There’s something quite heart-warming and joyful about Christmas shopping. Although the busy streets of London become snowed under the footfall of harried Christmas shoppers, the warm twinkling lights, aroma of mulled wine and the hum of classic Christmas songs as you pass by shop fronts creates a sense of calm in the chaos. But because London is so vast, the considerable choice of shops on offer can feel a little overwhelming when shopping for the perfect Christmas gift, so we’ve put together a guide to the best places to shop in the city.
1st October 2022
Share Post:
1. Connaught Village
Just a short stroll from Marble Arch and a half an hour walk from The Athenaeum, Connaught Village is a hidden gem brimming with independent fashion outlets, art galleries, beauty boutiques and specialist wine shops offering unique gifts, perfect for Christmas. Retreat from the hustle and bustle of busy Oxford Street and enjoy a more relaxed shopping experience, before taking a break and refuelling in one of the many independent coffee shops and restaurants.
2. Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park
Christmas markets are the ultimate place to shop when you’re lacking inspiration for gift ideas. Fortunately, London has plenty of festive markets dotted around. Check out Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park from 18 November until 2 January, (a stone’s throw from The Athenaeum) and wander through the market with its rows of traditional, beautifully-decorated wooden chalets that offer unique gifts. When your arms are fully laden with shopping bags, retire to one of the many eateries or bars and enjoy a well-earned rest whilst you cradle a steaming hot chocolate or mulled wine.
3. Bond Street
If you’re looking for some high-end luxury goods, head over to Bond Street where you’ll find the likes of Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Tiffany & Co. From The Athenaeum, it’s only a fifteen-minute walk through Mayfair.
4. Fortnum & Mason
Conveniently located just a ten-minute walk from The Athenaeum, Fortnum & Mason is a quintessential British department store. Home of the famous hamper, Fortnum’s offer a generous, quality selection of chocolates, biscuits, condiments and alcoholic beverages in their renowned Christmas hampers.
5. Oxford Street and Regent Street
Just a twenty-minute stroll from The Athenaeum, you’ll reach the busy and bustling Oxford Street and its neighbouring Regent Street. Not only home to over 300 different retail shops including Selfridges and Swarovski, Oxford Street and Regent Street also boast a dazzling display of bright Christmas lights, which viewing is an outing in itself.
6. Hamleys
Known for being the oldest and largest toy shop in the world, Hamleys on Regent Street is the go-to when shopping for the kids. Covering seven floors, the shelves are crammed with soft toys, dolls, action figures, LEGO, games and puzzles, so there will be no shortage of wonderful and exciting presents for the kids this Christmas.
7. Harrods
A crisp twenty-minute walk from The Athenaeum, Harrods is home to the most luxury of products that sit in its 330 departments. Shop hampers, clothing, jewellery and watches from designer labels, and scour out deliciously delectable artisanal goods, confectionary and wines in the iconic Food Halls. Once holding a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II for provisions and household goods, you can be sure to find a Christmas gift suitable for friends and family here.
Book a stay at The Athenaeum this Christmas and enjoy a comfortable retreat after your Christmas shopping trip.
More in Lifestyle
5 ways The Athenaeum is celebrating Halloween in London
As the spooky season approaches and carved pumpkins start to adorn the kitchen windows, it’s time to get excited about the upcoming festivities. In London, there will be no shortage of events and activities to get involved in, so don your Halloween costume and prepare the family for a month of supernatural celebrations. Here are just five of the many things that you can do in and around London this Halloween.
Looking for the best dog-friendly parks in London? Take a peek out our top 5 picks, all located a hop-skip-and-jump from The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences.
We’ve got a cracking itinerary lined up for you, full of egg-citing Easter activities and goodies that will have you hopping with joy. Let’s take a look at how you can make the most of your stay over the course of Easter weekend.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.