Every year we promise ourselves that we won’t leave our shopping until the week before Christmas, but with hectic work schedules and the cold weather, it’s usually the last thing on our minds. The festive season is a particularly busy time for a multitude of industries, and for many, business travel becomes essential right until Christmas Eve. For those of you that find yourself in London this December, whether staying in one of our serviced apartments in London or not, we've compiled our recommendations for the best places to pick up those last minute Christmas gifts, so you don’t risk returning home empty handed.
Oxford Street
With over 300 shops, ranging from high street to designer, Oxford Street is London’s most popular retail district for both locals and tourists. Over the Christmas period the shops are generally open from 9am until 10pm. Late night shopping means you’ll have plenty of time to dash to one of the many shops after a day at the office. The famous Selfridges store on Oxford Street boasts ten acres of shopping space as well as providing a personal shopper service.
The Central, Northern and Victoria lines all provide services to one of the three stations closest to Oxford Street (Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street). This makes Oxford Street easily accessible from almost anywhere in London, so if you’re staying in one of our London serviced apartments this December, be sure to make use of the city’s underground network. We recommend Barrett Street Apartments if you’re eager to be located nearby the Christmas shopping action on Oxford Street.
Westfield Stratford City
Located in Stratford, next to the London Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford City opened in 2011 and is one of the UK’s largest shopping centres. The centre’s high-street and designer stores are open until 11pm from the 15th December, a life saver if you’ve left your shopping to the last minute. The concierge services include hands-free shopping and home delivery, so you can have a stress-free shopping experience.
The underground’s Central line provides connections to Westfield Stratford City, but it’s also accessible via DLR and National Rail services. If you’re looking for corporate accommodation in the Stratford area, we recommend East Village Apartments. Being located just a thirteen minute walk from the shopping centre means you won’t be able to avoid your Christmas shopping forever.
Regent Street
Regent Street sees over 7.5 million tourists flock to its selection of stores every year. It’s home to a range of international brands including Michael Kors, French Connection, TM Lewin and Guess – just to name a few. London’s most loved toy shop, Hamleys, is also situated on Regent Street, making it the perfect destination for getting all of your Christmas shopping for the family in just one trip.
We offer corporate travellers a range of serviced apartments within walking distance of Regent Street, including Maddox Street Apartments. If you’re staying in a different part of London, the underground’s Bakerloo, Central, Victoria and Piccadilly lines provide connections to Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus stations, which are both just a few minutes away from Regent Street.
There are a number of other shopping destinations in London open until late in the build-up to Christmas, so you are sure to find the perfect gifts to take home, even if you’re busy working this festive season.
