Updated on 26 Nov 2022
Piccadilly in London is a must go for any shopping zealot. It is a place where one can hang around and spend the day window shopping, actually shopping, snack and eat up and maybe have a dance in the evenings. The stretch of Piccadilly from the corner of Regent St. to Green Park offers much for a visitor. There are number of shopping arcades too here. Some of the most exclusive items in the world are available here. Another excellent stretch dotted with some of the most well known retailers is the Old Bond St. and New Bond St. Old Bond St. runs towards the right from Piccadilly (when facing towards Green Park) just before St. James’s St. Of course, one cannot miss it in any way.
For convenience sake the shopping areas have been dealt in segments here based on streets as one moves from Regent St. towards Green Park.
The segments are –
Between Regent St. (Piccadilly Circus) and Church Place
Between Church Place and Duke St. St James’s
Between Duke St. St James’s and St. James’s St.
Between St. James’s St. and Arlington St.
Between Regent St. (Piccadilly Circus) to Sackville St.
Between Sackville St. and Old Bond St.
Between Old Bond St. to Stratton St.
How to get to Piccadilly –
Tube (subway) – Piccadilly Circus and Green Park
Buses – 8,9,14,19,22,38.
Piccadilly in London is a must-go for any shopping zealot. It is a place where one can hang around and spend the day window shopping, actually shopping, snacking and eating up and maybe having a dance in the evenings. The stretch of Piccadilly from the corner of Regent St. to Green Park offers much for a visitor. There are a number of shopping arcades too here. Some of the most exclusive items in the world are available here. Another excellent stretch dotted with some of the most well-known retailers is the Old Bond St. and New Bond St. Old Bond St. runs towards the right from Piccadilly (when facing towards Green Park) just before St. James’s St. Of course, one cannot miss it in any way.
Between Regent St. (Piccadilly Circus) and Church Place –
Starting from the Regent St. corner of Piccadilly Circus, towards Green Park one would first come across Clydesdale Bank and a souvenir shop on the left, followed by –
La Pigalle Club – The club offers live music and dance apart from dining.
After this is Ponti’s – This offers a good choice of sandwiches, pizza, salads etc.,
This is followed by Japan Centre and Baron of Piccadilly.
Baron of Piccadilly – One of the old shops which gives you the old world feeling. This was meant to be a Gentleman’s clothier and the excellent customer service indeed does do justice to the positioning. Baron has both men and women’s clothing – classical and traditional. It carries a number of well known brands.
Baron is at the corner of Eagle Place and Piccadilly. Address : 210 Piccadilly, Mayfair
London, W1J 9HE.
Next, between Eagle Place and Church Place–
NatWest – Banking services. NatWest had its inception when two long standing, centuries old banks, National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank merged in 1968. Later in year 2000, The Royal Bank of Scotland acquired NatWest.
Waterstone’s – A leading bookseller (is owned by the HMV group but in 2007), the store in Piccadilly is the flagship store and is the biggest bookshop in Europe.
Shops/places of interest between Church Place and Duke St. St James’s (along Piccadilly leading from Piccadilly Circus) –
St. James Church – This is an Anglican church (consecrated in 1684) designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
Piccadilly Market – On the grounds of St. James’s church, there’s a market held. On Tuesdays its an antiques and collectibles market (10 AM-6 PM) and from Wednesdays to Saturdays its an arts & crafts market. It’s a fun place with loads of jewelry, glassware, silks, and crafts from all over.
Hauser & Wirth – This is a contemporary art gallery. A number of exhibitions are held here throughout the year. The Piccadilly gallery was opened in 2003 in the historic building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Hauser & Wirth was founded in Zurich in 1992.
Gala Casino – This is almost a self-contained place. There is a grill and bars apart from the casino. As the casino declares, one can “eat, drink and play” here. It is open all days from 2 P.M. to 6 A.M. Dress code suggests as smart casual and no trainers or sportswear. For entry, first, one has to take a membership at the casino. Address – 196 Piccadilly, London, BS1 5TY.
Lladro – The famous porcelain makers from Spain has a Lladro Boutique here at Piccadilly. Some of the finest porcelain artwork can be found here. They are beautiful and expensive. Apart from figurines, Lladro also has some selected items for the table like salt and pepper containers, bowls for potpourri etc., fragrance and fragrance diffusing sets, mirrors, and lamps. All-encompassing the porcelain art they are famous for. The address: 194, Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EX. Ph. # 44 207 4940407.
