A local’s guide to the best shops in London Bridge for souvenirs and gifts, clothes, books, makeup, stationery and even second hand bits and bobs!
Every single time I write about the London Bridge area and its surroundings, something pulls at my heartstrings.
Because, every single time I write about London Bridge, I always tell you that it’s my very favorite London area to stroll around, shop, have coffee, and even work in a cafe.
There’s so much to do, so many hidden gems in London Bridge, so many food spots, so many secret shopping spots that I’ve already written many a guide about it – and something tells me I’m not done just yet.
If you’re looking for London’s best shopping areas, you can’t go wrong with London Bridge, especially if you’re after unique shops and brands.
7 Best Shops in London Bridge for Souvenirs, Clothes & Books
So today’s all about shopping in London Bridge.
Whether you’re looking for souvenirs, cheap gifts, affordable clothing, second hand books or trinkets, you’ll find all my favorite addresses here.
Vendula London, Trove 167, Brand Academy, for the most unique shops, Superdrug for affordable makeup…
Get ready for the cream of the crop: all the best shops to visit when you’re around London Bridge, Southbank, Borough Market or Bermondsey Street!
Best Shops in London Bridge: Trove 167, Bermondsey Street
I only came to know about Trove 167 on Bermondsey Street a couple of years ago, and it’s one of the most interesting antiques stores in London: it feels like a museum or a wunderkammer of sorts.
Founded in 2007, Trove 167 is a curated space that allow you to find avant-garde finds with character, antiques, retro bits and, overall, lots of home decor and homeware items full of character.
To reach it, go out of London Bridge station as if you were going to The Shard, walk past Vinegar Yard, and turn right at the end of the road to access Bermondsey Street – Trove 167 is somewhere on the left.
Many of the pieces are one-off, limited edition or exclusive designs; jewelry, textiles, sculptures, trinkets: there’s everything and more in there.
Read: Desserts in London Bridge: 7 Fun Spots to Eat Sweet Stuff
Best Shops in London Bridge: Vendula London, Gabriel’s Wharf
Nestled in Gabriel’s Wharf, one of London’s most secret shopping and dining courts, Vendula London is probably the quirkiest British shop you could find in London if you’re interested in unusual fashion.
Founded in 2003, Vendula London is famous for its playful motifs and themed collections; animals, retro diners, gardening, shop-fronts, and even vintage scenes.
The Gabriel’s Wharf shop is very instagrammable, and if you’re into accessories (bags, wallets, charms, phone pouches, keyrings…) with unique designs, you’ll love popping by.
In addition to their core designs, Vendula London also releases special or seasonal collections, all hand sewn, and fully vegan approved by the Vegetarian Society.
Read: Brunch in London Bridge: 20 Unmissable Spots for Breakfast
Best Shops in London Bridge: Superdrug, London Bridge Station
If you live in London, you probably already know about beauty and makeup stores like Superdrug and Boots – the Superdrug branch inside London Bridge Station might be small, but there are still many brands to discover there.
Body mists, scented candles, skincare, drugstore makeup… If you’re looking for proper British brands like Barry M or MUA Makeup Academy, who create super pigmented products at a very affordable price, Superdrug’s the place to check out.
On top of that, you’ll find a couple of worthy food spots nearby, like Three Wheels Coffee with their wonderful red velvet croissants, and Lola’s Cupcakes for gorgeously moist carrot cake cupcakes.
Read: The Best Cafes in London Bridge
Best Shops in London Bridge: Oliver Bonas, London Bridge Station
Also located inside London Bridge Station, Oliver Bonas is another true-blue British shop which focuses on home decor, homeware, beautiful clothing, jewelry, and stationery.
A bigger Oliver Bonas shop to visit would be the one at One New Change facing St Paul’s Station, for instance, but the selection inside London Bridge Station is already quite extensive.
Inside, you’ll find boho, trendy, colorful home decor such as art prints, bullet journals, notebooks, and all sorts of cards, novelty items and gifts – perfect if you’re looking for cool things to buy in London to bring back home!
Read: 13 Best Colorful Lattes in London and Cute Cafes to Visit
Best Shops in London Bridge: Riverside Bookshop, Hay’s Galleria
If you’re looking for historical places in London, you cannot miss a visit to Hay’s Galleria, right across from London Bridge Station, on Tooley Street – there, you’ll find the Riverside Bookshop, an indie bookshop that’s been around since 1987.
It’s a really cute bookshop that carries a mix of new releases, non-fiction, fiction, poetry, classic literature, children’s books – all the shindig.
Alongside books, the Riverside Bookshop also sells Jellycat plushies, greeting cards, stationery and all sorts of cute gifts that you will only find there.
It might not be as big as places like Hatchards on Piccadilly, so you won’t find all the niche or specialized books you may want if you’re looking for academic books – still, an indie shop to visit if you want to support a local business.
Read: 9 Really Cheap Things to Buy in London and Bring Back Home
Best Shops in London Bridge: Whittard of Chelsea, London Bridge Station
Located inside London Bridge Station, the Whittard of Chelsea shop always feels like a pause in the crowd of commuters: it’s one of my favorite tea shops in London.
Founded in 1886, Whittard of Chelsea has a few branches around town that also include the Apple Market at Covent Garden and an Oxford Street shop, and that’s where you’ll find all you need in terms of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and unique snacks.
Whether you’re looking for loose leaf tea, coffee blends or hot chocolate mixes, you’ll find it at Whittard of Chelsea.
It’s also a great spot to visit if you’re into Alice in Wonderland, since it’s the only place I’ve found that sells Alice-themed tea sets, mugs, and even biscuits!
Read: Hidden Gems in London: 70+ Unusual, Free and Secret Places
Best Shops in London Bridge: Brand Academy, Oxo Tower (Southbank)
Going back to Southbank, Brand Academy at the Oxo Tower is one of my favorite concept stores to browse when I’m around London Bridge.
Back when I used to live in North Finchley or Tottenham, I’d specifically go all the way to Brand Academy to get a taste of the wonderful hot chocolate they serve from their tiny coffee shop, Coffee Academy: it’s that good.
Brand Academy is actually an independent gift shop in which both established brands and emerging design talents are showcased.
Scented candles, quirky coloring books, Jellycat plushies, world maps, puzzles, home accessories and fun gadgets: there’s just so much to shop for in there!
Read: Classic British Desserts in London: 7 Food Spots to Try Them
7 Best Shops in London Bridge for Souvenirs, Clothes & Books
There you have them – my favorite shops in London Bridge, all gathered into one guide that will hopefully have shown you some new places to buy gifts or souvenirs when you’re in London.
London Bridge also houses quite upscale shops; ceramics, artisan homeware, designer clothing… So it’s not always budget shops you’ll come across there.
However, the ones I’ve shared with you are those I consider unmissable shops, and I hope you love them as much as I do!
If you’re looking to do more shopping in London, feel free to check out these guides I’ve written for you too: