[UPDATED 22 Aug 2019]
It's no secret that London is one of the best places to shop. From clothes at amazing prices at Primark to the iconic Harrods department store, you'll be spoiled for choice! We could go on and on about all the shops you have to visit but we've narrowed down to these 5 shopping streets in London you must not miss. When you're tired from all that walking, you'd want to fill up your hungry belly, right? This guide will also bring you through some yummy halal and Muslim-friendly eateries near these amazing shopping spots? Who's ready for a shopping marathon?
Credit: giphyLooking for a place to stay in London? Here are some affordable accommodations (from £27) near halal eateries!
1. Oxford Street
Credit: @elisa.elisac on Instagram
Most high street brands like Topshop and River Island are amongst the most visited stores along the street. Don’t forget to check out John Lewis, Debenhams, and Marks & Spencer if you are shopping for home and living. Selfridges is a place that has all your luxury labels under one roof. Most stores are open from 10am to 9pm except on Sundays where the stores close at 6pm.
How to get there: Nearest Tube station is Oxford Street (Victoria, Central, and Bakerloo line)
Must visit stores:
Topshop
If you love street style then you should check out Topshop for its three floors of fashion, with UK’s own independent labels available in store. There’s also a floor full of in-house make up line and accessories. You’ll surely spend almost a whole day in here!
Credit: @samundressed on Instagram
Address: 214 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1C 1DA, UK
Opening Hours: 9am - 10pm (Mon - Sat), 11am - 5pm (Sun)
Nike Town
This is a massive complex with four floors of Nike goodies for Nike fans of all ages! Here's where you can get your own personalized Nike sneakers at the customization area located on the 2nd floor. This is where you put your creativity to the test!
Address: 236 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1C 1DE, UK
Opening Hours: 10am to 9pm (Mon - Sat), 11.30am - 6pm (Sun)
Lush
Visit Lush's flagship store over here. There are many products such as bath bombs and environmentally-friendly makeup products that are exclusive to this store. Be sure to grab them when you're here!
Credit: @ognush on Instagram
Address: 175-179 Oxford St, Soho, London W1D 2JS, UK
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday - 10am to 9pm, Sunday - 11.30am to 6pm
Primark
No visit to London is complete without shopping at Primark! Get all your fashion fix here at amazing prices - from clothes to jeans, accessories and more. Trust me, you'd want to get everything here because they are so cheap.
Credit: @ken_atf on Instagram
Address: 499 - 517 Oxford St, Mayfair, London W1K 7DA, UK
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (Mon - Fri), 8am - 9pm (Sat), 12pm - 6pm (Sun)
[P.S. Make sure you buy these brilliant gifts and yummy snacks from London for your loved ones back home!]
Muslim-friendly eateries:
Burgeri
After all that walking and shopping, you'd want to replenish some of your energy and burgers are always a good idea! Head over to Burgeri for their scrumptious eats which are sure to satisfy your palate.
Credit: @hungryfoodi3s on Instagram
For simple fare, try their Single Special Burger and order the cheese fries on the side! Afterwards, wash down your meal with their Strawberry Mojitos which is so refreshing.
Halal status: Halal meat and ingredients used, no alcohol served
Address: 22 Great Marlborough St, Soho, London W1F 7HU, UK
Opening hours: 9am - 11pm daily
Ben’s Cookies
If you’re feeling a bit peckish, then this is a great snack for you. Ben’s Cookies are perfect for vegetarians and stated Halal on their website (except for the Rum & Raisin cookie which contains alcohol). Top-rated cookies are the dark chocolate cookie and coconut cookie! Each cookie is sold according to weight so the price ranges from £1.40 to £1.75.
Credit: @drooolhk on Instagram
Address: Bond Street station side, 355-361 Oxford Street, London W1D 2HE
Halal Status: All cookies are suitable for vegetarians and do not contain alcohol (except the rum and raisin cookies at Christmas)
How to get there: 4 mins walk From Oxford Circus station 139 Oxford Street, London W1D 2JA
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday - 9am to 9pm, Sunday and Bank Hols - 10.30am to 7pm
Price: ££
[P.S. Planning your Europe trip? You'd want to check out our Muslim-friendly itinerary to London, Paris and Amsterdam!]
