England
We’ve compiled the best of the best in England - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop
Covent GardenThis landmark toy shop still carries on the tradition of its eponymous founder, who sold miniature theater stages made from richly detailed paper from the late 19th century until his death in 1937. Among his admirers was author Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote, "If you love art, folly, or the bright eyes of children, speed to Pollock's." Today the mesmerizing antique model theaters are expensive, but there are plenty of magical reproductions for less than £10. There's also an extensive selection of nostalgic puppets, marionettes, teddy bears, Victorian paper dolls, spinning tops, jack-in-the-boxes, and similar traditional children's toys from the days before batteries were required (or toys were even run on them).
44 The Market, London, Greater London, WC2E 8RF, England020-7379–7866 -
2. Blackout II
Covent GardenEscape the bustle of Covent Garden's Neal Street here at one of London's top vintage clothing shops. Its two small floors are overflowing with high-end vintage dresses, coats, suits, costume jewelry, shoes, and more from the 1920s to the 1970s. With that much to choose from, you'll be hard-pressed to leave without finding something to sharpen up your look.
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3. Covent Garden Market
Covent GardenEstablished in the 1670s as a thriving fruit, herb, and flower market, this popular historic piazza now has three separate market areas: the Apple Market, the East Colonnade Market, and the Jubilee Market. In the main covered area originally designed by Inigo Jones and known as the Apple Market, 40 stalls sell handcrafted jewelry, prints, clothes, ceramics, and crafts from Tuesday through Sunday, while Monday is given over to antiques, curios, and collectibles. The East Colonnade Market has stalls with mostly handmade specialty items like soaps and jewelry, as well as housewares, accessories, and magic tricks. The Jubilee Market, in Jubilee Hall toward Southampton Street, tends toward kitschy T-shirts and cheap household goods Tuesday through Friday but has vintage antiques and collectibles on Monday and handmade goods on weekends. Largely aimed at the tourist trade in the past, Covent Garden Market continues its ascent, introducing a more sophisticated image (and correspondingly higher prices) with the opening of upscale restaurants and chains in the surrounding arcades, including a huge Apple Store; beauty outlets like Chanel, M.A.C., and Dior; and boutiques for top brands like Mulberry and N.Peal. Don't miss the magicians, musicians, jugglers, and escape artists who perform in the open-air piazza; the performances are free (though contributions are welcome).
The Piazza, off Wellington St., London, Greater London, WC2H 7AR, England -
4. Foyles
SohoFounded in 1903 by the Foyle brothers after they failed the Civil Service exams, this labyrinthine family-owned bookstore and literary landmark is in a 1930s art deco building, once the home of the renowned art and fashion college Central Saint Martins. One of London's best sources for textbooks and the United Kingdom's largest retailer of foreign language books, with more than 200,000 titles on its four miles of bookshelves, Foyles also stocks everything from popular fiction to military history, sheet music, medical tomes, graphic novels, and illustrated fine arts books. It also offers the in-store Ray's Jazz (one of London's better outlets for music) and a cool jazz café. Foyles also has a branch at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre.
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5. Grosvenor Prints
Covent GardenLondon's largest collection of 17th- to early-20th-century prints focuses on views of London and its architecture and denizens, as well as royal, sporting, and decorative motifs. From master printmaker William Hogarth to English political caricaturist James Gillray, the delightfully higgledy-piggledy selection is hugely eclectic, with prices ranging from £20 into the thousands. Staff will happily ship globally; just note that it's closed on weekends.
19 Shelton St., London, Greater London, WC2H 9JN, England020-7836–1979Shop Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Liberty
SohoIts distinctive black-and-white Tudor-style facade, created from the timbers of two Royal Navy men-o'-war ships, reflects this department store's origins in the late Victorian Arts and Crafts movement. Leading designers were recruited to create the classic Liberty silk prints that are still a signature of the brand, gracing everything from cushions and kimonos to photo albums and stationary. Inside, Liberty is a wood-paneled labyrinth of rooms stocked with well-chosen merchandise, including niche beauty, perfume, footwear, and housewares lines such as Soho Home, which features furniture from the membership club. Clothes for men and women focus on high quality and high fashion, with labels like Rixo and Roland Mouret. The store regularly commissions new prints from contemporary designers, and it sells both these and its classic patterns by the yard. If you're not so handy with a needle, an interior design service will create soft furnishings for you. There's also a florist, a hair salon, a men's barber, beauty treatment rooms, a brow bar, foot spa, and a body piercing studio.
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7. Neal's Yard Dairy
Covent GardenMagnificent stacks of Britain's finest farmhouse cheeses fill the racks at this renowned cheesemonger and artisan cheese lovers' paradise off Seven Dials in Convent Garden. Ever pungent and matured on-site, browse the rare raw milk Stilton-esque Stichelton blue cheese from Welbeck in Nottinghamshire or the 65 other small-batch, British-made creations like Montgomery cheddar, Camembert-style Tunworth, and a lactic goat's cheese Innes Log.