Cinq – This is a patisserie and espresso bar.
Global Luggage Co. – Specializing in bags, luggage, and travel accessories.
Prince’s Arcade – This arcade has a number of shops and boutiques with merchandise ranging from men’s wear (Andy & Tuly), shirt makers (S. Conway), chocolatiers (Prestat), gift shops etc.
Ristorante Biagio – An Italian café and restaurant.
Hatchards – Another famous British bookseller. This is the oldest surviving bookstore in London having started in 1797.
Fortnum & Mason – Or just Fortnum’s is a “historic” department store. It dates way back to 1707 and is known for its exotic food items, luxury hampers (a popular Christmas gift) and its tea shop. Like any other department store, it also carries merchandise for home (china & glass, silver, bed & bath products etc.), toiletries, men’s and women’s accessories, nightwear, jewelry etc.
Shops/areas of interest between Duke St. St James’s and St. James’s St. (along Piccadilly leading from Piccadilly Circus)-
The Highlands – Country clothing and outdoor activity clothing for men and women.
French Travel Centre – Travel (including day trips) in France.
A Maitland & Co. – Chemists
Piccadilly Arcade – This Edwardian-style arcade opened in 1909 connects Piccadilly to Jermyn Street. It has a number of shops. They include Favourbrook (men’s and women’s) known for the exclusive evening, day and wedding wear, Iconastas dealing Russian works of art viz. Russian porcelain, paintings, antique silver, lacquer etc., Mark Marengo, New & Lingwood – both for men’s wear, The Armoury of St. James’s with an interesting array of antiques, metal figurines, knights, toy soldiers, military antiques etc. This arcade is fun for window shopping too in case one doesn’t have immediate plans of purchasing.
Waterford Wedgwood – A leading luxury retailer of fine china and glass, the group has four brands – Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Rosenthal. Wedgwood was founded in 1759 and is famous for the finest of china and cutlery and ornamental wares black basalt and Jasper (a fine, hard stoneware). Dinnerware sets, stemware, casual tableware, flatware, bowls & centerpieces etc. are the forte of this group.
Richoux – Breakfast, luncheon, traditional afternoon tea and evening dining. Light or heavy meals are available any time of the day.
Starbucks – Coffee galore!
TUMI – A leading brand of luxury travel, business and lifestyle accessories. The Piccadilly store is managed and operated by Case London specialists in luggage and leather goods. It’s a joint venture between TUMI and Case.
Mackenzie’s – Offers fine tailoring for men and women. Positioned as costing “much less than Sevile Row prices”. They have a good collection of cloth patterns sold by the meter. Specializes in English and Scottish (Tartan) clothing.
This is followed by ITSU, a foreign exchange counter and CgX accessories.
Next is Pret a manger – Healthy fresh food. The policy is to use natural ingredients and avoid preservatives and other chemicals. They have sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, bagels, juices and smoothies, baguettes, muffins et al.
Next to this is Patisserie Valerie with St. James’s St. coming up after that.
Shops/places of interest between St. James’s St. and Arlington St. (on Piccadilly leading off from Piccadilly Circus)-
Across St. James’s St. (i.e. at the corner of St. James’s and Piccadilly) is Caviar house & Prunier, a seafood boutique & restaurant serving up caviar (but of course!) and champagne along with other seafood fares like lobsters, crabs, oysters etc. This was formed by the merger of two caviar specialist companies – Caviar House and Prunier.
At the corner of Arlington and Piccadilly is TheWolseley.
The Wolseley offers a lunch and dinner menus and also a menu in the Grand café tradition at different times during the day including breakfast, morning pastries, afternoon tea and all-day menu of sandwiches, salads, etc. Stylish tableware, glassware, silverware, china etc. are available for purchase from Wolseley over net.
After this, across Arlington St. is The Ritz followed by Green Park.
Shops/places of interest between Regent St. (Piccadilly Circus) and Sackville St.-
Zavvi – Music (in CD, CS, DVD formats), DVD, Blu-ray, HD DVD, games, books (audio book, video book, hard and paperbacks). Address : No. 1 Piccadilly, on the corner of Piccadilly and Regent St. and Piccadilly Circus. Has direct access from the Piccadilly Circus station.
After Zavvi, on this stretch are Starbucks (loads of coffee!) and a Foreign exchange facility. Then across Air St. is J.C. Cording & Co.
