Yes, still there.
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Agreed, unless youâre Anneka Rice
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I donât have any decent record stores near me so mine arrive in very obvious shaped boxes.
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If you can cope with the logistics Iâd say Love Vinyl, Eldica and any other IanPethick1 has recommended. Contact prior to visiting Love Vinyl as they have a considerable discogs and knowledge.
If there are any charity shops in London that put stuff out for a quid or two pop into those as well, a few minutes per visit as you walk along the street to the main points of interest.
I felt Soho (a long time ago) was just racks of re-issues and new releases, which is fine but they can often sourced anywhere online.
Anyway, hope you find a guide as that would make it fun where ever you end up.
OK, so in order to make this decision easier - and I am leaning towards Soho because it will give me an hour longer - is that my lad wants a west ham shirt. My guess is there will be a sports store near Soho?
Sports Direct on Oxford St Iâd guess so no impact on digging time!
Lilywhites for all your football kit needs at Piccadilly Circus, maybe ten mins walk from record shops of soho but opposite direction from TCR
Was interested to see Chat GPTs recommended itinerary for your visit. It has added some serious detours to Honest Jons and the Olympic Park. Good luck.
Morning: Arrival and Transfer to Central London
- 8:00 AM â 9:00 AM: After landing at Heathrow Airport and completing immigration procedures, take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington Station. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes.
Record Shopping Tour
- 9:30 AM â 10:30 AM: Begin at Phonica Records in Soho, a premier destination for electronic music enthusiasts. They offer a vast selection of new and second-hand vinyl across genres like house, techno, and more.
- 10:45 AM â 11:45 AM: Head to Sounds of the Universe in the nearby Carnaby area. This shop boasts an extensive collection of soul, jazz, funk, and world music, aligning well with the eclectic tastes featured on the Test Pressing website.
- 12:00 PM â 1:00 PM: Visit Honest Jonâs Records in Notting Hill. Known for its diverse range of genres, including jazz, reggae, and electronic, this store offers both new releases and rare second-hand finds.
Sports Shop Visit
- 1:30 PM â 2:30 PM: Make your way to the West Ham United Stadium Store located at the London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2ST. Here, you can purchase the latest West Ham football kit and other official merchandise. The store is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Lunch
- 2:45 PM â 4:00 PM: Enjoy lunch at Club Gascon in Clerkenwell, a Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in cuisine from southwest France. The establishment offers a variety of service options, including dine-in service. Customers can enjoy the great tea selection and indulge in alcohol, beer, cocktails, coffee, organic dishes, spirits, vegetarian options, and wine from their extensive offerings. The dining options range from lunch to dessert, with comfortable seating arrangements.
Afternoon: Return to Heathrow
- 4:00 PM â 5:00 PM: After lunch, take some time to relax or explore the surrounding area before making your way back to Paddington Station.
- 5:00 PM â 5:30 PM: Board the Heathrow Express back to the airport, ensuring you arrive by 5:30 PM to allow sufficient time for security checks and boarding procedures.
Additional Tips:
- Transportation: Consider purchasing an Oyster card for convenient travel on Londonâs public transport system.
- Luggage: If youâre traveling with carry-on luggage, check with Heathrow Airport for storage options to lighten your load during your excursion.
- Reservations: Itâs advisable to make a reservation at Club Gascon to ensure availability, especially if youâre treating friends.
Enjoy your brief visit to London, and safe travels to South Africa!
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My advice as someone who is often in London on a tight time scale is stick to Soho on this occasion.
Stating the obvious here but properly plan/research the spots in Soho you want to visit, Id even print off a map of Soho and mark the spots on them rather than 100% rely on gmaps (or equivalent), central london mobile internet/gmaps isnât always the best.
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100% agree. Fascinating to see Chat GPTâs advice but it has clearly not been to London! Youâll have enough on your plate getting to Soho and back with an Oxford St detour for sports direct.
Tip on the latter - if you wanted to get your sonâs name on the back then you will end up waiting around in the shop for it to be printed. You could get it online in advance and go for the âclick and collectâ option so itâs waiting for you in store Score Draw | West Ham United '00 Home Jersey Mens | Claret | SportsDirect.com
Used to go Club Gascon about 20 years ago, was great then, didnât know it was still open!
Is PHonica open at 930?
Usually opens at 11.00. Most other shops are 10am I think
Hereâs the plan:
Off plane straight to SoTU, then a stop at Reckless then Phonica then a walk to Kiln and then back to the airport. Iâll probably end up too deep in records that my lunch will probably be a meal deal at the airport as Iâm running for my plane.
West Ham are having a sale on their website so my mini hammer can get his Kudus shirt that way. Not wasting time going into a sports shop.
If any of you are about and need some amusement watching a tall man slowly lose steam in real time then youâre welcome to join me.
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Haha sounds like a solid plan. When is it?
March 8th
Good luck! Sure beats hanging around the airport. Iâm away that weekend unfortunately, otherwise would join you.
Ah damn, iâll be off snowboarding that week. Hope you have a good visit and dig.
Shows how long Iâve been gone that I would have suggested the Piccadilly⌠haha
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Was in Oxford Circus yestreday
Nike Town which had lots of soccer is closed for refit , there is a Paris St Germain shop on Oxford St
Personally Id go to Soho, SOTU , Phonica . Reckless
Have a pint in Coach & Horses before going back
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