Initial reaction. My wife wanted to check this place out as she had seen on TikTok that this was the originator of Dr. Martens. Given her fondness and love for the shoes and boots (we also were married in them), she wanted to find a bonafide pair. She succeeded in finding a gorgeous red pair of boots. I liked their selection so much and was impressed with the discussions from the staff about the history and the craftsmanship, I came back to buy my own pair of shoes. They are magical. Easily located around the block from Camden Train Station where you can catch the Tube, if you love Docs, you need to check out the originator. read more

Wouldn't take back shoes deemed unsatisfactory that were purchased 2 days prior, unworn. Pricing outrageous, buy direct from companies like Solovair and save £70+ buyer beware. read more

Arbitrary pricing- so be prepared to pay more than anywhere else. Look on the Solvair or DM website (for made in England boots) first to see the real prices. Condescending seller. Do not recommend! read more

Horrible. I bought 1460 Made in England Doc Martens in 2023. I have barely worn them and they have completely fallen apart. I spent 300GBP and the response I got when I emailed was that I should have spent 500GBP. This is my fourth pair of Docs but first purchase from The British Boot Company and the ONLY pair of docs that I have owned that have fallen apart so rapidly. The British Boot Company does not stand behind their products. Be forewarned. read more

Legendary shop. If your looking for authentic British made footwear, this is the place.

Legendary shop. Bought a pair of proper docs for my wife. Nick is a Dr. Marten purist, very knowledgeable about the quality and history of this classic footwear, and his work pride and enthusiasm for carrying the real deal in the original shop truly comes across! He was attentive and helpful, even as the shop got busier after we entered. Treating every customer with equal respect, which was appreciated! As the saying goes "you get what you pay for." You might pay a little elsewhere, but If you want the real deal, this is the spot. Highly recommend! read more

British Boot Company - My wife with her new boots. - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

This shop is legendary! They specialize in "Made in England" shoes and boots by some of the best brands to come out of the UK. All new and most 20 years and over so you are getting brands like Dr. Marten when they were made in their prime materials and parts. The staff is engaging and very passionate about providing you with the best quality England has had to offer. Any of their 'Modern Dr. Martens' are exclusive lines only sold in this location! This means fining leather in most cases even if they are marked as 'Made in Thailand'. The expectations here are... * Legacy * Supports a family business that some would say was the first to sell brands like Dr. Martens! * The finest 'Made in England' shoes and boots from brands like Solivar, Grinders, and of course Dr. Martens * You will pay a premium for these new yet vintage treasures read more

British Boot Company - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

As long as this store exists I will remain a loyal customer. Nick, the owner is quite possibly the best shop owner I've ever interacted with! His patience with my indecision, lack of knowledge and especially my incessant questioning is impressive to say the least! He went above and beyond the call of duty to find me the perfect pair of boots.... and they are PERFECT! I'm thrilled with them. Not to mention that they got over to me here in California in record time. Look no further, this shop is THE BEST!! read more

British Boot Company - My new kicks! - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

Absolute legends and a pleasure to shop here. Nick and Colin (sp.? Sorry!) are super patient and kind, and the selection is unparalleled. Customer service is paramount here, which is rare these days! Will defo be back! read more

Great company and great service. Shoes are on the expensive side but very good quality so worth it.

this is the best place in london to get AUTHENTIC creepers. but beware, if you walk inside wearing modern dr. marten shoes, be prepared to be told a history lesson on the horrible practices and materials dr. martens uses to make their shitty modern shoe models. the owner nick is so incredibly knowledgeable about the shoes they sell and just shoes/boots in general and he will answer any questions you have. please support this locally owned place over a massive corporation that only cares about your money. read more

This store is a London landmark. Used to be called Holts back in the day, but it's more or less the same store. Wall to wall of subculture oriented footwear, Dr Martens, Solovair, Gripfast, Grinders, George Cox etc etc The selection here is massive and definitely the best of its kind anywhere in the world, but be forewarned, if you're going to buy run of the mill Dr Martens or similar, you're probably better off getting them elsewhere as the prices here are a bit higher for the basics. But if you're after a specialty made item, that is made in England, this is probably the only place that will have them, so the higher price might be worth it for you in order to get such an item. I've bought a few pairs here over the past decade, and even ordered online which I will say was excellent service, they shipped the shoes right away and used a good 3 day air courier service so they arrive fast for the fair price of shipping. read more

