James Smith & Sons

Picture it: pouring rain in London and no umbrella. We stopped and and 2 dapper gents showed us around and suggested a few umbrellas. We settled on a £22 Cath Kidston for our daughter. Pricey, but the staff are very congenial and knowledgeable.

Wonderful store, fabulous stock. But OHHHH NOOOO, don’t try to send a gift from the store. They didn’t send out my gift for two weeks. When I checked back at the store after 13 days, they showed me the gift wrapped for sending, still sitting in the store with a promise it would be sent that day. It would be another day till it would actually sent out. When I sent a request for an explanation to the sales email address, I received this response; «Thank you for your interest in James Smith and Sons (Umbrellas), Ltd. Please note that due to the volume of electronic messages we receive, we can only respond to sales enquiries.» This level of customer service is simply unacceptable.

I do not think I have given anyplace five stars before, but this place deserves it. A store dedicated to umbrellas; who knew? I am an avid outdoorsman, and I use my umbrella all the time. Whether it is raining or blazing hot, an umbrella is a great thing to keep handy. I am used to catching grief for my umbrella, especially when it is sunny, but that is because I am a Scoutmaster and work with people of that certain age who love to hoot and howl about some old geezer standing in the sun under an umbrella. But… after standing in line outside at the dining hall for about 15 minutes in 90 degree plus, and 90% humidity, I get MANY offers to hold my umbrella from the same guys who thought it was oh so funny-​looking just a few minutes before.
Anyway — this store is everything umbrellas, but they also have great hand-​carved walking sticks as well. And as I understand it, at one point they sold sword-​sticks too. Now my U.K. friend tells me that they were illegal to have on the street, but they were not illegal to sell. So, they would sell you one, and then it was your problem to figure out how to get it home. They no longer sell sword-​sticks, sadly, but they sell everything else umbrella-​related. They are pricy, but hey — they are on High Street in London — duh.
I bought a Knirps — which is an German automatic umbrella. Push the button on the handle and the umbrella deploys — ho hum you say, and I would agree. But… push the button again, and it folds up. How about that sports fans? Oh — and one more thing. They say their umbrellas are really tough. Their sales slogan was, «you kan’t knacker a Knirps». My friend bought one, and after a few years of faithful service it did break. He took it back to James Smith & Sons and told them, «My Knirps is knackered». To which the spry sales person replied, «Well let’s get you a knother».
Knother — get it — rimes with Knirps… Haha. (Cricket — cricket).
Okay — I’m done now.

Great place to get a souvenir from London. It is really hard to find an original and unique store while traveling. This store is both. For those traveling to London I suggest visiting this store for a cool experience and a great souvenir to take back home. If I ever go back to London, I will definitely get another james smith and sons umbrella.

I was looking for an original and lovely umbrella in London. I discovered James Smith & Sons through the internet and felt quite confident with the nice reviews. The shop is very nice, old fashion, with varied and exciting choices of umbrellas. A very nice atmosphere!
At first, I wanted to test the store and therefore decided to start by one of their cheaper model, which costs £20…. For me, if I was happy with it, I would invest more and buy a more expensive one. I love umbrellas and do like to have one fitting with each outfit. I had a look in the store and was already thinking of one…
The person who sold me the umbrella told me that this umbrella was a good quality and I would not be disappointed. He told me that if any issues occurred then I should bring it in for repair. This was exactly what I wanted to hear.
Unfortunately, my umbrella broke after a week. I used it only once actually. I came back to the store to get it repaired or for an exchange. I didn’t really mind. But the manager told me that was impossible that this was due to a problem of manufacturing — implying then I was lying to him about what happened. Moreover, he affirmed me that the person who sold it to me would have noticed this problem at the time he sold it to me. He never thought that the seller might missed this problem when he sold it to me!
I think this kind of behaviour is totally unprofessional, and don’t like at all a person telling me that I am lying. I am not a child and I am able to take responsibilities of my actions, and this umbrella broke not because of me!!!
To summarise, as most of the stores, this one is perfect because indeed –compared to the other stores in London, here you do have a lot of choices and very nice umbrellas, but wish you don’t have any problem with it. They will not help you at all and find a way to avoid their own responsibility.
That is why I would rate cautionary this store 2/​5, not more.

A top class umbrella shop designed in the spirit of the Victorian age. They offer a wide selection that would most definitely suit the taste of even the most pretentious clients. And the best part is that every individual umbrella has its own character and feeling so you might need to spend a while picking the one that feels right for you. But don’t worry the staff is extremely knowledgeable and will help you pick the one that completes you. I would warmly recommend this shop to anyone who takes his umbrellas very seriously and would never settle for a £5 plastic one.

