1

Hi - and welcome to Thorn Tree.

24 hours.... Masses of time.
Take the Piccadilly line (dark blue) to Green Park.
Change to the Victoria line (light blue) north bound, 1 stop to Oxford Circus. Get off and start spending ! !
Oxford Street is a shoppers paradise, ranging from purchases for princes, to 'Everything £1' shops.
Don't go missing that onward flight ! !

2

#1 Oxford Street 1 week before Christmas is my idea of hell, but you're of course totally correct - if the OP wants some quick shopping for coats and stuff, result. Just too crowded for me, but so would every other shopping area.

As for the electronics, get yourself up to Tottenham Court Road.

Failing that, you could always save some travel time and stay in/around Earls Court (sort of halfway between Heathrow and the centre of London). This would then give you relatively easy access to Westfield, which is a monster shopping centre, although rather soulless. Still, if it's for emergency Christmas present buying, it'll be perfect. Refer to http://uk.westfield.com/london/tourists/

3

Westfield would be a better option or even schlepping out to Straford if you were really dedicated to shopping. Ditto Tottenham Court Rd at the top end of Oxford St for electronics. If you've got the mental strength for Oxford St it would have all the shops you would want.

If you want to see the postcard sights of London jump on a hop-on hop-off bus or else start at Westminster Abbey for St Stephens Tower/Big Ben, West MInister Bridge, walk up Whitehall, left at Trafalgar Square and up the Mall for Buck House, through Green Park and down Picadilly for Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and then onto Covent Garden.

IMO though the Christmas Sales are never that brilliant anyway and most of the good stuff ie: coats are taken by those who park up outside sores six hours before opening and make sure that you can't get your electronics cheaper online.

4

"Just before Christmas" in London? I don't think any sales will start until 26 December .

5

Or are you actually arriving just after???

6

#4

Sales will be starting well before Christmas as with last couple of years as retailers desperate to get your money.

7

Watch out how genuine the 'sales' are though.
Some shops claim massive discounts (in tiny letters 'Against mrp).
Other stores don't start their slaes till later - and are already cheaper.
Look around a bit before you spend ! !

8

There may be a few retailers joining the ever growing list of those in receivership by then as rents are payable at or around 21st-25th December.