Another one of the country’s historic department stores, this five-story emporium on New Bond Street has become renowned for showcasing hot new design talents at reasonable prices. Shopping the best of Mayfair can work up an appetite, so luckily Fenwick has a sleek all-day restaurant, Bond & Brook, serving light lunches and afternoon tea.

Fortnum and Mason, a landmark in Piccadilly for over 300 years, offers a taste of old world England. Its food department is filled with traditional English delicacies and famous for its picnic hampers—perfect for summer season jaunts to the races, picnics at Glyndebourne and Christmas gifts.

Harrods is an old-fashioned grande dame of a department store that will satisfy most shopaholic tendencies. The store will famously procure anything its customers may desire – as long as it’s legal! – and the distinctive green and gold packaging makes most things from Harrods great gifts. If you need a pit stop, the ground floor Ladurée café is fabulous.

Harvey Nics is sleek, buzzy, trendy and definitely more fashion savvy than Harrods. The Fifth Floor is dedicated to food, with a Foodmarket, Bar, Café and Terrace and multiple eateries, many with views of Knightsbridge rooftops.

Heal’s is a two-century old family business and its grand Tottenham Court Road store is packed with 20th and 21st century furniture and an exquisite selection of textiles, gifts, kitchenware and beauty. You’ll find big name design brands such as Alessi, Marimekko and Vitra, but the store also supports the cream of British designers and craftspeople such as Rothschild & Bickers and Degross, who feature in the fantastic new lighting department.

Housed in a landmark Tudor mansion off Regent Street, Liberty is an English institution that remains appealing more than a century after it was founded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty. In fact it is considered by many to be London’s finest store. The famous prints can be bought by the yard or in home furnishings. The store itself with its beamed ceilings and carved wooden staircases exudes an off-the-beaten-path charm. There are Womenswear, Menswear, Kitchen & Dining sections as well as loads of gift items and a bespoke tailoring department.

Don’t be fooled by its old world charm however. Liberty is the first to know when there is something new, brilliant and worthy of a spot in its hallowed displays, and the store hosts an expertly curated collection of fashion, accessories, textiles and small goods made by some of the world’s finest craftspeople.

Selfridges is bright, modern and fun, mixing high and low in one. You’ll find Chanel and Mulberry boutiques in-store (among many others) cavernous beauty and food halls, younger high street fashion, a wonderful toy department and all the brands you could ever desire. If you’re in a hurry and have a long gift list, you might just cross everything off with one trip.

At the center of Brompton Cross sits the magnificent Art Deco Michelin Building housing British designer Sir Terence Conran’s superb flagship store, full of stylish displays of furniture, kitchenware, books and gadgets.