Shop in London

Hi, can you recommend for me some good shop in to the central London area? I have done internet finds with different headwords. It feels to be quite hard to find some shop what really have office in London. There seems to be a thousands shops in London but as a matter of fact they are only dotcom stores. My shopping list contains:

Finishing stone.
Now my finest stone is 8k. So it could be good to have polishing stone too.

Razor 4-5/8 or 7-8/8.
Now I have 6/8 Dovo. That knife is my honing/stropping test specimen. I can continue my honing lessons with that one with any hurry. And have a new knife to everyday shaving.
I was thinking what kind of knife and why I should buy new. Because they are so cool and nice things ;-) I want to try different sizes of knives to get wider experience about razors.

Brush.
My brush is not anymore in very good condition.

Some aftershave.

I do purchasing rather directly from the shop than in the web. Usually I am not travelling so often and I must use this opportunity and do some shopping in London. Unfortunately here in Finland are not any razor shops. There is huge difference if you can look and feel things in your hand before buying them. This forum could be the only place in the web where I can think to purchase a knife or other stuff. Because I don’t have the knowhow about the used knifes.

Before the London trip I must be at least one week without shave. I have ever been in a barbershop shave. It could be a good experience to feel a professional touch and see how the procedure goes on. Here in Finland we do have a barbershop shaver ;-) But I still haven’t ever been on a barbershop shave as I mentioned.
So can you recommend some good place to have a barbershop shave in the central London area? If it is Todd in the Fleet Street, I have to think twice :D

Mikko

3T's: Trumpers, Taylor's of Old Bond street (actually, in Jermyn St), Truefitt&Hill are all good, but I'm not sure if they all offer everything you seek though. They're all quite close to each other, so it's visit all of them and shop around. Trumpers and Truefitt do shaves too.

I don't know if any of those have any finishing stones. You might be better off to purchase this online...

Some high street department stores have also some range of soaps, scents etc (possibly even brushes) and I find them easier to shop for soaps, creams, colognes as you can compare between different manufacturers. Selfridges and Fenwick's come to mind from the center.

Strop-shop is sadly not in London, but a great shop nonetheless.

+1 to ursus's comments!

All those shops are in the Piccadilly/ St James area and are all within walking distance of each other.

D.R. Harris are also in the area and its worth checking out Fortnums as well.

If you are in the area, drop me a PM as I live two stops away on the tube, and theres many a good pub around there. :D

I was going to suggest Geo F Trumpers too! lol Jermyn St, they have a very nice range of brushes, Dovo's, DE's and their own soaps, skin food and splash for after. On the 2 visits I have made to Trumpers, they have been very helpful and it is a lovely shop which offers good service.

Enjoy your visit Mikko:beer2:

There is Penhaligons also. Very expensive, but they make great shaving soaps and creams.

Is Strop-shop bricks and mortar or just online?

Thank you very much for these hints.

I forgot to tell the trip is not until the end of the May. Sorry about that. This is just scouting the shops. Having now goot time to check their range on the web.

Yes, that will be a crime to be in London without tasting any beers. :beer2:

It will not be a catastrofy if I could not find the polishing stone in the London.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scipio

Is Strop-shop bricks and mortar or just online?

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Ursus, can you translate this, please: "Strop-shop bricks and mortar or just online?"

My language ability is not so good already at the moment..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikkoH

Ursus, can you translate this, please: "Strop-shop bricks and mortar or just online?"

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Bricks and mortar store tarkoittaa kivijalkakauppaa, eli sellaista josta voi ostaa paikan päällä eikä vain verkosta. Kyseinen kauppa on kuitenkin itärannikolla, eikä Lontoossa.

Umm what he said!

Scipio, I did not understand your question: "Is Strop-shop bricks and mortar or just online?" Are you asking if I buy rather in Bricks and mortar store or online?

You signature is so true. People think I am crazy when I tell to them that I am using the straight razor.

And thanks ursus.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikkoH

Scipio, I did not understand your question: "Is Strop-shop bricks and mortar or just online?" Are you asking if I buy rather in Bricks and mortar store or online?

You signature is so true. People think I am crazy when I tell to them that I am using the straight razor.

And thanks ursus.

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MikkoH, what I was asking was is strop-shop.co.uk an actual store or just an online store? The reason being that Im in the process of having a custom strop made by Neil Miller, the owner, and if it were an actual store could perhaps collect it in person which would add to the experience.

As for the signature, Id think I was crazy if I didn't understand the world of wet shaving and all the sub divisional joys that come with it such as hones, brushes, soaps and of course razors themselves..

Strop-shop lists an address on their website, but it would be polite to contact Neil to discuss it, IMO.

Now before starting to practice sharpening with brand new (and expensive) razors i would recommend you to get one or two cheap razors to learn the difference of the steel material between new and vintage razors or just for practicing purposes. There is always at least few old razors for sale at huuto.net. Prices are something between, 5 - 15 €. Mostly old Swedish and German razors.

Now i do not remember what shaving related shops i visited when i was in London few years ago, but as you are living in capitol area there is at least one shop in Helsinki that sells various honing stones. Plektra Trading. I do not know about the grits but it is worth asking.

Ok Scipio, I have got the point, finally. I asked (again) translating help via PM by ursus.
I would be totally lost here without ursus and Sailor. Thank you guys :bow

There could be sense to get some cheap razor for the training purpose. I have to check huuto.net. And leave the new ones untouchable, if I decide to byu new. What about these razors what are at sale in the SRPs member sales area? Are those too good to the training purposes, if those are already honed by some who can do it.

I have bad feelings that I have flattened the spine of my Dovo. That could be the reason why it is still dull. Maybe I must put that black tape on the spine and try again, as you Sailor earlier advised me to do that. And permanent marker too.

Mikko

Hi I have to reccomend Taylor of Old Bond street, I have been there a few times and have several of their creams (all of which are very good). The creams also seem to be half the price of those at Trumpers along the road and although I have never tried Trumpers' I have never had any problems with Taylors over the last couple of years and can't see what you could get extra for the increased price.

I have also been once to Taylors for a shave and haircut, my first straight razor shave and a great experience.

Great service aswell so overall a great place to visit!

Ok, good to hear. Thanks.

Hello,
this is OT. But I have to ask: are in BIRMINGHAM some straight razor related shops? I have just received our trip schedule and our hotel is not in London, it is in Birmingham. So it would be nice if there are straight razor related shops. I am about to make some Google search to the Birmingham, but I think I must ask from here too.

Moi Mikko. Kannattaa varmaan luoda oma ketjunsa tälle aiheelle

Ok,
kiitti vinkistä.