Shopping in London, UK.

[goodyear]

Hello all.

 

I'm going to have a day to kill in London (very soon), and I was wondering if anyone could recommend interesting stores to visit.

 

I'm especially interested in somewhere to browse and maybe buy nice FPs, and also nice (FP friendly) notebooks/journals/stationery.

 

Any pointers would be keenly appreciated, as I don't really know London at all.

 

Ta.

[andyk]

If you are near the West End, Selfridges I think still has a good selection of pens, or if you get to Piccadilly (not really that far away) there is always Penfriend in Burlington Arcade they have a good selection of used and new pens but are rather expensive well I think so).

 

Harrods in Knightsbridge used to have a good selection but I haven't visited for some years (on principle, the owner isn't one of my favourite people).

 

There are probably others, but I don't tend to get to London very often nowadays.

 

Andy

[Lozzic]

I have not been here myself though I came across their website a while ago and I though it looked a brilliant place: http://www.greenandstone.com/ they seem to sell all sorts of things, it is worth browsing their site. I have been meaning to go and take a look for a while but have not had the time.

Edited April 30, 2008 by Lozzic

[simonrob]

If you are near the West End, Selfridges I think still has a good selection of pens, or if you get to Piccadilly (not really that far away) there is always Penfriend in Burlington Arcade they have a good selection of used and new pens but are rather expensive well I think so).

 

Harrods in Knightsbridge used to have a good selection but I haven't visited for some years (on principle, the owner isn't one of my favourite people).

 

There are probably others, but I don't tend to get to London very often nowadays.

 

Andy

 

I agree re Selfridges, though even taking current exchange rates into account most pens there seem overpriced compared to, say, the U.S. As for Penfriend, it's worth visiting for a quick, amusing browse, if only because the prices of their vintage pens bear no relationship that I can see to those in the rest of the world. Every pen I picked up, regardless of its scarcity, cost at least 400 pounds (they had several that I've bought for less than a quarter the price elsewhere). I would love to know how many pens they actually sell....

 

One odd feature of the London pen stores I visited recently: not one of them stocked Diamine or Conway Stewart ink. (The range of inks was surprisingly small, but one might have hoped that the two British brands would show up somewhere.) Are there stores in London that sell them?

 

Simon

Edited April 30, 2008 by simonrob

[encremental]

I would agree with everything previously posted. Selfridges is fun (maybe something like Harrods used to be in the good old days) and the other week I even got a Lamy Studio pearlescent white LE (and EF at that! - it's SCRUMPTIOUS) as I was passing through. Staff are very pleasant, and even if you don't buy anything, I would say it is one of the world's great stores, and so worth a visit.

 

Penfriend - nice staff, prices just ludicrous. Maybe people should go in, look at pens and make raspberry noises - if enough people did this, they might get the message, reduce prices, get a lot more sales and everyone would be happy. London is just really not a pen city. But we do great paper - at least as good as Parisians! A visit to any branch of Rymans (a chain stationers in most high streets) will yield all sorts of interesting stuff, from packs of Conqueror (fine paper in different colours & qualities - laid, smooth, vellum etc.) to very interesting new Moleskine-alikes for not much at all... paper seems fine to me, and they are under half the price. Rymans 'Ultra Smooth Heavyweight Paper - 120gm' is especially recommended, quite a bright white, but a very superior paper which is more FP stalker than FP friendly. Also check out Paperchase - in high streets as a concession in Borders or in their own stores and also W.H. Smith - a traditional high street stationer which has far more of interest than jaded locals might give credit for... their 'World Traveller' stuff and standard hardback journals are both staples of mine. I think we may undervalue some of our stationers just through over-familiarity. In the US I don't think this stuff is quite as common as it is in Europe.

 

 

John

[encremental]

Green & Stone are just up the road from me - can't say I've ever been very impressed. A bit 'ye olde' and rather pricey (and nothing much out of the ordinary except for Abraxas inks).

 

John

[abp]

If you're on your way down to Piccadilly from Selfridges you can drop into Smythsons on Bond Street. Very expensive stationer, but worth a browse, and you get to look in the windows of Watches of Switzerland as well amongst others on the walk. There used to be a Mont Blanc shop in the Burlington Arcade, but I have a feeling it had shut last time I was there.

 

Fortnum and Mason isn't bad, but was having a refit. Should be finished now. And once out of Fortnums you can drop down to Jermyn Street and have a look in Dunhill.

 

It's a nice walk, Oxford Street to Jermyn Street is probably only 10 minutes if you don't stop. Have a look at Google Maps and you'll see what I mean.

