Debenhams

THE quintessential aesthetic London department store…read more Harrods is for tourists with a lot of money. Liberty is for anybody with taste. An authentic London shopping experience that offers unique items you can't find elsewhere. A long history of beautiful design in a stunning Tudor-esqu building without a single escalator! (There are elevators) Gorgeous fabric from designers like William Morris. Come here for genuine London products, and for an authentic only-in-London shopping experience.

When tariffs kicked in, I made it my mission to buy the advent calendar from here in person. Did it…read moretake up 2/3s of my check in luggage? Yes. Saved on shipping and taxes. No regrets. So if you happen to find something made in the UK, buy it in person! My Mason Pearson brush was almost $100 less here. Same with the DS Durga fragrance sampler I treated myself to. On top of all that, the customer service is lovely. They leave you alone but are also genuinely helpful when you need it! Speaking of the fragrances, when my flight left before my click and collect was ready, they price matched the item I had bought online for Black Friday and let me buy in person since it was in stock. Honestly love this place more than Harrods for their more personal human interactions.

Our china! The most stunning. So delicate.

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Selfridges

4.0(447 reviews)

0.2 mi•Marylebone

Tips: - The foodhall is worth the visit. Enter from Oxford…read moreStreet. - Candy is on the lower ground level. - If you come here around Christmas, the Christmas section is lovely. I was in London in December 2013. I visited a bunch of department stores. Part of me was curious about how they are set up versus how the flagship department stores in Canada were set up. I visited the flagship Selfridges store on Oxford Street. Rest in peace to the flagship Eaton's store in Winnipeg that I frequented often when I worked across from it. I also miss the flagship Hudson's Bay stores in Toronto and Winnipeg. I will toss in the flagship Simpsons store that preceded the Hudson's Bay. I stayed in South Kensington. There was a bus stop steps away from the hotel and around the corner from Gloucester Road station. I took the 74 Putney bus that got me to this store. I could have also taken the underground to Piccadilly Circus, but the walk would have been a bit longer. I wasn't sure how much damage I'd do here! I entered the store from Oxford Street, which gets you on the ground level. I remember seeing sushi on a convenor belt to my left. It was cool. It was Yo! I'm glad that this eatery is still around. You can dine here or do takeout. I entered the foodhall. I was so happy. I saw cupcakes, oysters, caviar, and more. Everything looked fancy and yummy. The ground floor had a beauty section and a pharmacy. This store is large. It's the second-largest department store in London, behind Harrods. I spent most of my time on the lower ground level. It's where the candy, wine, and cookshop sections are. I love candy and confections. I saw everything from macarons and chocolate malt balls, to fancy bourbon and wine. I bought some chocolate bars. They were perfect to hand out to colleagues. They were also Christmas-themed. I got milk and dark chocolate varieties. They were delicious. This floor also had a cinema. I didn't check it out. I was too busy visiting the technology and stationery sections. I was so happy on this floor. I spent the most time here. I did check out the women's clothing, which occupies levels 2 and 3. There was a lot of designer clothing. It didn't suit my casual, cheaper style. I loved coming here just before Christmas. It was festive and fun. The Christmas section was enjoyable to peruse. I have fond memories coming here. I hope to return someday. This store is over a century old and I'm pleased that it continues to endure. (49)

This place is beautiful and can be compared to a Saks store. On our visit, it was really packed and…read morecrowded since everyone was trying to get their holiday deals. Plus, it is beautiful during the holidays. The store has a total of 4 floors with a huge Jellycat Fish and Chip pop-up on the top floor. If you are here for that, be prepared to wait since it is a 2 1/2 hour wait. There is also a walk-in line if you were unable to create a reservation. Merch here is on the pricier side but if you are looking for something trendy, you can definitely find it here. Plus, there are a few food and snack locations if you get hungry while shopping your hearts away.

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Marks and Spencer

4.1(26 reviews)

0.4 mi•Soho

Made it a mission to go to every single one of M&S, this location has a great selection, and food…read morebar was very clean and kept.

The staff in the food department at this M&S are some of the best I've come across. I stopped by…read moretwice in the last couple of days and both times when I've asked for help the team members went out of their way to assist me and help me look for items or alternatives of what they were sold out of. Since I've been back in the UK most customer service has been terrible but they definitely do their jobs well in this department. Great selection of food and it's nice to try new meals knowing it'll always taste good!

