London Shopping

Any shopping enthusiast will recognize the city of London right up there among the roster of international cultural capitals through the world - a list that includes Paris, New York, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, to name just a few. However, like all of these big name, financial superpower cities, London - for all the exciting goodies that its many, many shops boast - is far from an inexpensive place for your average shopping trip. Indeed, it may in fact be even more expensive to live and shop in London than it is to do so in New York.

Nevertheless, this should not dissuade those with the monetary means from going on a shopping spree through the city. Indeed, it would be a shame to waste such a lauded opportunity! Frequently hailed as the shopping capital of the world, London boasts famous fashion stores along Oxford Street, the delectable halls of Harrods, and of course, the luxury department store of Fortnum & Mason, not to mention countless street markets featuring vendors of every stripe and variety. Currently, the top shopping destination in London is, unsurprisingly, Harrods, with Fortnum & Mason trailing not far behind. The other top eight are, in descending order, Foyles, Selfridges, Liberty, the Portobello Road Market, Cardinal Place, the Borough Market, Topshop, and finally, Harvey Nichols.

For shoppers looking for something a little more specialized and quirky, I Knit London, a former knitting community in Vauxhall, is now a shop that stocks one of the most varied selections of yarns, needles, patterns, and accessories in the London area. The store places a strong emphasis on promoting yarn from independent producers in Britain, selling such goods alongside a truly breathtaking range of silks and hand-dyes from Japan and the United States. Then there's Absolute Vintage, which boasts an array of - as you might suspect, based on the name of the shop - vintage everything, from handbags to dresses, and belts to shoes. The rather uniquely named A Butcher of Distinction is the Londoner's go-to stop for casual-smart menswear with a retro edge, while the equally interestingly named I Dream of Wires is a Cheshire Street boutique stocking still more vintage items.

As for transport to all of these exciting shopping destinations, the subway - or "the tube" - can take travelers almost anywhere in the city that they'd like to go, or at least, to a spot within walking distance of their destination, and for a relatively reasonably price. Furthermore, taxis frequent most street corners, and are fairly easy to flag down. And of course, there's good old-fashioned walking, which of course affords tourists the chance to window shop at a leisurely pace.