We would love to know of specialty stores in places we will be. I read an article about an umbrella store in London, and being fond of umbrellas I plan to go. Our son is a cheesemonger, and I know there is a particular store in London that is great for cheese, only I don’t remember where it is located.
I would be interested in any suggestions for stores that have some interesting specialized merchandise.
Thank you for any suggestions.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5530 posts
For cheese in London:
Neal’s Yard Dairy - Multiple stores, but the one in Borough Market is probably the most interesting location for a tourist.
I also like La Fromagerie in Marylebone for cheese, although it is not exclusively British cheese.
Posted by
Washington DC
27155 posts
I imagine you'll get more helpful responses if you give us some guidance about what sort of things you might be interested in--contemporary crafts (ceramics? glass?), leather accessories, clothing, shoes, hats, kitchenware, etc.
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2604 posts
Are you a reader? I am totally enamored of a wonderful bookshop called Persephone Books in Bath; they reprint books mainly by women writers circa 1870-1980, and their shop is just wonderful. They moved from London a few years ago and I made a day trip to Bath last April with the sole intent of buying as many of their books as I could possibly carry home.
Posted by
OP
395 posts
Yes we love books! And cheese! And clothes that we might not be able to get in the states. Knitted things. Hand made things of all sorts. The unexpected.
Posted by
Freedonia
15067 posts
For Books: (All London)
Stanfords near Covent Garden. They specialize in travel books, maps, globes, travel accessories, etc.
Hatchards on Piccadilly. The oldest bookshop in London.
Daunt Books in Marylebone. A unique bookstore.
Waterstones on Piccadilly. The largest bookstore in Europe.
Books for Cooks in Notting Hill. I think you can guess what they specialize in.
The Notting Hill Bookshop. In Notting Hill. Yes, the one from the movie.
I liked the old Foyle's on Charing Cross where you could get lost in the little alcoves and passageways. However, the new Foyles is just an organized bookstore. Still, if you're in the area.
I like books.
For food, wander over to Harrod's Food Hall.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
1857 posts
When in Bath, you may want to make a trip to Cheddar and the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, the only company making Cheddar Cheese actually in Cheddar! You can see the cheese being made and there is also a shop selling their cheese. Next door is Legbender Cider Shop with the most amazing range of botted cider..
Posted by
UK
501 posts
This is the umbrella shop, for anyone interested. https://www.james-smith.co.uk/
It’s quite near the British Museum and well worth a visit.
Posted by
Land of La
8682 posts
The umbrella shop is James Smith and Sons.
Paxton and Whitfields Cheese shop on Jermyn Street
Teddington Cheese in Richmond next to the pleasant Victoria Inn pub.
Lairds for hats
There’s a great hat vendor at Spitalfields.
Hamleys for toys.
The Lina Stores SoHo Deli
Daunt Books
Posted by
Utah via SF Bay Area
315 posts
Lingerie? Perfect fitting “unmentionables”? Rigby Peller. Across street from Harrods. The place to go for those in the know.