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.

We had time to kill and wandered in here from the Victoria station. Not a lot to do here and the…read morestores were OK. The food court was meh. But time was killed and I am thankful for that.

It is a very convenient shopping center by the coach and train stations. It is big and it is very…read morecrowded to start this review. Either you may find the place handy ( especially if you want to kill time while waiting for your departure) or a bad suggestion if plan is to meet a date. It has the whole second floor of fast food dining options. You will see different kind of retail stores on its ground floor. Anything that you may need for your travel (out of emergency situation) can be found here. We came in here ( a walk from our hotel)as my sis -in law had rushes due to an allergic reaction and me for a replacement for the lost prescribed eye glasses reasons. We were able to see a pharmacy store that served to both our needs. Like a typical commuter station center, it also offers services like massage in a chair service, shoe shines service, flowers , etc. Only one thing that turned me off about this place, I did not like that I need to pay a coin to get into their restrooms.

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.

This was one of my bookmarked shopping destinations while I was in London. Mostly because I…read morediscovered Vendula (purses, wallets, fabulousness) a few years ago and this is where their bricks & mortar shop is located. I'm so glad I made it! I arrived late in the day so many shops had already closed for the day, but I was able to shop at Vendula (yay for sales) and then I discovered Southbank Printmakers. OMG so many beautiful pieces. Definitely a area to peruse and relax a bit. Next time I'll allow for more browsing.

Good for something quick to eat and some little shops with nice stuff for gifts and artsy…read moreboutiques. The wooden sculptures are fun. Gabriel's Wharf has become highly popular with local workers, residents and visitors on the South Bank. The buildings in this intimate spot are actually old garages but now frequented by restaurants, cafes, shops and a whole lot more, overlooking the river - indeed, they offer a relaxing step back for local employeesa chance to escape the office. With Studio 6 providing the liquid refreshment. With great food from pizza to crepe, and some fabulous shops specialising in jewellery, art, sculpture this small area on the South Bank will inspire all who visit. Walk past, wander round..have a snack or a drink and take it all in.

Cardinal Place is a small shopping and dining complex just outside Victoria Station's Underground…read morelifts on Victoria Street and of course opposite the stunning Westminster Cathedral., it consists of a few shops, places to eat and banks including Bill's, Marks and Spencer and Lloyds, to name one of each. The complex did seem quite modern, well laid out and staffed well for a small complex of its' size, and the location being in Victoria, central London and a short walk away from Westminster (or one stoop on the tube right next to it) is pretty handy too. It might not be a huge building, and it might not offer much which can't be found not too far away (which is actually quite typical of London) but it is a cool, albeit bang-average place. 3* - Useful but doesn't particularly stand out as special.

I love that Cardinal Place has just enough of everything that you need in one place…read more I know it sounds lazy, but I only get 1 hour of lunch break and I'd rather not have to spend 20 minutes walking from shop to shop with little browsing time. Cardinal Place = problem solved! Want a Birthday card? M&S will sort you out. Wrapping paper too. Present? Thorntons Chocolates and L'Occitane - fab Lunch? Boots (meal deal £3.50) or M&S (yum) - sweet Clothes/shopping spree? Topshop is 10seconds around the corner - awesome! I sound a bit sad, but really this is a cool shopping centre when you are tight on time (or just really lazy)! (Also - much as it annoyed me at first - you cannot smoke under there any more, so it's clean too :D )

One thing I will always do when visiting a place/country is to visit their food halls or food…read moremarkets. This was part of our walking food tour, and their claim to fame other than dating back to 1321, is being featured in Harry Potter as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. But you should definitely visit for their variety of bars and pubs plus other shops & weekend markets (check their website for details). Great spot to visit anytime but especially if it's raining since it is a mostly covered venue.

Went here because it was in a Harry Potter movie and to admire the amazing architecture. It's one…read moreof the oldest markets in London dating from the 14th century. We went on a Saturday, but if you're there for the shops, they're open during the work week. Even then, there were still a lot of people there. We didn't stay long, mainly just took some photos and left.

Brunswick is located in Russell Square and filled with outdoor dining venues, shops you may be…read morefamiliar with and some small boutiques as well. Grab coffee, pastries, sushi, gluten free goodies, cosmetics, shoes and much much more. The marketplace is large with a gorgeous center space for sitting quietly, enjoying conversation, even people watching in peace. Keep an eye open for the flea market which offers local goods from chocolates to tshirts. ~Christy

The Brunswick Shopping Centre, just under half a mile from London Euston Station and really close…read moreto Russell Square Underground Station is a small shopping complex in Bloomsbury, London, located between Brunswick Square and Russell Square it is a fairly impressive building with impressive adaptations to make it seem more modern than old. I called in here to grab some food before getting the tube nearby to Wembley Stadium, there was a decent range of shops and places to eat, including brands such as Superdrug, Starbucks and Nandos', and a Waitrose store. Other stores here include Sainsbury's Local, Boots and 3, or if you're feeling hungry there is also the likes of itsu and Gourmet Burger Kitchen, the latter I only found out about after leaving it appeared to be hidden in the centre - shame! The entrance to the centre up a ramp which soon converted part into chairs looked quite dangerous, for me it looked like an accident waiting to happen with no clear lighting or signs to show it, which is why I can't help but wonder how this part of the building passed health and safety, which I can only guess is there down to it being grade II listed. A small selection of shops and places to eat and drink in decent surroundings, slightly quieter than getting something perhaps inside the Euston Station (or the square outside), and perhaps somewhere easy and nearby to go ahead of grabbing a train so it certainly is worthy of a solid three-star rating.

