Latest reviews for Shops & Amenities in Carnaby Street, London, United Kingdom

Liberty - Relaxed and decadent by Natnat

Natnat — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:16:25 +0000

Review by Natnat

Rating: 5.00

Website: www.liberty.co.uk

The place of the purple bags has something for all tastes and budgets. I often pop in for a browse - there's a wonderful cards and gifts department on the ground floor, in with a heavenly selection of chocolates and yummy things. The stationery department, also on the ground floor, has similarly inspiring bits and bobs, from leather bound notebooks to quirky invitation cards. Stop at one of the cafes for a cream tea or slice of cake, or head round the kitchen section for ideas and novelty items. You don't need to be a millionaire to shop here, and the staff are extremely welcoming and never snooty. For those with a larger budget, however, it's possible to go crazy in the bags and clothes departments. Heavenly.The place of the purple bags has something for all tastes and budgets. I often pop in for a browse - there's a wonderful cards and gifts department on the ground floor, in with a heavenly selection of chocolates and yummy things. The stationery department, also on the ground floor, has similarly inspiring bits and bobs, from leather bound notebooks to quirky invitation cards. Stop at one of the cafes for a cream tea or slice of cake, or head round the kitchen section for ideas and novelty items. You don't need to be a millionaire to shop here, and the staff are extremely welcoming and never snooty. For those with a larger budget, however, it's possible to go crazy in the bags and clothes departments. Heavenly.

Apple Store - Apple tastic by vik

vik — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:27:30 +0000

Review by vik

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7153 9000

Website: http://www.apple.com/uk/retail/regentstreet/

Tags: fun, helpful staff, free wifi

Having been to a couple of apple stores I must say that this one is the best, uber cool and chic, well it would be it is full of all things apple and not the granny smith variety either. Had to sort out an ipod for a gift and wanted the red one so did eventually have to go on line to get it but never mind, just loved the apple store and the staff were helpful. Am i a mac user, well, used to have a windows pc but am now firm convert to all things apple. The sleek white design of the desk and lap top computers is so stylish and usable that I will never go back to boring old windows. Looks like I will be making many happy future visits to the wonderful apple store then.Having been to a couple of apple stores I must say that this one is the best, uber cool and chic, well it would be it is full of all things apple and not the granny smith variety either. Had to sort out an ipod for a gift and wanted the red one so did eventually have to go on line to get it but never mind, just loved the apple store and the staff were helpful. Am i a mac user, well, used to have a windows pc but am now firm convert to all things apple. The sleek white design of the desk and lap top computers is so stylish and usable that I will never go back to boring old windows. Looks like I will be making many happy future visits to the wonderful apple store then.

Waterstone's Piccadilly - Great place by Artemidor

Artemidor — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:10:38 +0000

Review by Artemidor

Rating: 4.00

Tags: helpful staff, comfortable, big

I love this place. The bookstore is absolutely full of books, well ordered and presented in an attractive way. There are cosy sofas in which you can relax with your stack of books and peruse them at leisure. The coffee is not so good (that is my only complaint) and, in fact, it is very expensive. But if you like the smell, you can seat near and profit for it.

It has also customer toilets (very handy after a long day of shopping). Many people use to read there the magazines without purchasing them: that is an option, if you are squint. Great bookstore.
I love this place. The bookstore is absolutely full of books, well ordered and presented in an attractive way. There are cosy sofas in which you can relax with your stack of books and peruse them at leisure. The coffee is not so good (that is my only complaint) and, in fact, it is very expensive. But if you like the smell, you can seat near and profit for it.

It has also customer toilets (very handy after a long day of shopping). Many people use to read there the magazines without purchasing them: that is an option, if you are squint. Great bookstore.

Hobgoblin Music - Great resource for trad instuments by marmalade

marmalade — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:56:05 +0000

Review by marmalade

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7323 9040

Website: http://www.hobgoblin.com

Hobgoblin is a bit of an institution really, having been based in Parkway in Camden for years, it now lives just off Oxford street.

They have a great website too, and a mail order service, so you can have a proper browse online before you decide to buy.

They stock all the instruments you would need to play traditional folk or acoustic instruments, everything from guitars, banjos and harmonicas, to autoharps, mouth harps and melodeons.

The prices are ok, not the cheapest, and sometimes the instruments are not particularly good quality, but as the only place you can step off the street and buy something that isn't a guitar, I suppose they can get away with it.

The service in the shop varies, some of the staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and one or two are the wrong side of flirty or patronising, or something I can't quite name. I certainly don't always feel comfortable shopping here.

