I would normally give somewhere this ridiculously expensive a low score, but I went here to window shop and see the arcade not to buy anything so my score is based on that. It’s lovely and well worth a visit(to window shop and stroll through unless you’re mega minted and can afford to buy luxuries at thousands of pounds a pop)! Such a beautiful arcade and lovely shop windows. I can’t comment on the actual shops as I didn’t go in for fear of being asked for a bank statement at the door! Burlington Arcade is one of the first glass arcades in Europe and it still has it’s old rules about the kinds of wares the shops can sell and what those visiting can’t do… there’s to be no «whistling, singing, playing a musical instrument, carrying a parcel and putting up an umbrella within its precincts». There are ‘Beadles’ there to make sure these rules are still enforced — they are essentially security guys in costume. Such a world away from Oxford Street, yet not far at all geographically! It’s fun to look in the windows and imagine yourself buying an old pocket watch, bowler hat or vintage diamond ring, or being a person of social standing and wealth in the Dickensian era. Just don’t fall back to earth with too much of a bump!
John B.
Tu valoración: 3 Manhattan, NY
I haven’t been down in here in a while, it’s slowly being homogenised into another ‘ultra high end’ Mayfair shopping area, where the international come to spend their(sometimes ill) gotten gains… There are still a few vintage watch dealers down here but not half as many as a few years ago, slowly being replaced(I guess) as leases end and the boutiques move in. Less likely to see a minor Royal here these days and more likely to see an Eastern European Natural Gas Oligarch, change isn’t always good…
Grace S.
Tu valoración: 5 Miami, FL
You may look but you cannot buy. I wanted to stroll through this arcade ever since I first saw the place in the 1998 remake of the Parent Trap. What caught my eye was the jewelry and the bowler hats. I thought naively that I could actually afford to buy something(maybe a pen or a broach?) but no, it’s better to just dream. This arcade is simply divine, will definitely come again when in London.
Laura Kate S.
Tu valoración: 3 London, United Kingdom
A beautiful and classic architectural gem of London, but filled with shops that are mostly out of the grasp of most normal people. Lots of cashmere, lots of jewelry, and lots of pens. But it’s all so beautiful! Definitely nice to take a stroll through.
Sam S.
Tu valoración: 4 Munich, Germany
Gorgeous arcade with fabulous antique watches and jewelry shops. It also houses my favorite macaroon makers Laduree :-))
Cordelle P.
Tu valoración: 5 London, United Kingdom
I know it to expensive to shop in Burlington arcade, but me & mom love coming down here only for Christmas to walk through where windows are like proscenium arches to theatrical.!! I get that(christmas feel), but now i’ve hear the owners want to get rid of the small retailers who form it’s character, i hope this is not true. Its such a nice unique place to go. it’s has dozens of high end global luxury brands. I just like looking at them and getting ideas. If you are nice to the owners sometimes(rarely) They can give you samples.
T J.
Tu valoración: 4 London, United Kingdom
Who shops here? Seriously. Faberge eggs, leather gloves, macaroon shops. What? Everything is high end luxury goods with a ridiculous price tag. For me it’s a perfect shortcut on a rainy day between Piccadilly and Mayfair window shopping. The arcade is very beautiful and the shops are tiny. It’s worth a visit but unless you’re super rich, don’t go there to buy anything. Just watch out for the fog of abercrombie and fitch eau de toilette wafting down the street when you exit onto Burlington Gardens.
StayandShop L.
Tu valoración: 4 Woodford, United Kingdom
This is a really unusual shopping centre. Most visitors will be limited to window shopping as it is full of small shops selling beautiful and very expensive goods. I can see why Burlington Arcade gets used in so many films and TV series(e.g. Poirot, Patriot Games). It was Britain’s very first shopping Arcade when it opened nearly 200 years ago. It has its own private police force called the Beadles, who are very approachable, but there to enforce the rules — no whistling, singing or running and no opening of umbrellas. Photography is permitted, as long as you don’t photograph jeweller’s windows. It’s actually quite difficult to avoid doing so as there are more than 20 luxury jewellers there. It’s part of London’s heritage, so well worth a visit if you are in the area.
TootTootTootsie G.
Tu valoración: 5 New York, NY
This shopping arcade, the first to open in the UK, dates back to 1819 and it really is a sight to behold. The guards who help maintain the air of decorum such grand surroundings demand are known as the Beadles. All the shops are extremely upmarket and carry only the finest goods. If you’re in search of a gift for a very special occasion, you no doubt will find it here.
Alice S.
Tu valoración: 3 London, United Kingdom
Situated just off Regent’s Street and Piccadilly, Burlington Arcade is one of London’s most beautiful and ornate shopping arcades. With dark mahogany shop facades and tall, grand ceilings the arcades are guarded by two uniformed men, complete with top-hats and waistcoats to prevent any ‘brash’ behaviour– running, singing, whistling and the like. The shops are typically luxurious, selling high-end, expensive goods– accessories, art and antiques. There are two cashmere shops, a fur shop and a shop devoted to polo which pretty much sums up the place.
Melissa W.
Tu valoración: 4 London, United Kingdom
Ahh yes the Burlington Arcade, a must see for anyone travelling through Mayfair. A very famous venue featured in such films as 101 Dalmatians starring Glen Close, & Patriot Games with Mr. Harrison Ford. It was designed by architect Samuel Ware and with its opening in 1819 created the first ever covered shopping arcade. Stop bye and have your picture taken with a Beadle, the private police force, dressed in the Edwardian style who are in charge of protecting the arcade from criminals of course but also from mothers with their prams, people who whistle, and of course from the ghost Percy, who enjoys rearranging the stock apparently. The window shopping is absolutely lovely, almost like walking through an art gallery, and if you can afford it the actual shopping is even better, that is if you are in the market for a monocle, which I think are really cool, or even an engagement ring(honey if you are reading this it was the little sapphire one with the two diamonds on the side).
Akin T.
Tu valoración: 4 London, United Kingdom
Burlington Arcade is in the heart of london, as small as this arcade is, there are some very relevant shops that we all cant do without, here youcan get some unique antiques around the shops here, i guess thats why they seem to be in a class of their own
MissGo
Tu valoración: 5 London, United Kingdom
Piccadilly Circus and Beadles definitely are made for each other. Burlington Arcade is still London’s most elegant shopping arcade and one of the few that employ a Beadle to ensure that customers act with decorum.