LIBERTY

Its reputation may be grounded in rather bohemian roots, but thanks to a stellar Buying Director and ‘Renaissance’ revamp, Liberty manages to straddle the fine divide between historical reverence and a modern retail experience. The Grade II listed building is an attraction in itself in all of its black & white mock-Tudor glory, whilst the interiors buck the modern department store trend of high-ceilinged, airy spaces, instead keeping smaller rooms and atriums carefully curated around dark wood panelling and lead-lined windows.

Go for the quirky window dressings and gorgeously decadent displays, and make sure to take in Liberty’s classic range of own-brand accessories and homewares from the company’s extensive archive of prints and fabrics. The Menswear department in the basement is a rabbit-warren of classic and more avant-garde names, including Alexander McQueen, Margiela, Acne, Burberry and Folk, and makes a great entrée to the adjacent Champagne & Oyster Bar.