The department store Liberty has been named Timeout.com’s best shop in London for the second year running, as nominated by a panel of celebrated fashion insiders.
Big name designers like Matthew Williamson and fashion experts such as Grazia’s Fashion Editor-at-Large, Melanie Rickey and Wah Nails founder Sharmadean Reid told us their top five London shops, along with other Londoners of note like restaurateur Russell Norman (of Polpo fame); gallery owner Steve Lazarides; boutique co-owner, broadcaster and pug-lover Brix Smith-Start and wonder-bloggers like Navaz Batliwalla of DisneyRollerGirl and Bethan Holt of FashionEditorAtLarge.
Using the panel’s top fives, Time Out’s Shopping team then put together a top 100, battling out where each shop should rank, choose who should get into the converted top ten, and who was destined to be voted off. The team looked at store concept, stock, customer service, and each shop’s uniqueness – including the eclectic and eccentric as much as obvious London retail landmarks.
Time Out’s Shopping & Style editor Dan Jones said “If one thing sets London apart from other world cities it’s the sheer variety, astonishing quality and occasional quirkiness of its shops. That’s why, each year we strive to put together a definitive list of London’s best shops – from creaky old icons to Brit classics with genuine heritage, slick concept stores, indie oddities, and the biggest and brashest high street stalwarts. We think we’ve put together the perfect list, but feel free to disagree – or name a store you think we’ve missed – on our website, facebook or twitter pages”.
Of the winner, Liberty, Dan said “This year’s winner is the creakiest, wonkiest and most beloved emporium in London. The jumble of wood-panelled rooms, creaky floors and odd carved animals make shopping at Liberty feel wonderfully intimate – and just a little bit whimsical. Wandering through its different departments, you feel as though you’re exploring a stately home – with the best gift shop ever.”
The top ten is
1. Liberty
2. Dover Street Market
3. Selfridges
4. LN-CC
5. Rough Trade East
6. Wolf and Badger
7. Goodhood
8. Beyond Retro
9. b Store
10. Topshop
Labour and Wait was named the best Gift and Home shop at number 26 in the list, followed by the V&A shop at 27, The Dog & Wardrobe at 33, Heal’s at 43, Cass Art at 52, SCP at 55, The Last Tuesday Society at 59, Alfie’s Antique Market at 63, Other Criteria at 75, Hamleys at 78, Little Paris at 82, Cire Trudon at 86, and the Tom Dixon Shop at 93.
