Best Shopping Plazas to Shop in London
London is known for having some of the finest shopping plazas that cater to your needs. While you are out shopping in town, you can also stop to have a coffee and lunch within most of these plazas. So, if you wonder where some of the best shopping plazas in London are located and what makes them so unique, you have come to the right place! Below is a list of the top 10 greatest shopping plazas in London, from all of your furniture needs to flower needs to food needs, we have got you covered. Relocating to London presents exciting opportunities for career and cultural exploration.
1. Duke of York Square
First up on this list is Duke of York Square. This shopping plaza offers everything from fashion to food as well as a variety of cultures. Duke of York Square is known for hosting one of London’s best open-air food farmer’s markets on the weekends. With over 30 stores to shop from along with seven restaurants, you would truly be able to spend your entire day in this shopping plaza if you so wanted to. The shopping plaza is located directly on King’s Road and is only a five-minute walk if you have just dropped in from Sloane Square Tube station. Overall, if you are in need of retail therapy or, if you simply want to enjoy a spot of contemporary culture and beautiful architecture, come get lost in the beauty that is Duke of York Square.
2. Covent Garden
Next on this list, we must talk about London’s favorite open-air destination. Covent Garden has so much to offer it is almost unfair. With different things happening every week, this shopping plaza is ever-changing and always offers something new to try. For example, you can enjoy the Summer Festival at Covent Garden from the months of June all the way through the beginning of October. The summer festival will bring daily live music, exciting new varieties of street food, Wimbledon screenings, and more into the already exhilarating Covent Garden.
Covent Garden is known to be one of London’s most popular shopping neighborhoods when it comes to fashion. It is also known for its variety of delicious restaurants and experiences. With over 200 brands to shop from, as well as a large number of bars, pubs, cafes, and restaurants, you may need more than just one day to fully experience Covent Garden in all of its glory.
3. Carnaby London
Moving on to the neighborhood of Soho where Carnaby London stands. Carnaby is known for being the epicenter of culture and lifestyle in London. Carnaby is also known for its 1960s fashion as well as its British brands, such as Paul Smith, Mark Powell, Lazy Oaf, Sweaty Betty, and Adidas. There are also over 60 restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from when you need a break from shopping. In addition to this, Carnaby is also located just minutes away from Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. Therefore, you will never run out of things to do.
4. Columbia Road Flower Market
So far, we have covered the top 3 shopping centers that truly have it all, but what about a shopping plaza dedicated to flowers? Columbia Road Flower Market has been around for almost 150 years and has been a go-to destination for flower lovers ever since. Located in London’s trendy Shoreditch neighborhood, this flower market comes alive weekly on Sundays.
5. Cardinal Place
Cardinal Place is located near Victoria Station. This specific London shopping center offers some much-needed retail therapy. There is also a variety of local cinema options nearby to top off your shopping experience. In addition to this, for anyone interested, there are also plenty of office spaces available for rent in Cardinal Place.
6. Liberty London
Next up on the list is none other than Liberty London, where high-end fashion meets luxury homeware, not to mention its very own fabric line. While Liberty London is definitely on the pricier side, it is still worth mentioning on this list of London’s best shopping plazas. In addition to the luxury home goods and clothing, you can also find yourself feasting on new dining additions for the summer.
7. Camden Garden Centre
Camden Garden Centre is a great shopping plaza to stop by if you are on the lookout for plants, outdoor furniture, or any other gardening necessities. Not only does Camden Garden Centre offer a beautiful selection of outdoor plants, but this shopping plaza is also known to be a charitable organization that offers employment, training, and educational opportunities to its parent charity.
8. Hay’s Galleria
Hay’s Galleria is a shopping center located in the neighborhood of Southwark. With a variety of excellent food choices and amazing architecture, it is a great place to explore Southwark as well as the riverwalk located nearby.
9. Westfield London
Westfield London is a great shopping destination as well as an excellent place to stop for a quick bite to eat. This indoor shopping plaza is known for its variety of family-friendly entertainment as well as luxury shopping and dining experiences. Westfield would be a great shopping option for the gloomier, rainy days in London as you can do most of your exploring and shopping indoors.
10. St Christopher’s Place
St. Christopher’s Place is known as the place to be for all London shoppers and food lovers alike. Tucked away off Oxford Street, this shopping center offers a variety of places to eat while also meeting all of your beauty, art, clothing, and furniture needs.
There are plenty of other amazing shopping centers all throughout London that are missing from this list. Therefore, to end our top 10 best shopping centers in London, it would be a crime not to include this honorable mention: Harrods. Harrods, however, does not need much of an explanation as we are all aware it is worth the visit. It is also very easy (and fun) to get lost in Harrods as it is within every single shopping center mentioned above. With that being said, it may be time for you to go enjoy a shopping day out in London right about now.
Living in London – Shopping in Different Places
Shopping in London
The best way to experience London is to get out of your new flat and explore some of the flea markets that London is famous for. Not only will you be able to pick up some great items at bargain prices, but It is a way of getting out and experiencing life.
Spitalfields Market
Open Monday to Friday from 10am – 4 pm and Sundays from 9 am – 5 pm, but, in common with many of the main markets, is at its busiest on Sundays when all shops and stalls are open. Thursdays specialize in antiques and Fridays in fashion and art. Old Spitalfields has been the site of a market since the 1640s and specializes in arts and crafts, furniture, designer clothing, gifts, and food. Many of the goods on offer are sourced from around the world, and this is the place to go for unusual, eco, and organic goods. Old Spitalfields market is set in a Victorian market hall and is very convenient if you’d like to visit a market but stay out of the rain! Spitalfields Arts Market, close to Old Spitalfields Market, offers a range of art, sculpture, and photography from both established and up-and-coming artists. There are a range of cafes and restaurants in the area, including Giraffe, which offers global food and world music, and Carluccio’s café and deli for great Italian food. There are regular free community events staged at the Arts market, including fashion shows and concerts. The nearest tube stations are Central, Hammersmith City, District, Circle, and Metropolitan.
Borough Market
Borough Market is a gourmet food market, which is open Thursday –Sunday at the following times: Thursday 11:00 am- 5:00 pm; Fri 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm; Sat 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. There are stalls with fresh produce from around the country, including meats, cider, cheeses, freshly baked bread and pastries, games, and fruit and vegetables. There are also stalls that sell foodstuffs from around Europe. The market is also open as a wholesale market throughout the week. It is our oldest food market and definitely a tempting place to go on an empty stomach! If you love spending money at farmers’ markets, and you love buying fabulous fresh food and sampling all kinds of stuff that you have never tried before, this is your place. Neal’s Yard Dairy supplies a huge variety of cheeses, and Monmouth coffee comes highly recommended. Be warned that this market can get extremely crowded, and you might struggle for a seat in a pub- but then there are all those food stalls to sample anyway… Some of the food can be pricey, and if you’re looking for food bargains, try Brixton Market instead. The nearest tube stations are London Bridge and Borough.