I absolutely love, love, love this gorgeous, fabulously British shoe shop! I've been coming here for decades, and they are the home of my first Doc Martens!!! This shop is a family owned and carry only the highest quality, and finest quality of authentic, British shoes! The business has been catering to customers like me over generations from the same lineage of amazing owners, Fabulously British, Nick, and Jim, the charismatic Scotsman! Nick explained that he's been there for 34 years, so I think that I must have first met him when he was a teenager!! Nick is super knowledgeable and really knows great quality shoes. He introduced me to high leather quality, Loake many, many moons ago, and they definitely are a handsome, durable and glamorous shoe! I just bought the most gorgeous pair of Chelsea Boots for a great value, at £210, which would sell on the high street to closer to £600, according to Nick! I don't doubt it, as Loake's are made in the same factory as Church's. It's a rather small shop, so be prepared for a tight fit (pun intended)! Come here to see some of the coolest Dr. Martens on the planet and give alms to Nick and Jim, the amazing, smart and talented shoe curators! They also provide VAT receipts so you can collect like 10-15% back at the airport if you are traveling from the US or abroad! read more

British Boot Company - Loake's are incredible quality, made at the same factory as Church! Authentically and Fabulously British! - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

1) This shop has an amazing selection of top quality footwear. 2) The Service was second to none- knowledgable, positive, and fascinating to discuss the neighbourhood with a genuine local. 3) This is a family business with over half a century in the community. 4) The dismal march of gentrification has almost choked Camdens' freewheeling spirit to death. 5) Where we spend our money matters - if this shop goes, the soul-less lizard kings win. 6) the shoes I bought are utterly beautiful read more

If you want to buy a pair of original Dr. Martens, this is the place to go. The shop is famous for being the first shop in the world to sell Docs. Bands like Madness , The Sex Pistols, Morrisey, The Clash use to shop here. Not only did the members of Madness used to buy footwear from these guys but they also featured the shop in several of their videos. The shop is quite crammed and everywhere you look there are thousands of boots and shoes. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly - they were so patient with me when I was trying boots on, lacing up my boots and and literally helping me choose the right style that would go well with my height, size, level of comfort etc. They don't fake it- they are professionals, they care about their customers and it shows. The shops has over 400 styles of foot wear ranging from Dr. Martens, Grinders, Cox Creepers to baby Docs. It's brilliant. read more

British Boot Company - British Boot Company Camden - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

These guys are great! Don't let the size fool you, the shop is loaded with boots and the staff is incredibly knowledgeable. There is a ton of culture and history here, and bands are constantly popping in to re-up their footwear. I got myself a pair of classic Pop Boys and couldn't be more happy. Proper boot shop. Will be back. read more

British Boot Company - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

I feel in love, well I become infatuated with these shiny maroon DM boots over the summer. This is Camden and there are scores of imitation DM's made in China around. This store sells the real thing and have been here for ages. I want those Boots. I wonder if they are still there. They were patent leather. read more

British Boot Company - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

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A tiny shop tucked away behind Camden Town underground station, this is undoubtedly one of the best places to get Doc Martens and other British lace-up boot brands (Grinders, Gladiators) in London. They are not the cheapest place (better than Carnaby Street, though), but they have a huge range of different styles and are very knowledgeable. They also have a small range of styles no longer being manufactured. Most of the staff are friendly and helpful, but being a small shop it varies a bit with the individual, and how busy they are. read more

If you need British boots, come here. They have them all, DMs, Solovairs, creepers, Loakes, monkey boots and more. The real deal too, not made elsewhere, but in England. Shops been there since the way back when and they know what they're talking about. Punks, skins, mods, and others that are needing honest leather for proper intent have all come here and continue to come here. The best in British footwear at the best place to buy it. It's a bit of living history in London. British to its bone. Do yourself a favor and stop by read more

Solovair Gaucho commando boots ! the dogs danglys , excellent service from these lads ! Will definitely use this company again. read more