James Smith and Sons ist eine traditionelle feine Londoner Adresse für exquisite Regenschirme und Spazierstöcke. Für dergleichen ist das sicher eines der schönsten Geschäfte überhaupt. Besonders bemerkenswert sind die geschnitzten Holzgriffe mit absonderlichen Motiven, wie sie (fast) nur ein Engländer lustig finden kann.

This store was quite charming. It has been open and family-​run since 1820, and the umbrellas are very nice. For a typical English umbrella, the prices range from about 60 to 200+ pounds. They also have some unique handles of animal heads. There was one in particular that I really liked; it was a duck’s head, which was reminiscent of a Burberry umbrella ($ 1000+). They also carry modern retractable umbrellas, which are some other brand and cheaper, and walking sticks.
If you have a lady friend, I highly recommend one of their women’s umbrellas. They are absolutely elegant and gorgeous. I ended up buying two to take back with me to the States for gifts. I would have bought one for myself as well if they didn’t cost so much, but I already have two umbrellas! If you’re anywhere near central in London, I highly recommend this shop. It’s not a far walk from the Westminster Underground stop.

Fantastic. Overpriced, of course, but so fun.
Hubby bought a little foldable, probably the cheapest one in the shop. I was in love with a plaid hook handled one… The handle looked like what a hobbit would have on his umbrella. Adorable. £175, otherwise I may have been tempted.
Unfortunately, my husband’s umbrella started having intermittent technical difficulties a few days later. They may have been open to an exchange, but we were off to another destination on our trip already.

I have bought five umbrellas from James Smith’s over the past four years.
The first one was their own brand and after that were mostly from Knirps. I think this shop is one of the very few retailers that stock Knirps umbrellas.
I sometimes find the retail staff at James Smith & Sons quite abrupt or taciturn in their manner.

If you need an umbrella, go here! Really it’s that simple. You would be hard-​pressed to find a larger selection of umbrellas and walking canes anywhere in London (and perhaps anywhere in the UK or quite frankly anywhere in the world). The James Smith & Sons shop is a gem of a store, cramming in nearly 200 years of umbrella making into one small shop near Oxford Street.
The sales staff are extremely helpful and explained to me the difference between several models. Apparently there is more to the cost than the type of wood in the handle and the size of the umbrella. Who knew, really. This is not the place to go for a cheap 5 pound model, prices start in the 20s and can easily eclipse 100 pounds if you get a duck shaped handle made from exotic wood or a vintage model.
I of course purchased a fine gentleman’s umbrella, custom made by James Smith & Sons. When rolled up it is quite slim yet when open it is large and sturdy enough to keep me dry on those all too many rainy days. It has a few unique features such as a custom button and gold ring that keeps the umbrella tightly wrapped and looking quite gentleman-​y.

Walk in the door & you step into another century
(see my picture) A time of hats & spats & politesse.
Where Oscar with his bon mots eloquence & Gilbert
& Sullivan’s music hall entertainment held sway.
Fantabulous shop with the classiest brollies & sticks
ever seen outside Piccadilly! I love the staff

It’s funny how in the UK despite all the rain, most people are happy to spend £200 on a pair of sunglasses but make do with a rubbish £5 umbrella from the newsagent! If like me, however, you appreciate the engineering that goes into a good quality umbrella, this is the place for you. It’s a great store if you’re looking for an umbrella or walking stick. Full of character with very friendly staff, and of course the best collection of umbrellas in London!

James Smith & Sons is THE umbrella, stick and whip manufacturers in London. Coming here is a step back in time to an era when dandies and flaneurs roamed the streets. It’s been going for over 175 years and the Victorian interior looks like it may well be the original. The vast array of beautiful hand made pieces available here are for people who like to enjoy the finer things and life are willing to pay for them. Prices range anywhere from £25 to well over £150 (some umbrellas are even over £200).
Although I like to browse and watch the old man sat stitching umbrella canvases together I’ve never actually bought anything. I’d probably only leave it on the tube the next day, but for the experience I definitely suggest coming to take a look at the beautiful ladies parasols, finely carved wooden handles and polished old fashioned mens canes.
But, if you need really do need a little something to go with the suit you just had made on Savile Row, here’s the perfect place to find it.

At a time when the high streets are turning into chain-​dominated clones of one another, coming across this shop is such a refreshing experience that it made me want to shout for joy.
I wasn’t looking for an umbrella but happened to spot it while walking to Tottenham Court Road. The words ‘Established 1830′ were enough to draw me in and wow! You can’t help but gawp at the array and craftsmanship of the umbrellas, canes, maces and swordsticks.
They do carry a range of differently priced products from the everyday use umbrella to the ceremonial ‘swagger stick’. You can almost picture Victorian gents with some of the more elaborate umbrellas
Fascinating place

I bought a cane here and they shipped it to the United States for me. The cane is beautiful and extremely well constructed.

