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.
Sort by:
220 Recommendations
{{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }}
0 Recommendations
Loading...
-
1. Agent Provocateur
SohoCreated by punk fashion designer Vivienne Westwood's son and daughter-in-law, this line of lingerie in gorgeous fabrics, silks, latex, and lace tends toward the kind of risqué underwear that is both provocative and practical. The original boudoir-like shop is staffed by assistants in prim pink uniforms in what was Soho's red-light district, but the brand has gone a bit more mainstream and now also sells bathing suits, nightwear, jewelry, and luggage in multiple locations in Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Victoria, and Notting Hill.
-
2. B&W Thornton
Above Shakespeare’s Birthplace, B&W Thornton stocks Moorcroft pottery and glass along with Shakespearean figurines.
23 Henley St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6QW, England01789-269405 -
3. Barter Books
This extraordinary secondhand bookshop, set within Alnwick's former Victorian railway station, is a must-visit for bookworms, architecture lovers, and train geeks alike. Shelves galore groan with a mix of mainstream, niche, and antiquarian books, while visitors will also enjoy the open fires in winter, the comfy sofas and armchairs, the kids' corner, the excellent café, and the little toy train rattling along a track overhead. Barter Books was also responsible for the whole "Keep Calm and Carry On" craze, as the owners discovered the old World War II posters when converting the old station.
-
4. 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 -
5. Berry Bros. & Rudd
St. James'sNothing matches Berry Bros. & Rudd for rare offerings and a unique shopping experience. A family-run wine business since 1698 (Lord Byron was a customer), BBR stores more than 20,000 vintage bottles and casks in vaulted cellars that are more than 300 years old. The in-house wine school offers educational tasting sessions, while the branch at 63 Pall Mall has an excellent selection of whiskeys, cognacs, rums, and more. The shop has a quirky charm, and the staff are extremely knowledgeable—and not snooty if you're on a budget.
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
6. 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.
-
7. Book Hive
Considered by many to be among the best bookstores in England, the Book Hive has a rounded glass facade that gives you a hint of the treasures within. The three-story independent shop specializes in fiction, poetry, art and design, cooking, and children's books. Drop by, and you might stumble onto a book reading, cooking class, or other event.
-
8. Books for Cooks
Notting HillIt may seem odd to describe a bookshop as delicious smelling, but on several days you can't help but notice the aromas wafting out of the tiny café in the back of this cookbook shop, where the resident chef cooks a three-course set lunch for only £7, served from noon on Tuesday through Friday (it's first come, first served, so get there early). The dishes are drawn from recipes in the 8,000 cookbooks on the shelves. Just about every world cuisine is represented, along with a complete lineup of works by celebrity chefs. Before you come to London, visit the shop's website to sign up for a specialized cooking workshop in the upstairs demonstration kitchen.
-
9. Broadway Market
HackneyThis parade of shops in hipster-centric Hackney (north of Regent's Canal) is worth visiting for the specialty bookshops, independent boutiques, organic cafés, neighborhood restaurants, and welcoming community feel. But wait for Saturday (9–5), when it really comes into its own with a farmers' market and more than 70 street-food and produce stalls rivaling those of south London's famed Borough Market. Artisan breads, cheeses, pastries, organic meats, waffles, fruit and vegetables, seafood, and international food offerings: this is foodie heaven. There are also stalls selling vintage clothes, crafts, jewelry, and more. There is a smaller market on Sunday.
Broadway Market, London, Greater London, E8 4PH, England -
10. Bullring & Grand Central
City CentreThis huge dual complex consists of the Bullring, built on the site of a medieval marketplace, and Grand Central, based in Birmingham New Street Station; together they offer over 200 stores to browse. Don’t miss the stunningly curved architecture of Selfridge’s and its awesome food hall.
Between New St. and High St., Birmingham, Birmingham, B5 4BU, England0121-632–1526-Bullring -
11. Catching Lives Charity Bookshop
One of Canterbury's most photographed buildings (and that's saying something), this wonderfully crooked half-timbered house dates back to the 17th century. Inside, volunteers sell a wide range of secondhand and collectable books, with all profits going to the local homeless charity Catching Lives.
28 Palace St., Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DZ, England07899-458961 -
12. Chaucer Head Bookshop
This is the best of Stratford's many secondhand bookshops and a great place to pick up books on British history and travel.
21 Chapel St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EP, England01789-204330 -
13. Chester Market
This indoor market, near the Town Hall, has more than 50 stalls, including Chester’s only fishmonger. It's a great place to try local food delicacies. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 8 am until 5 pm (except for bank holidays), with late night hours (until 10 pm) on Fridays and Saturdays.
6 Princess St., Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 2HH, England+4-01244-973040 -
14. Church Street
The independent shops of Church Street, which leads off from the Cathedral green, are a delight to discover and sell everything from homemade cakes and vegan snacks to art and vintage clothing. It's a great place to browse.
29 Church St., Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 2LR, England -
15. Clive Sawyer Gallery
This open-plan gallery shop showcases the eye-catching fine art photography of Clive Sawyer. The larger framed images are printed using the ChromaLuxe process, making them richly colorful and vibrant.
-
16. Columbia Road Flower Market
HoxtonLondon's premier flower market is about as pretty and photogenic as they come, with more than 50 stalls selling flowers, shrubs, bulbs, and trees—everything from bedding plants to 10-foot banana trees—as well as garden tools, pots, and accessories at competitive prices. The stallholders' patter is part of the fun. It's on Sunday only, and it's all over by 3 pm. Columbia Road itself is lined with 60 interesting independent shops purveying art, fashion, furnishings (most of which are only open on weekends), and the local cafés are superb.
Columbia Rd., London, Greater London, E2 7RG, England -
17. 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 -
18. Covered Market
This is a fine place for a cheap sandwich and a leisurely browse; the smell of pastries and coffee follows you from cake shop to jeweler to cheesemonger.
High St., Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3DZ, England -
19. Crescent Silver
Jewellery QuarterIn the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, this shop sells a range of interesting silver jewelry and gifts. It currently stocks its wares at sales outlets at Highgrove (King Charles III's private home) and royal palaces.
-
20. Daunt Books
MaryleboneAn independent bookstore chain (there are additional branches in Belsize Park, Hampstead, Holland Park, and Cheapside), Daunt favors a thoughtful selection of contemporary and classic fiction and nonfiction. The striking Marylebone branch is an original Edwardian bookstore, where a dramatic room with a long oak-paneled gallery under lofty skylights houses the noted travel section, which includes not only guidebooks but also related literature and poetry. The Hampstead branch is strong on children's books.
-
{{ (numCurrentPage-1)*numPageLimit+index+1 }}.
{{ item.neighborhood }} | {{ item.first_keyword }}{{ item.review }}
{{ item.address }}{{ item.phone[0] }}{{ item.details.title }} Details
{{ item.details.content.toString() }}View Tours and Activities -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
No shopping Results
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Shopping in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
