London Shopping
The neighbourhood of South Kensington, bordering on Knightsbridge and Chelsea, is popular for both well-known luxury brands and intimate boutiques. The Ampersand Hotel staff can point you towards what’s hot, what’s not and the inimitable London addresses Kensington locals try to keep to themselves.
Harrods
No visit to London is complete without a jaunt around this world-famous palace of a department store.
With over 300 departments and 19 restaurants, there is something for everyone here, from furs to picnic hampers. The Food Hall and Christmas departments are musts. At 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge. Four-and-a-half acres of retail indulgence, set over seven floors, make Harrods the definitive London luxury shopping experience.
Decadent food and cosmetics halls, the popular Urban Retreat beauty salon, ten restaurants and a host of in-store services, make visiting Harrods a memorable occasion for everyone.
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 9pm
Sunday: 11:30am to 6pm
Harvey Nichols
Like a younger, cooler kid sister to nearby Harrods, Harvey Nichols is eight fabulous floors dripping with exclusive fashion, beauty and lifestyle. A one-stop-shop for international luxury, you can come here to shop or recharge at the Fifth Floor Café. At 109-125 Knightsbridge.
Known affectionately to Londoners as Harvey Nicks, this is where the serious fashionista stocks up on contemporary and international collections, designer shoes and the world’s leading beauty brands. In-store Style Concierges, two spas and a Hersheson’s blow-dry bar polish the experience.
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 8pm
Sunday: 11.30am to 6pm
Wholefoods Market
Sitting proudly on Kensington High Street, Whole Foods Market is a three-storey temple to natural and organic living. This American icon has found a perfect home in London. Far more than a supermarket, it is a destination for food lovers who want the best in fresh produce, gourmet essentials and international delicacies, all under one roof. At 63-97 Kensington High Street.
Affectionately known as “Whole Foods” to Londoners, this is where health-conscious shoppers and culinary explorers alike stock up on everything from organic fruit and vegetables to natural beauty products and specialty wines. With an in-store bakery, fishmonger, cheesemonger, wine room and a vibrant food hall brimming with global cuisine, it is both a shopping trip and a dining experience rolled into one.
Monday to Saturday: 8am to 10pm
Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
Battersea Power Station
Few places in London capture the city’s ability to reinvent itself quite like Battersea Power Station. Once a vast industrial powerhouse on the banks of the Thames, it now hums with life as a riverside destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Step inside and discover a curated mix of global fashion houses, independent boutiques and concept stores, alongside cafés, cocktail bars and fine dining. With over 100 outlets, a cinema, fitness studios, riverside parks and even a rooftop garden, it is more than just a shopping centre, it is a new London neighbourhood in its own right.
Monday to Saturday: 8am to 10pm
Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
The V&A Shop
Gone are the days when the museum shop sold a novelty pencil sharpener. Inspired by its world-class collection, the V&A leads the way in stocking some of the coolest gifts in town, from kitsch egg-cups to fabrics featuring designs from the archives. Cromwell Road.
The Monogrammed Linen Shop
The leading luxury linen shop in London, this Chelsea stalwart is known for its fine lace and embroidery, Egyptian cotton, linens and silks, cashmere and luxury nightwear. Choose from the in-house range or create your own bespoke monogrammed linen. At 168-170 Walton Street.
