What to buy and where

Whatever your vice - London has it all.  Know where to go to get the best selection in the best areas.

Gifts

For gifts, Covent Garden and the area just north of it - named Seven Dials - should be your first stop. There's the enclosed market which now sells scarves,paintings and souvenirs but also lots of smaller brands and retro boutiques like Pop.

Music

Covent Garden is also good for music, even though record shops are a dying breed these days. Fopp on Cambridge Circus also has a good selection of DVDs and books whereas you'll have to nip up to HMV on Oxford Street otherwise.

Rough Trade East on Dray Walk in Brick Lane is worth the journey for independent record labels, vinyl and getting to know the British music scene.

And if you find yourself westwards, peek into Honest Jon's on Portobello Road for records that are more of the global, reggae and jazz persuasion.

Electronics

If you're an technology fan, make sure to stop off at the Apple Store at 1 The Piazza, Covent Garden which is housed in a beautifully restored building dating back to 1876. Check out the latest MacBook Air and iPhone 4GS on old English Oak tables - something you won't find in Silicon Valley. There's another impressive Apple Store on Regent Street - both are worth a look in for the excited atmosphere alone, and a good Apple reseller on the Strand.

Otherwise, the Oxford Street end of Tottenham Court Road is famous for electronics shops. Not only do you have bigger high street shops but you can also try to get a bargain in one of the smaller retailers that sell everything from printer ink to batteries to cables.

If cameras are more your style, there's a good branch of Jessops round the corner on New Oxford Street - you'll get much better advice and service than if you buy online.

Fashion

Clothes-wise, Selfridges on Oxford Street probably can't be beat. Their window displays are legendary and it's not all designer threads - if you carry on up the escalators the fashions get cheaper as high street concessions creep in. Plus you get to walk out with that yellow and black bag.

Carnaby Street in Soho is good for denim and younger brands - it has an eclectic feel, as does the nearby Kingly Court which is full of tiny boutiques. Say "hello" to the shop assistant when you walk in and you'll get that personal touch.

Upper Street in Islington stocks more sophisticated fashion in the form of high steet chains like Whistles, Jigsaw and Ghost as well as boutiques like Labour of Love, Diverse and Oliver Bonas. Nearby Camden Passage, just five minutes walk from Angel tube station, offers a more bohemian selection of fashion and accessories shops.

If you're more of a magpie, try Kabiri on Marylebone High Street for high-end pieces of jewellery by relatively unknown designers.

Books

There's still a few Waterstones (Britain's biggest bookstore) hanging on for dear life, notably in Piccadilly, on Oxford Street and on the Strand by Trafalgar Square. For any academic queries, head to the Malet Street branch near to the UCL university campus.

For a sense of book shopping before the advent of Amazon, Charing Cross Road and its side streets is essential. There's plenty of good art bookshops and second hand booksellers who will know their stock inside out. Foyles is the big gun here with a huge stock, a jazz cafe and concessions.

Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street is another must-visit if simply to see the stunning Edwardian building and leave with your own Daunt books bag. It's known as a travel specialist but has branched out into literature and biography.

Art and Antiques

Jump on the bus or tube to Shoreditch and get lost in the cobbled streets - you won't be able to move for galleries around Great Eastern Street, Rivington Street and Leonard Street. These are private galleries, like Vegas or Victoria Miro, which are free entry but you are almost expected to be looking to buy a piece of original art or photography. Some are by private appointment only so check websites like timeout.com/london for up-to-date listings, openings and contact details.

If you are interested in attending an art or antique auction, your main choices are Christie's or Sotheby's but there are plenty of smaller auction houses such as Chiswick Auctions in South West London.

Founded in 1766, Christie's is situated by Green Park tube in Mayfair. Sotheby's has a very wide range of art and antiques and is just down the road in New Bond Street. Also on New Bond Street is Bonhams, the worlds oldest British owned auctioneers, where you can get anything from ancient relics to vintage cars. Auction visits are best planned in advance so visit the websites before you plan your trip: www.christies.com, www.sothebys.com and www.bonhams.com are good places to start.