London steam shopping.

[zavage]

Im spring-breaking in london and paris this year and am looking for some steampunk shops to browse. Any good ones in either cities?

[GideonFaile]

I'm guessing that any antiques shoppe that you see, anywhere, would be a very good bet.

I'll leave specifics (and corrections) to locals, though.

[Danbury Shakes]

When are you coming over?  time and circumstance may provide you with willing guides to either city.

Sorry can't give you exact shops - I suppose it depend on what you want in a steampunk shop

In London you Might want to head to Camden Stables Market.  As well as the expected and acclaimed Gothic stores there are ex army stores, fashion stores, bric a brac and antique merchandise.  http://www.stablesmarket.com/

If you're into Gothic influenced steampunk (by that I mean more Sisters Of mercy type Gothic, not Arched Vaults and flying buttresses ) Camden in general would be a a good place to go.


You could also go to Brick Lane Market - a bit like a cross between a street market, a yard sale and a den of thieves.  Off Brick Lane there are a couple of buildings that have their own markets inside
http://www.backyardmarket.co.uk/cgi-bin/web/index.pl
http://www.sundayupmarket.co.uk/index.html

Come to think of it, there's alot of buildings that have their own little markets - they just don't have web sites.  Alot of the warehouses around Brick Lane turn their space over to market traders on a Sunday so there is a whole lot of variation going on in the market.  There's also a "car Boot" feel with traders just setting up pitch along the road, or any of the side roads.  It does have a reputation for second hand bikes - actually it has several reputations for second hand bikes, however if I repeated them I could be done for spreading malicious rumors - after all there is only a small percentage of stalls are selling bikes - kosher or otherwise.

Within easy walking distance of Brick Lane market is Spitalfields.  http://www.visitspitalfields.com/
Petticoat Lane Market is also close by, know for its fashion.  Although not steampunk I have gotten some nice shirts from a vendor who goes there.

Portobello road is known for its antique dealers http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/


For a drink I might recommend the Princess Louise public house in High Holborn, if only for the gents lavatory (which is listed - see picture number 4).
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/19/194/Princess_Louise/Holborn

There's also The Olde Mitre Tavern, which is sooo easy to not find.  I've been there loads of times but still wander around aimlessly at times trying to find it - but once you HAVE found it it's such a delight.
http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=165%22

Then there's The Jerusalem Tavern - small and quaint but a great little find http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/london/default.htm


You know, that seems to sum it up for me, I start off shopping but end up in the pub

[E. T. Jonasson]

Wow, that's quite the exhaustive list there. I might end up using that advice next time I go to London.

[TribalWren]

Um...not sure if you are a gentleman or not...

But if you are:

http://www.tayloroldbondst.co.uk/tradition.html

Taylors of Bond Street for all your shaving/coiffing needs.

I'm a Lady, but I love going in this shop. It is a little piece of Victorian London...and they sell moustache wax and not even in an ironic sense!! This pleases me somewhat. 

[Danbury Shakes]

Wow, that's quite the exhaustive list there. I might end up using that advice next time I go to London.

Hardly scratched the surface yet, I'm sure that once others contribute it'll get more specific about individual vendors.  These are just some of the places I like to go.

Ths site has a list of a lot more of the markets in London
http://www.londonmarkets.co.uk/

whilst this one gives an idea of where some of the more popular ones are in relation to each other
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/markets.htm

Of course one big bit of advice to anyone visiting the smoke is to give everyone a yell  letting them know when you're coming.  You could end up with shopping/eating/drinking companions.  For those this side of the pond, when exactly is spring break?

[Cubinoid]

For antiques, I second Portobello (on a Saturday).

Don't forget about Nauticalia as well: for Stirling engines, steam engines, brass gauges and dials and things.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

There are two Nauticalia shops in London:

Covent Garden,
West End
18B The Market, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8RF.
(51˚30.7'N. 00˚07.4'W)
Tel: 020 7836 1805

Downstairs, in the courtyard of London's best-known bustling market.

Open
Mon-Sat 10.00am-8pm
Sun 11am-6pm

Greenwich
25 Nelson Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9JB.
(51˚28.9'N. 00˚00.4'W)
Tel: 020 8858 1066

"The First Shop in the World" - just yards from the Meridian line, and close to Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum.

Open 10am-6pm every day

If you are in the region of Kings Cross St Pancras, there is a fabulous place to eat there.
The place to eat is:
The Betjeman Arms

http://www.stpancras.com/eat/gastro-pub/

The most romantic place to eat after a days shopping!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Find your way to the huge statue "The Meeting Place", and look at the base of it for a while - it is stunning!
http://www.stpancras.com/gallery.aspx?id=14&tid=9

There is also a Statue of Betjeman himself to find:
http://www.stpancras.com/gallery.aspx?id=12&tid=9

and the clock is worth looking at too:
http://www.stpancras.com/gallery.aspx?id=13&tid=9

[Capt. Dirigible]

On the subject of Statues and photo opportunities...don't  forget the  statue of Robert Stephenson outside Euston Station.

[greensteam]

For a nice evening meal out and not too far from the big shopping streets, I reccommend the Sherlock Holmes pub in Northumberland avenue off Trafalgar square: http://www.sherlockholmespub.com/

They do very British food (but not much for a vegetarian) and the key feature is that Holmes' study is recreated in the corner of the restaurant. This pub has had this wonderful feature for decades - I used to get taken there for birthday treats in the 1960s when i was obsessed with Holmes.

Shopping: Eclectica is well off the beaten track but fun: http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/detail/2236245

[Mrs Van Horne]

Um...not sure if you are a gentleman or not...

But if you are:

http://www.tayloroldbondst.co.uk/tradition.html

Taylors of Bond Street for all your shaving/coiffing needs.

I'm a Lady, but I love going in this shop. It is a little piece of Victorian London...and they sell moustache wax and not even in an ironic sense!! This pleases me somewhat. 

and they sell a shaving set, marvellously titled "super badger fusion Imitation Ivory Edwardian set"

[zavage]

This is a lot of great stuff, thanks to everyone!