If you love shopping for antiques, you'll love London. The city has lots of charming antique shops with something for everyone from the serious collector to those just looking for interesting souvenirs or gifts.There are several antique malls in London which offer the added convenience of having many dealers all located under one roof. And the antique malls are usually open seven days a week - many of the popular antique markets and flea markets are only open on weekends.Top-quality furniture and fine art dealers can be found near King's Road, Kensington Church Street, St. James, and Bond Streets. If money's not an object, make a point of visiting Waterhouse and Dodd, Haslam and Whiteway, and Rafferty and Walwyn.
In 1976, dealer/collector Bernie Gray opened Alfie's Antiques Market at the eastern end of Church Street in the old Jordan's Department Store. It has four floors of stalls and a restaurant on the roof where you can take a break from shopping with a light meal or a drink. Many of the dealers here have been at Alfies since it opened and they're very knowledgeable. They can help you find what you're looking for here, or on one of the nearby Church Street antique shops.
Only slightly younger than Alfies is Gray's, which opened in 1977. Located in an old terracotta building in the West End, it has more than 200 dealers that sell a little bit of everything. The selection of collectibles is impressive and there's always nice Victorian and Art Nouveau jewelry, vintage clothes and accessories, old dolls, photographs, musical instruments, and watches.
Camden Passage in Islington is a good place to go on Wednesdays or Saturdays. The stalls in the passage are filled those days, and there are also plenty of antique shops on Islington High Street. There are some really nice shops here specializing in fine art, jukeboxes, decorative objects, and Art Nouveau jewelry.
Off the Portobello Road, where one of London's best antique markets takes place on weekends, you'll find the Admiral Vernon Antiques Market. To miss the crowds, come during the week to shop for old cameras, toys, clocks, arms and armor, and glassware. If you get hungry, you'll find a cafe downstairs.
One of the most appealing antique malls in London is Antiquarius. If you've been down the King's Road, chances are you noticed it - the building is lovely. It's been in business since the 1960s and there are more than 80 dealers selling vintage clothes, furniture, fine art, and collectibles.
If silver is what you collect, head for the London Silver Vaults, where there are thirty dealers who specialize in old silver. In fact, it has the largest collection of antique silver in the world. It's housed in an 1876 building that was once the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit. There are perfume bottles, ornate boxes, tea services, writing instruments, timepieces, and, of course, lots of beautiful silver jewelry from several different periods.
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