2. Carnaby Street
Tucked away behind the departmental store Liberty in West End London, Carnaby Street is the place to be if you're looking for footwear. They have virtually all the footwear brands that you're familiar with - from Vans and Dr Martens to Cheap Monday. This is the place for all the cool kids! ?
Address: Soho, London W1F
How to get there: Nearest tube station is Oxford Circus and it is a five-minute walk from the station.
Must visit stores:
Liberty
Famous for its Tudor style architecture, you can experience some English history in central London. This is home to the infamous English floral prints with its famous collaboration being with Nike.
Credit: Alvin Leong on Flickr
Address: Regent Street, Soho, W1B 5AH
Opening Hours: 10am to 8pm (Mon - Sat), 12pm to 6pm (Sun)
Dr Martens
If you grew up trying to imitate punk culture, you'd definitely love this shop! This brand needs no introduction (trust that you're already familiar with it ?). It is worth checking out Dr Martens at Carnaby Street if you're looking for a unique pair of shoes as they carry more limited edition designs! Be sure to drop by if you're around the vicinity.
Credit: @taminannetti on Instagram
Address: 48 Carnaby Street London, W1 9PX
Operating hours: 10 am - 7 pm (Mon - Wed), 10am to 8pm (Thur - Sat), 11.30am to 6pm (Sun)
Price:££
Size?
Size? is definitely another store worth visiting if you're looking for footwear. With all the hype over sneakers, Size? is the perfect place for you to find that exclusive pair of sneakers for your collection.
Credit: @ymh901208 on Instagram
Address: 45 Carnaby Steet London, W1 9PX
Operating hours: 10am to 8.30pm (Mon - Sat), 12pm to 6pm (Sun)
Price: ££
Muslim-friendly eateries:
Stax Diner
Serving classic American diner cuisine, treat yourself to some burgers and fries at Stax Diner! From milkshakes to waffles and fried pickles, you’re in for a delicious treat.
Credit: @emonmiahh on Instagram
Address: First floor of Kingly Court, London W1B 5PW
Halal Status: Halal meat and ingredients. Do note that alcohol is served, we recommend that you dine at your own discretion.
How to get there: Piccadilly Circus station (7 mins walk) Oxford Circus station (6 mins walk), There’s a pathway beside Vans store leading to Kingly court.
Operating hours: 12pm to 11pm (Mon - Thur), 12pm to 12am (Fri - Sat), 12pm to 10.30pm (Sun)
Price: ££
3. Knightsbridge
If you’re looking for an exclusive area to shop with luxury labels, then this is the place for you! The area is often packed with tourists so you might want to come early to check it out.
Address: Sloane St SW1
How to get there: It’s on the Piccadilly line between South Kensington and Hyde Park Corner
Must visit stores:
Harrods
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Known for its lavish interior, Harrods is home to expensive labels so hard to pronounce it’ll make your tongue twist! Take your time to visit all the floors - the toy department is amazing for those who are young at heart and also the kids of course!
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Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL
How to get there: It’s a 2 minute walk out of Knightsbridge station (Piccadilly station)
Operating hours: 10am to 9pm (Mon - Sat), 11.30am to 6pm (Sun)
Price: ££££
Duke of York Square
Situated next to Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York Square boasts a few high-end labels at its premises. You can spot brands like Zara, All Saints, and Whistles here.
Credit: @luladaisy on Instagram
Address: 80 Duke of York Square, London SW3 4LY
How to get there: It’s a 14 mins walk from Harrods. The nearest station is Sloan Square (District and Circle line)
Opening hours: 10am to 7pm (Mon - Wed, Fri), 10am to 8pm (Thur), Saturday - 10am to 6pm, 12pm to 6pm (Sun)
Price: ££ - £££
Muslim-friendly Eateries:
Knightsbridge is amongst London’s most visited area by Muslims from all around the world, so restaurants with mainly Middle Eastern influences are aplenty here! However, since the area is pretty posh, the restaurants are a bit pricey. No worries though, we’ve found a few that are pretty affordable.
