London Shopping Interlude
 

In the first weekend of October we are looking for shopping ( moderately priced items, flea market style and/or higher end window browsing) areas. On route to attractions we hope to locate some shopping opportunites. What locations are along the following attractions route:
Friday... Victoria&Albert Museum - Westminister Abbey - National Portrait Museum route
Saturday... Tower of London - St Paul's Cathedral - Museum of London route
Sunday ... mid afternoon from Victoria station ( post Hampton Court Palace visit) and weekend Bayswater hotel location.

As always, appreciating your experiences and knowledge.... thanks.

KIng's Road is very close to the V&A, . There is a market inside at Covent Garden with shops along the inside.

Saturday Camden Passage has a huge market

You're going to have to go a bit out of your way, and you won't have much time.

On the Friday, you could go on from the National Portrait Gallery via Seven Dials to Covent Garden/Neal St, or you could get a bus up Brompton Road from the V&A towards Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the posh designer shops along Sloane Street.

Camden Passage is a collection of antique shops around the Angel Islington, which is a bit out of the way from your Saturday programme. The huge market is Camden Lock, at Camden Town (also rather out of your way).

On Sunday, one option might be Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane (arts/crafts/collectables), but again the other side of town from where you'll be, and if you've been down to Hampton Court, you really wouldn't have much time.

here's a nice list of markets: http://www.londontown.com/shopping/S...hType=category

most of the city area markets: leather lane, leadenhall, etc are usually mon-fri events, but do check.

Thank you three....you have given me a number of ideas for stops along the routes and options to include. Likely, from your suggestions we will be adding a focused 'shopping day' in London before rolling out to the countryside itinerary.

Camden Lock is worth a look. The building has a very interesting history, too. I found things there I hadn't expected and really enjoyed it. Covent Garden area, IMO, is always a treat to the eye but may be a bit overpriced. (Just my two pence on that!)

BC

For shopping (especially if you're going to do a dedicated shopping day), I really like wandering Marylebone High Street. Very easy to combine with a visit to Selfridge's if you're interested.

There are shops all along Queensway (main street) in Bayswater and also Whiteleys at the end of Queensway which is a lovely old department store turned into a small mall with shops, restaurants and the cinema.

The museums and galleries in London all have great shops with interesting things to buy. Some museums have more than one shop too, for example at the V&A they often have a shop specialising in things to do with the special exhibit is as well as the normal shop.

Covent Garden has loads of shops and restaurants and is close to the National Portrait Museum. If you keep heading up Charing Cross Rd to Tottenham Court Rd tube station, you'll pass Foyles which is a huge book store and also TK Maxx which has decent clothes at cheaper prices than normal. It's in the old Borders book shop. Once at Tottenham Court tube you can walk all the way along Oxford Street with a huge range of stores. It can get horribly crowded though, especially on Saturday afternoons.

There's a lot to see at Hampton Court Palace and you need to allow time to get there and back so you'll want to leave early if you need to be back by mid afternoon. It would be a shame to only see a bit then have to leave.

Have fun shopping, we lived in London until very recently and there are some great shopping areas.

Kay

Thank you to the additional three responders....your time and suggestions are valued.
Our accommodations have been moved to Baron's Court underground area. I guess we might include Covent Gardens/Piccafdily Circus on FRiday since the National Portrait Gallery is open 'til 21:00.
On Saturday, after Museum of London, take a crosstown underground to Portobello Road by 16:00, and on Sunday stay the whole opening hours at Hampton Court Palace.
Thanks everyone for your help.

ttt

re the markets, I love this website:
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/markets.htm

It shows locations, days/times and what they sell, all in a nifty little map.