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  4. Shopping is GREAT - Part 1

Shopping is GREAT - Part 1

London has some of the world’s most famous department stores: Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and many others. Our presenter Richard visits them and also samples a smaller shop for a range of shopping experiences.

Transcript

London is the shopping capital of the world. Every year millions of overseas visitors shop here. But what makes shopping here so great? There’s only one way to find out. I’m off to do some shopping – follow me!

At Harrods

Knightsbridge is famous for upmarket shopping. This is where the rich and famous come to buy… their socks. And this is the one and only Harrods… the ultimate in luxury. Even royalty shop here. If I’m lucky, I might see someone famous.

If only they had it in my size. Lovely! Thank you!

Done quite well there – what’s next? Taxi! Harvey Nichols, please.

At Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols – or ‘Harvey Nicks’ for short – is a great place for designer fashion.

Well, I had to buy couple of things… What?

At Hamleys

The biggest toy shop in the world – now you’re talking!

So cute… err… it’s not for me.

Oxford Street

London’s Oxford Street is retail heaven. It’s got over 2 kilometres of shops to choose from… and, of course, Selfridges for shopping with style. Taxi!

Could you drop all this off home for me, please? I’m off to explore a different sort of shopping in Britain.

If you like shopping all under one roof, then there are big shopping centres all over Britain. The Olympic-sized shopping centre at Westfield, Stratford, is huge. With over 300 shops, it’s one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. 

At Lock's

Great shopping isn’t just about big shops. Smaller shops can offer something special too. Tucked away in the heart of Piccadilly is a great shopping gem. Lock’s sell that must-have in gentlemen’s fashion: the hat! Lock’s opened in London in 1679. Their hats can be seen across the world. They pride themselves on their personal service.

Richard: Sue Simpson is a hat specialist. Hi Sue.

Sue: Oh, hi Richard.

Richard: Wow, a bowler hat, you don’t see many of those these days, do you?

Sue: Well, we don’t call it a ‘bowler’ here at Lock’s, we call it a ‘coke hat’ because it was invented in 1850 for Thomas Coke…

Richard: …by this very shop.

Sue: …by this very shop and we still call it a ‘coke’ to this day.

Richard: Ah, the classic top hat. When would I wear that?

Sue: That’s a beautiful silk top hat. You would wear that for a society wedding, or the time you see most of them is at Ascot, which is the famous race meeting in June.

Richard: So what’s your best-seller here at Lock’s?

Sue: Our best-seller would be a classic tweed cap or this trilby here, which is called a ‘Voyager’, and the novelty of this one…

Richard: …is it folds up so you can pop it into your luggage.

Sue: …pop it into your luggage.

Richard: Excellent. Is that a deerstalker?

Sue: Similar to a deerstalker, but this is a country cap with a fastening that goes over the top. And this was invented originally for wearing in open-top cars, but now it’s more commonly worn on the hills out shooting and this keeps the ears warm and stops it blowing away.

Richard: I like it; I’ll take this one.

Task 1

In what order did Richard look at the following products?

Exercise

Task 2

What's special about each shop or area?

Exercise

Task 3

Match the beginnings and ends of these phrases.

Exercise

Task 4

Richard said "If only they had it in my size". Type the correct form of the verb in the gap. Make it negative if necessary. 

We have a page on LearnEnglish about the use of 'if only'.

Exercise

Discussion

What are the differences between shopping in London and shopping where you live? Tell us what you like about shopping in your country and what could be better.

Topics

shopping
Average: 3.5 (12 votes)

Submitted by dima147 on Wed, 25/11/2020 - 19:52

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The difference in purchases in my city and in London, the fact that firstly in Russia low wages are not every person can afford to buy original company clothing such as Balenciaga, and in London and generally in Europe higher wages. Also in the city of Tyumen there are no such branded stores. The second range of products in London is much more than in Tyumen. Also in London, there is Harrods, the most popular store in the world. I would like to have in our city a wide range of products of world brands!

Submitted by Kanashin Ivan bebra on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 18:30

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There are differences in stores, prices and quality for goods in Russia and in the London. In Russia, it is very expensive to buy original European goods. London is the shopping capital of the world while Tyumen is the small city of Russia. London has more shops than my city. Also London has the Harrods, which is the most popular shop in the world. I'd like me to have more choice of shops.
There are differences in stores, prices and quality for goods in Russia and in the London. In Russia, it is very expensive to buy original European goods. London is the shopping capital of the world while Tyumen is the small city of Russia. London has more shops to choose than my city. Also London has the Harrods, which is the most popular shop in the world. I'd like me to have more choice of shops.

Submitted by Darya B. on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 17:56

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Hi! I live in Russia, in Tyumen. Shopping in Tyumen is very different from shopping in London. London is the shopping capital of the world where everyone can shop to their liking. For example, you can shop in high - end stores, by designer clothes or by everything you need in one place: Oxford Street or large shopping centers. As for my city, there is no such diverse shopping. Everything is much simpler and more modest, starting from the quality of goods, their price, ending with season sales. We are already used to our shopping, we plan our purchases taking into account the seasonality. It is very comfortable! If we had constant discounts, as in London, the family budget wouldn't be enough. The only thing that I would like to have in our city is a wide range of world brands goods!

Submitted by Kanashin Ivan bebra on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 17:20

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There are differences in stores, prices and quality for goods in Russia and in the London. In Russia, it is very expensive to buy original European goods. London is the shopping capital of the world while Tyumen is the small city of Russia. London has more shops than my city. Also London has the Harrods, which is the most popular shop in the world. I'd like me to have more shops in city.

Submitted by Kanashin Ivan bebra on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 16:48

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There are differences in stores and prices for goods in Russia and in the London. In Russia, it is very expensive to buy original European goods. London is the shopping capital of the world while Tyumen is the small city of Russia , so attention of large companies doesn't come to my city, but London is the top for them. london has more shops than my city. Also London has the Harrods, which is the most popular shop in the world. I'd like me to have more shops in city.

Submitted by nikitasel228 on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 16:44

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What are the differences between shopping in London and shopping where you live? Tell us what you like about shopping in your country and what could be better. London is the shopping capital of the world while Tyumen is the small city of Russia with population 800000 people, so attention of large companies doesn't come to my city, but London is the top for them. london has more shops than my city. Also London has the Harrods, which is the most popular shop in the world. I'd like me to have more choice in shops.

Submitted by My name is BOBIOR on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 16:11

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The difference between shopping in London and in Tyumen is huge. Firstly, a huge difference in quality. The quality of things in London is much better, than in Tyumen, because London shops sell original things of foreign designers, but Tyumen shops don't. Secondly, the price of goods in London is higher than in Tyumen, because the goods in London are of the top quality. Eventually, the range of goods in London is much larger, than in Tyumen, because London has richer buyer than Tyumen. So, shopping in London is better for you, if you have a good income.

Submitted by Дарья Невидимова on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 13:47

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Shopping in London differs from Tyumen in its grandeur. London has a more professional marketing system. people are attracted not only by the goods that can be bought, but also by the neat look of the store. therefore, as a student of an art school, I want to create interiors and showcases in large stores and add colors to our city.

Submitted by Bryakushin_Ivan on Sun, 22/11/2020 - 09:03

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There are big differences in stores and prices for goods in Russia and in the UK. In Russia, it is very expensive to buy original European goods, but now the world has developed a system of online stores where you can buy any goods from different countries. There are often fairs in Russia. Also, unique products are created in Russia: national costumes and dolls, fur products, honey, sweets, products made of precious stones and wood.