After the excitement of Christmas day is over and you’ve nursed your New Year’s Day hangover with a full English breakfast and whole box of Lindt chocolates, it’s finally time to get out of your onsie and venture into the outside world …
Here’s Clink’s guide to a few of the best places to indulge in some post-Christmas retail therapy at London’s epic January Sales. From our favourite independent boutiques to the more mainstream department stores. Go on, you deserve it.
The Old London Favourites
1. Liberty of London
Where is it? Regent St, Carnaby
Why do we love it? You can feel the history in the bones of this beautiful old building – amidst the chaos of January Sales make sure to stop and soak it all in!
Liberty of London has been around since 1875 and has a very traditional British air about it. It’s worth a wander around just to enjoy its higgledy-piggledy jumble of rooms that feels much like you’ve stepped into an eccentric stately home. Rest assured, though, the contents of this historic shopping store are far from dated. Liberty are real innovators in retail so you’ll be sure to find interesting displays, cool collaborations and little surprises around every corner.
2. Harrods
Where is it? 87-135 Brompton Rd, SW1X 7XL
Why do we love it? For its glitz and glamour – and the people watching!
A trip to London just isn’t complete without a visit to Harrods. With its terracotta façade and classic green awnings, it’s hard to miss. You’ll have to beat off some crowds here but it’s worth sharpening those elbows to soak in the ambience of its grand corridors. If you’re a shoe fiend then you’ll find your Valhalla on the fifth floor. Things don’t come cheap at Harrods, but if you’re going to make a purchase January is the time to do it! The grand food halls are also legendary, with good reason, so dive right in for your foodie fix.
3. Selfridges
Where is it? 400 Oxford St, W1A 1AB
Why do we love it? Because of it’s forward thinking approach to fashion and style
Selfridges is one of our happy places – and it just might be yours too! Providing joy to Londoners and tourists alike for over one hundred years, this is your one-stop-shop for all things stylish. From hip home-wares, to luxury brands, to a veritable feast of young fashion labels, it’s hard to not splash a bit of cash – even if you’re just in for a browse…
Had enough of shopping? Check out our guide to London’s coolest bars!
The Independent Darlings
4. Camden Passage
Where is it? 1 Camden Passage, N1 8EA
Why do we love it? It’s quaint charm is the perfect antithesis to the madness of Oxford Street – especially during the January sales!
Camden Passage is nestled behind one of the main roads that runs through Angel. This quaint cobbled street is well-known for its antique market that runs a few times a week, but it’s also packed with sweet independent shops stocking things from vintage clothes to homewares by up and coming designers. Whilst you probably aren’t going to find the big price slashes that the big department stores can sustain, a stroll into some pretty stores to pick up a few select pieces, may well be a welcome change from the chaos of central London during the sales. One of our favourite stores is Smug where you can pick up kitsch bits and bobs for the home and then pop downstairs to the café for tea and a scone – perfect!
5. Dover Street Market
Where is it? 18-22 Haymarket, SW1Y 4DG
Why do we love it? Because it’s like nowhere else in London
Dover Street Market is worth a visit if only for its design credentials. This ground-breaking multi-level store houses some of London’s most exciting up and coming designers. With lots of areas to explore, many of which look more akin to art installations, there’s plenty of wonder to be found. For the most affordable offering, head to the basement (and then to the Rose Bakery on the top floor when you’re all shopped out!)
Image courtesy of dezeen.com
6. Bluebird
Where is it? 350 King’s Rd, SW3 5UU
Why do we love it? For a taste of the South West London lifestyle
Bluebird is a café and lifestyle boutique where the trendy Chelsea set head to pick up designer clothing, shoes and accessories. There’s always a cool selection of prints, coffee table books and records on offer too. If you’re feeling extra luxurious there’s also a spa where shoppers can relax and unwind with a variety of treatments. Even if you can’t afford much in here on a backpackers budget, it’s worth buying a cuppa at the bluebird café and watching the well-dressed clientele come and go.
Looking for fun activities in London? Check out our guide on the most exciting things to do in the city this weekend!
The ‘all-under-one-roof’ shops
7. Westfield (at Stratford or Shepherd’s Bush)
Where is it? Montfichet Rd, E20 1EJ (Stratford) Ariel Way, W12 7GF (Shepherd’s Bush)
Why do we love it? In all honesty, we don’t love it! But sometimes convenience wins if you’re looking for lots of shops under one roof
If you like doing your shopping under one roof then Westfield is for you. This huge retail giant has two big shopping centres in London – one in East London which snakes through the Olympic site and one in West London at Shepherd’s Bush. This isn’t the place to head if you’re looking for quirky independent shops, but if you want to see what the big, high street brands like Topshop, Primark and Forever 21 have to offer in their January sales, Westfield is a good bet. When you’re all shopped out there’s a vast choice of restaurants where you can happily refuel too.
8. Boxpark
Where is it? Montfichet Rd, E20 1EJ (Stratford) Ariel Way, W12 7GF (Shepherd’s Bush)
Why do we love it? 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6GY, UK
Boxpark isn’t your regular shopping centre. Constructed out of refitted shipping containers, and nestled underneath Shoreditch station, this is a mecca for lovers of cool streetwear brands like Dockers, Nike and Evisu and cool scandi interior purveyors Marimekko. Stop and get your vitamins in with a trip to Chop’d or Crushh.
9. The Brunswick
Where is it? 57, The Brunswick Shopping Centre, WC1N 1BS
Why do we love it? Because who doesn’t like a dose of 1960’s modernist architecture with their shopping trip?
The Brunswick is just a hop, skip and a jump from Clink in the fashionable area of Bloomsbury. The modern shopping centre is housed inside a Grade II listed building and is a great example of modernist architecture. So if you’re in the market for a spot of shopping in a cool, 60’s building, then head to The Brunswick. The Renoir art house Cinema is also part of the complex so you can take the opportunity to rest your weary feet in a comfortable chair and enjoy a movie after a big shopping expedition!