The British Boot Company is one of the oldest shoe stores in the world, and it's certainly one of the best I've ever visited. This tiny shop is jam-packed with shoes and boots. There's something for everyone here. I have been wanting a pair of Dr. Martens since I was in high school, but for the longest time I couldn't afford them. Actually, I can barely afford them now, based on the high cost of EVERYTHING in London. But what better souvenir than something I can wear? My daughter and I saw some boots on the BBC website that we liked, so we make the trip to Camden Town to check out this legendary store. It's rather overwhelming inside the shop, because there is so much inventory. I was practically drooling over all the possibilities, but tried to remain focused. The staffers here were so nice and very helpful. The shop is very easy to find -- it's just steps from the Camden Town underground station on Kentish Town Road. Even if you think you're not a boot person, you should definitely stop by for a look. You probably won't be able to leave empty-handed. read more

Huge inventory and great guys working there. This is the first Dr. Marten store in London to my knowledge. They also sell Harringtons, I think, as well as Grinders (my preferred boots) This has been a stop on the musical history tour of Camden for decades. Do yourself a favor. Pop in and say hi. Pro Tip-- Hey Americans! Leave your drinks outside. Not allowed. read more

From the outside, you almost get the idea of a skinhead boot shop, the kind of shoes sold to people who like to stomp on pavements and wear shabby clothes.. and hell, maybe this was that kind of place 30-40 years ago when the punk and skinhead scene was so rife. However, the shop and the brutal Union Jack symbol remains (is it something wrong that alot of people look at this flag and think of skinheads? Probably just me). The shop itself does a huge line in boots, preferentially in Dr Martens ranges. The shelves are stacked high from roof to floor with heavy set footwear and you'd probably be needing a ladder of a telescope to surmount it all! The prices are quite expensive but the shoes seem to emanate toughness and quality. read more

British Boot Company - Shoe Stores Near Me - London, XGL

WOO-HOO!!! Just took delivery of another beautifully crafted pair of George Cox shoes from the one and only "BRITISH BOOT COMPANY", actually they were my fourth pair I had purchased in about a week and I still want more! This shop & staff deserves the highest of praise as nothing is ever too much trouble for them, you will find the staff there very helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and a pleasure to talk to, I spoke with Nick last time and we chatted about the old days of the 70's and 80's, We talked for some time about the shoes he stocks especially my favourites which are 'Robot'/'George Cox'. As an ageing Rockabilly myself and in my mid 50's, I still love to buy those same style clothes, and it's great to know that I can still purchase the same shoes and boots I had back in the 70's and 80's. The clothes shops in the Kings Road where I done most of my shopping are now long gone, but the shoes & boots are still available and it's all thanks to the "British Boot Company". I hope they will continue to thrive and still be there in another 20-30 plus years time, 'coz I'll still be buying my footwear from them! To Nick and all the staff I wish you all the success for many years to come! All the very best, Jess Parke, Penzance. read more

The Original DM store. Save your money and time, and visit the British Boot Company in Camden Town. This is the only shop to buy proper made in England boots. We were welcomed by very knowledgeable and hospitable and salesmen, whom took the time to ask the right questions and properly educate my son and myself on the history and craftsmanship of these boots. We will no longer shop for boots anywhere else on the planet. This place is world class, with quality craft, wonderful owner and sales associate. You'd be a fool to get your boots anywhere else! Thank you so much! We will visit again soon when we visit London to see family. Serendipitous read more

They have a huge selection & the prices were reasonable. The sales staff were friendly & knowledgeable. Love the Dalek in the window, it was wicked! read more

Best English boot store in the WORLD. We flew from USA to LONDON for boots. This place showed us quality beyond our expectations.

I bought a pair of hard to find Gripfasts for my boyfriend for his birthday. I had to return the shoes for another size. It took over 4 months for them to send me the shoes back. I kept emailing them and they kept telling me that they were sent and that it just takes a while to get through customs. In reality, they never sent them out! I dealt with SIMON, and he flat out lied to me on SIX different occasions in writing. I will be glad to share these emails with you. Don't use these guys! You can't trust them! read more

They may know their boots, but their customer service is appalling. Our experience was one we wouldn't like to repeat - total failure to help with less than satisfactory goods. Avoid. read more

Ive been using this fantastic shop for years.A great selection of very cool footwear and im not the only one who thinks so as last time i was there so was Mr Paul Weller! read more

