods probably has
under one roof than any other store in Europe. The variety of
goods is amazing. The famous Food Hall offers amongst other
things more than 150 whiskies. Cosmetics, fashion, men swear,
accessories, china and furniture are the best from Britain and
abroad. There are also restaurants, hairdressers,
dry-cleaners, banking, insurance and many other services.
|
| Harvey
Nichols |
109
Knightsbridge, SW1. Tel: 0207
235-5000.
Knightsbridge
station.
Open: Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri-Sat 10:00-19:00, Wed 10:00-20:00,
Sun 12:00-18:00.
Harvey Nichols has the reputation of being the most elegant
department store in London. The store, devoted mainly to
fashion and accessories, sells the best designer clothes for
ladies and gentlemen. There is also a highly selective choice
of china, linen and gifts.
|
|
| Liberty |
214-220
Regent Street, London W1. Tel: 0207
734-1234.
Oxford
Circus station.
Open: Mon-Wed 10:00-18:30, Thur 10:00-19:30, Fri-Sat
10:00-18:30.
Since 1875 Liberty has been synonymous with the creation of
original and unique designs. Famous the world over, Liberty in
the heart of London is a veritable treasure house of inspiring
and exciting products housed in Liberty's historic Tudor
building.
|
| Lillywhites |
Piccadilly
Circus, London W1. Tel: 0207
930-3181.
Piccadilly
Circus station.
Open: Mon-Fri 09:30-19:00, Sat 09:30-18:00, Sun
11:00-17:00.
No visit to London is complete without a visit to
Lillywhites. Established in 1863, Lillywhites was one of the
first dedicated sports specialist shops in the world. It set
standards of service and quality that were unsurpassed then,
and are still without equal. Lillywhites's store today is six
floors of the very latest sportswear, equipment and footwear
for women, children and men.
|
| Marks
& Spencer |
One
of Britain's best known retailers, has a number of stores in
London including;
Marble
Arch, London W1. Tel: 0207
935-7954.
Open: Mon-Wed, Sat 09:00-19:00, Thur-Fri 09:00-20:00, Sun
12:00-18:00.
Marble Arch / Bond Street station.
Pantheon, Oxford Street, London W1. Tel: 0207
437-7722.
Open: Mon-Wed, Sat 09:30-19:00, Thur 09:30-20:00, Fri
09:30-19:00, Sun 12:00-18:00.
Oxford
Circus / Tottenham Court Road.
|
| Selfridges, |
400
Oxford Street, London W1. Tel: 0207
6291234.
Marble
Arch / Bond Street station.
Open: Mon-Wed 10:00-19:00, Thur, Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat
09:30-19:00, Sun 12:00-18:00.
Oxford Streets most prominent landmark boasts seven floors
of shopping from top designer collections for men and women to
a Kid's Universe and Food Hall. Largest cosmetic hall in
Europe. London Tourist Board operates an information desk in
the store.
|
An information on this page has been extracted from a guide
for leisure and business travelers, published by
Heathrow express. |
|
Please
Contact LHRC for more info about hotel reservations,
tours, theatre tickets, travel info, rates, ...... and more.
Remember to call or e-mail
London Hotel Reservation Centre to check our latest
Special Offers,
available most days throughout the year! |
