Are there any non-tourist shops that you enjoy going into while in London?

Bookstores for English cookery books, Liberty for needlework and Harvey Nicks just because. I actually have an umbrella from James Smith & Sons. If anything goes wrong with it, bring it in and they will repair it.

Liberty for needlework, is this the same as knitting? My wife is looking for a good knitting shop in London.

I love, love, love the main branch of Waterstone's, which is just off Piccadilly Circus. Floors and floors of books!! I spent hours in there one day :)

Lillywhite's for the after Xmas sales. Penhaligon's for my favorite soaps. MUJI because it's fun. Books for Cooks. Hamleys for toys and games. Gramex for 2nd hand classical music stuff.

Foyle's Books....only I wish it was the way it was back before 1999.....when trying to find a specific book was like looking for the Loch Ness monster. New books were mixed in with old books. Walkng the upper floors was like a maze. Lots of fun on a rainy day.

Books for Cooks on Blenheim Crescent in Notting Hill is one shop I usually try to stop by. Its a small shop with a test kitchen in the back and tons of great cookbooks. They also have cooking classes (but you have to sign up in advance ... classes are posted on their website).

Boots the Chemist.

Fortnum and Mason is a great place to pick up treats for a gourmet picnic. The items cost more than M & S Simply Food, but the variety is amazing.

I don't have anything to add here, just want to commend you on an excellent question. One that can be applied to any destination.

Adding on to Robin's question. Does anyone know if there are any quilting stores in London? I always buy fabric for my mom and now myself when traveling?

Or is quilting not a popular business in London?

Thanks!

Has anyone ever seen a counted cross stitch pattern for the underground map?

Jill, I don't know for sure about a quilting supply shop, but I don't think it's a popular craft here in the UK (now I've said that I bet someone will be along who gets out and about more than me and has a list of places!).
Great question, Robin.
I love art supply shops- there's lovely old fashioned place near the British Museum; it's all creaky floorboards and pokey corners, called L. Cornelissen and Son, on Great Russell street. The interior is a visual treat, they have rows and rows of glass jars containing pigment, it's like stepping into a rainbow!

Great question because I like unique souvenirs. I always go to Fortnum and Mason and bring cheese in little crocks home. I also have an F & M sugar container (now over 35 years old). Liberty of London is wonderful. I like Boots but prefer locally owned chemists because of the quaintness. There is a great one in Bath, just across the bridge. Grocery stores are wonderful places. I also like small art and print shops.

The best tourist shop in London is The Big Red Bus not far from the Westminster Bridge and the London Eye.

The Tintin shop in Covent Garden! He's a cartoon character and has his own great shop. All the books, dvd's, knick knacks etc. I have watches that I bought from there 20 years ago. They are supposedly making a live action movie soon starring somebody reasonably famous.
Don't forget Marks and Spencers for underwear [well I get all mine there and bring them back to Canada!]

Neals Yard Remedies for organic skin and hair care products - plus some locations have therapy rooms where you can get a massage and relax after a long day of sightseeing.

Don't give up on finding a quilting store. During one of my trips to Inverness I attended a quilt show at the local museum. If you google quilting in the UK you should find clubs and other sources that might help you.

Twinings tea shop is fun. You can buy a single bag (or was it a pack of 3?) if you want to try a flavor without spending a lot on one you don't like. It's on the Strand, not too awfully far from St. Paul's.

I also love Penhaligon's, their Ellenisia is now my favorite fragrance, and just browsing makes you feel special. My teenage daughter loves jane norman for fashion, they're all over London. I'm always on the lookout for yarn shops (my profession), so far all I've found for knitting was Liberty, but there must be others. There is a nice needlepoint shop on Walton St.in Brompton called Tapisserie.

We enjoy going to Hemley's toy store on Regent's street. It is really fun. We also enjoy all the markets- really unique stuff- Covent Garden, St. Martin's in the Field church Yard, St. James Church yard on Picadilly, etc. I also agree that Neal's Yard area (near Covent Garden Tube-in the opposite directrion from the maket) has some really unique (Brit speak "one off") shops- and a great cheese shop if you want to pick up something for a picnic or snack.

In the Marylebone area is Daunt Books, a ribbon shop, and a button shop. There is an area between Mayfair and Knightsbridge which has two of our favorite pubs, The Grenadier and Nagshead. They are located in a small mews and there is a wonderful yarn & knit shop in this area. Fortnum & Mason and Penhaligon are both good. But I buy my lemon marmalade for cheap at Tesco. The map shop on Brompton Road is interesting--lots of antique prints as well as maps.

Many have enjoyed the thrift charity shops . I Remember several on Queensway