John Lobb Ltd

I recently received my first pair of bespoke shoes from John Lobb, and not only are the shoes great, but the whole experience of getting them made was was so exciting.
First, John Lobb on St James is a completely different business from the John Lobb store on Jermyn street which belongs to the Hermès group and sells mostly ready-​made shoes. In contrast the St James shop only manufactures and sells bespoke shoes and has done so for the last 150 years. It is a true family business, and you will be cared for and measured by a member of the original Lobb family.
I opted for cordovan leather and a simple full-​brogue shoe, but Lobb is likely able to deliver virtually any style and type of shoe you want — in almost any leather (or fabric).
The waiting time for my shoes was about 8 months, and in contrast to many other bespoke shoe makers, there was no fitting in between. Nevertheless, my shoe fit nicely, and if there are any problems with fit, they can apparently change those afterwards.
However, a bespoke Lobb shoe comes with a hefty price tag, and you will have to splash out well above 3000 GBP for a standard shoe in a standard leather. Prices for boots and crocodile leather shoes go up to 10 000 GBP. However, these shoes are made to last a lifetime, and apparently Prince Charles still wears his Lobb shoes from the 70s.
If you are looking for a truly unique experience, ask for a tour of the premises. Mr. Lobb happily gave me one when I first came in, and their last storage room is unbelievable !