FASHION SHOPS (by zones)

OXFORD STREET & REGENT STREET

With over 300 shops, Oxford Street and its vicinity is one of the main high-street shopping areas in London. As long as the day, it starts in Marble Arch, passing through Oxford Circus until its end at Tottenham Court Road. In this urban oasis you will find all the major UK (and worldwide) chain retailers in one location. With great public transport links from all around London, access is simple by both tube and bus, although walking along the street itself can be more pleasurable than sitting in the lines of buses that build up during the day. If 'far from the madding crowd' is more your thing, then investigate the streets North and South of the road, cutting back only when you want to go into a specific shop.

Department stores are in abundance on Oxford Street, and include John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams. If you are feeling flush you can enjoy hours (even if it is just window shopping) in Selfridges, a department store located in a fabulous building opened in 1909. Selfridges was the first store to put items on display so that customers could touch and review them, and has a floor for your every whim including: a wonderful gourmet market where you can find delicatessen goods from the four corners of the world; fashion brands covering all budgets, and every household gadget you could ever dream of. The icing on the cake? Their seasonal sales are some of the best in town, and allow you to grab quality items at bargain prices.

Apart from the plethora of high-street fashion labels (GAP, Zara, H&M, Next, M&S, Miss Selfridge, Oasis, River Island) there is the music store HMV; the easyeverything internet café - part of the Easyjet empire; the recently opened and expansive Primark (possibly the cheapest UK clothing shop and as such best visited at 9am before it is rammed full with hoards of bargain hunters); a wealth of shoe shops (Aldo, Faith, Office, Dune, Camper); cheap suit shops like The Officers Club, chain coffee shops (Starbucks, Cafe Nero) and bookshops (Waterstone's, Borders, Books Etc.).

The central focal point to the street is the beautiful Oxford Circus where you will find Topshop's flagship store, and from where you can turn onto Regent Street, for the Apple store or Liberty (the only Tudor building in downtown London to have survived the Great Fire of 1666). This shop, known for its part in the development of the arts and crafts movement, is full of the most wonderful and self indulgent products, albeit at inflated prices. The shop stocks interesting modern jewellery, as well as amazing hand crafted accessories, high couture fashion and beautiful flowers.

For fashion basics at bargain prices try Uniqlo - a Japanese firm interested in quality not branding, or American Apparel - an L.A. based clothing company whose ethos is deeply seated in campaigning for the rights of immigrants. Finally to Spanish pride and Regent Street, where many Iberian brands such as Zara, Mango, Massimo Duti, Adolfo Dominguez and Elena Miro take centre stage, providing fashion for all ages, shapes and budgets. Of course children have not been forgotten and if it is the largest range of children's toys in Europe that you are looking for, then head to Hamleys where seven floors of playthings provide you with more choice than any child could ever dream of.

Our advice: Early birds aside, Saturdays are best avoided unless you like to experience Christmas Eve mentality more than once a year. Most stores open on Sundays, but their shorter opening hours should be noted.

For complete shop listings and locations visit www.oxfordstreet.co.uk

For public transport links to the area visit the tfl journey planner

Made legendary by the Beatles and later by Vivienne Westwood when she was linked to the Sex Pistols, Carnaby Street runs parallel to Regent Street, South of Great Marlborough Street, and has some of the coolest shops you will find in London. With their apparent proximity, it is easy to combine a visit to both Carnaby and Oxford Street, where Oxford Circus is the common tube stop.

Comprised of 12 streets and 168 shops, high street chains rub shoulders with independent boutiques and high end fashion houses. Denim features highly in the area, with Diesel, Energie, Replay, Wrangler and Pepe (to name but a few) all having stores on and around the street. Carnaby itself allows you to shop across the board, be it for the Japanese sportswear of Onitsuka Tiger; fashion offerings for the style conscious from All Saints, or slogan tees for your trendy nippers in David and Goliath.

The area is not solely for shopping and once you have exhausted your credit card, there are a number of cafes, bars and restaurants to tempt all appetites.

For complete shop listings and locations visit www.carnaby.co.uk

BOND STREET

Home to worldwide premium priced fashion, Bond Street's original incarnation was as a centre for art dealers and antique shops, capitalising on the presence of both Sotheby's and the Fine Art Society. The Street (comprised of New Bond Street and Old Bond Street) bisects Mayfair running North to South from Oxford Street to Piccadilly, and is easily reached from Oxford Circus.

The list of designer retailers located on the Bond Street reads like the Who's Who of fashion and includes: Chanel, Dior, Versace, Moschino, Krizia, Mandarina Duck, Belstaff, Yohi Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood, Donna Karan, Burberry, Armani, Porsche Design, Lanvin, Bellini, Cartier, de Veers, Pronovias, D&G.

