London's shopping scene should keep you and your credit card busy. With over 30,000 stores from high-end labels to vintage fashions for just a few pounds from a market stall, and the Designer Sale UK and London Fashion Week-End just round the corner, you'll be leaving London looking damn good and with a lighter wallet.
From top: Shopping in Knightsbridge, 'Portobello Road' bag, shoe shopping in Soho and Spitalfields Market.
The city that gave the world the mini skirt, punk and Alexander McQueen continues to bubble over with excellent fashions, from in-the-know East End boutiques to the world-famous Selfridges. The sheer variety on offer in London's thousands of shops is hard to imagine. If you can't find something here, it probably doesn't exist.
London's central shopping street is Oxford St; so long it has four different tube stations on it. Nearby Convent Garden is similarly funky. Try the stores in Floral St, Shorts Gardens, Carnaby St and Neal's Yard for a taste of how hip the neighbourhood really can be. Upscale shopping happens further west - head to Knightsbridge or Sloane Square if you want designer clothing or to experience London's justly famous department stores. Chelsea, Islington and Kensington are the top places to head for antiques. Half of the city's youth would be naked if it wasn't for the vintage stores dotted around Camden and Portobello Rd. Try Soho for music and funky clothes.
If retail is therapy, then London is a great big sympathetic couch. Here are just some tips to get your shopping spree started. Enjoy!
The best stores cater specifically for the gay market includes Gay's the Word (London's classic gay bookstore), Prowler (the fun lifestyle hub that's the gay department store) and American Retro (fashion boutique cum gift shop).
Check out Poste (ridiculously cool shop for boys who like good shoes), Top Shop (experience the original), Austin Reed (classic British designer with high quality clothes), Duffer of St George (the meisters of London menswear), FCUK (in-your-face chain leading the way in street-chic style) and Paul Smith (the best of British classics with innovative twists).
For department stores lover, go straight to Selfridges (the funkiest and most vital one-stop shops), Marks & Spencer (more people buy their underwear here than anywhere else in Britain) and Harvey Nichols (have an afternoon tea on the famous 5th floor).
A delightful slice of city life can be experienced at London's markets such as Camden Market (one of the city's top tourist attractions), Portobello Rd Market (the most famous street market after Camden) and Spitalfields Market (London's premier market for those in the know).
Sharpen your elbows and fight your way through racks of designer gear, from Valentino to Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Ghost, Kenzo and loads more! Designer Sale UK has established itself over a decade as a popular way to buy designer gear - from offbeat to classic items - at prices discounted by 80-90 per cent off standard retail prices. It is held five times a year at Brick Lane, in trend-setting East London. Jot down these dates for true bargain shopping: 16-19 September, 28-31 October and 2-5 December 2004. More @ www.designersales.co.uk
London Fashion Week-End invites the fashion-savvy public to take part in the glamour of London Fashion Week and snap up style tips and bargains. From 23-26 September, you can explore the collections of over 100 designers at reduced prices just hours after the trade show finishes. It takes place in front of the Duke of York's Headquarters on the King's Road and offers four days of pure retail bliss. More @ www.londonfashionweek.co.uk
Let's Go Camping
From top: Gay camping group - Freedom Club - boasts camping and caravanning meets far and wide across the UK, Paul Smith's London, Sugarbabes performing, Soho Hotel and fine eats in the city.
Their main aim is to provide a means for gay people to meet together in gay friendly settings where they can get on with the matter at hand - living outdoors for a few nights. While it may not be some people's cup of tea, it's certainly a more budget approach to going on holiday and hooking up with like-minded people. More details at www.freedomclub.co.uk
Introducing Paul Smith London
Introducing London, the new fragrance for men and women by Paul Smith, the quintessential British designer. This deeply sensual and spicy-licious collection comes with exotic twists of the unexpected. The curviness of the apothecary bottle is accentuated by the jewel-rich coloured glass - beautiful yet bold. After all, this is Paul Smith.
To celebrate the launch, VisitBritain and BeauteOne give you a chance to win a Paul Smith fragrance hamper. All you need to do is to join the VisitBritain Club from now until 12 Oct 2004. You will get up-to-date information on what's happening and loads of travel tips. And it's free to join.
More of Paul Smith's fragrance @ www.beauteone.com
* Conditions apply. Prize is non-transferable, non-redeemable for cash and non-extendable. VisitBritain reserves the rights to adjust, alter or amend conditions at any time without prior notice.
British Tidbits, Anyone?
The right hairdo can get you noticed and the wrong hairdo can destroy your credibility! Okay, so maybe we are exaggerating, but hair is a tribal thing for all queens. Prepare for possibly one of the girliest day out at the Natural History Museum in London where Hair - The Exhibition is on from now to 26 September. More @ www.nhm.ac.uk/hair/
Keen to stay at some unusual and quirky places? You can with Distinctly Different, whose new website offers buildings converted from other uses into bed & breakfast and holiday home accommodation, all over the country. The buildings include a watermill, school, assorted forts, castles and exotic outbuildings. Prices are 35 per person per night on average. More @ www.distinctlydifferent.co.uk
Some of the best seats at London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will cost just 10, thanks to a sponsorship deal with Travelex. 100 top price stalls and stalls circle tickets will be made available every Monday, one-and-a-half hours before a performance. More @ www.travelex.royaloperahouse.org
For BritMusic lovers, check out VisitBritain's new website dedicated to rock and pop music. It features famous British bands, details of 'must see' music festivals, favourite cities for music lovers, and music trivia and competitions offering festival tickets as prizes. More @ www.visitbritain.com/music
The hippest hotel we most want to stay right now is The Soho Hotel, the first "deluxe hotel" to open in London on 22 September. The interior is designed in a fresh, modern English style and will comprise 85 bedrooms and suites, 6 private apartments, 2 drawing rooms plus a fully equipped gym with 2 beauty treatment rooms and a personal trainer on-site all-day. Its restaurant and bar call Refuel is going to be ground zero for fashionistas and musos when it opens its doors. More @ www.firmdalehotels.com
From 1 October, the Manchester Food and Drink Festival celebrates the city's culinary status in style. It's undoubtedly one of the largest of its kind in the country, over 100 venues across the city host the 11-day numerous gastronomic events, aiming to suit all ages, palates and pockets and to demonstrate the range of excellence and diversity within the city's food and drink scene. More @ www.foodanddrinkfestival.com
Go London For Free: The Winner
Congratulations to Allan who has won a free trip for two to London inclusive of return air-tickets and two nights' stay. You guys are guaranteed to have lots of fun in this fabulous city. Enjoy!
VisitBritain would like to thank all of you who have entered our GO LONDON FOR FREE competition by registering our VisitBritain Club. You will receive information on what's up and coming in Britain to help you to plan your next visit.
Look out for more free-to-enter competition on www.visitbritain.com/sg bi-monthly!
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