With a huge range of independent shops, specialist boutiques and quirky markets to explore, there’s never a dull moment while shopping in London.
Alice Through The Looking Glass
Tumble down the rabbit hole in Cecil Court near Charing Cross station and enter Alice Through The Looking Glass, a treasure-trove of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland-themed items. From illustrated chess boards, to Victorian top hats and early editions of the Alice books, this curious shop is well worth a visit.
Feel the wind in your sails and navigate yourself to Arthur Beale – a shop that time forgot since it opened in the 1800s. This old-fashioned yacht chandler located on Shaftesbury Avenue sells nautical goods with everything from reels of rope and ship’s bells to nautical books and lifejackets on offer.
Holding on to the joy of analogue photography in a digital age isn’t always easy, but if you’re a fan of good old fashioned cameras, make sure you visit the Lomography Gallery Store Soho in Carnaby. Here you can try and buy Lomo cameras, accessories and film. The shop also offers photography courses.
It’s not often that you have to book an appointment for the privilege of entering a shop, but then LN-CC is no ordinary boutique. The avant-garde designer stock is creatively merchandised and separated into themed zones by art director Gary Card and brands. There’s also a record and book store, and an in-house disco with the odd event taking place for the privileged few.
Discover your inner artist at L. Cornelissen & Son, or simply visit to admire the unique interior. Located near Tottenham Court Road Tube Station, this shop has been an art lover’s paradise since 1855 and very little has changed since then. Browse through the huge selection of paints including oils, watercolours, and pastels as well as drawing materials.
Present’s bright white, clinical interior houses labels from streetwear Billionaire Boys Club and Japanese Haversack to Raf by Raf Simons and the odd polka-dotted pair of socks. With Eddie and Steve’s collection of knits and T-shirts already on the rails, the pair plans to roll out collaborations and limited edition pieces.
Get rave-ready at this club lover’s shopping haven in Camden’s Stables Market. Cyberdog stocks everything you need for an all night party, with fluorescent, futuristic, LED-covered clothes and accessories galore. You’ll hear the shop before you see it thanks to its pumping sound system!
This local record store attracts crate diggers from across London. It’s where a discerning selection of new and used vinyl across all genres meets books and ephemera. Kristina will also buy or exchange single records or collections.
Tatty Devine have two London boutiques: one on Brick Lane and one in Covent Garden. Famous for selling perspex jewellery handmade in London, Tatty Devine loves to collaborate with other creative people, whether they work in art, music or fashion. Tatty also stock independant sellers and always have an interesting window display to gaze at.
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies in Shoreditch has supplied the monsters of east London (and the rest of the world) with everything they need, from tinned fear, to cubes of ear wax and even neck bolt tighteners since 1818! The products are available to humans too, who are welcome to browse and buy the strange stock.
Enjoy your shopping!
Sources: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/shopping/specialist-and-unique-shops
https://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/londons-coolest-shops
http://www.blogandbuysale.com/2011/08/10-must-visit-creative-shops-in-london/
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