We stumbled upon Apple Market. And it was such a nice find!…read more There was such a variety of trinkets / treats / souvenirs to be found here. There were some great prices on logo t-shirts and bags if you're looking for such things. There were also artsy and unique items to be discovered. What I liked most about this little market was that it was actually not that little. It appeared to be quaint in size, but when you actually wander the alleyways, it was quite expansive. We ended up buying some tea, biscuits as they call it here, and wired art to bring home. I'd say this is a great spot to browse if you're unsure of what to buy as a gift.

Today we're stepping into one of my favourite spots in London ~ "the Apple Market" in Covent…read moreGarden. A place where handmade art, street performers and stylish shops blend together in perfect harmony." Whether you're looking for unique souvenirs, an inspiring atmosphere or simply a relaxing wander, this spot is a must-see. Join me on a stroll through the Apple Market in Covent Garden, London. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe. When I visit London, I always make sure to stop by the Apple Market in Covent Garden. Here you'll find everything from unique handcrafted items by local artists, to live street performances sharing their art with the crowd ~ and of course, it also includes various affordable brand-name stores to various high-end boutiques, from jewelry to chocolate, from restaurants to farmers' markets, this market has it all. One of my must-visit spots is a centuries-old British tea shop inside the market building, I always buy some tea gifts to bring back to friends. Every time I come here I can spend at least half a day simply enjoying the mix of art-and-commerce vibe.

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!

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 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.

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 ...

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

God, I miss those tv food porn ads Marks & Spencer had conjured! I know they were voted one of the…read moremost annoying tv adverts ever, but I loved them. I loved the background Fleetwood Mac music, and the "succulent chicken" or the "melt in the middle Belgian chocolate puddings". They never failed to make my mouth water, and they pretty much summed up how I feel about M&S food. I love it. With good quality groceries, a fresh delicious bakery, and a big range of lunch meals this has got to be my favourite grocery store. Oh, if only I could afford it more often! M&S foods is also very popular with those busy office workers who never seem to leave work before 10pm. It offers them all of the ready meal they need. Sad, I know, but it's better than living on kebabs or beans on toast. You can always rely on M&S on that one day where you really don't feel like cooking and just reach out for a pretty decent comforting lasagna, quiche, or shepherd's pie which will make everything better.

The sis and I needed to stock up for two days and so we went here... got the basic necessities of…read morewater / milk / eggs and not so basic necessities of Cadbury hot chocolate mix! The place itself is clean and organized... the staff were friendly considering I looked lost half of the time! I realized that I wasn't in Rome when saw the prices in GBP denomination and of course, started really asking myself whether or not I wanted more junk food!

Dear Zara Home, Why…read moreoh why don't you have a store in the USA? I had to travel allllll the way to London to visit you! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did, but 3000 miles is a bit far to travel for home accessories. And your accessories are beautiful, so of course I want some! And being in your store just confirmed this. You had shelves full of squishy pillows, fluffy blankets, boxes for trinkets, elegant picture frames and an entire wall of colorful glassware. I loved just about everything you had for sale. Please please please open a store in the US, specifically NYC, and I promise I'll shop there regularly. :-) Your American friend, Alyssa P

One of my friends has just had a baby and I've been searching for a cuddly toy for her baby. For…read morethose of you who read my reviews and look at my profile pictures or lists, you'll know that I have high standards for cuddly toys. Having failed to find a suitably cute and squishy cuddly companion for my friend's baby at the usual toy and baby shops, I was starting to feel disheartened when I walked past this branch of Zara Home on Regent Street. Sitting in the window was the cutest little cheeky monkey waving at me. It was love at first sight. Walking into the store, I caught a most wonderful smell - they had samples of home fragrances out on display. The shop was light and airy with the stylish goods laid out in a tempting fashion. If I was furnishing a home, this would be heaven. Monkey was just as cute in my hands as in the shop window and while not cheap at £20, he will make someone a good lifetime companion.

The Mall is the poor cousin to The Glades shopping centre. Not to say that it does not serve a…read morepurpose, just that it is on a much smaller scale than it's more known neighbour. It's a useful couple of alleys, wilth a mixture of alternative and mainstream shops and attached parking complex. On the alterntive side, there is Pathways; a sandalwood incense sort of shop and Games workshop for the War gamers. There's also an independent jewelers, cafe, newsagent and designer clothes boutique as well as some more familiar names; Poundland, Argos, UniQlo, Shoe Zone etc. There's also a recruitment agency and pine furniture store to boot. Quite useful, it's had a makeover in the last couple of years and is limited only by its size.

Amazing customer service and clothing options are outstanding. I was in a hurry and they were spot…read moreon in showing me where to look. Great experience.

This is a less than full size M&S located in Cardinal Place, across Victoria Street from…read moreWestminster Cathedral. They have a more than decent selection of higher quality men's and women's clothing at the usual Marks and Sparks prices (i.e., high). A sufficient number of tills ("cash registers" in American) and associates ready to help you pay for your purchases. There is also a small food hall with prepared sandwiches and drinks for the lunch crowd. It does a good job of taking in to account its very urban location, so it doesn't have some departments like children's clothing and housewares. It's more of a commercial neighborhood not very residential.

Went here on Saturday, I was greeted by friendly staff, and they were very polite. The store is…read morewell laid out. Lots of different brands available and there is a good range of sizes. I found some lovely boots that are hard to find in other stores. I will definitely be shopping here again soon.