Best Shopping Malls in South Kensington Area

"If you’re looking for an important retail development in the City of London, then look no further than One New Change. This is actually the only major shopping centre in the area, so it won’t be difficult to find. It is located nearby St. Paul’s Cathedral, so you can always add a visit to this amazing cathedral to your experience."

"So the view from here has already appeared on this list under St. Paul’s Cathedral. However, as it really is one of the most Instagram worthy spots in London, I thought it should be included twice!. Head to the rooftop of One New Change via the elevators in the centre of the shopping mall for the best composition."

"Located opposite to the famous St Paul Cathedral is London’s newest mall, The One New Change. It features several brands, cafes and restaurants. This iconic building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel."

"One of the newer additions to London’s shopping scene is Westfield Stratford City. This shopping centre opened in September 2011 and it’s considered to be one of the largest in Europe. It bears a retail floor area of 175,000 m2!"

"Watch a musician or magician in the piazza and wander among the stalls and high-end shops at Covent Garden Market. Housed in and around the iconic Market Building, this central London shopping market is an architectural masterpiece. Alongside Apple Market, speciality shops such as perfume boutiques, homeware stores, restaurants and cafes, you'll find gorgeous crafts, antiques and jewellery."

"Within the 19th century Piazza of Covent Garden, there are three markets to explore. Take a look around the Apple Market, East Colonnade Market and Jubilee Market for handcrafted gifts, artworks, confectionary and clothes, among other diverse goods. Covent Garden: Monday to Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, and Sunday Midday-6pm."

"There are so many shops in London that desire to be featured on your Instagram feed. The following all provide unique opportunities for London ‘Grammers. READ MORE: Travel Photography Gear for the Best Instagram Photos"

"Located in the heart of London’s financial district, the Royal Exchange previously hosted the centre of commerce for the City of London. Today, however, the Royal Exchange hosts a variety of luxury shops, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., Hermes, Gucci…just to give an idea. Luxury restaurants and champagne bars are a great place to take a shopping break and the location of the Royal Exchange, the opposite side of town from our other shopping centres, means it is oftentimes not as busy as the better-known shopping locations of London."

"Sitting snugly between Bank and Monument Tube stations, the Royal Exchange building used to be the centre of commerce for the City of London. It has twice been burnt down and rebuilt, most recently in the 1840s. Royal Proclamations were traditionally read out on its lavish steps by the town crier."

"For a relatively small town, Windsor has a wide range of shops, including department stores, high street outlets, specialist fashion shops and local independents. There are plenty of retail stores catering for tourists, offering souvenirs and other memorabilia. The main shopping areas are Peascod Street, the High Street and Thames Street, along with Windsor Royal Station and Eton High Street, where the upmarket, fashionable stores can be found."

"Whether you’re looking for local crafts or designer duds, you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy at this quirky shopping arcade located opposite Windsor castle. Housed in a fromer Victorian Railway Station, architecture lovers will get a kick out of spotting the building’s original remaining features including Jubilee arch, the cobbled stones, and Queen Victoria's Royal Waiting Room."

"Cardinal Place is a state of the art shopping heaven located in Central London. The central location of the mall attracts several tourists. It is situated next to Victoria station and very close to the famous Westminister Cathedral."

"A post shared by Angel Central (@angel_central) on Mar 5, 2016 at 5:33am PST. Angel Central, formerly known as the N1 Shopping Centre, offers shopping, dining, and entertainment in Islington. Located just off the hip Upper Street, Angel Central’s trademark is the giant set of metallic wings that hover over the shopping mall, making for an excellent selfie location!"

"The International Hotel, Canary Wharf is situated on the water’s edge next to Canary Wharf, London’s Docklands internationally famous office development and home of many multi-national companies. The hotel is a modern glass building with fantastic panoramic views overlooking the London skyline. It is easy walking distance to South Quay DLR & Canary Wharf Underground Stations taking you to major sightseeing spots around London."

"Milroy’s has been around since 1964 in Soho, but late last year its current owner, Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson, expanded to a second site in Spitalfields. Stretching across three floors, there’s a 1,000-bottle-strong whisky bar, a cocktail bar, a tasting room and an exclusive private members club (the Dram House) – complete with a cigar terrace. Members’ rights aside, its comedy nights are open to all on the first Wednesday of every month, boasting talent from the likes of Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats, BBC’s The Mash Report and ITV’s Stand Up Sketch Shop."

"Allow the chefs here to make their choice for you and go for one of their omakase platters. Alternatively, if you’re in the DIY mood, they also do a DIY handroll party kit. Follow them on Instagram: @sushiatelierlondon."

"London is getting more, better quality affordable Japanese restaurants and outlets. Think, recently, like Jugemu and Mission Sato. Sushi Atelier is the latest."

"Chef Masayuki Kikuchi has been one of the most respected Japanese chefs in London. While the restaurant serves both tasting and à-la-carte menus, it’s possible to ask to be seated at the sushi counter and have nigiri served one piece at a time in an omakase manner. Sea urchin rice bowl, uni don, is the highlight but has to be pre-ordered one day in advance."

"As pretty as a box of luxury chocolates, Matsuba is all dark wood and subtle light panels, with a discreet sushi bar, vintage Japanese parasols dotted around and quietly polite waiters. The menu trawls through the full Japanese repertoire from tempura to tonkatsu, but also expect a smattering of Korean dishes including bulgogi and bibimbap. Affluent Richmond locals appreciate Matsuba’s very decent wine list too."

"Around the square you’ll also find two of London’s top art museums, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Both are highly recommended for art lovers and include works by some of the world’s most famous artists from Turner to Monet. Also nearby (hidden underground in St. Martin-in-the-Fields!) you can visit the London Brass Rubbing Centre (fee*) to learn about and create a brass rubbing to take home. A great activity for families (we had fun too!)."

"Tucked behind the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery is the biggest collection of portraits in the world. It’s not quite as vast as the National Gallery but it’s very much worth taking your time to see the collection. One interesting thing about this free London art museum is that the paintings are chosen for the significance of the subject, not the artist."

"This gallery comprises a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people from throughout time. Think Shakespeare, Edward VI, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, to name a few."

"With all there is to see at Kew Gardens, you might easily miss the attractive red brick building housing the Marianne North Gallery. But don’t hesitate to take a look inside — the exquisite interior, which incorporates different kinds of wood and stenciled floor tile, is home to more than 800 works of botanical art. Marianne North was a wealthy, single Victorian woman who traveled the world solo in pursuit of interesting plants to paint."

"Another attraction in Kew Gardens, this gallery is dedicated to the work of Marianne North, a Victorian artist who specialised in botanical paintings. The walls of the gallery are covered in her stunning and colourful designs, which show off her incredible natural talent."