Shopping Overview

You can shop like royalty and have your undies custom-made at Her Majesty's corsetiere Rigby & Peller in Knightsbridge, run down a leather-bound copy of Wuthering Heights at a Charing Cross bookseller, find antique toby jugs on Portobello Road, or drop in at Vivienne Westwood's landmark shop on the King's Road -- Gwen Stefani and Kelly Osborne are fans. Whether you're out for fun or for fashion, London can be the most rewarding of hunting grounds.

Apart from bankrupting yourself, the only problem you may encounter is exhaustion. London is a town of many far-flung shopping areas. Real shophounds plan their excursions with military precision, taking in only one or two shopping districts in a day, with fortifying stops for lunch, tea, and a pint or glass of wine in the pub.

A Word About Service

Don't take it personally if salespeople seem abrupt -- even rude. Service with a smile is a relatively new concept here, and it hasn't caught on everywhere.

Opening Hours

Most shops are open from about 9:30 or 10 AM to 6 or 6:30 PM. Some may open at 11 and stay open until 7. Because shop hours, particularly for the smaller shops, are varied, it's a good idea to phone ahead. Stores that have late shopping -- and not all do -- are usually open until 7 or 8 PM, on Wednesday or Thursday only. On Sunday, many shops open between 11 AM and noon and close at 5 or 6 PM.

Watch Your Language

The English have their own version of our mutual language. Here are a few confusing terms to watch for when out and about in the shops:

Pants means underwear. Every other type of long-legged bottoms (except jeans) are called trousers.

Knickers are ladies' undies. If you want pantyhose, ask for tights.

Jumper means sweater -- unless it's a cardigan, in which case it's called a cardie. If you ask for a sweater, you may be offered a sweatshirt.

Men use braces to hold up their trousers; in England suspenders is another word for garters.

If you want some Adidas or Nike-type athletic shoes, ask for trainers -- never sneakers.

Don't ask for a pocketbook or a purse if you mean a handbag -- the former will be incomprehensible while the latter will produce a coin purse.

In the nightwear department, nightgowns are always nighties and bathrobes are always dressing gowns.