woodworking stores in London - UPDATE!

HowardH

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Jan 23, 2007
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The wifey and I are in London for a few days and I'll have Monday on my own.  Where is the best WW store in London for me to drool... er... ah.. go visit?  We are staying in the Mayfair area so I don't mind using the tube to get around. I was thinking about Axminster's but they are two hours away via transit lines.  Thanks in advance for the recommendations!
 
I went to ToolStation last week or so (one of the various locations that is 5 mins by bus from where I stayed). It operates like Lee Valley where you order online or by the catalog, and staff bring your order from the back. They don't have any serious tools on display in the front counter, unlike at Lee Valley.

Dunelm, more like a big box home store and not avtool store, has the cheapest Briwax (12 British pounds, 16 pounds at ToolStation), but you better check if the location you'll be visiting has stock before hand.

London Tools Limited is a store I planned to go, but the timing wasn't right for me.

One place I'd highly recommend is the Carl Hans and Son. The street is full of other high-end furniture and artwork stores. 48A Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8LP, United Kingdom.

Lastly, book online ahead for free entry to the Sky Garden. Walk-ins are acceptable on paper, but you'll most likely get turned away because so many online bookings take up all the spots. It offers a better view than the London Eye.

While in London, I Googled "woodworking stores near me" to find various woodworking stores. You can use the citymap app to show you the public transit routes.

To stay in touch, order giffgaff phone cards ahead of time, which cover the EU as well.

Always check the museum or store hours, and plan for them. Many museums are free, but you're encouraged to donate online or in person. Consider your donations the best investment for the future generations.

P.S. Tooting Broadway has two nice food markets, offering all kinds of cuisines.
https://secretldn.com/broadway-market-tooting-guide/#:~:text=Nestled%20away%20(very%20nearly)%20at,station%2C%20sit%20two%20covered%20markets.
 
You could take a look at a B&Q Warehouse, its the UK version of Home Depot.  They copied the whole "Home Depot" store layout and style - check out the poor selection of timber us Brits can get at the big box stores.

Machine Mart is worth a look, that's our version of Harbor Freight.

You may find there are some "Salvage Yards" that are worth a look.  They sell all sorts of interior building items, doors, windows, sanitary items, ironmongery etc.  There may be some high end plumbing showrooms that are worth a look, a lot of the TV grand designs (which is a program on CH4) have some very smart taps / showers / bath tubs.

Have fun!
Bob
 
You went to the wrong London.

London Ontario has a Lee Valley and a Metals Supermarket in the same strip mall. 
Hobbyist heaven.
(and a few more woodworking/tool stores to boot)
The main highway is right by the Busy Bee Tools store.  Most of my drives up the highway require me to stop at the Busy Bee Tools just to see if I can convince myself to buy something new.
 
HowardH said:
The wifey and I are in London for a few days and I'll have Monday on my own.  Where is the best WW store in London for me to drool... er... ah.. go visit?  We are staying in the Mayfair area so I don't mind using the tube to get around. I was thinking about Axminster's but they are two hours away via transit lines.  Thanks in advance for the recommendations!

I have seen the promised land!  Holy cow, what a selection at D&M in Twittenham.  Got on the wrong train to get there but ended up finding it alright.  Lot's of offerings NAINA.  A baby Kapex 60. Lot's of cool stuff.  Not any bargains, tho.  Same pricing in Pounds as in the US and some even more.  Loved the new CSX 18.  I gave my CSX12 to my son so I guess it's time to replace it! 

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they also had a full line of Mafell but that would be for a different thread.  No Lamello tho.  They also have limited distribution in the UK. 

 

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D&M tools: Good vareity of tools including festools

Toucan Tools: best selection of festools on display in London

Tool Fest:specializes in festool pretty much thats all they sell

Healeys tools: Variety of tools

Nuts and Bolts: great prices on festools

Fx tools: great prices on festools also

are all good tools stores.
 
Thanks for the heads-up. I've noted down Healeys Tools, and will map it with the citymapper app next time I'm in London.

With already 4 or 5 Festool dealers in my home town, I try to find non-Festool woodworking stores to check out when traveling.

Lidl is a German supermarket in the UK that I check out because it has a section/aisles selling garden/hardware stuff or tools at discounted/marked down prices.

These made-in-Germany nippers were 3.59 pounds each; multi tool 5.99 pounds (Lidl, Invergordon)

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This vintage scale model from France seen at a store in London, not far from the Carl Hans & Son store, carries a price tag of 85,000 pounds.

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In Porto, Portugal -- no Festool stuff [tongue]

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