For centuries London has been one of England's largest and most successful commercial shopping grounds. Sitting on the river Thames, it grew from a small fishing village into a thriving metropolis on this basis of its success as a trading hub. This spirit of commerce and enterprise has not changed to the present day. The city is famous world-wide for the quality and volume of its shopping districts. Clothing stores, toy shops and sprawling outdoor markets line its busy streets. The City of London offers visitors a range of different shopping experiences, all of which are worth the visit.

One of the most well-known names in London shopping is the famous department store, Harrods, in Knightsbridge. A London landmark, Harrods motto is "All Things, For All People, Everywhere", and the department store reflects this ideal. The building incorporates seven floors, selling a range of luxury goods, from food to clothing, offering exotic and products for a range of tastes. As both a quintessential part of London, and as a fantastic shopping experience, Harrods is a must-visit for tourists. If you don't find what you are looking for in Harrods, close by are a number of specialty boutiques, which offer a range of exotic goods and designer clothing.

Not too far from Harrods is the famous toy store Hamley's, the largest toy store in the world. Opened in 1881, the Regent Street branch of Hamley's offers seven floors of toys, each floor devoted to a different variety of toy or game. A fantastic shopping attraction for both children and adults, Hamley's more than lives up to its reputation as one of the best toy stores in the world.

As famous as Harrods and Hamley's may be, equally famous are the many markets that London has to offer. The largest and arguably the most popular of these, is Covent Garden market. The Covent Garden market takes place within and around the large central piazza, in which a range of shops, pubs, cafes, and craft stalls can be found. This market is extremely popular, both with tourists and locals, and tends to get very crowded during its peak times. A historical landmark, as the first modern city square in London, Covent Garden offers a very pleasant and varied shopping experience for those who like to browse in the open air.

London offers a range of very unique and interesting shopping experiences, sure to leave visitors with lighter wallets, but much more luggage than they arrived with. However, it takes longer than a single afternoon to take in all of London's shopping districts, and it is worth taking a few days to enjoy the shops of London. If you do chose to stay overnight, there are many quality London hotels which offer a variety of accommodation to suit your budget and chosen location.

Jesse Wallace writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.