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Chocolates, chocolates....

Fortnum & Mason

4.2(573 reviews)

0.6 mi•St James's

When in London, afternoon tea is a must…read more I booked a reservation with Fortnum & Mason a few months in advance but when we arrived on a Sunday at 12:30PM, there seemed to be plenty of open tables available. A live pianist played in the front entrance. Staff were kind and proper. They offered to hang our coats in the closet. Afternoon Tea came with refillable teas, sandwiches, scones, and desserts. A Savory Afternoon Tea was an option as well, which doesn't have any sweets. I enjoyed all of the sandwiches. Everything was equally delicious, except the Cucumber and Lemon Mint. The Suffolk Ham with English Mustard had a nice kick. The Egg Mayonnaise was a classic for me. The Coronation Chicken was a mini chicken salad in a sandwich. The Kames Bay Trout with dill Cream Cheese is a great combination. I'm not a huge scone person, but the savory scones were very good. The Fortnum Strawberry Preserve was our favorite. For the desserts, my favorite was the Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline. The Hazelnut Praline cookie bottom was airy and crisp. The chocolate inside was a light mousse. All of the desserts were extremely fragrant. The Rose Eclair and Orange Mousse played no games. I also liked the Treacle Tart because of its nutty flavor. I was incredibly full that I couldn't finish the Coconut Loaf, which was my least favorite. For the price of £85 per person, it was well worth the experience and the quality of the food and the service. Treat yourself!

This was not just food. This was not just an experience of a lifetime. This was pure, unadulterated…read moreimmersion into the British Culture. The food here was fantastic and nothing I had experienced before. I'm obviously not one who partakes in Tea Parties all that often. But holy cow did this blow me away. The ambiance was upscale. You felt like a royal family while dining and eating the queen's favorite finger foods. The service was unfortunately subpar. But the whole experience is one of the few that can overshadow that fact. It's expensive. But well worth the price of admission.

October 2025

Tea time

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Carnaby Street

4.3(75 reviews)

0.4 mi•Soho

One of my absolute favorite places to shop when in London. I'll never pass up a chance to trek down…read moreto Carnaby street as the shopping and dining options are elite. For any one of my friends traveling into London I always recommend veering off a little to Carnaby. Over the years some shops have come and go but some of my favorites remain open. I'm a huge Great Frog lover and their shop is nearby, also for us rock n rollers I can't help stopping into The Rolling Stones Uk store. Lots of major branded stores but also cute local vendors and stores. It's a very walkable street and safe. Plenty busy so come earlier in the day to beat the crowds. Another pro tip is catching a reservation at dishshoom down here as I've found it easier to snag a reservation here than at their other locations. Plenty of dining options though and local stalls like Starbucks and Joe & the juice. It's a touristy street of shops but I love it - definitely bookmark this area on your must shop / see list when on this side of town.

Fun one mile shopping area and eating area in SOHO located in the west end of Westminster. No cars…read moreallowed, only pedestrians. After having a tasty snack at Pizza Pilgrims, went to the two story Rolling Stones store which was my favorite place on Carnaby Street. A bunch of boutique shops and found one bathroom and a drinking fountain. There was an old English style red phone booth containing an unspeakable object on the floor inside, good conversation piece for the rest of my trip. Welcome to London.

2022 holiday decorations at south entrance.

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John Lewis & Partners

3.6(161 reviews)

0.1 mi•Marylebone

I'll let you in on a little secret about me, well it's not really a secret, but this girl loves to…read morecook. I think about food, ingredients and spices a lot and when I travel, I like to experience and take a little something home as a souvenir. So I came to John Lewis & Partners after a friend recommended the grocery portion as a good place to find spices. I've traveled to several countries and states where I pick up spices to use in my recipes, this means a lot more to me than some novelty t-shirt or magnet. I purchased a wide selection of spices, some which I have never tried using before. As you can see in my picture, I got quite the haul and paid around $30 euros for it all. Compared to the prices I would have paid back home, I feel that I got a great deal at John Lewis & Partners.

