Oxford Street

Oxford Street

The stretch between Oxford Circuì and Marble Arch is best known for its department storse. After a massive facelift Selfridges is definitely the one not to miss - seven floor of shopping heaven, with a superb food hall, unrivalled beauty and cosmetics ranges, covetable designer fashion and just about everything else you could ever want. Close by is Marks & Spencer's flagship store with the company's most innovative ranges. Check out Debenhams with top British designers. Music and video lovers should head for HMV and if you've got children in tow, the new branch of the Disney Store is a must.

But there's a lot more to this area than the superstores with all manner of interesting places to browse. Fashion is obviously a major preoccupation and serious style slaves are in for a treat. Head first for New Bond Street and one of the largest concentration of big-name designer stores anywhere in the world. They're all here: Donna Karan, Armani, Cerruti, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Hermes, Chanel and Mulberry to name but a few (continue on to Old Bond Street for Gucci, Prada, Versace, Nicole Farhi, Dolce & Gabbana and DKNY). Also worth a mention is fashion department store Fenwick.

If you've any energy left, nearby South Molton Street boasts Browns - possibly the best edited collection of designer clothes in London, and Davies Street has Vivienne Westwood.

For a change of pace, cross Oxford Street and pass through the tiny golden arch into St Christopher's Place, a charming little pedestrian area with an eclectic mix of terraced cafès, restaurants and quirky boutique.

Antiques aficionados are also spoilt for choice. Again, New Bond Street is a  focal point, featuring Sotheby's, the world's oldest art auction house, as well as the Bond Street Antique Centre and SJ Phillips for antique silver, jewellery and watches. For glass, ceramics and rare books tray Gray's Antiques Market, in Davies Street, Simon Finch in Maddox Street offers rare books from the 14^th to the 19^th century, with gems such as Jane Austen first editions.

There's no shortage of jewellery and luxury homeware either - again concentrated largely around Bond Street. Buy your gems from the same store as Her Majesty, Asprey & Garrard, or posh paper from Smythson, the Royal stationers. Anything from Cartier of Tiffany will do verynicely, thank you, whether it's jewellery, watches or precious gifts. The list goes on and on: looking for the most fabulous pearls? Look no further than Mikimoto. If diamonds are your choice, take your pick from Graff Diamonds. Precious stones can be found at David Morris. For timeless timepiece, try Rolex, Wempe or Watches of Switzerland. For Twenties and Thirties-inspired costume jewellery go to Butler & Wilson, and for beautiful contemporary pieces to the Electrum Gallery, both in South Molton Street.