Regent
Street & Hamleys Toy Shop
Take the
first road right in Saville Row, New Burlington Street which leads
onto Regents Street, for London an elegant, wide 'boulevard' that
was cut through the narrow streets in the 19th Century.
Burbury, the luxury clothing brand has a store on the corner.
Turn left, heading northwards and cross to the opposite, eastern side
of Regent Street. Soon you will come to Hamleys Toy Shop at number
196, Britain's biggest toy shop dating back to 1760. Hamleys is credited
with inventing Table Tennis, the game being lunched exclusively at
Hamleys.
The store has evolved and now has more the feel of a big corporate
chain store than an independent outlet with charm.
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Hamleys
Toy Shop |
On
exiting Hamleys retrace your steps south, taking the second turning
on your left (Beak Street), just after a Wedgewood shop. Along Beak
Street take the third turning on your left (Carnaby Street).
Carnaby
Street - Clothes
For a brief period in the 60's, Carnaby Street was
the centre of world fashion and epitomised 'swinging Britain'. Today
the pedestrianised street is lined with outlets showcasing brand named
clothes that still attracts the young.
Continue right to the end of Carnaby Street just after it kinks to
the right, then turn left into Great Marlborough Street.
At the end of Great Marlborough Street, at the junction with Regent
Street is Libertys Store on your left, an unmistakable building in
Tudor style. Opened in 1875 and specialising in silks and other goods
from the East. Not as flamboyant as its early days the department
store still continues today with a focus on clothes and fabrics, some
of which it makes.
Now turn right up Regent Street to Oxford Circus Underground Station.
then turning left into Oxford Street. |
Oxford
Street - Department Stores
Oxford
Street is the busiest shopping street in London and contains most
of the big general department stores. Most of the UK chain stores
have their flagship stores here. Harrods is not in Oxford Street though.
We have a single dedicated page that addresses Oxford
Street.
Oxford Street stretches right up to Hyde Park at Marble Arch. Our
walk turns south off Oxford Street about a third of the way along
into New Bond Street. Opposite Debenhams department store and well
before Bond Street Underground.
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Oxford
Street Department Store |
Bond
Street - Exclusive Luxury Goods
Bond Street is part of Mayfair, London's most exclusive
area. Bond Street connects Oxford Street with Piccadilly. The northern
part is called New Bond Street, the southern half Old Bond Street.
All along are the most exclusive world famous luxury brands and fine
art shops.
Among others in New Bond Street are Fenwick Department Store (63),
Sotheby's Auctioneers (34/35), Cartier (175), Asprey's jewelers (169).
In Old Bond Street, shops include De Beers Jewelery (46), Gucci (37),
Chanel (26) and Prada (17)
Harrods Knightsbridge
No walk on London's shops would be complete without Harrods.
Unfortunately (for this walk), Harrods is located in Knightsbridge,
Kensington, away from the very centre of London. However, it is only
a 5 minute ride on the Piccadilly Line Underground to Knightsbridge
from Green Park.
Turn right at the bottom of Bond Street into Piccadilly, and Green
Park Underground is immediately after the Ritz Hotel on your left.
(Or you could round the day of in style and take that great British
institution, Tea at the Ritz. |
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