McCarthy - Shop London: an insiders guide to spending like a local

AN INSIDERS GUIDE TO SPENDING LIKE A LOCAL

EMMA MCCARTHY
PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIM LIGHTBODY

Want to know where to find a vast collection of vintage Yves Saint Laurent? Or to know where Winston Churchill bought his cigars? Ask a Londoner. There is no population in the world thats better versed or better placed to curate a shopping trip of which dreams are made. The key lies in knowing where to point your feet. If its a new shopping district that youre after, use the front of this book to locate the very best, often under-the-radar destinations. A far cry from the citys many tourist trap thoroughfares, these are off-the-beaten-track high streets lined with more independent stores than even the most seasoned shopaholic could imagine. Meanwhile, for a detailed directory of the citys shopping genres from antiques to eco-conscious boutiques let the second half of this book be your guide. There you will find a list of the very best shops in the city by category, from the top bookshops to where to head for to the chicest Scandi furniture. Whatever your shopping motivation, rest assured that London has it covered. Comfy shoes are essential.

Tucked away among the back streets of Bloomsbury, this partly residential street is a favourite with clued-up Londoners. Its grand Georgian townhouses have long been home to a close-knit community of homegrown menswear brands including Folk, Grenson and Oliver Spencer. But it wasnt until US retailer J Crew moved into the neighbourhood with a dedicated mens store that Lambs Conduit Street stopped being such a tightly held secret and became a fully-fledged shopping destination. But its not all about the boys. The patch is also unique when it comes to tarting up your home. Line your shelves with historic womens fiction from Persephone Books, spruce up your bricks and mortar with the help of Pentreath & Hall and fill your fridge at The Peoples Supermarket food cooperative. Also, dont pass up the opportunity for a mid-ramble pint at The Lamb said to be a favoured watering hole of past local residents Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes and Charles Dickens.

Since its conception in 2001 by Scotsman Cathal McAteer, this menswear brand has quietly established itself as a purveyor of unpretentious style. The airy, whitewashed shop displays its signature workmans jackets and chunky ribbed knits in suitably industrial surroundings. The street is also home to the brands only dedicated womens store at number 53.

49 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3NG.

020 7404 6458

www.folkclothing.com

Tucked away down a quiet Georgian street, interior designer Ben Pentreath and artist Bridie Halls beautiful little shop is filled with treasures for the home which are quintessentially British but far from twee. Great for gifts but equally good for moments of distraction, it is a must-visit for discovering things you never knew you needed.

17 Rugby Street, WC1N 3QT.

020 7430 2526

www.pentreath-hall.com

Founded in Northamptonshire in 1866 by Mr William Green, Grenson was one of the first producers in the world to use the Goodyear welting construction method now a hallmark of all well-made British shoes. But despite its impressive lineage, the brand hasnt lost touch with what the modern man wants from his footwear. Its minimalist flagship shop the largest of four in London houses boots and brogues made with the same traditional approach to design but with a distinctively fashion-forward flavour, making them popular with City boys and Shoreditch types alike. In 2011, Grenson expanded its offering to include womens styles too. Its stacked-sole brogues and tasselled loafers remain among the bestsellers.

40 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3LB.

020 3689 2970

www.grenson.com

The next time you feel like brushing up on your knowledge of little-known twentieth-century female writers, head straight for Persephone Books. Its picture-postcard storefront conceals a wealth of forgotten works by women, rebound in chic, signature grey covers, decorated with beautiful endpapers, and ready to enjoy the cult following they deserve.

59 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB.

020 7242 9292

www.persephonebooks.co.uk

Former florist Juliet Thornback and theatre designer Delia Peel launched their brand in 2007 with the aim of bringing a touch of British humour to the home. Inspired by the legendary Mrs Beeton and Beatrix Potters Mr McGregor, this quaint shop is filled with a cornucopia of kitchenware splashed with kitsch screen-printed designs, from cabbages and rabbits to Victorian jellies.