Explore London - Historic Shopping Arcades

Antiques, Barbour coats, cashmere and suits of armour

Mar 14, 2007

Old-fashioned atmosphere but up-to-the-minute as far as fashion and quality are concerned. The rows of charming little shops offer personal service and quality goods.

A foggy day in London Town is a thing of the past, but rain is still a characteristic aspect of the English climate and if you are all geared up for a good day's shopping it can dampen your plans very nicely. Instead of scurrying through the showers from shop to shop, or fighting the crowds in the large department stories, why not spend a leisurely few hours browsing in some of London's elegant Regency or Victorian shopping arcades.

The rows of charming little shops, many with original bow windows, display cashmere, fine and unusual jewellery, paintings and prints, tweeds, delicious chocolates, and even suits of armour.

Shopping Arcades - Burlington Arcade

The best arcades are situated close to each other, all within a ten-minute walk of Piccadilly Circus and probably the best-known one is the Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly. Built in 1819, supposedly to prevent passers-by from throwing oyster shells and other rubbish into the garden of nearby Burlington House (now the Royal Academy of Arts), the arcade is still patrolled by a beadle in traditional dress whose historic function is to ensure shoppers obey the rules against singing, carrying open umbrellas, or running. In the 1870's Charles Dickens reported that the arcade was mainly occupied by "bonnet-makers, ladies' bootmakers, and sellers of knicknacks." He would see some changes if he were to visit the Burlington Arcade today.

There are shops full of exotic jewellery and antique toy soldiers. N. Peal is a great place for cashmere jumpers, they have the largest selection in England. Not cheap, as you might expect, but wonderful quality. Pick up something for your favourite aunt at the Irish Linen Company.

This arcade stretches between 28 Old Bond Street and 12 Albermarle Street (turn left around the corner from the Burlington Arcade). The decoration above the entrance is an example of high Victorian taste and, some might think, somewhat overblown. It shows a woman with bare breasts handing a roasted lizard to a boy who carries sheaves of corn. Kent and Curwen is the only Wimbledon shop in the world. So if you want to be kitted out for tennis in Wimbledon style, this is the place.

At the end of the Royal Arcade turn left into Albermarle Street down to Piccadilly and then left and back to the Burlington Arcade where, across the road, is the Piccadilly Arcade. Some good shops for men here: shirts, pyjama and tie designers and fine leather shoes.

Carry on down Piccadilly, past Fortnum and Mason, and you will come to the Princes Arcade which was opened in 1883. The Bird and Wildlife Bookshop is a good place to browse, and there are elegant striped shirts at Hilditch & Key.

The other end of the Princes Arcade leads on to Jermyn Street. Turn left and walk along to Regent Street turn right and then down to Charles II Street. Turn left and on the right, close to the Theatre Royal, is the oldest arcade in London, the Royal Opera Arcade. It used to be part of Her Majesty's Theatre, the largest theatre in the country, completed by Nash in1817.

Unfortunately, Her Majesty's was gutted by fire in 1867 and was rebuilt across the road. But the Royal Opera Arcade survives intact an is pure Regency, with its bow-fronted shops, glass-domed vaults and elegant lamps. This is probably the handsomest of all the arcades. The famous Barbour coats which are waterproof, thornproof, and practically everything else-proof, are sold here at Farlow's. And the fisherman in your family can spend a happy hour drooling over their tackle shop. The Old London Art Gallery has nice antique prints of London, and if you are in the market for a blunderbuss or a suit of armour you should check out antiquarian Peter Dale.

Prices in the arcades are generally on the expensive side. This is partly because they are situated in areas where the cost of rents is sky high, and partly because the small shops cannot store huge amounts of goods. What they do sell is of the highest quality but if you just want to browse you can enjoy the atmosphere of the delightful little shops and the beautiful arcades without spending a penny.

The copyright of the article Explore London - Historic Shopping Arcades in Historical Travel is owned by Cathy Smith. Permission to republish Explore London - Historic Shopping Arcades in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.