If you are visiting London with an intention to hit the shops, then your first mission is to select the perfect Bond Street shopping hotel.
Bond Street is the ultimate location to base yourself during a retail getaway. This is the epicentre of London’s most luxurious boutiques and department stores which means that you needn’t worry about having to travel long distances with your new purchases.
Opting to stay at a luxury hotel near Bond Street places you within easy access to the following shopping spots.
Selfridges
Since Selfridges swung the doors to its flagship store open in 1909, the department store has rocketed to one of the foremost shopping destinations in the country. Clothing, fragrance, cosmetics, jewellery, books, home, and tech are each represented. The likelihood is that you can find anything your heart desires within these six floors.
Beyond the outlets, Selfridges offers a plethora of dining options that are spread across the building. Choose to sip a glass of bubbles at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar or tuck into Italian fare at Alto by San Carolo in a dreamy rooftop setting.
Harrods
The predecessor to Selfridges dates back to 1849 when Charles Henry Harrod opened a humble retail business on Brompton Road. Nowadays, the forest green shopping bags and golden typography are as recognisable as London’s Big Ben.
With its Egyptian-themed decor, the elaborate department store is as much a work of art as it is a luxury shopping paradise. All major designers are represented across the vast selection of fashion, homeware, jewellery, and cosmetics. Meanwhile, the Harrods Food Halls satisfy the tastes of any shopper with ocean-fresh seafood, freshly baked sourdough, and aromatic chocolates that are expertly crafted right before your eyes.
Those with the deepest pockets can even purchase gold ingots from the on-site Harrods Bank.
Marylebone High Street
Marylebone High Street is one of London’s hidden treasures when it comes to luxury shopping with a local ethos. The 500 metre-long street is situated within the shopping, dining, and lifestyle hub of Marylebone Village.
You’ll find independent boutiques and upscale brands such as Olivia Rubin, Monica Vinader, By Malene Birger. Marylebone High Street is also the setting for the historic bookshop, Daunts. Visit the travel department which occupies the original oak galleries and provides an incomparable literary experience.
Book a weekend stay at a luxury hotel near Bond Street and you can pay a visit to the weekly Farmer’s Market. This takes place every Sunday on Cramer Street, Marylebone Village, and provides a golden opportunity to load up on seasonal produce to take home or devour gourmet grub at the stalls.
Savile Row
Short and street yet with a reputation that sweeps across the continent, Savile Row is the number one destination for men’s tailoring in the United Kingdom.
The Palladian-style street was composed during the 1730s and named after Lady Savile, the wife of the 3rd Earl of Burlington. It blossomed into a nucleus for tailors during the second half of the century, with such pioneers as Dege & Skinner, Huntsman, and Anderson & Sheppard maintaining a presence alongside contemporary brands.
But the Savile Row of the 21st century is even more! Savile Row has expanded to provide ready-to-wear suits for men as well as tailored and apparel for women. If you’re on the prowl for something bespoke, then Savile Row is an essential port of call.
Regent Street
Named for the Prince Regent, the buildings that line the street that dissects Oxford Street provided the original shopping destination in London. Over 200 years since the Grade II facades were overseen by the architect John Nash and they remain a beacon of luxury fashion and lifestyle brands.
Beyond the flagship stores of the likes of Burberry, Reiss, and Gant, Regent Street is a hotspot of healthy, beauty, and wellness shops. Venture into Kiehl’s and L’Occitane en Provence to stock up on bathtime products that you can later sample at your Bond Street shopping hotel post splurge. For those travelling with children, the five floors of Hamleys Toy Store should not be missed.
Fortnum & Mason
There is so much more than artisanal biscuits and posh preserves awaiting you behind the mint-hued Diocletian windows of Fortnum & Mason. The interiors are masterly composed with original fireplaces, an ornate wooden staircase, and mementoes that allude to when the store first opened in 1707.
Naturally, tea is the star of the show at Fortnum & Mason with a broad selection of black, green, fruit, and more. The fabled luxury hampers are available year-round to celebrate any occasion you can possibly think of. Baskets are carefully curated to commemorate weddings, birthdays, housewarmings, and even a casual summer picnic in one of London’s Royal Parks.
Be advised that you’re likely to want to tuck into any purchases the moment you return to your luxury hotel near Bond Street.
Carnaby Street
The first prize for the kookiest luxury shopping destination in London goes straight to the 14 little streets that form the Carnaby Street district. Carnaby Street dates back to the Swinging Sixties and it wears its heritage well. Among these pedestrianised shopping avenues you will find classic British labels, concept stores, and bespoke jewellery and beauty brands.
The emphasis at Carnaby Street is on modern brands, with such labels as The Kooples, size?, and Monki leading the way.
Liberty London
Last but not least, none could forget the iconic Tudor-revival building that never fails to turn heads as shoppers bustle through Oxford Circus.
Liberty’s is known for its own line of stylish fabrics that launched in 1875. These collections draw inspiration from architecture, nature, and events from all corners of the globe and provide you with the tools to personalise your home and wardrobe with style.
Furthermore, the department store stocks a range of carefully selected designers’ women and menswear, cruelty-free beauty and grooming products, and kitsch accessories for the home.
Snap up a room at your Bond Street shopping hotel today, and remember to bring an extra piece of luggage for all your purchases.
