Certainly, with the Eurostar and its 2h15 journey, London is a little door next door. But the British capital is much more extensive than our Paris. So if you have a first tip to give you for shopping in London: do not scatter. Around the very central district of Covent Garden where luxury signs are located, there are also small streets full of shops to be missed that lead us in 5 minutes to the very typical neighborhood and less tourist Seven Dials or still to the eternal and unclassifiable Carnaby .
Original jewelry fan: Tatty Devine
In this shop so British, a wacky bit opened by Harriet and Rose, one finds jewels handmade. The it: a huge lobster to wear as a necklace. One can also be made to make a unique necklace, the other jewel star of Tatty Devine, Name Neckllace. We choose the name or the message, the color and the style. It then takes about 30 minutes to have his necklace totally customized. And without breaking the bank: we spend about £ 30 for this kind of little necklace.
44 Monmouth Street.
Chocolate fan: choccywoccydoodah
It's THE realm of chocolate! A boutique, but also an address that Londoners exchange for funerals or birthdays because the place contains a secret room that seems straight out of Alice in Wonderland. On the ground floor, there are plenty of shelves, bars, figurines of all sorts and sizes, chocolate pebbles to melt ... We leave with at least a small animal in chocolate (bird, hedgehog, frog ... from £ 7.99), a lollipop chocolate lollipop (£ 9.99), or even set up on the floor that makes tea room. We then offer a good hot chocolate (milk, black, white ...) with a piece of cake (chocolate).
30-32 Foubert's Place, Carnaby.
Cashmere Fan: Kit and Ace
4 shops in London already for this Canadian brand (no address in France yet!) Which offers smart cashmere (you do not sweat and especially they wash in machine!). This shop cultivates the spirit of tribe for the district yoga classes are organized there. Shopping : the vest two lengths (335 £) depending on the direction in which it is worn. We're a fan!
15 Monmouth Street.
Fan of products US: Shinola
It is the small American brand coming from Detroit (paradise of makers and Fab Lab) that goes up. There are also stationery (to customize with his own name if you want) as well as watches, leather goods ... The shop is beautiful (in France there are only corners at Colette and Au Bon Marché at Paris). The articles too. The spirit of craftsmanship is paramount. Not bad to find a gift.
28 Foubert's place
Ethical Fashion Fan: Finisterre
Here it is played locally: the wool comes from the fleece of the sheep of Devon or Yorkshire. About £ 80 the sweater. Plus: there is a cafe in the shop.
7 Earlham Street
British fashion fan: Dahlia
Originally, Tracey held a booth on a market in Portobello and Spitafields and then, joined by her sister Leigh, they opened a shop to sell their creations. Since then, fashionistas are hurrying there. And it's worth the detour: the rooms are nice, very feminine (small, bare shoulders ...) and not horribly expensive (£ 60-80 per dress).
8 Foubert's Place
For beautystas: Pixi
The perfect complexion empire is here! With its small Glow Tonic lotion, Pixi has established itself in the world of beauty. Not enough sleep, ultra gray mine? The Glow Tonic wakes up Sleeping Beauty sleeping in us. In other words, this lotion smoothes and evenens the complexion. No wonder this is the it's brand. You can also go to the shop to shopper the Glow 02, an oxygen mask or the Tint & Conceal (a tinted cream with a concealer - we tested and validated!)
12 Foubert's Place
Fans of vintage glasses: Moscot
Founded in 1915 in New York, Moscot is The Shop for anyone who wears glasses (or to find cool sunglasses). There are affordable and chic retro frames.
37 Beak Street, Carnaby.
Where to eat for a 48-hour trip to London?
And as shopping, it digs, we do not leave you in the plan ....
Timberyard or TY
A healthy coffee shop to taste a small cappuccino with a granola ....
7 upper St Martin's Lane.
native
A restaurant that plays the local and wild card. We eat only "wild" food. In reality, all those who can be picked, picked, fished ... Everything comes from producers. That's for the ethical side. But above all, it is very good and tasty (enough to twist the neck to a received idea about English gastronomy). Count £ 80 for 2.
3 Neal's yard, Seven Dials
Senor Ceviche
In the Carnaby neighborhood, there is Kingly Court a covered place with several restaurants including Senor Ceviche, a Peruvian restaurant. The good opportunity to taste this kitchen so trendy. Marinated raw fish (in ceviche obviously). But not only. Grilled meats and squid fritters are very successful. Here we go between buddies: like tapas, we put everything in the middle and we peck in each dish.
Kingly Court, Carnaby.
Where to stay in London near Covent Garden?
At One Aldwych. A hotel of which found shelter in a building dating back to 1907 that previously housed a newspaper, the Morning Post and the offices of Lloyd's (a bank). In 1988, the building became a hotel. And it is a success: the rooms are beautiful, the breakfast very hearty. Prices a bit high (from £ 300 per night).
The good plan of One Aldwych : Film and Fizz at £ 55 / person which includes a movie screening in the hotel's projection room, a glass of champagne and dinner at one of the hotel's two restaurants, the Indigo. You can also be satisfied with a drink in the bar, whose cozy atmosphere is well worth the detour.
1 Aldwych
Go
In Eurostar, of course! Barely 2h15 from Paris to arrive in central London in St Pancras. Very regularly there are promotional rates from £ 29 each way. And Eurostar has also launched Eurostar Snap to charge fares from € 25 each way.
To find out more and order and activate your Oyster pass for public transport: visitlondon.com
