I love old Victorian London shops. They conjure up a timeless past, where Ladies were still treated with respect and being a Gentleman was still something to aspire to. And none reflects that age and is more quintessentially English, than James Smith & Son Umbrellas.
Standing on the same busy London road junction near Holborn for over 150 years, is a shop so captured in time, that it’s hard to believe it’s not a replica of the original.
Selling high quality umbrellas here since 1857, there is no pretence here – the windows are crammed full of the things. They do however sell Walking Sticks and Parasols too and some of their bespoke products can cost thousands of pounds!