all areas Central London North London North West London North East London South London South East London South West London East London West London Greater London The Country london home > shopping SHOPPING   Art & Antiques   Jewellery   Bookshops & Stationery   Music   Cars   Needlepoint   Cigars   Perfumes & Toiletries   Clothing & Accessories   Pharmacies & Chemists   Department Stores/Outlets   Sportswear & Equipment   Electronics & Computers   Street Markets   Flowers & Garden   Trimmings & Buttons   Gifts   VAT   House & Home   Wine Shopping can be one of the most pleasant ways to spend your time in London, and one of the most expensive. By the standards of many world capitals, London prices are high. But the city does offer a full selection of goods, from all the well-known American brands, to traditional items, found in centuries-old shops, for which Britain is famous. To find bargains, and get good value for money, it is best to focus on what's made in Britain, and leave the international brands to those less fortunate than you who are here for a week, and then must go back half way around the world with things they could have bought cheaper at home. Traditionally, sales are held in January, the big month for them, and July, although it is now become common for those months to stretch to six or eight weeks. Keep in mind, too, that a bargain on a first edition of Dickens is a bargain whenever you find it. Another tradition is that even though most communities have their High Street shopping, the best shopping in London tends to be clumped in shops along streets that have become synonymous with it. Examples are Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, and, for when you are truly prepared to dig deep, the streets of the posh inner London neighbourhood known as St. James's (pronounced Jameses) --Savile Row, St. James's Street, and Jermyn Street. From furniture to flowers, many items offered in specialty shops can be found in major department stores, too, although the shop assistant may not be as knowledgeable as the one in the specialty shop, and not as understanding of the needs, for example, of the soul of someone buying art materials. Before you begin your shopping, as a longer-stay resident in London click on Value Added Tax or VAT, to see how this rather steep sales tax affects you differently than tourists who are here to fill their suitcases over a long weekend. It is best to focus on what's made in Britain, and leave the international brands to those less fortunate than you who are here for a week, and then must go back half way around the world with thigns they could have bought cheaper at home. recommend a new service provider > © cityQuicker. All rights reserved.