LONDON: 5 BEST SHOPPING AREAS

London is a shopper's heaven, offering everything from world-famous department stores, to quirky street stalls, to specialist dealerships for virtually every collectible item you can think of. We bring you this guide to five of London's best shopping districts.

Step 1: High Street Shopping: Oxford Street
Stretching from the landmarks of Marble Arch in the West to the Centre Point Tower in the East, Oxford Street is the largest shopping street in Europe. Although many locals can't stand its hectic crowds and traffic, Oxford Street has such a massive range of merchandise that it's definitely the place to come if you want to get all your shopping in one place. At the Eastern end of the street is one of London's best-known luxury department stores, Selfridges, located in an imposing building with a striking Art Deco entrance. Just round the corner from Selfridges is the start of Bond Street, a mecca for high-end, designer clothes, with retail outlets of some of fashion's biggest names. Also just off Oxford Street is the charming St Christopher's Place which, with its outdoor cafes and fountains, provides a welcome relief from the manic crowds. Moving further East along Oxford Street there are several more large flagship department stores, including the popular John Lewis. At the mid-point of Oxford Street, and the junction with Regent Street, is Oxford Circus, which was designed by John Nash in the 19th century and features four distinctive convex buildings on each corner. This is the location of even more large retail stores such as NikeTown, a mecca for sports lovers, and TopShop, which claims to be the world's largest fashion store. At the Eastern end of the street there's a range of electronics stores, cheap souvenir shops and a couple of huge multi-storey record shops. Oxford Street is served by 4 tube stations on 5 tube lines, as well over 20 bus routes. For more information visit http://www.oxfordstreet.co.uk/

Step 2: Luxury Shopping: Knightsbridge
Situated just a stone's throw from London's Hyde Park, Knightbridge is a byword for upmarket, luxury living – the type of area that is home to chauffeured cars and foreign embassies. It is also home to probably the most famous department store in the world, Harrods (www.harrods.com). The store, which has been trading on its current site since 1849, is one of London's biggest tourist attractions. Harrods is absolutely enormous, filling seven floors and an entire city block. The founder of the store claimed that almost anything could be bought there – from a pin to an elephant. Harrods, which even has a dress code for shoppers, is the epitome of grand ostentation. Also nearby is another world-famous department store, the 8-storey Harvey Nichols (www.harveynichols.com), which is known for its excellent range of designer clothes, and innovative window displays. Leading south from Harvey Nichols is the prestigious Sloane Street, which features outlets of the world's most exclusive designer brands. This is where names like Armani, Chanel and Gucci cater to the rich and famous. Other attractions in the area include some of London's best museums in nearby South Kensington. To get to Knightsbridge by public transport, travel to Knightsbridge station on the Piccadilly line of the London Underground, or use one of the many bus routes that operate in the area.

Step 3: Alternative Shopping: Camden Town
Camden Town is one of North London's most eclectic treasures. It has historically been a cheap area to live with a thriving student community and underground music scene. But in recent years, the area has become one of London's most popular tourist attractions, with its diverse shopping and nightlife. Camden has a vibrant mix of market stalls and shops selling clothes, music, antiques and memorabilia, and is a must for those with an eye for a bargain and an interest in ‘real' London. The market is split into different sections. Camden Market, nearest the tube station, sells a vibrant combination of young designers' fashion, second-hand clothes and music, and fake brands. While it's cheap it's not always good quality. Going North you will reach Camden Lock Market, which has stalls selling ethnic home-ware, art and antiques, and has pretty views of Regent's Canal. Further North is the Stables area which has some of Camden's best shops, selling vintage clothing and shoes, as well as more permanent stalls and food huts. The ‘Horse Hospital' part of the Stables is worth discovering for its antiques and contemporary designer furniture. Camden Town is situated just North of Regent's Park and Euston Station, and is served by the Northern Line of the London Underground. Camden is best explored at the weekend, as it gets extremely crowded at the weekend. For more information visit http://www.camdenmarkets.org/

Step 4: Food Shopping: Borough Market
Nestled beneath the railway arches at London Bridge station, Borough Market is one of London's most charming spots. Regarded as the premier food market in London, Borough draws both locals and tourists with it's huge choice of culinary delights. Borough is the ideal spot for food-lovers, as the market is also surrounded by many restaurants, cafes and pubs, and provides welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of the city just moments away. There has been a food market in this area for about 2000 years, and Borough Market has been located at it's current site for 250 years. The market is located undercover, providing shelter from London's unreliable weather. Fresh produce from some of the finest farms in England is brought to the market daily. There are stalls specialising in fruit and veg, meat, fish, baked goods, as well as specialist foods from different parts of the world. The traders put great effort into the display of their food, making Borough a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. On Thursday to Saturday the market is open to the public, but the rest of the week it is wholesale only. Borough Market is located in Southwark, just south of the River Thames. The market is right next London Bridge station, so it is well served by mainline trains, as well as the Northern and Jubilee lines of the London Underground. There are also many bus routes in the area. For more information, visit http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

Step 5: Antiques Shopping: Portobello Road
Portobello Road, and the surrounding district of Notting Hill, is one of London's most vibrant and eclectic areas. For many decades the area has been characterised by a diverse immigrant population, and these days it is a highly sought-after and expensive place to live. The area is one of the major tourist attractions in London, especially since the hit film Notting Hill immortalised it on celluloid. The southern stretch of Portobello Road, and the area around Westbourne Grove, is known for its large range of antiques dealers. Although many of the shops sell bric-a-brac aimed at the tourists, there are also high-end antiques galleries catering to serious collectors. There are also many specialist antique dealers located in arcades off of Portobello Road. Although most of the shops are open all week, the best day for antiques shopping is Saturday, when there are also many more market stalls lining the street. Further north along Portobello Road there are other sections of the market which sell food, clothes, jewellery and various other goods. Although different parts of the market are open on different days of the week, there is always a buzz and plenty to see and do in the area. Portobello Road is easily accessible from the tube stations of Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove, in West London. For more information visit http://www.portobellomarket.org/