The nights are drawing in and autumn is definitely upon us. With a chill in the air and summer
stock on the sale rails, there’s definitely one thought slowly creeping into the minds of retailers and
shoppers alike.
Those with children, and the organised among us, will already putting together lists of ideas and
budgets for the Christmas shopping season. Beat the crowds this year and look at booking into a
budget Holborn hotel at the start of November.
When the prices are low and the shops are quiet, enjoy planning this year’s festivities without the
hustle and bustle of late London shoppers. Your Holborn hotel is ideal for reaching Covent Garden
and Oxford Street, but there are a number of other hot shopping spots to check out too.
Is there someone a little alternative in your life? High street goodies don’t suit every type of character
and when you’re stuck for ideas or need a little out of the box inspiration, Camden is the place to
head.
Whether you’re looking for vintage accessories, hard to find books, or quirky lifestyle pieces, chances
are that you will find a hidden gem lurking in one of the six markets at Camden.
Don’t be put off by the ‘market’ atmosphere – as any alternative soul knows, Camden is definitely the
coolest place to find gifts and garments.
Oxford Street offers over a mile’s worth of shops, leading from Tottenham Court Road down to the
Marble Arch. Truly a shopper’s paradise, every store you can think of will be located on or around the
main road here.
Oxford Street
Department stores such as Debenhams, BHS and Selfridges all take pride of place on the strip, as
do flagship fashion stores including Next, TOPSHOP and Zara. Not everyone is a fashionista, and
Oxford Street definitely pays homage to that with a huge HMV store as well as The Disney Store and
more.
As you make your way down the shopping haven, eateries and cafes – including Starbucks, Pizza
Hut, and Wafflemeister to name a few – are on hand to ensure you successfully manage to shop the
entirety of the Street.
A calmer retail experience can be had at Covent Garden. Offering the best of all worlds, the area is a
tranquil square of stalls, shops and restaurants, with plenty of street entertainers and artists around to
lighten the mood.
Covent Garden
Have a bite to eat and a glass of something cold and bubbly at either Champagne Charlies Wine Bar
or Laduree, before wandering around the small, but perfectly sufficient, collection of shops.
No London shopping guide, no matter how brief, would be complete without mentioning the
marvellously extravagant shopping area, Knightsbridge.
The home of London’s most famous landmark store, Harrods, this is the part of London Town where
designer boutiques are available in abundance. If you’re planning to venture to this neck of the woods
be sure to pack the plastic, the goods here are far too fine to be resisted.
Book your Holborn hotel as soon as possible to secure advance budget accommodation rates. The
very best deals can be secured online at the click of a touchpad.
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post
Photo Credits: Oxford Street by Cristiano Betta, Covent Garden by mcxurxo
