SPORTS

LILLYWHITES

Located on Lower Regent Street in Piccadilly Circus, nowhere can beat this 5 floor sports shop on price. With amazing bargains and catering for most sports, it is not the place to find top of the range items but essential items for every day sports and camping. Because of its size and reputation the store is often crowded which can take away from the shopping experience. As with the other large stores in London, and in an attempt to avoid the crowds visit early morning and/or on a week day.

MOUNTAIN GEAR

Across London, mountaineering and outward bound shops can be found in various clusters. Covent Garden's back streets (Floral Street, King Street or Mercer Street) have a wide selection of stores catering for skiers, backpackers and campers.

For a complete listing of shops visit Street Sensation

High Street Kensington also has a selection of cycling, ski and snowboard and camping shops.

For a complete listing of shops visit Street Sensation

In the East End towards Liverpool Street and Spitalfields market you will again find cycling, outward bound and camping shops.

BICYCLES

For a complete listing of cycle shops in London visit the London Business Index on the All in London website.

Across London there are many amazing independent bike shops, specialising in specific modern day bikes - mountain bikes, road bikes, touring bikes, single speeds, fixed wheel and bmx - and vintage frames and rebuilds. The UK has seen a massive resurgence in cycling over the past few years and it is only too plain to see as you walk around the streets of London quite how many options there are out there.

Within London some of the widely known shops include: Evans Cycles, and Cycle Surgery which stock mass produced bikes such as Specialized, Trek, Giant, Bianchi, Cervelo. A London favourite amongst couriers and commuters alike is Condor. If you are looking for a more unusual frame, however, or would like to keep local businesses alive then make sure you check your area for independent stores first.

With the economy, planet and levels of obesity as they are today, the Government implemented the Cycle to Work Initiative - the result of which allows for almost a 50% reduction in the cost of a bike through an annual tax exemption facilitated by your employer. If your employer is yet to have implemented the scheme, the Government website can lead you through its simple set up.

Visit our Classifieds section to see if there are any second hand bargains.