Christmas countdown: The best shopping destinations in London, from Tiffany’s on Old Bond St to the Hyper Japan market at Olympia

 

London is renowned as one of the great shopping centres of the world, a constantly evolving playground for anyone with money to spend and time to spend it. Whether you’re looking for hip new openings – like those from Bally, Richard James and Hackett – or stalwarts that are guaranteed to come up with the goods time after time, there is something for you. Our list may not even scratch the surface of what this great city has to offer, but it does include some of our very favourite destinations. Happy shopping!

 

ROYAL EXCHANGE

Tiffany & Co.

Audrey Hepburn immortalised it in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and if it’s good enough for her, it gets our seal of approval. Whether you’re in the market for fine jewellery set with gigantic rocks or more modest charms closer to the £100-mark, this is the store for you. One thing you can say with absolute certainty is that if you shop for a special present here, your loved ones will love you that little bit more come Christmas morning. tiffany.co.uk

 

The new Bally flagship on New Bond street has won nothing but praise for its beautiful David Chipperfield interior. The Swiss brand is over a century and a half old and Chipperfield’s seamless melding of old and new makes the store a massive success. You’ve heard of “shopping as experience” but this is worlds away from the ripped torsos and loud music of A&F. Sturdy walls of glossy granite, facades comprised of ox-blood leather shoe-boxes, and hulking great chairs where you can sit for a minute and watch the well-heeled denizens roll through. bally.co.uk

 

If you’re looking for something special this Christmas, head over to New Bond Street, where you’ll find watch and jewellery emporium Wempe. The 135-year-old family business sells its own watches alongside the likes of Patek Philippe, Rolex and others. The store is an oasis of calm amid the bustle of New Bond Street. And once you have your stunning new watch, you can return to get it maintained by Wempe’s on-site experts. wempe.com

 

Next week will see the opening of a brand new City store for menswear stalwart Hackett. The new premises on Old Broad Street will cater to the every need of the City professional, with everything from suits to polo shirts. Book an appointment with the in-house tailor or browse Hackett’s casualwear collections, including items from its sponsorship of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and Aston Martin Racing. hackett.com

 

This weekend, Olympia’s cavernous National Hall will play host to the UK’s biggest celebration of Japanese culture. If you’re bored of filling stockings with tangerines and chocolate, head down the Hyper Japan Christmas market where you can pick up green tea Kit-Kats, bonsai trees and traditional kimonos. From beautiful ceramics to intricate puzzles made by master craftsmen, Hyper Japan has a solution for all gift buying dilemmas – and it’s also a whole lot of fun. General entry tickets are £12 each for Friday and the Saturday sessions, while tickets for the longer Sunday session are £15 each. Full details and more information can be found online at hyperjapan.co.uk/tickets

 

St James’s is already renowned for its high-end retailers, but this Christmas the area is hoping to attract a younger crowd with a six week series of pop-ups from British brands. The showcase gets underway next week on Jermyn Street with Atlas & I and Kay Doble in a pop-up running from 17-23 November. Then Nyetimber will bring its English sparkling wine all the way from West Sussex to St James’s with a three week venture running from 23 November to 13 December. As Christmas draws near, Fourth & Main will carry the baton right up to the 23 December, with a menswear pop-up featuring all you could possibly need in the run up to the big day. stjameslondon.co.uk

 

Savile Row tailor Richard James opened a City outpost last month to cater for those who do most of their Christmas shopping in their lunch hours. The Brushfield Street store, which is only a two minute walk from Liverpool Street Station, has exclusive garments, an in-house made-to-measure tailoring service, fragrances, luggage and up to 40 per cent off of the previous season’s stock. richardjames.co.uk