Westminster is one of London’s largest and most important boroughs. A city in its own right, it contains the Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and many more. With all there is to see here, you might not be thinking about finding a good bookshop, but that’s where we come into the picture. We have found five … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Bookshops to Visit in the City of Westminster
Shopping
World’s Oldest Toy Store Hamleys unveils its Harry Potter and Jurassic Park Christmas windows
Toy shop Hamleys has unveiled its Christmas windows with scenes from Harry Potter and Jurassic Park. The windows depict two scenes from the Harry Potter films against a snowy backdrop alongside the Jurassic Park feature, with toys from both blockbusters set to be big sellers again this year. Hamleys chief executive Sumeet Yadav said: “This year, we are bringing the magic … [Read more...] about World’s Oldest Toy Store Hamleys unveils its Harry Potter and Jurassic Park Christmas windows
Selfridges unveils ‘Christmas of Dreams’ 2021 window display, in October
It's a bit early, to be honest, I mean it's still October! But Selfridges has unveiled its Christmas window display with an “enchanted dream world” drawing on the Golden Age of Hollywood. With just under two months until the big day, the department store’s “Christmas of Dreams” campaign has been launched at its London, Birmingham, and Manchester stores and … [Read more...] about Selfridges unveils ‘Christmas of Dreams’ 2021 window display, in October
London’s Hamleys unveils most wanted toys for Christmas
Toys that encourage imagination in children are tipped to be top sellers this Christmas as parents seek to counter a “year on screens,” retailer Hamleys has said. This year sees the most-wanted toys encouraging role play and creativity and allowing families to play together after last year’s Covid-restricted celebrations, the store said. The top 10 list includes racing … [Read more...] about London’s Hamleys unveils most wanted toys for Christmas
Historic London retailer Arthur Beale to close store after 150 years
One of London’s oldest shops is to shut its doors for a final time after it said it was unable to pay its rent following the impact of the pandemic. Sailing outfitter Arthur Beale on Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End is to close after 150 years in the location. It was inevitable that some classic London places would not survive the economic damage of the pandemic. The … [Read more...] about Historic London retailer Arthur Beale to close store after 150 years
Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
So you’ve traveled all the way to London—and you want to go to the mall. Well, while London certainly has many a great market, arcade, and high street, you’ll be glad to know that shopping malls aren’t exclusively American. London has plenty of its own great shopping centers that offer a British take on the mall experience. Visitors to one of these shopping centers may find … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
The London Fiver – Five Collector Toy Shops
They say you’re only as old as you feel. For many of us, growing up meant going to the toy store to look, but not take anything home. Now that we’re adults, we like to indulge ourselves in collecting, and there are plenty of stores in London that cater to this demographic. Unlike Harrods, Selfridges, or even Hamleys, the stores below cater to the young and the old, often … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Collector Toy Shops
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Antiques Shopping in London
Having been around since Roman times, London has seen many artistic styles and designs, and almost all of it eventually finds its way into the shops and markets. Considering that, antique shoppers could find a city as old as London, a treasure trove of vintage furniture, clothing, and bric-a-brac. If you find yourself in the city looking for some old classic piece to take … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Antiques Shopping in London
LONDON ICONS: Fortnum & Mason – The Grocers to the Queen
When I think of iconic British Brands, particularly London based brands a few come to mind, but my first will always be Fortnum & Mason. They specialize in gourmet foods and are responsible for creating some of Britain’s most iconic foods, such as the Scotch Egg. A trip to their flagship store in London must-see for the foodie in your life. Fortnum & Mason is named … [Read more...] about LONDON ICONS: Fortnum & Mason – The Grocers to the Queen
London Alert: Black Friday Sale is ON – Big Discounts On Everything We Have In Stock!
The Anglotopia Store Black Friday Sale is ON! We're offering discounts on pretty much everything we have in stock. No coupon codes are needed, discount reflected in the price. Discounts on puzzles, maps, Tube gear, back issues, magnets, gift wrap, Christmas Cards and more! You can browse the entire sale here and when everything is gone, it's gone until next year. The sale ends … [Read more...] about London Alert: Black Friday Sale is ON – Big Discounts On Everything We Have In Stock!
