SOUTHWARK. Hard-core antiques aficionados applaud this weekly outdoor market for its enviable array of goods. Begun in 1855 and frequented by 500 dealers, it offers furniture, artwork, silver, and anything else collectors could acquire. It's not a bargain environment, but the selection promises good quality and some unusual pieces. It's best to get an early start so you can get a leg up, but the Underground doesn't run when Bermondsey opens, so you may have to rely on the bus. Also known as the New Caledonian Antiques Market. TUBE: London Bridge Station or Borough

MAYFAIR. Bond Street is actually composed of New Bond and Old Bond. Together, they establish an enclave of high-end designer boutiques that cater to folks with pounds to spare. (If you're counting, Old Bond is the more upscale of the two.) Running between Piccadilly and Oxford Street, Bond Street features shops specializing in fashions by Chanel, Versace, and the like. Several auction houses lie in the vicinity as well. Just east of Bond, Savile Row boasts an international reputation for its bespoke tailoring, or top-quality custom garments. TUBE: Bond Street

CAMDEN TOWN. Set in a bohemian, alternative neighborhood north of London's center, Camden Market promises lots of cool, hip merchandise, often at bargain prices. It's also a favorite of students and tourists, who relish the idea of getting terrific buys on leather goods, shoes, funky clothing, CDs, and jewelry. Ethnic items, crafts, and all manner of souvenirs can also be found, along with a bounty of food shops and other local market venues. Great for people-watching too. TUBE: Camden Town

ISLINGTON. This quiet street becomes a hub of antique-hunting activity on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when specialists and dealers gather in stalls and arcades. The long strip keeps visitors occupied for hours and turns up treasures no matter what you're looking for. With Georgian Village on one side, The Mall on the other, and several unique arcades in between, the area provides London's largest selection of antiques. While cheaper goods, old books, and clothes can be found near the Georgian Village, the more expensive and upscale Mall side has paintings, Edwardian furniture, Victorian objets d'art, and much more. TUBE: Angel

SOHO. What was, in the '60s, London's fashion epicenter has been revitalized as a pedestrian-friendly area offering the odd souvenir shop amongst the many trendy boutiques. Off Oxford Street and parallel to Regent Street, Carnaby gets a lot of foot traffic and its bars and restaurants serve as gathering places for lunchtime and evening socializing. After you've braved the crowds on Oxford, step into this also-busy neighborhood for something more offbeat and contemporary-minded. TUBE: Oxford Circus