Hello everybody, Foremost, sorry for my bad english, i'm not english, but i just hope that people could understand my message and won't have the same problem as i had with this shop. Few months ago, when i was visiting London with friends, i bought in this shop my solovair 165 pounds. I asked the price twice and I was told that it is this price. Then, when i returned in France, at home, i searched the shoes i bought on their site and i saw that the price i paid was wrong: i paid 165 pounds and not 145 pounds as written on their site, for exactly the same model of shoes. Thinking that it was perhaps an error, i wrote them several emails with the help of my english friend, and... I waited for a long time: no response. So, my english friend called them, and they finally told that the price written on their site was wrong, that the price I paid is ok, and... that's all, even i showed the proofs!!! And they very quickly deleted the reference i bought from their site just after my friend's phone call. Very strange, isn't it? Before knowing this, I expected to buy several pairs of boots in this shop later, but now, it is sure, I won't buy this sort of shoes from their shop, I'm very disappointed after all that. About the shoes i bought (solovair), i can't really judge, it is too soon. Advice: Save your money and look at their prices on their website before buying something in this shop. Also, be careful, do not to buy Dr martens shoes, they are very bad and have not the same quality as years ago (made in China, Thailand...), as you can see if you search opinions on the web. read more

Well, I have ordered online one pair of Grinders Bulldog Boots from them and, as many other customers already done, I can affirm Mr. Simon is a very professional and gentle guy. I have received my Boots at my postal address in Italy within a week from my order date and everything were right. At the end of the story, I have immediately provided to bookmark the British Boot Shop site on my web-browser. Alessandro read more

I live near so I bought my new boots directly from their shop. The price was OK and the quality (until now) is perfect. I hope they will remain in same condition the whole winter. read more

Brilliant. I had these shipped from the shop to Ferndale, Michigan USA. I ordered them Saturday morning and received them the following Thursday afternoon. Beautiful Robot Creepers that I can't find anywhere in the states. The cost with the dollar to pound exchange hurt a little bit, but with such great service, and the extraordinary quality of these shoes, I feel it was well worth it and I would do it again! Thanks British Boot Co. read more

Took my husband here for some wedding anniversary gifts in July, and I was blown away! The customer service was legit and the fellas REALLY know their product! Super nice people running this amazing store, and they're not pushy! Soooo many beautiful top quality shoes to browse through and choose from. Two shoes that were featured on the display wall by George Cox instantly caught our eye. They were absolutely gorgeous!!! We ended up walking out with a white leather pair of creepers on the first visit. We couldn't stop talking about the other pair which was a black and white limited edition pair of Robots by George Cox. After one week of being in Spain, we just had to go back for that shoe! To our luck it was still there hanging beautifully on display as it was a week ago. Without doubts we purchased the LAST PAIR of that limited edition beauty in the store! I couldn't leave London without having to stop by British Boot Company and not get them. Yes, this is an expensive store. However, not many stores carry REAL CREEPERS by George Cox. There is a place in Hollywood we could have gone to called Posers on Melrose. But it's double the price, and not the same selection. When we come back London next year, without a doubt we're gladly coming back for more shoes. If you want to whinge about the prices, then maybe you shouldn't come here. This is definitely a shop for a serious buyer looking for top quality. Thank you fellas for taking care of us and making my husband the happiest man with his two new George Cox's shoes! read more

Just awful - ordered a pair boots online, heard nothing for 10 days at which point I chased by email - email reply from "customer services" - I can't deal with this please phone the shop. I phone the shop to be told I have been "issued a refund as the boots were not in stock, they are now in stock and can be paid for over the phone..." Check with my bank - no refund - so another call to the shop to ask the boots to be sent out as they are a:in stock now and b:are paid for. "I can't do that says the guy from the shop - you'll have to email customer services..." Quick email to customer services asking for eiher a prompt refund or please to send out the boots and 5 minutes later I have a full refund. No apology, no effort, no boots. I hope it's a different experience in the actual shop otherwise they're not going to sell many boots. read more

