Furniture shopping shouldn’t be taken lightly. The items you choose have the potential to make or break the aesthetic of your home. Of course, you can find almost anything online these days, but we’re firm believers that the best home decisions are made in-person, in a brick-and-mortar shop. Some of the very best furniture stores in the world can be found in London, thanks to its well-established design scene. Here, in the British capital, you can find virtually everything you need for your home, whether you’re in search of a well-known heritage brand or something from an under-the-radar independent retailer. Wallpaper*s standing Global Design Director Hugo Macdonald agreed saying, ‘London might not officially be the design capital of the world (that title is reserved, currently, for Milan) but it can certainly lay claim to be one of the world’s best cities in which to shop for design. London has scale on its side and is still a rampant hotbed of residential development, so there’s a near-constant need for furniture in the local market. From grand brand showrooms to independent stores, open studios to salvage yards, the breadth on offer is remarkable. Just be sure to check the size of your doorway, before ordering a sofa.’
Don’t know where to begin? We have put together a guide to help you locate the best furniture shops in London, from design destinations to high-end vintage boutiques.
The best London furniture shops in London by location
Kensington and Chelsea
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Let’s start with the obvious: Chelsea is perhaps the ultimate furniture-shopping destination for both interior designers and regular customers alike. Design Centre Chelsea Harbour is a one-stop-shop for all things interiors and includes a mind-boggling 123 design showrooms and more than 600 home brands. A visit to its bright, domed spaces promises–-at the very least– inspiration galore. The showroom offerings include sophisticated Italian houses such as Gallotti & Radice, Visionnaire and Flexform; a wide textile selection by the best in the business, among them Kvadrat, Dedar and Romo; and bathroom inspiration from leading brands such as Victoria + Albert baths.
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London furniture shopping can’t be complete without some showroom-hopping in South Kensington, and more so with new openings in spring 2021. Boffi and De Padova have taken over a three-floor building in the area (72-74 Sloane Avenue) for their new loft-style showroom combining Boffi kitchens and De Padova furniture (including its minimalist collection created in collaboration with Japanese brand Time & Style), presented through immersive interiors.
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Long-time design residents of the area also include Molteni & C , whose showroom opened in 2019 and designed by Vincent Van Duysen, B&B Italia, also offering lighting by Flos and Louis Poulsen, Cassina, Kartell and Meridiani .
A bit further south are showrooms by kitchen brand Officine Gullo and Giorgetti . Completing the rich furniture shopping offering in the area are Italian design companies Poliform and Lema .
A few steps from Michelin House, the landmark proto-art deco building, on Fulham Road is the German luxury lighting brand Occhio. Designed in collaboration with Munich based architects 1zu3, the showroom showcases Occhio’s innovative take on lighting design in a sleek and inviting atmosphere.
Marylebone
The Conran Shop in Marylebone
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Any design shopping extravaganza wouldn’t be complete without The Conran Shop , the iconic London home destination that’s been selling furniture ,accessories, gifts, and books for more than half a century. Walk a bit further north and you’ll encounter a chic new-comer, the London showroom of online design platform The Invisible Collection, a destination for discovering luxury furniture and objects by the world’s best independent designers.
Fitzrovia
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Tottenham Court Road is at the heart of this area, and is home to several showrooms and furniture stores. Heal’s is the hub for all things furniture in this area, offering an array of furniture, lighting and objects spanning across three floors. Along Tottenham Court Road you can also discover the London outposts of Calligaris, Natuzzi, BoConcept and West Elm.
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In the heart of the city is Minotti which offers the brand’s sophisticated collections and collaborations including Nendo and architect Marcio Kogan. UniFor, part of the Molteni & C family, presents a full portfolio of office furniture design by design maestros ranging from Aldo Rossi to OMA.
Gourmands should venture further east, on Wigmore street, where they can find a concentration of kitchen showrooms: Gaggenau, V-Zug, Bulthaup, Boffi, Poliform, Siematic and newcomer Arclinea are all a stone’s throw from each other.
Covent Garden
Aram’s ownership of the worldwide license for her designs has also helped the firm stay at the forefront of the industry
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Modern design lovers will be in design heaven at Aram in Covent Garden. Occupying two Victorian buildings, the showroom (which has been in business since 1964) offers a who’s-who of designers, ranging from Eileen Gray to Jean Prouvé to Charles and Ray Eames.. The airy shop, with its double-height ceilings, provides an inspiring spot to browse equally-inspiring furniture.
Clerkenwell
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Interior designers and architects will be drawn to Clerkenwell for its myriad contract furniture stores. Here you’ll find Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen & Søn which recently won a Wallpaper* Design Award for its unique spherical bed), Cappellini Arper and Iris Ceramica .Be sure to also stop by Viaduct which sells pieces by a wide range of contemporary brands and designers, and outdoor furniture specialist Kettal.
Shoreditch
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If you’re in search of something more eclectic, head east to Shoreditch. Here, you’ll encounter plenty of independent design showrooms offering a diverse overview of contemporary creativity. SCP is perhaps the most exciting Shoreditch location, with its own furniture designed by Philippe Malouin, Michael Young, and more, along with a wide selection of lighting and design curiosities.
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Jasper Morrison’s own shop is a quick stroll away, selling a curated selection of objects by the British designer alongside a curated collection of simple, useful objects, chosen as much for their looks as for their functionality. Usually anonymously designed, and displayed next to Morrison’s own items, the collection crafts a modern interpretation of a hardware store.
The latest arrival in the area is Vitra, which took over the area’s old Tramshed to showcase its contemporary and classic collections.
King’s Cross
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In King’s Cross’ Coal Drops Yard is Tom Dixon’s global flagship. Housed in the architecturally distinctive Victorian brick building designed by Thomas Heatherwick and his studio, Heatherwick Studio, the store offers modern designs and home accessories, which feature Dixon’s signature mix of innovation, heritage and a bit of cheek.
Angel and Islington
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This area is a hub of independent shops, one of which is Islington’s Twentytwentyone. Founded in 1996 (not 2021 as the name suggests), the independent shop carefully chooses furniture lighting and accessories which stay within 20th-century modernist and mid-century style, while spotlighting work by established and emerging designers.
Also on Upper street is Aria, a showroom established in 1989, which was a former 18th century music school building. It previously specialised in sculptural artwork under the name ‘Aria Table Art’ before venturing into the world of interior design in 1995.
Hackney
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The final leg of your furniture shop journey ends in East London. Make Haus your first stop, again offering more contemporary furniture located in Victoria Park. The products are sourced from European brands, while also focusing on smaller producers and independent designers.
Monologue London is an independent concept store with a focus on furniture, emerging designers and home accessories. This is the perfect spot to browse lesser-known designers.
Just south of Hackney in Bow is The Peanut Vendor. The appointment-only showroom and studio is an Aladdin’s cave of carefully sourced items from across the world. They specialise in the early to late 20th-century furniture, accessories and objets d’art.
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