Yes, they are the umbrella shop of central London, but while resting of their history and craft they forgot to adapt to today’s shopping experience.
I was not greeted by a rude, actually a VERY rude with attitude customer service sales associate and just walked out after 5 minutes.
Old inventory is nice but the younger shopper requires classy and modern with helpful service (Smith&Sons haven’t realized their clientele from the mid 1800’s are 6′ under).
Browse the window like a museum and shop else where.

I bought a small umbrella here that I used for a number of years, but the institution that is James Smith & Sons doesn’t only sell umbrellas. I picked up a few beautiful black wood boxes that made perfect gifts for friends back home. The staff is wonderful and they don’t frown on browsing. It’s quite near the British Museum and worth a visit even if you aren’t in the market for an umbrella.

I’m not a great fan of umbrellas– they always seems to get in the way when yoare trying to rush ahead on a narrow pavement. Or the wind seems to turn them inside out making them useless as a rain protector. Or you get stabbed in the eye/​arm/​shoulder by someone juggling theor umbrella nad talking on their mobile (yes, that has happened to me!) Despite my dislike of umbrellas– the British weather means that I always have a small tucked away in my bag.
James Smith & Sons is a London landmark that I have often walked past but never been inside. My cousin visited last month and said he wanted to go to London’s #oldest umbrella shop’ as he’d heard about the huge collection. I though it was a bit of an odd request but two days later we popped in. With huge shopping centres and department stores London has a decreasing number of specialist shops. It was like stepping back into time as we pushed past the front door of this umbrella mecca.
There’s everything from the city gent’s black umbrella to quirky chidren’s umbrellas and alsoa range of walking sticks and canes. Even if you don’t buy anything it’s a great place to browse.

Having walked in front of this shop many times, I finally caved into my curiosity and stepped into a world that belongs to 150 years ago. James Smith & Sons is a specialist umbrella, cane and whip shop that is reminiscent of the 1800’s. It has a huge selection of beautifully hand-​crafted wooden umbrellas. If you close your eyes and get a whiff of imagination you might even be able to picture a young Charles Dickens or Lewis Carroll strolling out of the store with a fancy duck-​headed black umbrella.
The collections are stunning and everybody loves a good old, successful family business. I have never bought anything here, probably due to the fact that I am a serial brolly-​loser and the prices are over my budget, but I believe this place is worthy of a look and could provide a friendly grandfather with the perfect gift.

James Smith and Sons is an umbrella and walking stick wonderland! I visited the shop in search of a new umbrella and was amazed by the selection. As the name suggests, this family owned business is reminiscent of the days of old when ladies and gentlemen use to take daily strolls in the park.
Be sure to checkout the animal head handle umbrellas for ladies, along with the rams and stag horn crooks. Even if you are not yet in the market for a walking stick or you’ve just bought a new umbrella, it’s worth a look. Chances are you’ve never seen such an elaborate selection in your life!

Seit 1830 in Familienbesitz und noch immer einer der ersten Adressen für Schirme und Spazierstöcke in London!
Gelegen in der New Oxford Street ist dieser historische und besonders schöné Shop aus viktorianischer Zeit ein imposantes Erinnerungsstück einer längst vergangenen Epoche.
Im inneren erwartet uns eine schier unerschöpfliche Auswahl an Schirmen und Stöcken für nahezu jeden Anlass.
Einzigartig z. B. die sog. Gadget Sticks: Hier handelt es sich um Stöcke, die ein besonderes Innenleben ihr eigen nennen.
Da gibt es beispielsweise einen Stock, in dem im Griff ein Korkenzieher versteckt ist. Oder der Dice stick– vier kleine Würfel und sogar ein Würfelbecher sind hier untergebracht! Und für die, die immer einen guten Tropfen dabei haben wollen, gibt es den Drinking stick– wohl unnötig, hier genau darauf einzugehen, oder?
Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall, hier mal einen Blick hinein zu werfen– auch wenn man nicht unbedingt einen Stock oder Schirm kaufen will. Die Atmosphäre hier ist einzigartig und man fühlt sich direkt in die gute alte Zeit versetzt!
Wer meint, London sei prädestiniert für Schirme, da es dort häufig regnen würde, liegt kolossal falsch– im Jahresschnitt ist die Niederschlagmenge übrigens wesentlich geringer als in meiner Heimatstadt Wuppertal!