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8. Paul Smith
Covent GardenBritish classics with a twist define esteemed fashion designer Paul Smith's collections for women, men, and children. Beautifully tailored suits for men and women take hallmarks of traditional British style and turn them on their heads with humor and color, combining exceptional fabrics with flamboyant linings or unusual detailing. Gift ideas abound—leather wallets, cashmere scarves, card cases, and distinctive belts and socks—all in Smith's signature rainbow stripes. There are several branches throughout London, in Notting Hill, Soho, Marylebone, and Southwark, plus a Mayfair shop that includes mid-century furniture.
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9. Retrouvé
DalstonThe carefully curated vintage clothing—for women, men, and kids, plus a limited range of jewelry and accessories—on sale at this atmospheric boutique is updated on a near-daily basis, meaning you'll be tempted by something new every visit. Alternations are free and can be turned around quickly. There's another branch on Broadway Market.
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10. Shakespeare Bookshop
Run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the Shakespeare Bookshop carries Elizabethan plays, Shakespeare studies, children’s books, and general paraphernalia.
Henley St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6QW, England01789-292176 -
11. The Tintin Shop
Covent GardenBefore there was Harry Potter, there was Tintin. Created by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé, the story of the fictional boy detective and his intrepid dog, Snowy, has been a cult favorite for generations. At this namesake shop devotees can find Tintin-related books, posters, T-shirts, metal and resin figurines, die-cast model airplanes, alarm clocks, and more.
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12. Caramel Baby & Child
Notting HillThis is the place for adorable yet understated clothes for children six months and up. You'll find everything from 100% cotton baby romper suits to a fab selection of floral dresses, gingham shirts, and handcrafted alpaca and merino jerseys, as well as twill, corduroy, and cotton pants. Kids’ accessories range from charming mittens and beanies to cool sunglasses and superchic hair bands and clips. A sister shop farther along Ledbury Road (No. 38b) offers moms the chance to buy clothing in a similar vein. Caramel also sells a small selection of children's books as well as decorative functional items like sleeping bags, lamps, and quilts. Prices aren’t cheap, but the quality is superb. Every Tuesday and Saturday, the shop offers a hair salon for little customers. There are also outlets in Selfridges and Harrods.
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13. Cartmel Village Shop
This fabulous delicatessen, famous for its award-winning sticky toffee pudding, is also a great place to purchase picnic provisions.
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14. Hamleys
SohoWhen British children visit London, this institution—the oldest toy store in the world—is at the top of their agenda. Its six floors hold 50,000 lines of the latest dolls, soft toys, video games, and technological devices, as well as old-fashioned items like train sets, Subbuteo soccer games, drum kits, and magic tricks, plus every must-have on the preteen shopping list (some parents may find the offerings to be overly commercialized, as they're heavy on movie and TV tie-ins). Hamleys is a bit of a madhouse at Christmas time, but Santa's Grotto is one of the best in town.
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15. Herdy
The Lake District's mascot, Herdy is a smiling Herdwick sheep, and his flagship store in Kendal sells attractive clothing and homewares featuring the character and/or made from Herdwick wool.
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16. Rachel Riley
KnightsbridgeSpecializing in traditional English style for boys and girls, Riley's luxurious, vintage-inspired collection includes classics like duffel coats and hand-smocked floral dresses. Mothers who love the Riley look (including the Duchess of Cambridge, who has put her royal offspring in Riley clothes) can pick up 1950s-inspired coordinating outfits for themselves here or at the Marylebone High Street location.
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17. Stanfords
Covent GardenWhen it comes to encyclopedic coverage, there is simply no better map and travel shop on the planet. Trading in Covent Garden since 1853, Stanfords is packed with a comprehensive selection of travel books and travel accessories, as well as ordnance surveys, cycle route maps, travel adaptors, globes, replicas of antique maps, mosquito nets, and more. Even the floor is decorated with giant maps. Whether you're planning a day trip to Dorset or a serious adventure to the Kalahari Desert, this should be your first stop.
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18. Susan Wainwright
HampsteadIf you're looking for an alternative to the cheesy and the mass-produced, this eclectic shop packs loads of distinctive, stylish, affordable gifts into a small space. The assortment includes handsome gloves and fake-fur accessories, handmade silver jewelry, tweed travel blankets, cashmere shawls, leather handbags, comfy yet attractive cotton robes and pajamas, natural-fiber baby and children's clothes and accessories, retro toys, sophisticated stationery, specialty creams and lotions, and flasks and leather goods for him. Best of all, prices are reasonable.
31 South End Rd., London, Greater London, NW3 2PY, England020-7431–4337 -
19. Taylors Deli
If you're planning a picnic, Taylors Deli has everything you need. There are tasty cakes, pastries, and other snacks, as well as great tea and coffee.
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20. The Armoury of St. James's
St. James'sBesides fine toy soldiers in lead or tin representing conflicts ranging from the Crusades through World War II, with prices starting at £15 and going into four figures, this quintessentially British shop has regimental brooches and drums, historic orders and medals, royal memorabilia, and military antiques.
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