Where to Stay in London for Shopping? 10 Best Spots - Sanctum (2024)

Best for Market Stalls | Notting Hill

Best for Fashion | Mayfair

Best for Independent Boutiques | Maida Vale

Centrally-situated and close to key shopping areas including Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, this is the ultimate spot to stay for retail therapy, especially if you are looking for the best fashion brands.

This is a luxury location and conveniently-placed to access some of the capital’s top stores and restaurants and, as such, accommodation in the area comes at a premium. Because of this elevated price, however, the service and facilities tend to be second to none.

• Shopping Type: Everything from designer to high street fashion.
• Nearest Station: Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marble Arch and Green Park.
• Must-Visit Store: Liberty London. you can’t miss this mock-Tudor premium department store that sits proudly on Regent Street. Here, you’ll find top beauty brands, designer clothing and stylish homeware, including their iconic Liberty prints.
• Place to Eat: La Gavroche. With two Michelin Stars, the French cuisine on offer here is as opulent as its Mayfair surroundings, but it’s popular, so be sure to book well in advance!

For a more unique shopping experience with premium boutiques, art shops and alfresco coffee stops, then head to Kensington.

There are various parts to Kensington; if you prefer more well-known brands head to High Street Kensington, for designer goods pop to Knightsbridge (home to Harrods), and for more independent traders or boutique stores, then pop to South Kensington.

• Shopping Type: Boutique stores and luxury goods.
• Nearest Station: High Street Kensington, Knightsbridge and South Kensington.
• Must-Visit Store: Harrods. A quintessentially British store that dates back to 1834, this is the epitome of indulgence with the very best in clothing, handbags, food and more!
• Place to Eat: Town House Kensington. This cosy setting is perfect for all meals. Dishes made with fresh produce are created with a truly global influence, and there’s something to suit all palates.

In the midst of the London buzz is the beautiful Covent Garden. Shopping in this quirky part of the city is great, especially if you love beauty products, as there are many premium cosmetics and skincare brands here, including The Ordinary and Charlotte Tilbury.

Away from beauty, there are still plenty of other wonderful stores, with a good mix of premium brands, cute boutiques, and high street classics. If this doesn’t hit your retail fix, then you aren’t too far away from Regent Street to continue your spree!

• Shopping Type: Cosmetics, skincare and boutiques.
• Nearest Station: Covent Garden, Holborn and Leicester Square.
• Must-Visit Store: Dior Beauty Boutique. The UK’s only Dior Beauty standalone boutique, it is perfect for a spot of self-care indulgence, with the complete makeup collection, exclusive products, bespoke services, and amazing events!
• Place to Eat: The Petersham. This Italian inspired restaurant from Petersham Nurseries offers a stunning setting with contemporary art and Murano glassware, and a menu that includes delectable hand-rolled pasta.

Not everyone wants to be caught up in busy city life, but sleepy Maida Vale still provides some much-needed relief from central London, whilst still being close enough to key shopping districts when you want a spot of retail therapy.

It’s around 3 miles away from Oxford Street, as well as being near Notting Hill, Westfield Shopping Centre and Marylebone. If you aren’t keen on straying too far, there are plenty of places to shop locally, too, including nearby Little Venice which has some wonderfully chic shops and places to eat.

• Shopping Type: Quirky, independent stores.
• Nearest Station: Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue.
• Must-Visit Store: The Brimful Store. This independent lifestyle store has a selection of stylish clothing, gifts and homeware. Voted one of Vogue Magazine’s best boutique stores, it’s definitely worth a visit for unusual treats and trinkets!
• Place to Eat: The Elgin. This pub goes beyond a traditional drinking venue, with wonderful food offerings, coffee from a local roastery as well as London craft beers and UK wines.

Looking to stay in Maida Vale?

This vibrant part of London is, perhaps, less thought about than Mayfair as a place to stay, but there are some great accommodation options here at more reasonable price points than the luxury setting that Mayfair brings.

It’s a lively spot with an exuberant nightlife, and finds itself in an excellent location for hitting the shops. Its party atmosphere in the evenings might make it less suitable for a family trip, however.

Staying in Soho means will never be far from some incredible shopping destinations including Oxford Street for the fashionistas amongst us, and Carnaby Street for a carefully curated selection of boutique stores.