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Christmas Shopping On Your Holiday Visits to London
The mad shopping season of Christmas is upon us. As we venture out of our homes, we brave crowded streets and shopping centers in search of those items that will tell our friends and family how much we love them. London is a shopper’s paradise throughout the year, but things turn up a notch after Halloween ends. The Christmas decorations go up on the high streets, the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Christmas Shopping On Your Holiday Visits to London
Top Ten London: Top 10 London Street Markets
Perhaps one of the greatest things about a city like London is the number of street markets all over the city. Each borough seems to have its own commercial thoroughfare that’s filled with produce, street food, vintage clothes, antiques, and more. Whether you intend to buy anything or not, you can spend a wonderful afternoon perusing the stalls and shops of London’s street … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 London Street Markets
Stanfords, My Favorite Bookstore in London, Is Moving From its Iconic Current Location after More than a Century
This news has gutted me. I try to take the changing face of London in stride. London is an ever-changing city that has never existed in a static state. But this one hurts. Stanfords, the iconic travel bookstore, has been based in their Long Acre Street location since 1901. Famed for their selection of maps, explorers and adventurers throughout history have bought … [Read more...] about Stanfords, My Favorite Bookstore in London, Is Moving From its Iconic Current Location after More than a Century
Hamleys Now Has an Entire Floor Dedicated to Harry Potter
London has a new spot to get all the best and latest Harry Potter gear - Hamleys has dedicated an entire floor to Harry Potter Merchandise. The iconic toy store, the oldest in the world, has dedicated their lower floor to Harry Potter. There is not a shortage of places in London to get official Harry Potter merchandise - there's a store at King's Cross, one in Heathrow … [Read more...] about Hamleys Now Has an Entire Floor Dedicated to Harry Potter
London Annual 2018: Top 10 London Bookshops For the Book Lover
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2018 London Annual, and while this special publication is now sold out, you can support great long-form writing about London by subscribing to the Londontopia Print Magazine, debuting in June 2018. Full details here. London is the capital of good bookshops. And while there are dozens of bookshops to explore in London, … [Read more...] about London Annual 2018: Top 10 London Bookshops For the Book Lover
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Vintage Clothing Shops To Visit On Your Next Trip
Many of us out there are dedicated followers of fashion, and there’s something about retro styles that really appeals to us. Whether you want to make something old new again or find an outfit for a fancy-dress party, London has plenty of vintage clothing shops all over the boroughs. Some harken back to the city’s most fashionable periods from the Mods to the grungy Nineties. … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Vintage Clothing Shops To Visit On Your Next Trip
The London Fiver – The Five Oldest Shops in London
Shops, as we think of them, are a fairly recent invention, give or take a couple hundred years. The idea that you would go to a single place where the goods were pre-made was pretty unheard of before the 18th Century. Prior to the rise of shops, individual merchants made most goods to order, whether you were going to the haberdasher or the blacksmith. Shops changed the world … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – The Five Oldest Shops in London
Borough Market Unveils UK’s Longest Christmas Paperchain
London's Borough Market has gotten into the Christmas spirit by creating the world's longest Christmas paperchain. From Borough Market: The UK’s longest paper chain has been unveiled at Borough Market. Members of the public were invited to spread the love by contributing festive messages to the chain which at 472 metres long, is over 150 meters longer than the height of The … [Read more...] about Borough Market Unveils UK’s Longest Christmas Paperchain
How London Markets Got Their Names
London's markets are some of the best places for shopping in the city. You can wander them for hours finding everything from homegrown vegetables to antique furniture. Bespoke clothes can be found next to famous brands at any one of these markets. The names of these markets are as varied as the items they sell, typically tied directly to their locations. But what are the … [Read more...] about How London Markets Got Their Names
London’s Shopping Street, Oxford Street, To Be Pedestrianized by 2020
Oxford Street is London's central shopping street where you can find most of Britain's major department stores. It's also a major traffic thoroughfare, which leads to traffic jams like you wouldn't believe - usually buses and taxis as far as the eye can see. Occasionally they have had traffic free shopping days which have been popular. Now, London's new Mayor Sadiq Khan is … [Read more...] about London’s Shopping Street, Oxford Street, To Be Pedestrianized by 2020
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Regent Street in London
Regent Street in West London acts as the border between Mayfair and Soho and represents one of the most important shopping districts in the city. Some of London's oldest stores such as Hamleys and Liberty of London exist side-by-side with newer retailers including Hollister Co. and Apple. Whatever you're looking for, you can guarantee that you'll find it here and it'll be … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Regent Street in London
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Hamleys – The Oldest Toy Store in the World
Hamleys is one of the premier toy stores not only in London, but in the world. Proudly located on Regent Street, it is both the oldest toy shop in the world and the largest one in London. There are plenty of great large retail stores in the city, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Liberty, Selfridges, and more, but none quite like Hamleys. Its history and renown is such that the … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Hamleys – The Oldest Toy Store in the World
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in Notting Hill
Notting Hill’s name is so old that there is apparently no exact source for it. Found within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, what was once a largely working-class part of London has given way to the upper middle-class. In the modern day, the area has become synonymous with the film written by Richard Curtis and starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts that uses … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in Notting Hill
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Carnaby Street
An avenue that’s always in style, Carnaby Street in Westminster has been the home of popular fashions for decades. Named for Karnaby House that was built in the area in 1683 with the street created not long after, it first became known as a retail location in the 19th Century when the Carnaby market first appeared. However, it wouldn’t be until the 20th Century that Carnaby … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Carnaby Street
Ten Interesting Facts about Fortnum & Mason You Might Not Know
One of the oldest still-operating department stores in London, Fortnum & Mason has been in existence since 1707. It was established at 181 Piccadilly by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. Now owned by Wittington Investments Ltd., it grew from a grocery store into the retail giant it is today. Today, as a holder of a Royal Warrant with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about Fortnum & Mason You Might Not Know
Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!