Famous British department stores: Clarks (British brand shoes), Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and the UK’s First Store are renowned worldwide for their exquisite products and high prices.
Foris.89 is a perfume specialty store that sells exclusively British-made perfumes. Of course, floral scents are the mainstream, and besides perfumes for wearing, the most popular products are air fresheners for the bathroom. You can try the British scents and see how they compare to Parisian fragrances.
The British Shirt Store was established in 1898, and the quality and colors of the shirts are very stylish. The price of a shirt is around £45 to £55, and the shirts are displayed in green cabinets, making for a very pleasing sight.
Gentlemen's Goods Store: Being a gentleman is not that simple. Here you can see all the essentials for grooming, which will surely leave you in awe. The various tools for rinsing, spitting, washing the face, shaving, and applying perfume are lined up, and you will sincerely admire the meticulousness of British gentlemen.
Harrods is the largest and most upscale department store in Europe, covering 63,000 square meters with seven floors. The food department in the basement offers mouth-watering delicacies.
Bond Street is the ideal place to browse designer boutiques. This area is very tasteful, with all internationally renowned designers having stores here.
Regent Street is a shopping paradise for gentlemen and ladies, featuring the world’s largest toy store Hamleys, the porcelain store Wedgwood, and the cutlery store Mappin & Webb. The street is winding and connects Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. Compared to the high-end boutiques on Bond Street, this area feels more approachable. Many stores like Liberty and Hamleys have a distinctly British style, and nearby Savile Row has numerous high-end suit shops.
Oxford Street has many high-end shops, but those with a casual and relaxed style aimed at young people are more eye-catching. Here you can learn about the most prevalent fashion trends in London. Selfridges on this street is the favorite department store of Londoners. If you want to buy gifts that will surprise your friends and family, you can choose some items rich in British flavor, such as Wedgwood's exquisite bone china, Burberry's authentic clothing accessories, or some elegant perfumes. Oxford Street has countless department stores and street vendors, offering a wide range of choices.
Burlington Arcade consists of new and old sections. It is home to high-end brand stores from the UK and around the world and is well-known as a gathering place for fashionable shops.
Jermyn Street: Turning off from Piccadilly Street, you will find yourself in another time and space. The shops on Jermyn Street have been around for at least a hundred years, and it is not uncommon to find stores that are three hundred years old. Therefore, the buildings and shop signs are quite antiquated, with wooden windows showing a slightly worn but charming patina.
Flea Markets
Camden Markets are open Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 to 18:00. They offer a variety of antiques, handicrafts, clothing, and shoe stores.
Petticoat Lane is open on Sundays from 09:00 to 14:00. It is a gathering place for people of various ethnicities, focusing on clothing and household goods.
Portobello Road is open on Saturdays from 07:00 to 17:00. Once a haven for London’s hippies, it features many vintage clothing, jewelry, coins, and antiques.
Brixton Market is open Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 17:30. It offers many African and Indian fruits, handicrafts, and tapes.
Business Hours
Most shops in the UK are closed on Sundays, but they are open all day from Monday to Saturday, with most shops operating from 10:00 to 18:00.
Sale Seasons
London has two major sales each year, with summer discounts ranging from 30% to 50%, occurring from the fourth week of June to the second week of July. Winter discounts range from 40% to 60%, from Christmas to the end of January.
Currency and Banking
The currency unit in the UK is the pound, with 1 pound equal to 100 pence. The exchange rate of the pound to the Renminbi is approximately 1 pound = 12 Renminbi. You should not carry large amounts of cash to the UK but should make wise banking arrangements. Be careful in choosing your bank. Different banks charge different fees, so you should compare prices before opening an account to see which one offers the best service. The banking hours in the UK are from 09:30 to 16:30.
