For guests of hotels near Chiswell Street London, the shopping opportunities available in the English capital city are one of the many reasons why a lot of people book their holidays here. Whether it’s for mementos of the landmarks they’ve seen or that your entire trip is dedicated to shopping, London has played host to the biggest names in fashion for centuries.
But what about those quintessentially British brands and shops that you simply can’t find anywhere else? Louis Vuitton boutiques are scattered across the high streets of Europe, whilst Nike and Adidas can be found in almost every country in the world. There’s a certain Britishness to some of the shops in London that is often imitated elsewhere, but never equalled. This blog will outline some of the best English shops that Finsbury Square London hotel guests can seek out across the city.
Department Stores
Whilst you’ll find malls in America, Europe is well known for its department stores. With plenty to choose from in London, a bit of retail therapy can be as energising as the Montcalm spa.
Harrods
Famous for being once a royal-warranted department store and for being the largest in London, Harrods in Knightsbridge is so upmarket there’s a dress code! Expect plenty of brands and boutique fashion as well as a sumptuous menu of foodstuffs. The Harrods Hamper is an historically popular Christmas gift.
Liberty
Though its mock Tudor facade is often, well, mocked, Liberty still holds its own as an historic Soho department store. Opened in 1875, it’s most famous for its luxurious line of fabrics and homeware items.
Fortnum And Mason
Founded by William Fortnum in 1707, a footman to Queen Ann, Fortnum & Mason was originally launched as a way for Fortnum to resell the half used candles that his masters were so intent on replacing every day. Teaming up with his landlord Hugh Mason, Fortnum merged his side hustle as a grocer with the excess luxury goods from the Royal Family. The result was Fortnum & Mason, now a huge department store in Piccadilly selling foodstuffs, men and women’s clothing and homeware. Fortnum & Mason even claim to be the inventors of the Scotch egg!
Selfridge’s
Selfrdige’s on Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and is so iconic, they even made a TV drama about its founder Harry Selfridge. Responsible for bringing American consumerism to England, this high end department store houses some of the biggest brands in the world, spanning home electronics, fashion, accessories and homeware.
John Lewis
Another historic department store, John Lewis was founded in 1864 and though it might have branches in Australia and Dublin, it is most famous for its Oxford Street store, which had a royal warrant for Queen Elizabeth II for “household and fancy goods”. John Lewis isells luxury items and clothing, as well as electronics and accessories.
Supermarkets
Whether you’re a first time guest at the best hotels in London or it’s your hundredth time, everyone can agree that one of the funnest things to do when first visiting a country is exploring its supermarkets. Here are the ones you should visit in England.
Tesco
A great value supermarket, Tesco is the default setting for many Brits. Neither too cheap or too expensive, its focus on value and no frills ethos makes it an uninteresting yet handy supermarket.
Waitrose
A subsidiary of John Lewis, it’s unsurprising that Waitrose’s own brand range is the creme de la creme of English supermarkets. From fresh fish and bread to stellar wine lists, Waitrose is the special treat that everyone wants a taste of.
Sainsbury’s
Another default supermarket, Sainsbury’s fights for high street dominance with Tesco. Afterall, both have smaller outlets that bridge the gap between cornershop and large supermarket. You’ll find Sainsbury’s shops dotted all across London.
Asda
The great value Asda is known for its large sized outlets, often taking up thousands of square metres per supermarket. Asda own brand food produce is cheap as chips whilst its branded wares are sold at lower prices than competitors. Pair this with its back to school clothing and men and women’s clothing range George, and Asda has almost every base covered when it comes to day to day life.
Fashion
From the swinging sixties to Elizabethan England, London vies with Paris for rule over fashion. Below are some of the brands that England has produced.
Barbour
Another brand with an historic royal warrant, Barbour still is the outerwear clothing choice for several members of the Royal Family. That doesn’t mean it’s unapproachable though, well known for creating the classic British wax coated Barbour jacket, the brand has found a resurgence in recent years as an English winter and country staple.
Marks & Spencer’s
A great value department store that has its own luxury supermarket, Marks & Spencer’s clothes have in recent years shed their retiree affiliation and seen more and more young people don their wares. Classic, standard formal wear and partnerships with leading British designers has reinvigorated M&S with a new lease for life.
Fred Perry
Founded by the British Tennis player who won Wimbledon in 1936, Fred Perry is a well known staple of English fashion. The iconic polo shirts have given way to a whole range of stylish clothes and shoes, much of which can be found in department stores. But to truly experience the prestige of Fred Perry, one must stop by the Covent Garden outlet in Central London.
All Saints
Known for its gothic yet streamlined clothing, All Saints is a more modern, moody brand compared to the others on this list, but its roots in Harrods partnerships and its expansion into 27 countries shows just how popular its darker hued minimalism is.
Boden
Cheerful, upmarket and practical, Boden and Mini Boden for children is mostly focused on adult women’s clothing. Founded in the 90s, it actually operates more as a mail order business than a shop, making it even easier for international visitors to get a taste of its clothes themselves.
