Huge and moving, eccentric but conservative, avant-garde but anchored in its history, London cabs and refuses to accept any rigid name. Powerful international magnet, always at peak and frenzy, it intrigues and ultimately convigates. The British capital is in permanent reinvention, constantly integrating new arrivals from all walks of life and developing new neighborhoods, so that it is rediscovered at every stay.
At just 2 hours from Paris in Eurostar, the arrival at St Pancras International gives the tone: The stay in London will necessarily be beautiful and great, like the huge renovated glass garden in the large hall. First step before attacking the British capital: The purchase of a oyster, hear the Oyster Card, which is the best ally of the visitor in London public transit. Once your oyster is in hand, you'll be parked for a long weekend in the infernal broth of cultures, shopping, outings and wild strolls that are available to you. London is tentacular and keeps growing at the pace of its busy neighborhoods. Illuminated during Christmas holidays, chaotic from Boxing Day to open winter balances, festive and cultural always, there is no longer a minute to lose!
Long live the balances!
After traveling well, discovering its neighborhoods and expos, it is with delight and without guilt that you can go shopping. Especially that the great typical London shopping moment, famous throughout Europe, is the winter balances that start from Boxing Day, the day after Christmas. So it is a coax to get a good deal at less than 50% or less than 80%. It is traditionally the Harrod's department store that launches this long-awaited period of balances.
The balances are in full swing at the end of December at the end of January. After that, it will always be possible to bundle some good cases on the right to the left, but unless the 35 and the 32 are in size, it will obviously be harder than at the beginning of January. Know also, in good addicts, that it is not necessarily better to wait for the end of the balances to buy: the hallmarks are very fast, almost as soon as the period starts. They cover all shops, to a lesser extent vintage stores and the already cheap charity shops. But whether it's big or small creators or big chains, everyone gets into it!
Direction Oxford Street…
Any respectful fashionista begins its day shopping at Oxford Street, a street that brings together thousands of signs including the very popular Gap, Mango or Next. It is unthinkable to cross it without marking a (prolonged) stop at the Selfridges, a six story commercial complex with hundreds of big brands competing for the rays. Regent Street, which leads to the north on Oxford Street, competition with thousands of shops that load any blue card faster than Lucky Luke ↓! In this street is Liberty, luxury building whose windows show all the trends of the moment.
Sportswear fans will go to Thomas Neal Center on Earlham Street, Covent Garden underground, where they will find firms such as Quicksilver or Urban Kaos. The surrounding streets have become the «square to be» of the most fashionable boutiques such as Coco de Mer or Koh Samui. It is impossible to escape the mythical Harrods on Knightsbridge, which invites, on its seven floors, the most chic brands and its rich customers. His big rival is on the same street, Harvey Nichols, but he is unlikely to compete with the exorbitant prices.
For the latest trends
Bond, does that tell you something? No, not James, but Bond Street which houses the latest collections of London haute couture like Knightsbridge. Savile Row hears them close by with great claws and some famous tailors. And the best for the end: the Notting Hill district, which boasts designer boutiques such as Paul Smith or Solange Azagury-Partridge, but especially the famous London fridges that bring retro fans from all over Europe. Because today the trend is vintage! And by searching the famous charity stores, you will find the bag, the straw or the accessory you need! These second hand shops are based mainly on the gifts of the Londoners: there is therefore a bit of everything and very cheap prices. Chains such as Notting Hill Housing Trust and Oxfam are growing in the capital. The Traid (Westbourne Grove, Queensway Metro) stands out by offering exclusive luxury brands. Profits from charity shops shall be returned to charitable associations: What to give good conscience ↓!
Children are also entitled to their shopping
The children's paradise in London is called Hamleys. Located in Regent Street (Oxford Circus Metro), it boasts mountains of toys spread over five floors. For parents of wise children, Children's Book Center in Kensington High Street (High Street Kensington) specializes in children's books. And for the nostalgic, Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop (underground Covent Garden) offers a whole series of traditional toys from Russian dolls to puppets.
Deco and design for everyone
Notice to contemporary design lovers, the SCP located in Curtain Road (Old Street underground) offers beautiful furniture with clean lines, some of which are scraped by famous designers. In the same spirit, the Design Museum Shop in Shad Thames (Tower Hill) has a whole collection of gadgets and accessories, not necessarily useful but super lookés! In a more restrained style, the Zest (at Broadwick Street, London Tottenham Court Road) full of kitsch gadgets as fun as stuffy. How to finish your weekend in London!
Smart News
When is it? London is visiting all year round but if you like Christmas and its decorations, shopping and its balances and the rain doesn't go back to you, then the period from December to March will be ideal.
Go there. Joining London when you live north of France is faster and cheaper by train. Prefer the plane, more interesting and less time-consuming if you come from the south of Hexagone. Finally, avoid the bus, long and painful. By train, the Eurostar connects London St Pancras International and Paris Gare du Nord in 2 hours 15 with regular and daily trains. Lille and Calais are also served.
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