| A shopping expedition
to Carnaby Street [map]
conjures up images of Mary Quaint dresses, Biba jeans, record-your-own record booths and London’s
first continental cafes.
The area that was once home to famous mod shops such as Carnaby Cavern and I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet,
continues to stay ahead of the fashion times and has been
experiencing something of a revival since the 1990s when
kids started to grow their hair, rediscovered Lambretta
scooters and re-established a connection with guitar music.
Carnaby Street has now extended into the district of Carnaby,
which includes Ganton Street, Foubert’s Place, Newburgh
Street, and Kingly Street. Around every corner there’s
famous shops and celebrities checking out the latest offerings.
The fashion conscious should head to Bond, Mambo, Ted Baker, and Diesel for up-to-date looks.
Men will find a range of top designer labels at places
such as Ben Sherman, Henri Lloyd, and Merc.
Women will be spoilt for choice with a large selection
of flagship stores including Muji, O’Neill for beachwear and Liberty.
Clubbers can find their perfect outfit at Kyng, Savage London and Underground Shoes.
Shoe fanatics will be able to seek out the ideal pair
at a variety of shops offering everything from Doc Martins
to 1980s-inspired stilettos. Choose from Koko for
the latest killer heels, Lambretta for funky trainers, Shelly’s for high street style or Undergound
Shoes for unusual and alternative footwear. Sports
fans will find their dream pair of football or running
trainers at Soccer Scene and Puma, while
skaters and surfers will have some of the very best footwear
at their fingertips with a visit to the Vans Shop.
Alternatively, if you still hanker after that 1960s style
check out Pop Boutique on Ganton Street, and Yesterday’s
Bread, Foubert’s Place, for original 1960s and
1970s clothing.
Those longing for a break from shopping should find a
good range of places to eat including Shakespeares Head, which is a traditional
pub, a range of sandwich
bars including Thanks For Franks and Caffe
Pronto, and the stylish Sax European Restaurant.
Carnaby’s newest development is Kingly Court on Kingly Street [map].
This huge glass plaza offers a covered-central point to
Carnaby and has a distinctly Mediterranean feel about
it particularly as it overlooks a piazza-style courtyard.
The courtyard plays host to live music acts on a Saturday
afternoon making it the perfect place to chill out amongst
the eclectic mix of unusual shops.
Kingly Court began life as a timber yard and still retains
many original features giving it a unique feel that sets
it apart from the usual run-of-the-mill mall. The distinct
original wood features are complimented by various art
exhibitions throughout the year.
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