Cordings – Ladies wear, rainwear (cotton and rubberized), cotton poplin shirts, covert coats, washed cotton twill shirts.
Le Meridian Piccadilly – This hotel has a beautiful Edwardian-style building.
Cotswold – Specializes in outdoor activities clothing for men, women and children, footwear, accessories and equipment. This place carries tents, sleeping bags, climbing equipment, gadgets & tools, ski clothing and accessories, rucksacks, luggage, travel equipment, GPS, navigation and maps etc.
Café Nero – Authentic Italian cuisine.
Brioche Doree – Café – sandwiches, salads, pastries etc.
Then comes Piccadilly Place. At the corner of this street and Piccadilly is Abbey, providing banking services next to it is TTT Foreign Exchange.
Next is Swallow St. At the corner of Swallow St. and Piccadilly is Caffe Ritazza and further down is Lloyds TSB, providing banking services. After this is Sackville St.
Shops/places of interest between Sackville St. and Old Bond St. (on Piccadilly leading off from Piccadilly Circus)-
Pret a Manger – Healthy fresh food. The policy is to use natural ingredients and avoid preservatives and other chemicals. They have sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, bagels, juices and smoothies, baguettes, muffins et al.
Wasabi – Take away pre-packed low-priced sushi and bento.
Minamoto Kitchoan – A store selling Japanese confectionery and desserts, Wagashi.
La Maison du Chocolat – Elegantly presented fine handmade chocolates.
Alliance & Leicester – Providing financial/banking services
Burlington House – Originally of Palladian architecture, this mansion with a courtyard has seen many changes over the last centuries – since the late 1600s. Today it houses the Royal Academy (the main building in the north end) and five “Learned Societies” in the east, west, and south (Piccadilly) wings. These societies are – The geological society of London, the Linnean Society of London, the Royal Astronomical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, Society of Antiquaries of London. It is well known as the venue of the Royal Academy’s temporary art exhibitions.
Burlington Arcade – Opened in 1819, this is Britain’s first shopping arcade. It is also known to be the longest-covered shopping street in England. It’s quite the ultimate in luxury goods. There are many shops here carrying exclusive, exquisite and expensive merchandise!
Next to Burlington arcade is Naturally Cashmere followed by Image of London.
Image of London has gifts, greeting cards, luggage, bags, and also digital photo service.
Watches of Switzerland – This store has various brands of watches and clocks. There are antique clocks as well. Some of the brands they have are Omega, Rolex, Cartier, Bauman Mercier, Tag Heuer etc. This store is at the corner of Old Bond St. and Piccadilly.
Old Bond St. is another shoppers’ haven. The best of everything is housed in this stretch of the street leading from Piccadilly. Numerous famous and exclusive brands have their stores here.
At the corner of Old Bond St. and Piccadilly is located a De Beers store. They have some of the finest quality diamond jewelry. An appointment can be taken with the De Beers staff to help out in the diamond selection. This can be done online. Address – 50 Old Bond St., London – W1S 4QT. Next is Posh, leather clothing for men and women.
At the corner of Abernale St. and Piccadilly is Essie Carpets, dealing in fine Persian carpets and rugs. Across Albernale, on Piccadilly are Natwest (banking), Hanjin Shipping (a south Korean shipping company), and Korean air.
At the Dover St. & Piccadilly corner is Caffe Nero (Italian food). Next is Pellini Uomo which specializes in designer wear for men. Next are Aeroflot and Iran air. Next is a store of Boots, a cosmetics and skincare chain. They carry all kinds of products for skincare, haircare, bath & body et al.
At the corner of Berkeley St. & Piccadilly is Audi Forum. The ground floor has often changing exhibits of Audi brands. Below the street level they have a fully equipped conference room. The Forum is suitable for up to 300 people. On-site catering is available. Further down is M&S (Marks & Spencer) Simply Food. This store, called Green Park Simply Food, sells food items. The services offered are bakery, cake orders, sandwich platter ordering wine advisor etc.
The Green Park Metro station is located at this corner.
