I went here during my weekly voyage to the Portobello market this weekend. From the outside it…read moreseems to be a real treat; photos of past customers Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Victoria Beckham etc cover the windows, and there is a doorbell system on the door which means you cant just stroll in from the street. After a five minute wait outside in the freezing cold we were eventually let in to what is essentially a small room with women's apparel and another tiny room behind it with menswear. The clothes are amazing quality and not just reams of eighties gear like you find in the market, there are some lovely 1940s and '50s pieces here. It is so expensive though, the bag and dress that I liked were each £150 so i swiftly made me way to the door. Its expensive but if you needed something really special this is a good place to go.

One of A Kind is my favourite vintage store on Portobello Road. And Notting Hill. Actually, it's…read moreone of my favourite vintage stores in town. Sure, the doorbell system is a bit wanky, but with clothes like this, it's easy to see why they need to monitor who comes in and out. The shop is tiny - but they have packed it with more stuff than you could believe could fit in such a small space. It's got an absolutely superb range of vintage things - from 1920s sequinned flapper dresses to some phenomenal 80s snakeskin boots. Sure, it's pretty expensive but some places have to be, right? Last time I was here, Kate Moss was also browsing. Only difference was she could afford to buy things, whereas I could not!

I made a visit to Fortnum & Mason when my husband and I were visiting London a week or so ago and…read morehad such a great time. Fortnum & Mason is department store, but it's not your average department store. It's a food department store? I don't even know if there's a word for that! Founded in 1707 in the St James's/Piccadilly area of London, the store is modern but has retained some really incredible historic details: the mechanical clock on the facade, a double-helix staircase, and more. They sell tons of biscuits, tea and coffee, hampers (we call them gift baskets in the US, I think?), candy, chocolates, and more. Everything is beautiful and beautifully displayed. In the biscuit section of the store ("The Biscuitorium"), they sell roughly 70 flavors of biscuits and have an incredibly intricate replica of the store made from biscuits - like a most beautiful biscuit doll house you've ever seen. If you head downstairs, there's also a fantastic food hall and their fancy Wine Bar & Restaurant. After buying a few tins of biscuits upstairs, we went downstairs to the wine bar, where we ordered their Oysters & Champagne deal (6 Carlingford oysters and two glasses of Blanc de Blancs). Other than the oysters taking a bit of time - they brought us some extra Blanc to make up for it and the oysters' adductors muscles not being disconnected prior to making it to us, it was a great little break/snack during our first day of touristing around London! I'm not usually a shopper on vacation. But I make exceptions for stores with history, and Fortnum's has that in spades. It's a great place to stop for some edible souvenirs!

Before leaving London, I had to pop in…read more Starting my day early in the Parlor, I grabbed a small bite. My waiter was most genteel and even brought me a surprise birthday sweet treat! Post-nibbles, I traversed each floor, of course, settling on teas to acquire, for the trip home. F&M has a wide array of teas, some familiar and some which are signature to the brand. The staff are quite eager to assist, and properly demure when doing so. After completing my shopping, it's quite easy to admit that I'm now a tea snob, from this point going forward. LOL

Date: August 28, 2026…read more Experience: My mom and I got here about 10 minutes before closing time because she wanted me to get a glimpse of what this place looked like and this was the only time we could get before setting of for our set tour. With the little amount of time we were there, I could see how this place is so popular with the luxury goods, food offerings, and the picturesque decor when traversing the main floor. There was still a good amount of people walking around either browsing or shopping and even some people came in later than us to check Harrods out I would definitely want to make an effort to check out this place to its full extent and to check out their food cause they had a section of just cheeses that I would love to try in the future.

We trekked to Harrods because there was something specific I wanted to purchase as a souvenir. I…read morehave seen many pictures of the exterior of the department store so it should have dawned on me that it is extremely, extremely large. In fact, the length of a full city block. Literally, I wanted to buy a Harrods keychain with a cheeky saying on it. Trying to find a keychain in a department store this big is truly trying to find a needle in a haystack. Nothing made me feel more poor than wandering through wings of luxury products looking for a ... keychain. There are four notable things about Harrods that make this a must-visit. First is the over-the-top Egyptian decor, which is most notable around the main escalators. Second is the food hall, which has so many enticing things that are all reasonably priced. It's fun just to walk around and peek at the displays. Third is the Harrod's Gift Shop (Lower Ground floor), which is where I eventually found the Harrods branded keychain with the cheeky saying. Fourth, they currently have a Jellycat Airline display. We couldn't get in because there was a convoluted way to get a ticket, which you could only do at a designated entry way and wait in a long line. It was both immensely interesting and exhausting to have visited Harrods.

