Weekend in London-Where to go?

Chuchoter

I'm going to London soon and I intend on doing an obscene amount of shopping. I want to get stuff you can't get here (like no Topshop or River Island and whatever, unless its vastly less expensive or something). I like really unusual stuff, but not tacky goth stuff :P. I've never been to London before, but whats the best itinerary when I get there?

appleb

Most def the bottom floor in Top Shop in Oxford Street. i literally go over a few times a year just to shop there. Its a shoppers heaven:)

fillefatale

blogs are the best places to get ideas, and time out london.

a quick google search yielded:
this
Time Out Guide
London Town

it depends on what sort of shopping you want? high street? boutique? car boot? independent designers?

enjoy! i'm jealous, i had hoped to get there before the summer was out!

LadyMayBelle

Definelty recommend the bottom floor of Topshop Oxford Street!!

I'm over in London, so tell me what you want!!

High Street and mad panic and stress = Oxford Street. Personally not for me, but if you're up for it.
There are some smaller lovely boutiques on Carnaby Street.
The Camden markets: more of those indie/floaty/50's dress you could shake a stick at including AA, All Saints and H+M
Portobello Market: pretty dresses all floaty light and smaller boutiques

The big shopping centre are Westfield near Shephards Bush

Chuchoter

I know I'm going to try covent garden and camden market anyway. I'm looking for something kind of like Temple Bar? Where its mostly little boutiques/second hand shops with a few chains like Urban Outfitters thrown in. I can't go anywhere very expensive either, like Topshop is generally too expensive for me (€50 for a tshirt is never happening! :P) But if the Oxford street one is really good I'll have a look!

Fajitas!

Brick Lane at the weekend.

I personally HAAATE Topshop Oxford Circus. Although I liked it when I used to come over shopping for the day, but the fun wore off really quickly. It's so stressful, the way it's laid out, it's like a few massive rooms just full of rude people pushing and shoving. I'd rather go to the new one in Knightsbridge. If I want to go to any of those stores (Urban Outfitters, H&M etc) I usually go to Kensington High Street rather than Oxford Street. It's less crowded and just nicer.

I really like Camden and almost always pick up two or three nice dresses when I go, they do some really good deals as well. Last time I got a grey dress with lacy white underskirt, a red flowery tunic and a gorgeous scarf for £20, it's really worth bartering a bit. I'm not too pushed about Brick Lane, I don't find it as pleasant as Camden to walk around but there are some really good shops there. I got a few lovely vintage dresses and a satchel at Beyond Retro.

If you're looking for something like Temple Bar, Covent Garden has that kind of vibe, or Carnaby Street but both are quite upmarket and pricey.

Fajitas!

I find Camden way too touristy, and there's a lot of mass produced 'retro' gack on sale these days - Although I'm more on the lookout for vintage 'things' (cameras, bags, tins, boxes, gadgets...) moreso than clothes, so I'm sure I've skipped over some great stalls

Brick Lane can be hit and miss, but I'd prefer a wander there than Camden tbh - There's always a good curry and a few good art exhibitions too.

Oh, and +1 to hating shopping on Oxford St - But if you reeeeally have to go there, pop into the Gallery of Photography just off it

Fajitas!

Fajitas! wrote: »

I find Camden way too touristy, and there's a lot of mass produced 'retro' gack on sale these days - Although I'm more on the lookout for vintage 'things' (cameras, bags, tins, boxes, gadgets...) moreso than clothes, so I'm sure I've skipped over some great stalls

It is touristy but so is Brick Lane. Or anywhere, really. There are still lots of really nice vintage clothes in Camden if you root through, and lots of stuff that's mass produced but still pretty and affordable. For vintage 'things', it's not great at all. Maybe I need to give Brick Lane another chance. It was cool but I found it way too crowded, even moreso than Camden, and I tried a few curry places which were all awful. I did like the big outdoor seating areas and the artist studios/exhibitions.

Fajitas!

When the crowds descend, it gets crazy alright, get there early. Tbh, it is still best for clothes, Spitalfields up the road is better for 'things'. Portobello Rd is still my favorite for 'things' but it's fairly pricey!

There are some dodgy curry places too... Paying an extra pound or two and keeping an eye on the awards can pay off, but generally it's just down to recommendations! It can be a great place at night after the market too, but very pretentious... but then again, where isn't.

I never really find vintage clothes that I will wear, there's always a few bits, but nothing ever jumps out (except my super-kitch-two-toned-trench, which I'm still showing off...) which is probably why I've never gotten on well with Camden!

funnyvic

Camden and Carnaby street:)

LadyMayBelle

Brought a family member to Camden last week, just to show the them the buzz and couldn't get over the amount of Penneys stock that had tags ripped and stocked as vintage (and priced accordingly too!). I agree with Izzy Wizzy though, if you rummage around you will find some nice bits, particularly some f the stalls set up by the Japanese fashion students, some really lovely pieces to be fund in there I must say.

LadyMayBelle

LadyMayBelle wrote: »

Brought a family member to Camden last week, just to show the them the buzz and couldn't get over the amount of Penneys stock that had tags ripped and stocked as vintage (and priced accordingly too!). I agree with Izzy Wizzy though, if you rummage around you will find some nice bits, particularly some f the stalls set up by the Japanese fashion students, some really lovely pieces to be fund in there I must say.

Yeah there's a few stalls with gorgeous silk screen print vests and things like that, there's another Nepalese type one which has a lot of nice rings, earrings and scarves for dirt cheap.

beauty101

David + Goliath in Covent Garden is deadly + theres alot of cute boutiques/little stalls around there.

Carnaby St is good if you want unusual.

Also if you're looking for a shopping centre with EVERYTHING try Westfield..it has a Hollister too which you can't get over here.

For more mainstream you could go to Abercrombie on Saville Row.

No trip to London is complete without visiting Harrods..even if you buy nothing it's totally worth seeing + you won't be disappointed

jellie

Possibly more highstreet shops than youre looking for but have a look at the website for Westfield Shopping Centre - http://uk.westfield.com/london/ I was there last week, its quite good, doesnt really have many shops we wouldnt have over here but id prefer it to oxford street cause on oxford st it gets to the point where the shops start repeating themselves & westfield has all the shops in one place Easy to get to, the shepards bush overground and underground stops are at the entrance.

If you do go to oxford street definitely look in new look and topshop, both are huge, topshop in particular is enormous.

baby and crumble

I'd deffo hit camden if i were you, but keep your eyes peeled for cack that isn't worth what they're charging... I prefer camden lock to the main market, tbh but that's just me. Granted there's not so many clothes shops in the lock, but its great for accessories.

LadyMayBelle

And be stubborn!! You be hounded if you are caught as much as peeking at an accessory with "you buy, you buy, I'l give you god price for two". Just assertively say "No I'm just looking and I'm okay for help thank you" . Drives me nuts!!