Kensington: A Superb Base for Shopping in London

London is a city that is world famous for its shops and shopping facilities from the highly publicised Harrods to its more quaint and stylish boutiques that inhabit the side streets and less populated areas. If you love shopping then London is definitely the place to visit whether you are looking for a new designer dress, vintage clothing or simply want to spend the day browsing some of the high streets largest flagship stores.

The sheer number of shops in London means that hard-core shoppers need to stay for days in order to get their fill of retail therapy. Finding hotel accommodation that is both close to the major shopping districts and comfortable enough to unwind and relax in after a hard days shopping is not always easy. There are almost as many hotels in London as there are shops so finding a good one is imperative to your London shopping experience.

If you are looking for hotel accommodation in London whilst you indulge in a spot of retail therapy then you will almost definitely want a hotel that is situated right in the centre of London amongst the retail delights. Situated in Kensington the Quality Crown Hotel Kensington is a luxury 4 star hotel that puts you right in the centre of one of London's most fashionable and trendy areas. The district is renowned for it trendy shops, museums and galleries making it perfect for all you shopping enthusiasts who appreciate a little bit of style after a hard days shopping.

The diversity of London is reflected in the diversity of the shops and markets situated in the city. Some shopping areas are made up largely of high street stores whilst others are reserved fro more exclusive designer stores and one-off boutiques. The market stalls vary from antiques and second hand bargains to fresh food, clothing and vintage records. What follows is quick look around some of London’s most popular shopping districts and the retail delights that they have to offer.

London is well known for its traditional street markets with some of the more famous being Portobello Road and Camden Market. Portobello Market has been in existence since the Victorian era and is famous for its collection of antique and second hand good stalls. The market is situated in the Notting Hill district and is part of the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea making it a perfect location for guests staying at the Quality Crown Hotel Kensington. Like the Portobello Market, Camden Market has been trading for many years and is now a collection of 6 markets that bring over 100,000 visitors to the area every weekend.

Harrods is a world famous department store that has seen its fair share of glamour and controversy, since Charles Henry Harrod, a tea merchant from Stepney in London's East End founded the store in 1835. In 1985, Mohamed Al-Fayed paid over £600 million pounds for the famous Knightsbridge store, which has over 330 departments. With nearly 300,000 people visiting the store on peak days Harrods is a must visit for any keen shoppers who have a full day in their busy schedule to explore the 28 restaurants, personal shopping services, event planning services and not to mention that 7 floors of shopping heaven. The nearest tube station is Knightsbridge and is less than 5 minutes away from the Quality Crown Hotel Kensington.

If you are in the very busy shopping area near Regent Street one store that is definitely worth a visit is Hamleys, one of the most famous toy stores in the world. The store is a magical place for both children and adults to get lost in the 6 floors that are full from ceiling to floor with toys and games. The store welcomes over 5 million visitors every year and is one of London’s most popular retail attractions. Regent Street itself is a very famous shopping district with particular attention given to the traditional Christmas lights ceremony that brings well-known celebrities to the area. Regent Street is easily accessible from the Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus tube stations.

Oxford Street is by far one of London's busiest shopping streets with over 300 shops and close to 200 million visitors a year. Many of the larger British stores have their flagship stores located on this popular street making it a popular choice for all things high street. For those serious fashionistas out there then London's Bond Street is the place to shop and be seen. With the highest collection of designer stores and boutiques, you can expect to spend some serious money here. The street is also home to some of the higher end jewellers including Cartier, Tiffany and Co, and Asprey and Garrard.

Staying at the Quality Crown Hotel Kensington can cost as little as £55 a night for a twin room giving you more money to spend in the shops and what's more this ideally located hotel offers 4 star hotel accommodation that would rival some of the most luxurious central London hotels.