The History of Carnaby Street
Published on Wednesday 14th April, 8.41am, Written by Amy Whiting
If you’re looking for a different shopping destination in London, head to Carnaby Street. Tucked away behind Regent Street and bursting with character, it is one of London’s most famous streets and definitely worth a visit.
Carnaby Street came to life in the 1960s and became one of the coolest hangouts for the mods and hippies. Once a renowned spot to see famous faces such as The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Beatles, it was the place to be seen.
The first shop to open there was called His Clothes by John Stephen — an influential fashion designer who ended up owning several clothing shops along the famous street by the mid-60s. It wasn’t long before Carnaby Street was full of hip shops bringing new fashions to the masses, making it an exciting and vibrant time in Soho.
However, in the 1980s Carnaby Street lost its appeal due to the punk movement that was sweeping across Britain. The youth had moved away from the trends that were popular in the 70s and consequently Carnaby Street suffered. Luckily in the late 90s, a property company bought the street and injected some much need life back into the area.
It has always been renowned as being full of independent shops, making it stand out from its neighboring Oxford Street and Regent Street competition. In recent years there have been more well-known stores moving in (especially along the main stretch) such as American Apparel, Accessorize and Puma and it’s still home to iconic British brands, Ben Sherman and Lambretta. You can head to MAC and Benefit to find your latest make-up bag item or Steve Madden for stylish footwear. The smaller boutiques and independently owned shops can be found on the adjoining streets such as Kingly Court, which is perfect for hunting down that individual item.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that it will be like stepping onto the set of Austin Powers, surrounded by miniskirts psychedelic catsuits and miniskirts — it does manage to have a modern feel without losing its character.
This year Carnaby Street is celebrating its 50th birthday. Between February and April there was an exhibition to showcase the history of the street. To coincide with the celebrations, there’s a special edition book now on sale, Carnaby Street: 1960 – 2010, which features iconic photography by Philip Townsend and interviews with people who experienced the street in its heyday.
If you are planning a London city break in the summer, why not head down on the weekend of 5-6 June and enjoy Carnaby Street’s Summer of Love Music Festival. There will also be a live performance from the cast of hit 70′s musical, Hair, which has just opened in the West End.
Other nearby attractions include Liberty’s department store. Located in a beautiful Tudor building, the famous shop is the place to go for unique fabrics, designer brands and scented candles. The London Palladium, which is currently showing Sister Act The Musical, also sits very close to Carnaby Street.
There are plenty of restaurants and hotels within easy reach too, so if you want a unique shopping experience, head towards Carnaby Street when you’re next in the capital.