Big and spacious. Over two floors!…read more I love the make over, of this store, blue and black is the colour scheme, better than the former look of the store. I like the fact that it's not messy, and the staff are professional. I still buy the basics, but it is still generic fashion, to my taste. My sister the jeans are good in length for tall chicks for us, but you still have to use a belt to tighten it around your waist....I'm still dubious about, I know that ain't going over my booty. I mainly in the men's section buying £3 plimsols or £5 jogging bottoms that still last. They have a beauty section, make ups etc plus you can buy DVDs and headphones now in Primark, which they did not do before. But yeah I like this store, it's as goods as gets.....until they plant a tall section...wishful thinking!

Who doesn't heart Primark? Primark not 'Primarni' or any other shoddy names. Who needs to be…read moreembarrassed to say they shop at this haven anymore? Not I that's for sure. The Watford branch is an absolute gem of an offering. It's far enough outside London that it's always got those pieces you see screaming 'buy me' out of Look's/Heat's/Grazia's pages but also not to remote that it stocks bad garments and trends. Today's little outing consisted of the new season's temptations lining the entrance walkway, neatly, surprisingly as well. Mary Portas has certainly has scared the big wigs at HQ because every member of staff I spoke to today was helpful and polite. Saying that, it was very almost, eerily quiet whilst I was shopping. I spied a bag in the window on the way in, hunted for it but was informed it had sold out, me being me, demanded said bag et viola! It's mine now. The jewellery section was merchandised to perfection, lined with sparkle, nudes and adorned with shimmer. The new season line up looks fantastic and had I had more money I would've spent a small fortune this morning and I didn't even make it downstairs to shoes and homeware. Keep up the good work Primark.

Fifi Wilson is the kind of deliciously fabulous boutique store that I've always wanted to shop in…read morebut could never afford. Everything is delicately feminine, unique and desirable. They stock clothes, accessories and interiors - the kind of stuff that London should be famous for and not bloody Topshop. I could have walked out with ten pairs of earrings, shoes, pretty little tops, but my bank manager would be none too pleased. Best of all, at the front door they had a sleeping bulldog in a basket! How much is that doggy in the window... (This was actually the Covent Garden branch I visited, you can't expect to get cute puppies at all of them)

I found this gorgeous boutique on a visit to London last weekend…read more It has some fabulous brands including APC Madras, By Marlene, Goat, Manoush but my favourite had to be the Elizabeth Lau black velvet dress with cream satin hearts that just had to come back to Scotland with me! This shop really is a treasure trove of tempting treats - with children's sparkly slippers, fabulous toiletries and the watch of the moment, Toywatch, which adorns the wrist of Madonna and Robbie Williams. Fifi Wilson is a must stop destination.

I was drawn to this shop by the gorgeous dresses displayed in the shop window (see pic) but didn't…read moresee much interesting when browsing. Although I was impressed with the vintage shoe collection, with the average price being a reasonable £30. They had some unique accessories as well, like a display of Moji belts. As I turned to leave I was surprised by a sweet selection of sweet baby clothes. Had the same unhelpfulness from the staff but I feel this shop has potential so worth keeping an eye on.

Having just written up on another boutique in Carnaby, I just remembered this boutique…read more I have shopped at their Nottinghill store before, but this Carnaby shop looks like a place where my Nanny would shop at. It is dark, dull and drabby. They don't have x-small sizes and they are expensive. Most of their dresses are over £250 and it looks like last season clothes. The salesgirl was too busy reading her magazine behind the counter and ignored my boyfriend and me when we walked in. The other elderly lady with glasses was nicer. It's an ok shop - but not for me. Maybe this is a boutique for the older and more mature women - I don't get it. I wouldn't go there to get my special occasion dresses.

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.

Very big Primark & first Primark I have visited outside of the US…read more They have 4 shopping floor here, where you'll find women's, kid's, & men's clothing! Lots of makeup + pajamas, etc. I mean, they've got literally every and anything you'd be looking for to buy for every day or even clothes for occasions, at very affordable price.

Another good trip to this location. They have so many festive items, including; homeware, clothing…read moreand decorations. Great place for stocking stuffers and their bath bombs selection is one of the best! So many to choose from, including Disney and Christmas designs, all either £1 or £1.50! Staff on the floor are a bit useless and unwilling to help but the register staff were pleasant. As always - come early to avoid the crowds!