I have a free day in London on Friday, which stores should I hit?

[ryder]

I am in London on Friday this week with no plans. The other half has already given "permission" for us to visit a shave shop at some point, I just dont know which one to go for....

Taylor of Old Bond Street is probably current favourite.


Any other suggestions welcome, especially by those who have already been to said shop.

 

[hedfunk]

Just hit up Jermyn Street, plenty of the premier english shaving shops are there or very close, Trumper's, TOBS, Czech and Speake etc. Fortunum and Mason's is pretty close too. Might aswell go to Harrods too!

 

[Kotton]

All of them

 

[StubbleTrouble]

Go to Jermyn Street. Hit TOBS, go next door to Davidoff and buy a cigar. Take the cigar across the street for an espresso. DR Harris and T&H are 'round the corner on St James street. (Well, DR Harris may have relocated by now???)

Enjoy!

 

[julian0808]

Jermyn street is the go to place in London for all things related to shaving, it's in the St. James district of central London and the road runs parallel to Picadilly in the south side. Just about everything you need can be found here; trumpers have been here for centuries so have TOBS, at the west end of Jermyn street you will find DR Harris and Truefitt & Hill. Also in Jermyn street you'll find Czech & Speake. I've been going there on and off for 20 years and my observations are that the place remains in a time warp, whilst other retail shops in London and in fact the western world have made their shop windows more up to date, Jermyn street steadfastly holds on to the old fashioned values from a bygone era. Entering these shops is like stepping back in time. Dark woods, polished display cabinets and being addressed as "sir" make these visits so enjoyable.
Hilditch & Key, New & Lingwood the shirt makers are there as is Herbie Frogg a tailor. Paxton & Whitfield the cheese supplier is there and there are shops selling all sorts of tobaccos, cigars and pipes. Several cobblers are there and if your wallet and time will stretch then having a pair of shoes made must be the ultimate over-indulgence.
There's much to see and look at it in this narrow street. Buying a gun in the UK is impossible these days, unlike the states but I remember seeing a shop there for the 'country gentleman' who goes hunting. There were a selection of shotguns on display. I've forgotten the name of the shop.
My advice is to send the wife to Harrods for the afternoon and arrange to meet her for afternoon tea somewhere, forget the ritz as you need to book way in advance but the Park lane hotel, just down from Green Park subway station does a great afternoon tea these days. This should give you ample time to indulge your passion.

 

[kontinu1]

This is all good info, I'm heading to london in April and was wondering which shave store to go to. I also would like to get a straight razor shave while I'm there. Any recommendations for a good shave spot? I was first thinking of Trumper's but now not sure.

 

[niko_p]

The original Dr Harris has relocated which is a shame as their pharmacy was straight out of the 1850s!

If you're doing Jermyn st - step up a block to Picadilly where you'll find Dr Harris's second shop half way between Green Park Station and Picadilly circus.

 

[julian0808]

Technically speaking trumpers is actually not on Jermyn street either, it's just around the corner tucked down a small dude street. I was there several years ago when the buildings housing Trumpers and Herbie Frogg the tailor were being renovated, or in their words, "Restoring them to their former glory". Since then, the rents have doubled and Trumpers and Herbie Frogg chose not to return yo their former locations. I assume the high London rents have forced DR Harris to move also but Piccadilly isn't cheap either, moving from St. James to Mayfair will probably improve passing trade.