Most intriguing about shopping in Britain are its fashion houses rivaling the leading Italian, French and U.S. designer firms. Vivienne Westwood, legendary London fashion figure, has exercised a powerful influence over the British fashion since the 1970s, when she suited up the punk band Sex Pistols with clothes from her boutique. Britain is also well-known for excellence in brand names such as Aquascutum, Jaeger, Karen Millen, Jigsaw, Monsoon, Next, Ted Baker, or Top Shop.

Another thing to watch out for  are antique shops selling items of various origins, often with quite an interesting story attached to them. Here you can find that rare gem  as well as pure kitsch , with everything always displayed and tagged. London auction houses, another must-do for shopping buffs, are not meant to simply buy art and antiques, but also are great places just to sit and watch. London, the auctioneer's paradise, prides itself on three main bidding venues: Bonhams, Christie's and Sotheby's. Here, members of the public can attend auctions and watch the bidding process which is quite a spectacle. All in all vintage shopping never disappoints in Britain. Retro music, uniforms, various styles and 20th-Century rock band paraphernalia are the most common items one will find while browsing through the local reasonably priced vintage shops. British lingerie is also world-famous for its great quality and unique designs.

Britain covers a vast spectrum of shopping hubs, the most notable of them being the capital. A world class shopping venue, London  boasts  well-known department stores, such as  Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty's and Selfridges, numerous fashion houses and a long line of boutiques like Piccadilly, Soho, Regent Street, Oxford Road, Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington to name but a few. Street markets are happeningat Portobello Road and Camden Town. London shopping is especially marked by the welcome diversity of the new Spitalfields, a street market featuring traditional traders selling handicrafts as well as fashion boutiques or cutting-edge shops offering rare gems, vintage items, jewelry, furniture, and even toys.

The ancient city of Bath, features exclusive boutiques offering designer clothing, jewellery and accessories, as well as antiques. Chester, yet another shopping Mecca, boasts their so-called 'Rows', a line of unique shops representing galleried shopping arcades set upon two tiers. The distinct Georgian and Victorian mock Tudor style of these establishments makes the shopping scene here even more charming. Built in the 14th Century atop an earlier Roman structure, these arcades include decorative timberwork and oriel windows. Manchester also boasts some well-known names in fashion such as  Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. The modern shopping area of Exchange Square or the city’s shopping mall, the Trafford Centre, are further stops for shoppers. Edinburgh’s shopping scene centers on Stockbridge and the Princes Street districts, the latter including Jenners, the world’s oldest department store. The Grassmarket has been a trading hub since the 15th Century, and still offers some interesting boutiques. Northamptonshire, another shopping haven, has antique dealers, specialty stores, farmers’ markets and boutiques.