If you're after bargain electrical goods Tottenham Court Road is a must, while Hatton Garden is the place to go for watches and jewellery.
Below, you'll find a summary of what's on offer in London's principal shopping areas.
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Department stores - concentrated mainly on Oxford Street, although Knightsbridge has two of the most popular in Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
Brand stores/outlets - a large number of these stores are situated in the area around Regent Street.
Designer shops - heavily populated on Old/New Bond Street and Sloane Street.
Independent/smaller fashion shops and boutiques - located on the streets around Covent Garden, with an ever growing number also drawn back to London's famous Carnaby Street (which has enjoyed a real renaissance as a trendy fashion destination over the last couple of years).
Traditional British/bespoke tailoring - centred around Piccadilly, particularly on Jermyn Street and Savile Row.
Music shops - all of the capital's megastores have a presence in central London, although if you're looking for rare cuts, 12" and vinyl then Soho is probably the best place to head (as here you'll find a number of independent shops covering all music genres).
Bookshops - while large bookstores such as Waterstone's and Borders are well represented all over London, other good bookshops (both large and small) are situated on both the Charing Cross Road and around Covent Garden.
Jewellery - for expensive items head to New Bond Street. However, for the widest possible choice its worth travelling further afield to Hatton Garden (near Farringdon), which has a high concentration of long established jewellers offering a staggering array of pieces.