By James Stone -

London offers a treasure trove of delights for avid shoppers and trip to the city can be entirely taken up with browsing its many stores and stalls. One of the world's shopping capitals, it is a good idea to plan a shopping trip carefully to ensure you see the best each area has to offer.

The best place to start is Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, both home to big name stores and London institutions. Department store fans will head straight for Selfridges, Debenhams, the cavernous John Lewis and iconic, flamboyant Liberty, while those looking for fun should make a beeline for the vast fantasy palace that is Hamley's toystore.

Next stop is Knightsbridge and must see stores Harrod's and Harvey Nichol's. These bastions of London life do not disappoint and, amongst all the glitz, glamour and sky-high price tags, bargains to suit most wallets can be found.

Nearby Sloane Street is home to some of the best designer boutiques, while the department store Peter Jones on Sloane Square offers discreet, upscale shopping away from the tourists and the King's Road provides cafes and dainty shops to browse in.

Jermyn Street and Savile Row are home to some of the best menswear shops, with beautifully tailored shirts, suits and ties in the windows of the attractive stores, while nearby Notting Hill has an array of vintage clothing stores and some of the best lifestyle shops, offering bright and innovative gifts and items for the home.

Take The Tube to the Angel next to shop in stylish Islington. On weekends the area is full of antique stalls and shops, with everything on offer from delicate Victorian jewellery, to silverware, heavy old furniture, vintage clothing and 70s kitsch.

On to the legendary market at Camden Lock, an expanse of stalls selling all manner of items. The best bargains to be had include clothing, music, books, accessories, footwear and arts and crafts.

Portobello Road is the world's largest antiques market every Saturday, with stalls selling an eclectic range of goods, from junk to fine art ranged along the street and in the arcade and galleries.

Trendy Greenwich can be reached by boat along the Thames and the area's comfortable bars and cafes are interspersed with quirky markets, interesting independent stores and colourful stalls. Covent Garden has a similar range of small and attractive stalls and shops, selling craft items, books, art, clothing and other goods and also hosts a particularly good Christmas market each year.

Those looking for cutting edge style and the current place to be shopping should head for the Spitalfields/Brick Lane area, particularly on Sundays, when hundreds of vibrant stalls are there for the Brick Lane market. Historic Spitalfields market is open six days a week, with excellent world foods on offer, along with clothing, gifts and handicrafts.

Enthusiastic foodies should get up early and go straight to Smithfield Market in East London, open from 4am until midday, for the best fresh produce and one of the liveliest markets in the city.

A few days shopping in London can see a bank account sorely depleted and feet exhausted from pounding the streets, particularly as there is something to suit all tastes and budgets.

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