Liberty London: when to go and what to order

Liberty is a department store that behaves like a stately home. It is a Grade II-listed Tudor building between Soho and Regent Street, known for bold print fabrics and fashion from up-and-coming British designers. Time Out describes a jumble of interconnecting rooms, with the odd fireplace and cushioned window seat, like a private room in a grand house. Browsing, and simply looking at the building, is free.

The building

The black-and-white timber frontage faces Great Marlborough Street, at the top of Carnaby Street, because the Crown Estate required classical style on Regent Street itself. The main entrance is on Great Marlborough Street too, and the nearest Tube is Oxford Circus. The official address is Regent Street, W1B 5AH.

The Tudor Revival building was completed in 1924, designed by father and son Edwin Thomas Hall and Edwin Stanley Hall. The timber is said to come from two old warships, HMS Hindustan and HMS Impregnable, and the Great Marlborough Street frontage is the same length as the Hindustan. Inside, three light wells are the focus of the building, reportedly first conceived as spaces to display Ottoman carpets.

A short history

Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1843 to 1917) opened his first shop in 1875 on Regent Street, taking half a shop at 218a with three staff. It sold ornaments, fabric and objets d'art from Japan and the East. Time Out says he borrowed £2,000 from his future father-in-law to do it. Within eighteen months he had taken the other half, and neighbouring properties followed. In 1889 he travelled to Japan himself. Liberty marked its 150th anniversary in 2025, and the archive still drives the collections, per the London Society.

What to see and buy

• Fabrics and wallpapers from the archive are the core draw. Start here.
• Liberty's own perfumes, skincare and home fragrance, designed in-house, make the easiest thing to carry out the door.
• Collaborations include Liberty London x adidas (Gazelle Bold, Samba and Taekwondo Mei Ballet), launched in January 2026.
• The beauty advent calendar is £285 and sells out every year, so there is a waitlist, with a launch in September.

Prices are premium: this is craftsmanship, not bargains. Pop-ups and themed installations run through the year, and there is a Christmas display to come back for in winter.

When to go

Hours are Monday to Saturday, ten until eight. Sunday is shorter and sources differ on the start, half eleven or midday, so check Liberty's own site before you set off, especially around bank holidays. Weekends and holiday periods draw the crowds, so a weekday morning is the sensible bet for wandering the small rooms in peace.

Eat inside: Seventy Five at Liberty

On the second floor, Seventy Five at Liberty is the flagship restaurant, named for 1875. Head chef Joe Holness cooks modern British food with seasonal produce, sharing plates and an open kitchen, plus all-day brunch and cocktails inspired by Liberty's fragrance range. It is also pitched as a pre-theatre spot. It earned two AA Rosettes within three months of opening in April 2025.

Order: afternoon tea, which was £50 per person, or £66 with champagne, when last reported in August 2025, with scones and Cornish clotted cream. Confirm the price when you book. My London singled out the savoury trout filo tart and the pistachio choux. Booking is through OpenTable.

For after: Kingly Court

Kingly Court, off Carnaby Street (W1B 5PW), is a courtyard of restaurants, bars and food vendors across three floors, a few minutes' walk from the Great Marlborough Street door. Time Out's Liberty page points shoppers to Carnaby Street restaurants including Darjeeling Express and Le Bab. The official Carnaby listing also names Imad's Syrian Kitchen and Señor Ceviche.

Order: go for the courtyard and pick by appetite. Señor Ceviche, Goldie's and Dirty Bones sit in the £30 to £49 band, according to SquareMeal. Best once the shop shuts at eight, when the evening crowd arrives.