Al Arez 2
This particular restaurant serves really huge portions of Lebanese food. We suggest getting the mixed shawarma as they're really tasty, plus their soup comes with crunchy pita (a nice addition!). Don’t try to get there during lunch hour as it will be packed with Harrod’s employees. Or you could try and be friendly to them and get discounts. Kidding, please don't attempt that ?
Credit: @hi_imhungry on Instagram
Halal Status: Halal meat and ingredients
Address: 128, Brompton Rd, London SW3 1JD
Operating hours: Daily, 10am to 11.30pm
Price: ££
Maroush
Maroush is known for its late opening hours! You can get hot Lebanese food here after a full day of shopping and take in London’s nightlife without the partying ?
Credit: @lindydowling on Instagram
Address: 38 Beauchamp Pl, London SW3 1NU
Halal Status: Halal meat and ingredients available
Operating hours: 12pm to 3am (Sun - Wed), 12pm to 4.30am (Thur - Sat)
Price: ££
4. Covent Garden
This is a must-visit area, situated close to Chinatown and Trafalgar Square. This is where you can purchase souvenirs for your family back home.
Address: Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD, England
Must visit areas:
Jubilee Market
If you’re a vintage and antique hunter, you can check this market out for souvenir trinkets made by artists here. The items are a bit pricey so be sure to walk around first! There’s a lot of souvenir T-shirt sellers, so you can try to bargain a little but don’t get your hopes up ?
Credit: Jubilee Market on Facebook
Address: 1 Tavistock St, London WC2E 8BD
Operating hours: 5am to 5pm (Mon), 10.30am to 7pm (10.30am - 7pm), 10am to 6pm (Sat - Sun)
Price: ££
Kiko Milano
Aspiring make-up artists, rejoice! You’ll find yourself at one of Convent Garden’s Beauty Quarter store, Kiko Milano. This Italian make up store is a must-visit for its affordable makeup products. It is a two-story shop so if it gets crowded, just head downstairs to avoid the crowd.
Credit: @wonderland__beauty__ on Instagram
Address: 22-23 James Street WC2E 8NS
Operating hours: 10am to 8pm (Mon - Sat), 12pm - 6pm (Sun)
Price: ££
Stanfords
This is a store all travellers will be happy to visit! Stanfords sells everything related to travelling, from books to maps. This is also a great place for a quick Instagram opportunity, given its old-school style interior. You can even get their cool map design wrapping papers and turn them into posters (that’s what we did!).
Credit: Thierry Gregorius on Flickr
Address: 12-14 Long Acre Convent Garden WC2E 9LP
Operating hours: 9am to 8pm (Mon - Sat), 11.30am to 6pm (Sun)
Price: ££
Muslim-friendly Eateries:
Rasa Sayang
A "Singapore meets Malaysia" restaurant, Rasa Sayang is a Muslim-owned gem in Chinatown, especially for those who miss traditional Malaysian food. We’d recommend getting the fish assam pedas and white rice. Finish your meal off with a cup of hot or cold Teh Tarik ?
Credit: @missusredz on Instagram
Halal Status: Muslim-owned
Address: 5 Macclesfield St, London W1D 6AY
How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Convent Garden. Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly line) is the nearest station.
Operating hours: 12 pm to 11pm (Mon - Thur), 12pm to 12am (Fri - Sat), 11.30am to 9:30pm (Sun)
Price: ££
Steak & Co
Craving some steak after all that shopping? There's no better place to go than Steak & Co! They have a halal menu available and you can savour juicy filet or sirloin steak which will surely melt in your mouth.