Shopping at Burlington Arcade
Burlington Arcade – Opened in 1819, this is Britain’s first shopping arcade. It is also known to be the longest-covered shopping street in England. It’s quite the ultimate in luxury goods. Another thing Burlington is famous for, are the Beadles. The Beadles are liveried guards policing the arcade. Even today, maintaining centuries-old tradition, they wear traditional Edwardian Frock coats with gold braided top hats. The beadles were originally employed by Lord Cavendish from his family regiment (the 10th Hussars) to enforce the code of conduct specified by him at the arcade. The code of conduct entailed “no whistling, running, playing of musical instruments, carrying of large parcels or opening umbrellas and no babies’ prams.” Today these rules still apply and the Beadles enforce the same. They are the smallest private police force in existence. There are 4 Beadles including the head Beadle.
Some of the famous stores in this arcade are –
St. Petersburg Collection – The creations by Theo Faberge (grandson of Carl Faberge) are available here.
Hancocks (est. 1849) – Known for fine period jewelry & silverware and bespoke jewelry & silver. They supply royal gifts and undertake privileged commissions (the Victoria Cross has been designed and produced by Hancocks since the inception of the award). They also carry jewelry from some of the top jewelry specialists viz. Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Tiffany, Boucheron, Lalique etc.
Royal Selangor (est. 1885) – World’s largest pewter manufacturer, they are known for their design and craftsmanship. They have a huge choice of gift and tableware items.
Penhaligon (est. 1870) – Luxury fragrances, bath and body products, leather ware and home goods.
N. Peal – Well-known brand of Cashmere fashion for men and women.
Crockett & Jones (est. 1879) – Luxury shoes for men and women. They specialize in Good Year Welted construction, a traditional method of shoe making used for over 400 years by hand makers.
Pickett – Handmade leather goods for men and women, semi-precious jewelry and woven scarves and Pashminas.
There are many other similar shops all carrying exclusive, exquisite and expensive merchandise! It is a great place to window shop – in case one is not up to buying anything.
Getting to Burlington Arcade –
Tube (subway) – Piccadilly Circus (on the east) and Green Park (on the west)
Buses – 8,9,14,19,22,38.
Here’s a detailed look at some of the shops in Piccadilly. There are stores such as Lillywhites, Fortnum & Mason and Cath Kidson.
St James’s Market
Located in London, St James’s Market is a 260,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme that comprises two buildings and half an acre of revitalized public space. The new public square underpins a decade-long investment program by The Crown Estate. It includes a ceramic ‘art wall’, glass-encapsulated bronze mesh, timber benches, and works by London artists.
The new public square is a fitting tribute to St James’s Church. The church was built by Sir Christopher Wren and features Wren’s signature arches and curves. The church’s marble font was used to baptize notables such as painter William Blake.
The new public square was also awarded a RIBA London Award in 2018. This includes the best of the best from a design perspective. The roof features dormer leadwork and timber window moldings. The building also boasts the largest bronze sculpture in Europe, topped by Wellington Arch.
St James’s Market is also home to the Pavilion Exhibition, a world-class shopping experience. It is home to leading fashion retailers including Jigsaw’s bespoke emporium and the Swedish cycling brand ASSOS.
St James’s Market also boasts a range of modern eateries and a packed summer program of special events. These include the Secret Sunrise dance session, which aims to bring people together through music and mindfulness. The new Carlyle Group offices at St James’s are also the first of their kind in the city.
The St James’s Market is also home to five other flagship retail stores. These include Urban Tea Rooms, SMEG, a premium design, and lifestyle brand, and Jig and Paul and Shark, leading lifestyle retailers.
Seven Dials
Located in London’s West End, Seven Dials has a unique history and rich heritage. It’s the only area of the Stuart England that’s still in existence. It’s a quaint cobbled laneway that hosts some of London’s most exciting restaurants and shops. It’s also home to the birthplace of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
The area is home to many different types of shops, restaurants, bars, and pubs. There are also several music festivals that take place here throughout the year. There are also many London buses that travel through the area.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Seven Dials, Hotel Seven Dials is a great option. It’s close to the Covent Garden Underground Station and the theater scene. It has stylish and comfortable rooms that have a contemporary design. It also offers a complimentary full English breakfast and a coffee tray.
Seven Dials was once home to many cut-throats and thieves. The area also suffered from mob violence. However, it’s since been transformed into one of London’s most thriving neighborhoods.
The area is home to over ninety independent cafes, restaurants, and bars. It’s also home to a traditional toy shop that is over a hundred years old. If you’re visiting London during the Christmas season, be sure to stop by the shop to pick up a few gifts.
The area is also home to a traditional British pub. You can enter the black market through a second-hand shop. It’s located between Covent Garden and Long Acre.
