It wasn't until I recently required a new pair of trainers that I realized that I actually know the best place in town to buy them: Offspring on Neal Street. Over the past couple of weeks, I hunted high and low around Central London and then up and down Neal Street only to return to Offspring, the same place I had purchased my last few pairs of trainers.
If you've ever ambled along Neal Street, then you should certainly be aware that a better name for this Covent Garden pedestrian lane near Seven Dials might as well be called Shoe Street given that a majority of the shops on it are shoe stores. They're mostly the same, selling whatever is hip-n-happening in trendy footwear fashion and as far as I can tell all retail at roughly the same price at any and all of the Neal Streets shops. What sets Offspring apart from the others is efficient service and, at least for me, a higher probability of having the right size in stock.
Generally, I go for Adidas or New Balance. I need the arch support these brands offer. I like the simple designs of both as well, especially when accentuated with a mix of vibrant colours (it seems I have a 'thing' for trainers with lots of green or orange and maybe even a bit of hi-viz yellow). As your typical urban dweller, I walk a lot and can burn through a good pair of rubber soles in no time. Over the years, I've found Adidas and New Balance last a bit longer than other brands. Offspring always has a great selection of both.
Of course, I'm not fanatically loyal to either of the aforementioned athletic shoes. If a particularly attractive pair of, say, Vans speaks to me, I'll go for it (and then head to Boots for arch supporting insoles). Offspring offers as current a line up of newly released trainers as any shop in London (and, thus, probably the world). I've noticed over the years that I'm usually more than satisfied with their shoes on display and that I have to wait much less time being attended to and checking out than at other shoe stores. read more