Credit: @_jungmini_ on Instagram
For those of you who are not a fan of beef, you might want to sink your teeth in their Mediterranean Chicken Breast instead!
Halal status: Halal menu available - Separate utensils, grills and ovens are used for halal and non-halal meats. Do note that alcohol served in the establishment, we recommend that you dine at your own discretion
Address: 3-5 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0HA, UK
Opening hours: 11am - 12am (Mon - Thur), 10am - 12am (Fri - Sun)
5. Brick Lane
This is the typical hipster central, where all the fashion and art scene in London is located. So if you’re a hardcore Instagrammer, do check out Brick Lane’s amazing graffiti walls. There are loads of café spotting to be done here as well as vintage shopping!
Address: 5 Brick Ln, London E1 6PU, UK
Directions: It's a 5-minute walk from Liverpool Street station (Central, Metropolitan, Hammersmith and Circle line)
[P.S. Looking for more hipster places in London? We've got 10 incredible hidden gems you probably won't find in travel guides!]
Must visit stores:
Rough Trade
For those of you who love collecting music vinyl, this is the place to be! There’s a café inside where you can relax and enjoy the music. It has an old school record store feel to it with the latest music genre. You will definitely be tempted to buy something here?
Credit: @roughtradeast on Instagram
Address: Old Truman Brewery 91, Brick Ln, London E1 6QL, UK
Operating hours: 9am - 9pm (Mon - Thur), 9am - 8pm (Fri), 10am - 8pm (Sat), 11am - 7pm (Sun)
Price: ££
Old Spitalfields Market
A trading place for arts, fashion and food - all in one place! You’ll be greeted by delicious smells from the food carts once you’re in the market square. Be sure to bring enough cash for your spending since you’re more likely to invest in food! There’s just so much to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice.
Credit: Craig Nagy on Flickr
Address: 16 Horner Square, London E1 6EW, UK
Operating hours: 9am - 5.30pm (Mon - Fri), 11am - 5pm (Sat), 9am - 5pm (Sun)
Price: ££
Dark Sugars
This store is famous for its home-made chocolate chilli so you might want to give it a try before you buy it. Expect a tinge of spice followed by the bitter-sweet taste from the chocolate! Highly recommended for those who are down to try out new things.
Address: 141 Brick Ln, E1 6SB
Operating hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
Price: ££
Muslim-friendly Eateries:
Poppies Fish and Chips
With the aromatic smell of the chips, this restaurant is hard to miss. And contrary to most fish and chips in the UK, Poppies doesn’t use beer batter! The breaded fish is fried to perfection, served with mashed green peas and chips. Yup, remember that in the UK, fries are called chips instead!
Credit: @karaalau on Instagram
Halal Status: Serves seafood options. Please note that Poppies uses an alcohol-free batter for its fish and chips. The restaurant serves other meat dishes (namely chicken and sausages), which are non-halal, however, you can request for your fish to be fried separately. Poppies also serves alcoholic drinks. We recommend that you dine at your own discretion.
Address: 6-8 Hanbury St, E1 6QR
Operating hours: 11am to 11pm (Mon - Thur), 11am to 11.30pm (Fri - Sat), 11am to 10.30pm (Sun)
Price: ££
The Boiler House Food Hall
Every weekend, The Old Truman Brewery will be packed with tourists from all over the world. If you want to avoid the lunch crowd, it would be better to go early as the place will be packed from lunchtime onwards. The market has a wide range of food, so you can find halal food from Asian and Middle Eastern vendors! The vendors change from time to time but it is still pretty easy to find halal food over here.
Credit: eGuide Travel on Flickr
Address: The Old Truman Brewery 152 Brick Lane, E1 6RU
Halal Status: Halal meat available
Operating hours: Saturday - 11am to 6pm, Sunday - 10am to 5pm
Price: £
London is booming with diverse shopping places and Muslim-friendly eateries just waiting to be discovered! We've barely touched the tip of the iceberg. So if you happen to know of any more hidden gems in London, do let us know in the comments below! ?