A foggy day in London Town is a thing of the past, but rain is still a characteristic aspect of the English climate and if you are all geared up for a good day's shopping it can dampen your plans very nicely. Instead of scurrying through the showers from shop to shop, or fighting the crowds in the large department stories, why not spend a leisurely few hours browsing in some of London's elegant Regency or Victorian shopping arcades.

The rows of charming little shops, many with original bow windows, display cashmere, fine and unusual jewellery, paintings and prints, tweeds, delicious chocolates, and even suits of armour.

London Shopping - Burlington Arcade

The best arcades are situated close to each other, all within a ten-minute walk of Piccadilly Circus and probably the best-known one is the Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly. Built in 1819, supposedly to prevent passers-by from throwing oyster shells and other rubbish into the garden of nearby Burlington House (now the Royal Academy of Arts), the arcade is still patrolled by a beadle in traditional dress whose historic function is to ensure shoppers obey the rules against singing, carrying open umbrellas, or running. In the 1870's Charles Dickens reported that the arcade was mainly occupied by "bonnet-makers, ladies' bootmakers, and sellers ofknicknacks." He would see some changes if he were to visit the Burlington Arcade today.