Liberty London

What to expect

Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened his shop on Regent Street in 1875, selling fabrics and ornaments, many from Japan and the East. The business grew into a champion of Art Nouveau, so closely linked with the style that Italians call it Stile Liberty. The shop is still best known for its bold floral print fabrics.

The mock-Tudor building you see now was completed in 1924, seven years after its founder died, and is built partly from the timbers of two old Royal Navy ships, HMS Impregnable and HMS Hindustan. Inside, three light wells run through the building and small rooms with fireplaces make it feel more like a house than a department store. You can browse fashion, beauty, homewares and fabrics at your own pace.

Don't miss

• The black-and-white Tudor Revival facade
• The light wells and wooden galleries
• Liberty print fabrics
• Small rooms with original fireplaces

Tips for your visit

• Look up from the ground floor: the galleries and carved woodwork are the best part of the building.
• Combine it with Carnaby Street and Hamleys, both nearby in the West End.
• Come on a weekday for a quiet look at the fabrics and interiors; thirty to forty-five minutes is plenty.