An All-round West End Shopping Expedition 4.5 Km

philip carey
Aug 24, 2022
5 min read

Updated: Aug 16, 2024

Start at Bond Street

Finish at Marble Arch

THE EXPERIENCE

Dedicated followers of fashion, the mile of style, the swinging sixty. These are phrases that were born in this part of London. So, if you are looking for the best places to go shopping in London, this route has all the styles for all people and suits all pockets – and they are all located in the West End in an easy-to-follow circular route. There is a route for luxury shopping (Bond Street), gentleman’s shopping (Piccadilly and Jermyn Street), Trendy Shopping (Regent Street and Carnaby Street) and departmental store shopping (Oxford Street)

Great for Great for fashionable and luxury shopping, history, crowds, iconic sights, hotels, museums, art galleries, shopping arcades, auction houses, theatres, designer clothes, jewellery and watches, and lots of places to eat, drink and be merry.

MUST SEE PLACES

What to See List

1. Marble Arch and site of Tyburn Gallows

2. Selfridges

3. St Christopher’s Place

4. Luxury Shopping on Bond Street

5. Green Park & Piccadilly – Parks and Mansions

6. Jermyn Street & St James’s Gentleman’s Shopping

7. Piccadilly Circus – Neon Lights

8. Carnaby Street – Swinging 60’s

9. Regent Street – Trendy Shopping

10. Oxford Street – Department Store Shopping

PLACES TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

Areas to Eat, Drink and Be Merry List

1.. Around North Audley Street

2. Around Mount Street

3. South Berkeley Square

4. Around Dover Street

5. Around St James’s Street

6. Around Piccadilly

7. Kingly Street & Kingly Court

8. Heddon Street

9. Around Maddox Street

10. St Christopher’s Place

Links to nearby Eat, Drink and Be Merry Routes.

The following Eat, Drink and Be Merry Routes are nearby

St James Piccadilly - Starting from Piccadilly Circus to Green Park

https://www.photoruns.com/post/st-james-piccadilly-shopping-eat-drink-and-be-merry-photorun

Regent Street - Starting at Oxford Circus and finishing at Piccadilly Circus

https://www.photoruns.com/post/around-regent-street-shopping-eat-drink-and-be-merry-photorun

Upper Mayfair - Start and end at Bond Street Station on Oxford Street

https://www.photoruns.com/post/st-christopher-s-place-shopping-eat-drink-and-be-merry-photorun-1

South Mayfair - Start at Green Park and end at Hyde Park Corner

https://www.photoruns.com/post/south-mayfair-shopping-eat-drink-and-be-merry-photorun

Central Mayfair - Start and end at Bond Street Station on Oxford Street

https://www.photoruns.com/post/central-mayfair-shopping-eat-drink-and-be-merry-photorun

St Christopher’s Place - Start and end at Bond Street Station on Oxford Street

https://www.photoruns.com/post/st-christopher-s-place-shopping-eat-drink-and-be-merry-photorun

BEST TIME

Morning - The best time to do this route is on weekends in the early morning when it is quiet and free from crowds and heavy traffic.

Day - This route will be busy during the day.

Evenings - Busy around Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus - less busy elsewhere.

ROUTE OVERVIEW

The 4.5 Km route starts at Bond Street Station on Oxford Street and heads east a short distance before turning right down New Bond Street. This straight road takes you all the way down to Piccadilly, passing all the luxury shops, galleries, and auction houses to Green Park. It then travels along Piccadilly, tuning down St James's Street and into the heart of gentleman shopping in Jermyn Street. The route returns to Piccadilly by the Royal Academy and then turns right towards Piccadilly Circus and then up Regent Street and Carnaby Street on its way to Oxford Circus. The route's final leg continues down the western side of Oxford Street to finish at Marble Arch.

Route at a Glance Video.

Strava Link

My Google Map Link

DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO GALLERY

This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many sights along this route. Use the Google Map above to find their location. Double-click to see its full size.

INTERESTING FACTS

Victorian Shopping Facts

Department Stores Emerged: In Victorian London, the concept of department stores began to flourish. Prominent examples include Selfridges, founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909, and Harrods, established in 1834.

Innovations in Retail: The Victorian era saw various innovations in retail, such as fixed price tags, which replaced haggling, and window displays designed to attract customers. These practices laid the groundwork for modern retailing.

Luxury Shopping: London's affluent Victorian society indulged in luxury shopping, particularly in areas like Bond Street and Regent Street. These streets were lined with high-end boutiques and attracted the wealthy elite.

Growth of Consumer Culture: The Victorian era witnessed the growth of consumer culture, with shopping becoming a leisure activity for the middle and upper classes. This period saw the rise of the notion of "retail therapy."

Emergence of Mail-Order Catalogues: Mail-order catalogues gained popularity during the Victorian era, allowing people to shop from the comfort of their homes. Companies like Pryce-Jones and Montgomery Ward offered a wide range of goods through catalogue sales.

Speciality Shops: Victorian London boasted numerous speciality shops catering to specific needs and interests, ranging from haberdasheries to tea emporiums. These shops contributed to the city's diverse retail landscape.

Arcades and Markets: Victorian London featured elegant shopping arcades like the Burlington Arcade, providing sheltered shopping experiences for the upper classes. Additionally, markets such as Covent Garden Market catered to a broader demographic, offering fresh produce and goods.

Growth of the Middle Class: The expanding middle class in Victorian London led to increased demand for affordable goods and services. This demographic frequented shops like Thomas Cook's travel agency, which offered package tours and travel-related services.

Rise of Consumerism: The Victorian era marked a significant shift towards consumerism, with a growing emphasis on material possessions and status symbols. This trend influenced shopping habits and contributed to the development of the retail industry.

Social Changes: Shopping in Victorian London reflected broader social changes, including shifts in gender roles and attitudes towards commerce. Women played a prominent role as consumers, with shopping outings often serving as social events. Additionally, the rise of department stores provided employment opportunities for women in retail.

Main Shopping Streets in the West End

Oxford Street has over 300 stores of affordable fashion, beauty, homeware and department stores: Selfridges, John Lewis, Primark

Regent Street runs adjacent and is known for premium labels like Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Kate Spade.

Bond Street is the West End’s most luxurious shopping street with global fashion houses such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton, world-famous jewellers and auction houses.

Mount Street offers luxury in a village-like setting. Stores include Loewe, Oscar de la Renta, Balenciaga and Christian Louboutin.

Synonymous with gentlemanly style, Jermyn Street is the destination for handmade shirts and shoes, while Savile Row is the home of English bespoke tailoring.

VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA

Click on the picture below to go on a 360 virtual tour of the shopping areas and have a look around.

Use the locations on the routes to explore this location by looking around in 360, taking in the sights and sounds, listening to an audio recording about the area and going on a virtual tour.

HISTORY & GUIDES VIDEO LIBRARY

Please note - These date from before 2018 and have been done in a variety of styles to determine which one works best. They all provide very useful information and we would welcome feedback to help create the new version

This video gives you a short introduction to how the Central London shopping area grew during the Tudors (1560) and the Victorians (1860)

7:26 mins