Regent Street
Whether you’re looking for a shopping experience or just a few minutes of respite, Regent Street offers something for everyone. Located in the heart of London, it’s one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. It features a wide range of retail stores, including high-end and designer boutiques. It’s also home to several major brands.
During the 19th century, Regent Street was the center of London’s fashion scene. Many famous figures such as Oscar Wilde visited the Jaeger shop on Regent Street.
In the 1880s, the Liberty department store expanded into Regent Street properties. It was originally a warehouse for silk garments and oriental goods. But in the early 1900s, the store became known for its graphic prints and floral prints.
There are also several other high-end and designer stores on Regent Street. In addition to the flagship retail stores, there are also smaller independent souvenir shops along Coventry Street.
Regent Street is one of the busiest streets in the city. Over 7.5 million tourists visit the street annually. The shops range from high-street favorites to luxury brands.
The main shopping area is between Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus. The street is known for its flashing lights and shopping opportunities. It is also home to the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. In addition, Regent Street is close to several major West End theaters. It is also home to several high-end restaurants.
Lillywhites
Located on Piccadilly Circus, Lillywhites is one of the largest sports shops in London. Lillywhites specializes in all things sports, from cool trainers to top-of-the-range golf clubs. Lillywhites is also a popular shop for fashionistas who like to wear trendy sportswear. The shop is open all day and has 34 specialist sports departments.
Located in the heart of London, Piccadilly Circus is a busy hub for shopping, entertainment, and nightlife. Its light fittings were first switched on in 1890, one year before Times Square. The building is now owned by Sports Direct International PLC. Previously it was owned by the Forte Group and Jeronimo Martins. The building was sold to another sports retailer in 2002.
Lillywhites has been at its current location since 1925. The shop has five floors and is open all day. Its specialist departments include a real tennis department and croquet. Its other specialties include diving equipment and torches.
One of the most important sports events of the 19th century was the first-ever All-England cricket tour to North America, which was organized by Frederick Lillywhite. His first annual Guide to Cricketers was published in 1849. Lillywhite was also one of the first to use “round-arm” bowling in competition. His company also manufactured the first football with a “No. 5” marking, which was chosen to represent London in a challenge match against Sheffield.
Fortnum & Mason
Located in the heart of Piccadilly Circus, Fortnum & Mason is an upmarket department store that offers a luxurious shopping experience. It is one of the most important local shopping destinations in London and is a must-see for tourists.
With a wide variety of products on offer, Fortnum & Mason offers the perfect combination of quality products and a luxurious shopping experience. You can also choose from a wide selection of products for the home and garden. In addition to the famous tins of clotted cream and biscuits, you can find jars of sweets and chocolates, wine, clothes, homeware and more.
The building’s distinctive blue and gold color scheme is echoed in the furnishings. The central glass dome has flashes of rose pink. It was originally built in 1707 and has been in operation for more than 300 years.
Visitors can enjoy afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. This British tradition involves enjoying a selection of teas and cakes in a regal setting. In addition to the tea service, you can also enjoy hot chocolate and ice cream.
Fortnum & Mason also features a wine bar. This bar is perfect for wine enthusiasts and offers a light bite food menu to complement the wines. The wine bar has limited seating, so you may need to book a table in advance.
The department store also has five restaurants. You can visit the Fortnum and Mason Parlor Restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Cath Kidson
Earlier this year, the Cath Kidston brand reopened its flagship store at the junction of Piccadilly and Regent Street. Its swanky new digs occupy three floors and feature a host of colorful and dainty goods. The store is open Monday to Sunday and boasts one of the best in-store personalized service departments in the business. It also boasts an exclusive Piccadilly Print range, which makes it a great place to shop for presents. In the run-up to Christmas, the brand offered free personalized service to customers staking out the store for the day.
The Cath Kidston flagship store also boasts a bespoke furniture and upholstery service. In addition to its flagship store, the brand also operates two boutiques on Regent Street and one in Piccadilly. It also manages to operate over 75 stores worldwide and has a presence in 33 countries. With a growing catalog, the brand is well-positioned to take advantage of the millennials’ shopping craze. The brand is currently on track to have the best year in its history. The brand is also on track to open 8 more stores in Asia before Christmas. The brand has also seen fit to open a flagship store in Hong Kong. The brand has also nabbed its throne as the number one ranked UK luxury fashion retailer on a number of credible lists. It has also nabbed several awards and accolades for its innovative marketing and advertising strategies.