London Mayfair And St. James’S

Near Piccadilly, a number of Regency and Victorian arcades are lined with boutiques whose less interesting wares have changed little in the last hundred years. The oldest is the Royal Opera Arcade, between Pall Mall and Charles II St.; the most prestigious is the Royal Arcade, patronized by Queen Victoria and home of palace chocolatiers Charbonnel and Walker. The most famous, and longest, is the Burlington Arcade, next to the Royal Academy of the Arts, which houses several leather and jewelry shops. Shoppers take note: these and the other arcades have a bit of a stuffed-shirt feel; they’re filled with high-brow clothing shops specializing in tweed and top hats. (Shops inside keep their own hours, but most are open M-Sa about 10am-7pm, Su noon-6pm.)

Books

Sotheran’s of Sackville Street, 2-5 Sackville St. (☎ 020 7439 6151; www.sotherans.co.uk), Piccadilly Circus. Founded in 1761 in York, Sotheran’s moved to London in 1815; the selection of collectible ...more

Clothes

Sam Greenberg, Unit 1.7 Kingly Court, Carnaby St. Oxford Circus. Specializing in 80s T-shirts and old coats and jackets, this genuine vintage store sells post-rock throwbacks. Small collection of designer ...more

Clothing Outlets

Paul Smith Sale Shop, 23 Avery Row (☎ 020 7493 1287; www.paulsmith.co.uk), Bond St. Small range of last-season and clearance items from the acknowledged master of modern British menswear. Decently sized ...more

Department Stores

Selfridges, 400 Oxford St. (☎ 020 0870 837 7377; www.selfridges.com), Bond St. Tourists may flock to Harrods, but Londoners head to Selfridges. You’ll find all the biggies here—Gucci, Chanel, Dior—but ...more

Gifts And Miscellany

Hamley’s, 188-189 Regent St. (☎ 020 7734 3161; www.hamleys.co.uk), Oxford Circus. Quite simply one of the best toy shops in the world. Opened in 1760, Hamley’s has 7 floors filled with every conceivable ...more