I CHALLENGE JOHN LEWIS TO PROVIDE THE PROOF THEY SAY THEY HAVE ON VIDEO SHOWING MY CLAIM YOU STOLE…read more£160 OF MY MONEY. I was new to them at Solihull but approached by a man i now believe was head of security. He took control as the shop was shutting demand a further £200 when i can only assume my autism and unsteady state while i was suffering a minor stroke had him see an opportunity to steal. The shop was in darkness the cashier at a distance and stated events were manufactured. I was still clear in my head but unable to respond and the salesman is said to have been on holiday over 8 weeks. The head of security of that floor seemed familiar but the video would prove it weas him. JOHN LEWIS refused to show me the video or a copy but the video would show my state of health having to sit while i was being robbed. The police were offered as an alternative knowing they cannot interfere in a civil case further confirming the abuse is a regular occurrence on these premises. C9itizens Advice stated this action was typical so many have endured it. YOU OWE ME £160 but please take me to court i tried to put this on your review page but it went blank

The food hall is open for business and serves a variety of different foods including upmarket beverages and drinks.

Great customer service. The finance department is a worldwide feature based on purchasing products in-store.

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John Lewis furniture section specializes in the art and design of industry's best.

Marks and Spencer

3.9(104 reviews)

0.3 mi•Marylebone

Tips: - The foodhall is on the lower ground floor. The…read morecrisps are everything! -This company has its own bank. I grew up with Marks and Spencer (M&S). Canada had this chain for over twenty years before all locations shuttered for good in 1999. My go-to location was at Shoppers World on Danforth Avenue at Victoria Park Avenue. I still remember the last item that I bought at this store, which was a blue t-shirt. I visited London in December 2013. Out of all the flagship department stores that I wanted to go to, it was this M&S store on Oxford Street that had priority. I was staying at a hotel in South Kensington. I took the 74 bus to get to this store. I remember someone asking me where the bus stop was as I was heading over to it to take the bus to this store. I'm not sure why folks ask me for directions in a city that is new to me. It happens often. I felt accomplished that I knew something as a tourist! I remember how happy I was when I walked into this store. Hopefully, the floor plan and floors haven't changed since I was last there: - Lower ground floor - foodhall - Ground and first floors - women's clothing - Second floor - men's clothing - Third floor - homeware I don't recall being on the top floor. I could be wrong. I also don't know if the M&S Bank is still at this store. It was cool when I visited it, with comfy couches to relax. I spent some time in the men's clothing section. I bought a green cashmere sweater as a gift that was so soft to the touch. I loved the two floors full of women's clothing. I ended up getting socks that felt ridiculously soft that I had to have them. My spent the majority of my time in the foodhall. I hit the crisps section first. I got a few varieties of crisps: - Roast beef and onion - Roast chicken and garlic butter - Cheddar cheese and onion All of them were amazing. I am salivating thinking about them. So good! I also ended up getting biscuits (cookies). I got shortbread and white chocolate. They were amazing, likely due to the butter. I remember asking a woman at the checkout whether my Discover card was an acceptable payment option. It's also known as a Diner's Club card internationally. My Discover card that I've had since I lived in Minnesota worked here. Yay! I want to go back to this store. It has been renovated since I was last here. I'd like to check out the changes and get more food. (51)

I feel so happy when I'm here, I love M&S, it's the tourist in me. You can find anything and…read moreeverything, couldn't find my sticky toffee pudding but it's okay, going to try the recommended prawn sammie.

Food and clothing

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Harrods

4.0(1.1k reviews)

1.3 mi•Chelsea

•££££

Harrod's is a London icon and a premier luxury department store and it is a shoppers dream. This…read morestore is massive and its known for the fabulous food hall, extravagant luxury goods, and it attracts roughly 15 million visitors per year. Harrod's also features a afternoon tea in The Georgian and it costs about $96.00 US dollars per person. We were here many years ago but I still remember the experience. It was very busy inside and we walked around for a couple of hours just looking and taking in all the beautiful products that were for sale. The architecture of the store is a stunning. We bought some souvenirs, and I also bought a purse and wallet while visiting. We loved taking pics with the life size Harrod bears. I had never been in such a majestic and exquisite store seeing so many luxury items. This store is definitely geared towards the elite and uber rich but we still managed to have a really good time. Service was ample although most of the employees we encountered were very busy hustling to locate items for anxious shoppers. A must visit while you are in London, just don't drop all your cash here.