This is an absolute gem of a shop and I truly hope Nick remains in business for a long time to come. We were visiting London and had just been in the Dr. Martens store up the street. I was looking for a pair of Chelsea boots and the Docs felt light and flimsy and overall cheap. Our teenage daughter said the place just felt wrong and flat out contrary to the spirit of punk and we agreed. I had read about The British Boot Company and so we headed there. Our experience was akin to that of the other glowing reviews here and elsewhere. I immediately found exactly what I was looking for in a pair of Solovairs. I tried two different sizes and seemed to fall in between. They showed me some other styles but I didn't like any of them as much. Meanwhile, our daughter was wearing a pair of Dr. Martens we'd bought at the Portland, Oregon flagship store a year earlier and which she'd worn virtually every day since. She wasn't looking for shoes even though we'd said we'd get her a pair in London. Nick explained that Dr. Martens were, with the exception of a few, no longer made in England as the company had been bought out by a Chinese conglomerate six years earlier and that they were made in mostly in China and Thailand; that they were no longer made entirely of leather and that's why they'd felt cheap to me. He brought out a pair of Solovair boots for her and she never took them off--she's been wearing them for a month nonstop. I believe it was Simon--the gentleman with the mohawk--showed her how to tie them "properly." In the meantime, Nick had worked an insert into the shoes I'd loved and when I tried them again they were perfect. By then my husband had decided he needed a pair, too. They threw in the inserts and shoe polish for free. Yes. We spent a fortune but the shoes will clearly last. As will the experience. Our day in Camden Town was our favorite day in London, in no small part thanks to the guys at The British Boot Company: their knowledge, service, and their stories about the store, the rock scene and their famous customers. We will be back! read more

My daughter bought black patent DM's from the Doc shop in Covent Garden back in the summer, loves them and is now living in Camden so decided to visit British Boot to check out the limited edition purple pair she is currently coveting. The guy in there immediately questioned the authenticity of the pair she had on, assuming they were fakes, and basically told her not to buy from the Doc shop or anywhere else. His prices didn't seem particularly competitive and his attitude was such that my daughter will now not buy from him. read more

I went into the store to ask whether they had any advice/products to help me look some new Dr Martens I had bought from elsewhere. As soon as a horrible excuse for a human being (an angry man, guessing it was the owner based on other reviews I have read) discovered that I had purchased my shoes from another retailer he threw some personal abuse at me and then told me bluntly to get out. If he really cared about shoes he would have offered me advice (I know this given my Father is a shoe retailer himself!!). Instead he was just bitter that another retailer received money from me and therefore refused to help. I offered no resistance and left as I cannot be dealing with such people. They are not worth my time or effort. One of the shop assistants timidly offered to help as he saw that I just wanted a bit of advice. He probably got bollocked for doing so after I left given the nature of the man in charge. Anyway, if you want to purchase some Dr. Martens and are around the Camden Town area, just pop down on the northern line to Tottenham Court Road and head to the Dr. Martens store on Neal St (by the way, I do not work for this store, I'm sure they do not need any help in terms of sales!). In there they will help you and not make you leave the store feeling like a worthless piece of shit. It is a shame that the store is run the way it is as it is in a great location and offers good products. I am not advocating to abandon independent stores, far from it. However some are just simply not worth visiting and for the reasons I have stated, this is one of them. **I will copy this post to other reviewing mediums in order to make people aware of what a vile experience they could have if they are not prepared to possibly receive extremely poor service.** read more

This place is a gem if you're into big meaty lace-up boots. I came across them while trying to find out where I could buy a pair of Grinders without having to buy online (these guys do sell online as well, but I have a "try before you buy" policy with boots). The place is really easy to find, as it's a one-minute walk from Camden Town tube station on Kentish Town Road. No concessions are made to decor trendiness, which is good as there's more room for display. So it looks quite basic, but that's definitely not a minus point. Anyway, it's the only place I know of where you can get Grinders still made in Northampton, and I came out with a beautiful pair of 10-hole burgundy rub-offs. The staff aren't all smiley-smiley, but care about what they're selling, and were very helpful and happy for me to try a couple of pairs before buying. They also have a big range of Doc Martens (more than I saw in the Doc Martens store in Neal Street), Solovair and other brands, and if you're in the market for George Cox creepers, this is the place to go. If you want a pair of New Rock-style goth boots, you need to go somewhere else. read more