12/10-11/2018: Needing laundry detergent washing what little wardrobe I brought with me for this…read moreLondon UK wedding event and journey via bumbling around exploring locals' habitats, haphazardly getting lost, sweating riding the all too cuddly "Tubing" with LONDONITIANS . . . Resulting, an all too arduous, reluctant task I cannot possibly ignore . . . EYE ROLL~please! Searching for a small, no-minuscule packaging of laundry, detergent pods and color bleach is ALL I want-two needful necessities insuring my wardrobe remains clean, fresh . . . Uh-I have never shopped at an UK grocery store, literally. Hunting this store, Tesco whatever its name is, assuredly reminds me of the disastrous Tosco Refinery I had to film for almost two years leaving a negative sensation, a bad vibe causing me immediately evacuating the premises . . . Searching a Mom & Pop store-nope~they only sell snacks, drinks, and candy . . . and fruit! Anyway, trudging the lower level of this shopping center . . . What does this store sells? Uh~I really hoped and thought this small business merchant would sell-nope~not-only luggage . . . Leaving disappointed. Bumbling, searching for laundry pods is making my head feeling tight . . . Poundwhat? Uh-ohhhhh~This store is similar to 99-Cents Store in USA; HOWEVER, the store is an unorganized, pig sty, filthy, horrible, disastrous mess which doesn't have the small detergent pods, either? WHY NOT? Strolling across the other side of the shopping center . . . What's this? Iceland what? Oh-I guess this store is comparable to USA's Save-Mart, right? Right. EUREKA! Ice whatever its name is~sells the minuscule packaging of detergent pods! YAY~I buying the pods-I'm in and outta of here-STAT. Overall, Elephant & Castle is NOT, definitely NOT the upscale Westfield Malls I visit every blue moon . . . Instead, this shopping center is specifically you make a beeline for whatever needful, immediate necessities you need NOW and leave STAT! DONE the "honey-do-shopping list" shopping-now, let's address insuring the boring laundry task gets completed TONIGHT!

Holeprefix swearword. That was my original view of this shopping centre. I mean it is pink too. It…read morewas in my view the worst shopping centre on the planet. It has a tesco and a rather horrid market. That was the appeal. Upstairs? don't even bother. It scared me as a child. Nowadays, now I know this centre has a short lifespan I really have conquered my middle-class suburban fears and embraced the urban charm of this shopping centre. So what if the upstairs area is a place where English is the second language, with greasy spoon caffs, south american bars, shops, grocery store and and money transfer, internet cafes and bizzare bowling and bingo outlets. Isn't that what shopping centres are for? Downstairs is like most shopping centres. A Tesco, a branch of boots. The market outside is pretty random, but then so are some of the discount shops on the ground floor. What really gets me though is that if you want to change between the rail and tube stations you have to walk through the shopping centre. PS - Need business cards in a hurry, there is a machine on the upper floors here, which you can design and print them in under 30mins. Pretty handy I have found before. PPS - Read the entrance sign. No door to door salesmen. Got that? Good.

This was such a cute shopping center in the city. Loved walking around to see all the holiday…read moredecorations and lovely businesses. We sat for a drink under the heaters just to take a little break from exploring and walking all day. It was lovely.

Stumbled across Hay's Galleria with a holiday market while visiting in December 2024 which led to…read moreone of my favorite pop-up adventures out there. This holiday market was so nice and definitely a bit more upscale and organized compared to others. My favorite park was the ski lodge bar that was smack dab in the center. They had a full bar and it felt like you were in a small ski town. It's fairly small where you could enjoy a complete walk within twenty to thirty minutes, but it was very aesthetically pleasing. Curious what it looks like outside the holiday season.

This was such a fun spot! Lots of great eateries from pizza to cocktail bars to pub style fare, the…read morecourtyard was vibrant and casual. Great atmosphere and many choices! The restaurants span three floors, so be sure to look up to see the additional choices before deciding. We loved our visit here and how alive and happy it was.

This is a lovely food court in Soho, near Carnaby street. I visited a restaurant called Paradiso…read morefor a scrumptious burger and coke. I visited on a Tuesday at 4:30pm so it wasn't busy and staff were all very nice and friendly. Kingly court has many different restaurants and is a great hang out place.