You feel like you are in a different world when you step inside Harrods. A luxury mall with a great…read morefood hall, a Prada cafe, they make their own chocolate in the chocolate hall, and every name brand you can think. Our first stop was the dry bar. We have plenty of these back in the states but I had never been to one before, so It's pretty exciting for to me to say that my first dry bar experience was in Harrods in London! I tend to stay away from blow-dry places because not everyone can blow-dry thick curly hair. Kezia was the stylist and she was great!! She was so funny, paid close attention to detail, and this was one of the best blow-drys I have ever gotten! Next, we stopped at Burberry. She was wonderful, poise, and so knowledgeable about the brand. My husband loves his wallet. We then stopped at Louis Vuitton for a perfume. No one attended to us and it felt like they were judging us based on how we looked. Five employees walked right past us and not a single one acknowledged us. Finally someone did and when we asked her what the notes in the perfume were she googled it on her phone. Our shopping day wasn't complete without buying some sweets from the chocolate hall. Every type of chocolate you can think of is sold here and delicious taste!

Pistachio Cake (~£18)

Truffle egg salad on brioche

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Queen's Bandit

Fenwick

3.5(13 reviews)

0.2 mi•Mayfair

Beautiful store but the customer service was so so…read more I went to the counter looking for an item and was ignored by the two staff members who were busy chatting, so I went to open a drawer myself to find my item. I was very quickly intercepted by a salesperson who somewhat rudely asked me what I was doing. I explained that I was standing there with my family for several minutes and was completely ignored by the staff (before anyone says that perhaps we weren't dressed well, I was wearing a Moncler puffer with a leather Prada bag, the hubby was wearing a Burberry jacket, my kids were well dressed and we were carrying bags from Selfridges). He softened his position a bit but wasn't especially helpful. With Harrod's and Selfridges nearby, why bother with Fenwick?

What's happened here?! Fenwick's used to be my favourite department store, mainly because it…read moredidn't have the look and feel of a department store. It used to have just the right balance between old-fashioned, British understatement and hip, in that the layout and decor were plain and simple in a place filled with interesting and surprising brands alongside more predictable stuff. There was a time I bought most of my shoes here, lingerie, work outfits - actually, I must have spent thousands here over the years. Oh well, I couldn't find anything interesting on my most recent visit. The ground floor has been taken over by bling perfume counters - this could as easily be a small Harvey Nichols or Selfridges. The Bond Street entrance is dominated by MAC and you can't see beyond the massive structure - what is wrong with counters and a view of the rest of the store?! As I had some time to kill I took the escalator down to the basement for the heavily advertised Christmas section. All the generic overpriced stuff you find in shops at this time of year: novelty smellies, overpriced sweeties, techie toys for boys. Nothing new or exciting here. No pleasant surprises on the other floors either, all the money seems to have gone into the ground floor. The top floor was genuinely shocking. They removed the ceiling to reveal the pipes and hung up some massive disco balls to make the denim section more appealing to younger shoppers ... really? A big disappointment overall, I left empty-handed - a first ...

1.1 mi•Covent Garden, Strand

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Covent Garden

4.2(286 reviews)

We enjoyed our week stay in Covent Garden. We took full advantage of the Covent Garden Market,…read morevisiting in several occasions. The Market is picturesque with lovely flower carts by the entrances. Historically, Covent Gardens were the gardens for the convent. Today, the beautiful enclosed market hosts various vendors that change regularly. The market is a great way to connect with locals. We went to the market four times during our visit. On Sundays, various art vendors set up and we visited with a local fossil dealer and purchased a couple fossils. We loved our dinner in one of the nearby cafes. On Mondays, antique dealers set up and sell various treasures. My husband bought me a vintage bracelet. We also watched a quintet play in the atrium. We found a few reasonably priced souvenirs to take home for gifts. Plenty of great restaurants surround the Market. We ate at several places and enjoyed our meals. The Market always seems to be new and people were friendly.

Covent Garden is an area in West End with a collection of shops and restaurants. This is considered…read moreto be in the city of Westminster. All of the shops are high-end, luxury. Think Rodeo Drive in London. It's a fun area to visit and check out all of the amazing offerings that most probably can never afford lol. Another must-see for hitting tourist areas in the West End.