I play a fairly unusual instrument, and have learned a lot about it by experience. I therefore know a little more than the staff, and this seems to annoy them when they can't answer my questions.

The spares and strings can be hugely overpriced too, one set of strings for my instrument costs 10 times as much in here as anywhere else, and the quality of cases etc are really quite shoddy.

A mixed package.Hobgoblin is a bit of an institution really, having been based in Parkway in Camden for years, it now lives just off Oxford street.

They have a great website too, and a mail order service, so you can have a proper browse online before you decide to buy.

They stock all the instruments you would need to play traditional folk or acoustic instruments, everything from guitars, banjos and harmonicas, to autoharps, mouth harps and melodeons.

The prices are ok, not the cheapest, and sometimes the instruments are not particularly good quality, but as the only place you can step off the street and buy something that isn't a guitar, I suppose they can get away with it.

The service in the shop varies, some of the staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and one or two are the wrong side of flirty or patronising, or something I can't quite name. I certainly don't always feel comfortable shopping here.

I play a fairly unusual instrument, and have learned a lot about it by experience. I therefore know a little more than the staff, and this seems to annoy them when they can't answer my questions.

The spares and strings can be hugely overpriced too, one set of strings for my instrument costs 10 times as much in here as anywhere else, and the quality of cases etc are really quite shoddy.

A mixed package.

Twinkled - twinkled by miffy

miffy — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:47:12 +0000

Review by miffy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 1978

Website: http://www.twinkled.net/

Tags: second hand, bargain, rare finds

VIntage shopping is as hit and miss as shopping for designers in tkmaxx. However the vintage shops of carnaby steet are always reliable for special items and good quality. Kingsley Court is home to about 5 different Vintage shops but Twinkled is by far the biggest and most ecclectic. Not only does it sell a huge erray of clothes ( a large amout of dresses of course amongst other things) but it also sells antiques and retro items. From vintage birthday cards and fabrics, to retro chairs and tea sets. The furniture is a nice addition and Twinkled is arranged in a similar way to shops like Beyond Retro. Worth a visit for fashion students or anyone who likes to make their own clothes becasue there is a whole corner dedicated to fabrics for several decades useful for dresses, bags or curtains. A colourful shop worth a visit for anyone who likes their vintage.VIntage shopping is as hit and miss as shopping for designers in tkmaxx. However the vintage shops of carnaby steet are always reliable for special items and good quality. Kingsley Court is home to about 5 different Vintage shops but Twinkled is by far the biggest and most ecclectic. Not only does it sell a huge erray of clothes ( a large amout of dresses of course amongst other things) but it also sells antiques and retro items. From vintage birthday cards and fabrics, to retro chairs and tea sets. The furniture is a nice addition and Twinkled is arranged in a similar way to shops like Beyond Retro. Worth a visit for fashion students or anyone who likes to make their own clothes becasue there is a whole corner dedicated to fabrics for several decades useful for dresses, bags or curtains. A colourful shop worth a visit for anyone who likes their vintage.

Bond International - For the urban heads out there... by Sami

Sami — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:41:00 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7437 0079

Website: http://www.bond-international.co.uk/

Tags: rare finds, exclusive boutique

A small storefront off of Carnaby Street behind Oxford Circus, Bond Int'l is a great shop to visit if you're a fan of skateboarding, sneaker culture and stylish urban clothes.

I'm a definite fan of the store, but if you're of the female persuasion like me, there isn't much in stock for you - surprising, as they have been around for a good 20 years, acting as an independent purveyor of niche and import urban brands.

They stock a variety of lines (Alife, Addict, Crooks & Castles, and Married to the Mob to name just a few) and have a great range of men's graphic tees, with shelves starting at chest height and reaching up to the ceiling.

Definitely something to check out when you're in the area but in the meantime I am very much of the opinion that they need to work on their girl's section as the pitiful singular rack stashed away in the back of the shop most definitely does not cut it.A small storefront off of Carnaby Street behind Oxford Circus, Bond Int'l is a great shop to visit if you're a fan of skateboarding, sneaker culture and stylish urban clothes.

I'm a definite fan of the store, but if you're of the female persuasion like me, there isn't much in stock for you - surprising, as they have been around for a good 20 years, acting as an independent purveyor of niche and import urban brands.

They stock a variety of lines (Alife, Addict, Crooks & Castles, and Married to the Mob to name just a few) and have a great range of men's graphic tees, with shelves starting at chest height and reaching up to the ceiling.

Definitely something to check out when you're in the area but in the meantime I am very much of the opinion that they need to work on their girl's section as the pitiful singular rack stashed away in the back of the shop most definitely does not cut it.