KENSINGTON. Inside this Art Deco-inspired building, you'll find plenty of items to fit personal, home, and electronic needs. Designer names are common, so you can feel good about the quality of the purchases you make. Merchandise includes cosmetics, apparel, housewares, and more. You can even pick up a light bite to eat if you're trying to maximize your time. Affiliated with the House of Fraser. TUBE: High Street Kensington

OXFORD STREET. Hugely wide-reaching in its number of locations, this department store can be found throughout the UK and even in the Middle East and Indonesia. A great selection of merchandise is standard, and you can be assured of consistency no matter which location you frequent. Along with apparel for the entire family, Debenhams offers furniture, housewares, and electronic goods. An in-house floral department is available as well. TUBE: Oxford Circus

SOHO. If you're out and about on Regent Street, make sure to stop into this reputable establishment. It's been around since 1790, so the merchandise and customer service are more than time-tested. Spread across the store's six floors is a variety of goods, including domestic items, cosmetics, designer labels, and clothing for men, women, and children. Personal shopping services are available, along with a salon for men and women. Affiliated with the House of Fraser. TUBE: Oxford Circus

KENSINGTON. Fashionable apparel at affordable prices is the mainstay at this chain of clothing stores. The H&M empire ranges into more than a dozen countries, and London itself has a good variety of locations. H&M, which stands for Hennes & Mauritz, can easily clothe men, women, and children, thanks in large part to their own brands of classic and fashion-forward clothing. Cosmetics and accessories also figure in H&M stores. TUBE: High Street Kensington

KNIGHTSBRIDGE. London's world-famous department store, Harrods has been a city fixture since it opened in 1849. Impeccable service and a wonderful, diverse selection have earned the store a place in the hearts of Londoners. Although prices are somewhat steep, they're attached to quality merchandise, including apparel, toys, home furnishings, and groceries. Plus, twice-yearly sales make things more accessible to budget-minded shoppers. Cultivating a bit of spectacle in Harrods are the Egyptian Room and a memorial to Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed, owner Mohammed's son. TUBE: Knightsbridge