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Visiting London-Vintage watch recommendations and safety question

jjen
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Hello,

I'm traveling to London for 5 days in December with my wife. I've read here that Burlington arcade is a good place to go. Are the prices there decent? They look rather high to me online. Would appreciate any other vintage watch shopping tips, especially for good places to search for hidden gems.

I know this has been discussed here before, but how is the atmosphere in London in terms of crime? I don't plan to wear an especially flashy or expensive timepiece and I will have long sleeves, is it even a concern?

Thanks in advance.
 
Spruce
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I live in London and have regularly window shopped in Burlington Arcade. The prices are, in general, exorbitant and, unless you’re wealthy or desperate, you probably won’t want to buy there.

Gray's Antique Market near Bond Street (and Bond Street Underground Station) has two or three watch boutiques, including one that is run by Simon Freese and his partner (?) and which has an interesting small collection of watches but there are no other vintage second hand watch shops that I can think of.

Most of the well known brands have glossy stores in Bond Street or thereabouts so worth the walk.

As a rule, I have never been particularly apprehensive walking around Central London, day or night. I’ve never felt it to be a dangerous or particularly crime ridden place. That said, I tend to dress like a Londoner, wear long sleeves and, as a city dweller, have the antennae we all develop walking around and using public transport in any city.

Have a great trip
 
Mattsky
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@jjen Like any major city, just keep your wits about you (and your sleeves down!) London is a pretty safe place to walk around in, day or night. Below are a few watch shops you might want to visit - not recommendations per se (except Lucky Time London, on the Portobello Road), but they're all relatively central. You'll need to book an appointment in advance at a couple of them. Hope you have a fantastic visit!


LUCKY TIME LONDON
We can be found in the green shop,
Gallery 117 Portobello Road
London W11 2DY


PARKERS HATTON GARDEN
70 Hatton Garden
London
EC1N 8JT


WATCH CENTRE
(Appointment Only)
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square, Mayfair
London W1J 6BD
+44 (0)207 491 0042
07885661038


AUTHENTIC WATCH COMPANY
40 Bloomsbury Way
London, WC1A 2SE
+44 (0)20 7438 2052
[email protected]


ANTIQUE WATCH COMPANY
(Appointment only)
Antique Watch UK,
19 Clerkenwell Road,
London EC1M 5RD
+44 (0)2072503734 (Also WhatsApp)
Email [email protected]
Edited:
 
T
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Lucky time .. Portobello Rd.

You really need to pick the correct time to go there. NEVER at a weekend its 4 deep at the display. 99% of which are window shopping or trying to get away from the crush and constant jostling on portobello road. Very little vintage omega stock but a few modern (2000 onwards)

Watch Centre.

Found them very snobby but nice stock if they will let you in the door.

Burlington Arcade .
Wall to Wall rolex but eye watering prices.

BQ Watches.

Had some nice vintage omega from them . But you need to haggle on price.
 
workandturn
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I would be very careful if you're wearing watch in London, and if you dont have insurance Id say its best to avoid wearing one.

Its relatively safe but I also think we're a little used to it here, I have had friends from Hong Kong visit and for them the idea of having to be careful was completely alien, but thats the nature if London right now.
 
dsio
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workandturn workandturn
I would be very careful if you're wearing watch in London, and if you dont have insurance Id say its best to avoid wearing one.

Its relatively safe but I also think we're a little used to it here, I have had friends from Hong Kong visit and for them the idea of having to be careful was completely alien, but thats the nature if London right now.
Yea compared to Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan, any country will feel unsafe by comparison, wandering around outside Jardine House in HK I saw about $5M on people's wrists just queueing for taxis, Richard Milles, complicated Pateks and APs out in the open without a care in the world.

I really do miss HK and SG, have to visit again soon, watch heaven.
 
Davidt
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When I visit London for work or pleasure I’m almost always wearing a decent watch (Omega, Rolex, Heuer) and take no more precautions than when I’m in any city and have never had an issue. Common sense and a basic awareness of your surroundings is all you need
 
rootbeer7
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Worked and lived in London for 30 years going on trains/underground daily. Until recently I had no issue wearing short sleeves and Rolex. That has changed recently but the remember there’s probably 10m people that don’t get attacked on a daily basis! You’re much more likely to have your phone taken than your watch. Be wise, long sleeves (it’ll be cold so you’ll be fine) and keep to main roads. If you see anyone on an electric bike wearing a mask know they’re up to no good and act accordingly.
Hatton Garden is a good and Grays Antique market has a quite a few interesting shops. Burlington Arcade is for viewing unless you’ve just walked out of a casino and need to dump some cash!
 
workandturn
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Couldnt agree more with everyone’s thoughts, born just outside London and lived and work there for over 10 years, I wear my watch to work and I’m never worried.

But also aware that if you’re coming from
HK or Singapore it might feel very different and incredibly people visiting from those countries often don’t have theft insurance for very expensive watches so why risk it here if that’s the case.

Didn’t lock my front door for over a year in Singapore and chuckled when I’d see adverts reminding people that crime did actually exist.
 
jjen
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I'm from New York. I guess America is way more messed up than the UK, or at least it feels that way
 
TimeODanaos
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workandturn workandturn
I would be very careful if you're wearing watch in London, and if you dont have insurance Id say its best to avoid wearing one.
Which parts do you frequent?
 
workandturn
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TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
Which parts do you frequent?
All over, Im a freelancer so my job changes location all the time. Last few months, Aldgate East, Barbican, Old Street, but always zones 1 & 2.
 
TimeODanaos
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workandturn workandturn
I would be very careful if you're wearing watch in London, and if you dont have insurance Id say its best to avoid wearing one.
workandturn workandturn
Couldnt agree more with everyone’s thoughts, born just outside London and lived and work there for over 10 years, I wear my watch to work and I’m never worried.
🤔🍿
 
Spruce
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Homicide rates in London in 2025 have dropped to the the lowest level in a decade.

Per 100,000 people, the comparative figures are:

Philadelphia 12.3%
Houston 10.5
LA 5.6
New York 2.8
Berlin 3.2
Brussels 2.9
Paris 1.6
London 1.1
 
TimeODanaos
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^ Somebody needed to say this. In England, you're also unlikely to have your children shot while at their school (yes, OK, it has happened), to have internet lunatics claim it was all a hoax, or to be sworn at then shot dead by law enforcers while failing to exit your SUV on a suburban street. Some places and some folks really, really, need to sort themselves out before offering to run other people's countries.
 
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