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
Pavilion Road
Pavilion Road is a characterful pedestrian street just moments from Sloane Square, known for its independent boutiques,
artisan producers, and relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere.
Home to bakeries, cheesemongers, florists, cafés, and specialist retailers, it offers a carefully curated blend of food, lifestyle, and everyday essentials.
With outdoor seating and a welcoming village feel, it is an ideal place to explore at any time of day. The street also features a selection of restaurants and lifestyle stores, providing both convenience and enjoyment for visitors and locals alike.
Monogrammed Linen Shop
Monogrammed Linen Shop is a luxury boutique on Walton Street in Chelsea, specialising in premium linens, nightwear, children’s collections, and personalised gifts.
Known for exceptional craftsmanship, the shop offers beautifully made pieces in the finest cottons and linens, with both hand and machine embroidery available.
Their bespoke service allows clients to create made-to-measure linens and custom monograms, from classic initials to detailed logos and one-of-a-kind designs. Each item is crafted with care, quality, and attention to detail, making it ideal for the home or as a thoughtful, personalised gift.
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm
The V&A Shop
Curated with as much thought and flair as any exhibition, with a mix of merchandise that reflects or responds to the V&A’s collections and temporary shows (they open a separate, themed mini shop for each of their big exhibitions and there’s an excellent bookshop too).
Boldly putting the shop right at the heart of the museum has made it a destination in its own right and it’s a strategy that has paid off, visitors nip in to buy a birthday present, then find it impossible to leave without dipping into the galleries.
Great for birthday and Christmas cards, arty scarves, contemporary jewellery and quirky decorative items
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 5:45pm