• Shopping Type: High street and boutique fashion.
• Nearest Station: Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.
• Must-Visit Store: Mallet. If you are a trainer aficionado then head straight to the Mallet boutique on Carnaby Street, where you will find minimalistic style trainers with an urban aesthetic.
• Place to Eat: Robata. Using traditional Japanese charcoal cooking, head here for a tantalising selection of grilled skewers, small plates and hand-crafted co*cktails.

This trendy part of London is popular for vintage shopping, art and markets, so there’s certainly plenty of opportunity to shop till you drop! Shoreditch shows an alternative side to London that feels more relaxed with eclectic pockets adding to its unique personality.

If you love vintage shopping and unusual trinkets for the home, mixed with bookstores, then Shoreditch is the place for you.

• Shopping Type: Vintage, unique homeware and books.
• Nearest Station: Shoreditch High Street and London Liverpool Street.
• Must-Visit Store: Labour and Wait. Timeless, functional products as well as a curated offering of vintage goods, this eye-catching store is just begging to be explored.
• Place to Eat: Alchemy Café. Providing seasonal coffee blends as well as light brunch and cake options, this is the perfect place for a pitstop during a busy day of shopping!

For sugary-sweet, pastel-coloured houses and a wonderful selection of independent and well-known brand stores, Notting Hill is the chic and fashionable part of London in which to stay. Locally, there are some incredible places to shop, and the area also plays host to the world-renowned Portobello Market that sells vintage clothing, books and antiques.

It’s also a stone’s throw away from Westfield White City, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, offering the perfect blend of high-street chains and designer brands all under one roof. In other words, the perfect to shelter in if you get caught in one of London’s (not infrequent) downpours!

• Shopping Type: Antiques, markets and upscale boutiques.
• Nearest Station: Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove.
• Must-Visit Store: The Travel Bookshop. Made famous by the Julia Roberts movie, Notting Hill, head to the Travel Bookshop. Whilst it’s sadly no longer a bookshop, it is still a great pitstop for souvenir shopping and an obligatory photo for Instagram!
• Place to Eat: Farm Girl Café. Serving holistic, fresh food and incredible coffee, this is a popular health-focused café in Notting Hill that doesn’t compromise on taste.

The village-like feeling of Marylebone makes this a charming place to both stay and shop! Around the corner from Oxford Street, it provides the perfect blend of premium brands and independent stores, with offerings including fashion, books and beauty.

• Shopping Type: Fashion, beauty and books.
• Nearest Station: Marylebone and Regent’s Park.
• Must-Visit Store: Daunt Books. If you’re a keen bookworm, you must head to Daunt. This stunning bookstore is famous for being housed within an Edwardian building with statement stained glass windows.
• Place to Eat: 31 Below. This all-day café fits right into the village vibe of Marylebone and transforms into a lively basem*nt bar after 6pm.

Islington is a popular, cosmopolitan part of the city. Locally there is a farmers’ market with handcrafted produce, as well as boutique shops, but it is also less than 20 minutes away on the underground from central locations such as Mayfair and Soho.

• Shopping Type: Markets and boutique stores.
• Nearest Station: Highbury & Islington and Angel.
• Must-Visit Store: Camden Passage. This unique selection of cafes, antique stores and market stands is one not to miss if you love to shop!
• Place to Eat: Kipferl. Head to this relaxed café for traditional Viennese cakes, coffee and savoury specialties.

Packed full of cultural charm, Camden is a great place to stay with a variety of stores on your doorstep, all offering plenty of choice, including: gifts, hand-crafted products and original fashion. If you’re about from Friday to Sunday, be sure to head to the market which is in all its glory over the weekend!

• Shopping Type: Unique gifts and handmade items.
• Nearest Station: Camden Town.
• Must-Visit Store: The Stable Market. Found in the iconic former Pickford stables, this market offers a wonderful collective of stalls selling the very best in unique fashion, music, art and food.
• Place to Eat: Chin Chin Labs. Head to Chin Chin Labs for an ice cream experience you won’t forget. These super smooth flavours are chilled using liquid nitrogen and then sculpted into real-life works of art. Cool in every sense of the word!

Looking to stay in Regents Park?

London has a vast amount of shopping areas to discover during your city break and being able to make the most of your time in these places will definitely depend on where your accommodation is. Our top tip is to pick somewhere that is close to a few key locations, but removed from the hustle and bustle of the city life you’ll have been caught up in all day!

If you are looking for great accommodation to come home to after a long day of retail therapy, then check out our luxurious range of serviced apartments on offer.