Shopping in London

London is still one of the most lively shopping cities in the world. Within just a few minutes' walk, you can find both vast department stores, with glittering window displays, and tiny cluttered rooms where one customer fills almost the entire shop. All over London there are plenty of places tucked away down side streets, as well as markets for antiques, crafts, food, and clothing.

In central London, most shops open 9-10am and close 5-6pm, with some closing earlier on Saturdays. Those open until 7 or 8 is on Thursdays on Oxford Street and the West End, on Wednesdays in Knightsbridge and Chelsea, and every day in Covent Garden.

Most stores accept credit cards, but John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, as well as street vendors and small shops, do not. And traveler's checks are also accepted, but they would be worth more if they were in British sterling.

VAT, of value-added-tax of 17 1/2% is added to everything except books, food, and children's clothes. Fortunately for consumers, it's usually included in the price. Take your passport into the shop when you're shopping and fill out the form to have the VAT returned to you. You give a copy of it to Customs when you leave.

Biannual sales are in January/February and June/July when stores mark things down considerably. In fact, in world-famous Harrods Department Store, lines start forming outside well before the store even opens!

Harrods actually has 300 departments and around 4,000 on staff. The food hall is exquisite and famous for it. Harvey Nichols has designer brand high fashion, and its food hall is one of the most stylish in London.

So, now that you're familiar with London shopping, why not head on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com and book a vacation to there!