 

Have a good trip.

 

Antony

 

 

[welfvet]

There's a chain called Penshop (try their website first) but their range is pretty formulaic. There is a branch in Liverpool Street station, but have several others in London. Could also try Websters (also have a website for you to research).

 

I agree with other's views, London isn't the place for any sort of pen bargain.

I'd spend my time enjoying the city's sites and buy pens elsewhere!

 

[I am not a number]

In the Covent Garden area consider a look at the London Graphics Centre, no FPs but they have Rhodia pads and some Clairefontaine.

 

If the weather is nice then a stroll along the South Bank will take in the Design Museum (furthest east of these and located at Shad), the Globe, the Tate Modern, the National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall and Hayward Gallery, The National Film Theatre, the IMAX near Waterloo then just cross Waterloo Bridge and you are on Strand, turn left to get to Trafalgar Square (National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery etc.), turn right toward Aldwych to find Penfriend in Bush House Arcade (take out a second and third mortgage) or continue straight across Strand from Waterloo Bridge and you will have Covent Garden ahead and on your left.

[Idiopathos]

Undoubtedly, the best place for pens in London is the first cut-price travel agent you can find. Walk in and buy a ticket to New York.

[bluestocking]

Goodness, so cynical. I note that the OP will be spending sterling, so currency exchange is not an issue, and I will make the minor point that student-grade pens are actually very cheap and easily found in London (Safaris in Ryman for 12 quid, for example). It's the nicer stuff that is the problem.

 

Anyway. I am sounding rather like an echo chamber tonight, but while in Covent Garden, try Nemeta for a nice CF selection. I am rather fond of Muji notebooks -- some of them have that wonderful japanese paper, and there are branches all over the city. I also second the Selfridges recommendation, and Ryman is always cheap and cheerful. Those pads they have on for 3 for 2 right now are filled with quite nice paper.

 

If you have another other London questions, just drop me a line, and enjoy your visit!

 

[goodyear]

Thanks all. Combined with the other plans I have for the day, I think you've given me plenty with which to fill my time.

 

The chances of me making a substantial pen purchase are slim, but you never know...

[vhild]

Interesting read since I too am visiting London a few times next summer. But if London isn´t a pen city, I wonder if Paris is. I tried to find FPs and inks there last March but found practically none. Even the big department stores didn´t have a proper selection...

[Beechwood]

I dont think that you will find hidden treasures.

 

There is a national chain of pen shops, http://www.penshop.co.uk/ but in terms of finding something exceptional I think you might struggle.

 

Personally I dont buy from retailers any more, preferring to buy on line and you have to look a long way out of London to find small antique shops and the like. even then they are expensive. I found a shop selling some Victorian inkwells at £60 ($110) each that would have sold on Ebay for £20 maximum. I have been looking for a nice writing slope for some time, they just very difficult to find.

 

Also please remember that London is an expensive city to visit with some appalling hotels unless you are prepared to dig very deep into your wallet

[KrisH]

If perchance you are visiting on a Saturday then head to Portobello road antiques area and you want the Admiral Vernon Market

 

On Saturdays there are 2 a fwe friendly sellers there including Henry Simpole (take a look at his snakle pens) and Hans Seiringer who will chat for hours with you about pens and are happy to let you browse and discuss their stock.

 

 

[goodyear]

Thanks all for the tips.

 

I ended up not spending too much. Selfridge's was the most satisfying spot, where I nabbed a Lamy Studio and a few Muji notebooks.

[Bela]

But if London isn´t a pen city, I wonder if Paris is. I tried to find FPs and inks there last March but found practically none. Even the big department stores didn´t have a proper selection...

France isn't like the UK, where high streets are full of chain stores: there are still lots of small independent stationers and pen shops. The problem is how to find them; they can be anywhere. I know of one really nice pen shop in Paris, Rue Soufflot, close to the Panthéon.

 

You could use www.pagesjaunes.fr and put Papeterie in the Search box.

 

[mucephei]

Incidentally, where in Selfridges is the pen department? I'm going to the Smoke on 22 May and on my way home I may have a look around.

[simonrob]

Incidentally, where in Selfridges is the pen department? I'm going to the Smoke on 22 May and on my way home I may have a look around.

 

Ground floor, towards the northwest corner; stationery and candy are nearby.

 

Simon

[mucephei]

Incidentally, where in Selfridges is the pen department? I'm going to the Smoke on 22 May and on my way home I may have a look around.

 

Ground floor, towards the northwest corner; stationery and candy are nearby.

 

Simon

 

Thanks for that Simon.