Savile Row, which runs from Conduit Street West of Regent Street, is home to some of the most celebrated men's bespoke tailors. In recent years many have been forced out due to rising rents but the road is still home to: Steed Bespoke Tailors, Davies & Son, Gieves and Hawkes, Hardy Amies, Henry Poole & Co, Norton & Sons, Nutters of Savile Row and Oswald Boateng.

For complete shop listings and locations visit Street Sensation

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Best known as the home of Harrods, Knightsbridge runs west along the south end of Hyde Park and includes Sloane Street, Pont Street, Brompton Road and Beauchamp Place. The nearest tube station is Knightsbridge from where you can exit directly in front of Harrods or onto Sloane Street for Harvey Nichols.

With its famous window displays, and an array of extravagant items for sale it is frequented as much by tourists as it is by the celebrities, socialites and aristocrats that live in the area. Harrods is the core of Knightsbridge; with its amazing food hall and world famous sales it attracts shoppers from across the globe. Not satisfied with one up market department store, the area is also home to Harvey Nichols which draws crowds as much for it's restaurant, cafe, bar, wine shop and food market as it does for the usual department store offerings. As with any area in London, many high street shops are prevalent making the area popular with all types of shoppers

In recent years Sloane Street, which runs South from Knightsbridge has become increasingly popular over Bond Street, for couture brands such as Gianni Versace, Dolce and Gabbana and Hermes.

For complete shop listings and locations visit Street Sensation

KING'S ROAD

King's Road runs from Hobart Place at the tip of St James Park, through Sloane Square to the New King's Road junction with Wandsworth Bridge Road. The road was originally built for the private use of King Charles II to travel to Kew, but is now the gentrified high street of Chelsea. The road is typified by small independent clothing and shoe boutiques, furnishing stores and many of the ubiquitous high street chains. A short walk or bus ride from Harrods, Sloane Square is home to the department store Peter Jones and moments from the Duke of York pedestrian precinct.

For complete shop listings and locations visit Street Sensation

SUITS for MEN

The best made-to-measure suit shops are undoubtedly to be found on Savile Row, in the streets behind Fortnum & Mason and around Jermyn Street. For mass produced shirts and ties, however try the following companies which have shops all around London:

www.thomaspink.co.uk
www.tmlewin.co.uk
www.ctshirts.co.uk

If it is a good quality, well made, ready to wear suits that you are looking for, that do not attract premium prices then head to: Moss Bros, The Officers Club, Selfridges, M&S, Reiss, Debenhams or Zara.

UPPER STREET, ISLINGTON

Upper Street, which runs from Holloway Road in the North to Angel tube station in the South, is Islington's High Street. Known for its European style shopping, it is trendy, young and exclusive without being too expensive. The area is relaxed and well served by endless eateries and bars. Islington offers a range of shopping experiences, from the antique shops of Camden Passage to the clothing and food stalls of Chapel Market and the high street shops of the N1 shopping centre. In addition design gift shops, Italian clothing brands and local designer labels can be found.

For complete shop listings and locations visit Street Sensation

KENSINGTON HIGH STREET

High Street Ken runs from Kensington Church Street in the East to Warwick Road in the West, with shops spilling over into Kensington Road at the Hyde Park end. The road is largely home to yet more high street chains - Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Marks and Spencer and Waterstones, but also has a good selection of outdoor shops catering towards skiers, hikers and cyclists - Ellis Brigham, Snow and Rock, Blacks, Millets and Cycle Surgery. Although there are no real unique finds to be had, the uncrowded nature of the street makes it an enjoyable way to cover all the main high street shops in one handy location.

If high street chains are not your thing the recently opened Whole Foods Market, from which you can buy fresh and organic foods for the perfect Hyde Park picnic, is worth a visit. Other favourites in the area include Ben's Cookies, the West Cornwall Pasty Shop (both located in Kensington High Street tube station) and Patisserie Valerie on Kensington Church Street.

For complete shop listings and locations visit Street Sensation

COVENT GARDEN

Covent Garden, including its world famous covered market to the South and Seven Dials to the North, is bound by High Holborn, Kingsway, the Strand and Charing Cross Road. Shopping in Covent Garden is some of the most diverse you will find in London, with shops to cater for all tastes. To go into the finer detail of the retail offerings of Covent Garden would demand a dedicated website, but rest assured they cover anything from vintage clothing, denim, high street brands, boutiques, handmade jewellery, suits, shoes and cosmetics. The roads around Southampton Street are taken up with mountaineering and camping shops including North Face, Trespass, Ellis Brigham, Mountain Warehouse, Costwolds and Field and Trek.

Needless to say there are plenty of cool bars, cafes and restaurants to be found as you wander from shop to stall.

For complete shop listings and locations visit Street Sensation