Bond Street
History
Bond Street was named after Sir Thomas Bond, (a devoted follower and close friend of King Charles II) who with a group of rich bankers and merchants bought the area from the Duke of Albemarle.
Old Bond Street was laid out in 1686 extending from Piccadilly to what is now known as Burlington Gardens. It wasn't until 1721 that, as New Bond Street, it was fully extended through open fields to Oxford Street.
By the middle of the 18th century it was a paradise for the fashionable shopper offering an increasing abundance of rich treasures, but today Bond Street has extended its scope to meet the tastes of new generations of customers.
Shopping
Coveniently located between Oxford Street and Regent Street, Bond Street is the place to head to stock up on fashion labels. If you are not after high fashion and are not prepared to pay high prices, then window-shopping can also be a glamorous pastime.
The designer names are endless: Donna Karan, Prada, Chanel, Hermes, Nicole Fahri, Armani, Versace, Valentino, Gucci and Ralph Lauren.
Some stores such as Proibito offer various designer labels in one location. There is also Fenwick's department store which has a variety of goods under one roof.
A distinctive English style can be found at Mulberry and Burberry's new store. If the price tags are not to your liking but you feel you have to buy something then go to Browns and Labels for Less on the lesser-known South Molton Street.
You can find a wide selection of designer men and womenswear, some at substantial reductions there. This street also has a comprehensive spread of shoe shops should you require a new pair after all that walking.
A ggod place to start might be Italian store Geox which claims to sell 'shoes that breath' for both men and women. Chain stores such as Nine West and Pied a Terre can provide some more conventional options.
Bang & Olufsen also have a shop here should you be after aesthetically and functionally designed audio and video systems from this Danish-based company.
Sotheby's landmark auction house can be found on Bond Street. Sotheby's allows public access to its galleries throughout the week. So make sure you have a good look before you bid for anything at the auction!
Various antique stores and markets have appeared in the area, including Philips, the Fine Art Society, the Bond Street Antique Centre and Gray's Antiques Market which has around 200 dealers selling a wide range of stock.
If you still have any money to spend after all that then you can choose from jewellery, watches, unusual and exclusive gifts for the home at Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany, Asprey and Garrard. Follie Follie might be an option if your budget is tighter.
Finally, if you need to buy luggage to carry all your shopping home then Louis Vitton and Samsonite both have stores to provide you with the appropriate suitcase or bag. |
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West
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