Music

1. Rhythm Division
Best grime emporium in London, filled with hot white labels and mix tapes covering dub step, UK hip hop and bashment. It’s also something of a hangout for young MCs and DJs.
Rhythm Division, 391 Roman Rd, E3 (020 89812203/www.rhythmdivision.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.

2. Cheapo Cheapo
Anarchic secondhand store with towering piles of vinyl and CDs. Rummage around and you might well find a few gems.
Cheapo Cheapo, 53 Rupert St, W1 (020 74378272).Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-10pm.

3.Stern's
Distinguished African music specialist and the largest distributor of African records outside of Paris. It also covers a good range of world music (European folk, Latin etc) and houses a lovely world café.
Stern’s, 74-75 Warren St, W1 (020 7387 5550/www.sternsmusic.com). Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-6.30pm.

4. Mr CD
One word: cheap. Good selection of mostly mainstream music, all at very low prices.
Mr CD, 80 Berwick St, W1 (020 7439 1097/www.mrcd.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-7pm.

5. Rough Trade
Legendary shop opened by Geoff Travis in 1976, still respected for its huge selection of alterno rock, psych folk, post-punk and hip hop.
Rough Trade, 130 Talbot Rd, W11 (020 7229 8541/www.roughtrade.com), 16 Neal’s Yard, WC2 (020 7240 0105) and The Old Truman Brewery, Dray Walk (off Brick Lane) London E1 6QL. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 1-5pm.

6. Sounds Of The Universe
Flagship store of the incredible Soul Jazz label. An irresistible selection of reggae, funk, jazz,Latin, disco and post-punk.
Sounds of the Universe, 7 Broadwick St, W1 (020 7494 2004/www.soundsoftheuniverse.com).Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-7pm, Sat 12noon-6.30pm.

7. ABC Music
The only remaining outpost for quality Desi music in Southall. Stocks modern and vintage Bollywood plus classical and devotional music, ghazals, qawwali and Hindi karaoke.
ABC Music, 7 The Broadway, Southall (020 8574 1319). Open Mon-Fri 11am-7.30pm, Sun 11am-8pm.

8. Harold Moores
A Dickensian haven for classical music. There’s a good secondhand section and staff are famed for their knowledge.
Harold Moores, 2 Great Marlborough St, W1 (020 7437 1576/www.hmrecords.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

9. Pure Groove
Small shop that made its name selling electro and house. Now it’s branched out into indie rock to become one of the best places in London to buy seven-inchers from the hottest new bands. There have been in-store performances lately from the likes of Cut Copy and Nine Black Alps, with The Duke Spirit dropping by ‘soon’. Pure Groove, 679 Holloway Rd, N19 (020 7281 4877/www.puregroove.co.uk). Open Mon, Tue, Sat 10am-6pm, Wed-Fri 10am-7pm.

10. Deal Real
Just off Carnaby Street, Deal Real is at the heart of London’s hip hop community, supporting rising MCs with open mics every first and third Friday of the month. It stocks the latest UK and US hip hop, plus loads of grime and old soul rarities on CD and vinyl.
Deal Real, 3 Marlborough Court,W1 (020 7287 7245/www.dealreal.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-7pm, Sun until 6pm.

11. Fopp
With a wide selection of music at cheap prices (CD albums from £5), this is a great place to try out something different. Downstairs sells new vinyl releases, repressings and out-of-print jazz, funk and soundtrack albums. Opens late.
Fopp, 1 Earlham St, WC2 (020 7379 0883/www.fopp.co.uk).

12. Music & Video Exchange
This venerable institution sells rock, indie, folk and blues, and there’s a sister shop with soul,dance, hip hop, reggae and jazz a few doors up.
Music & Video Exchange, 38 Notting Hill Gate, W11 (020 7243 8573/www.mveshops.co.uk). Open daily 10am-8pm.


13. Beanos
Fantastic shop that claims to be the ‘biggest secondhand record store in the world’. Four floors of rock, hip hop, house and soul.
Beanos, 7 Middle St, Croydon (020 8680 1202/www.beanos.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm,Sun 11am-4pm.

14. Honest Jons
Damon Albarn’s favourite shop keeps a good range of black music, from jazz and reggae to African and world, on CD and vinyl.
Honest Jons, 278 Portobello Rd, W10 (020 8969 9822/www.honestjons.com). Open Mon-Sat 10pm-6am, Sun 11am-5pm.

15. Smallfish Records
This Hoxton shop provides a great selection of electronica and all things leftfield. It also has an organic café downstairs, which hosts live music.
Smallfish Records, 329 Old St, EC1 (020 7739 2252/www.smallfish.co.uk). Open Mon 12noon-8pm, Tue-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 10.30am-7.30pm, Sun 10.30am-6.30pm.

16. Sister Ray
Recently taken over by Sister Ray, Selectadisc still has a good range of indie, electronica, soul and jazz at low prices, but expect more rarities, a bigger dance section and more performances.
Sister Ray, 34-35 Berwick St, W1 (020 7734 3297/www.sisterray.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-7pm, Sun 12noon-6pm.

17. Ray's Jazz Shop at Foyles
It might have moved from its Shaftesbury Avenue home, but Ray’s still carries a fine selection of jazz, blues and folk on vinyl and CD. There’s a nice café on the premises too.
Ray’s Jazz Shop, Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Rd, WC2 (020 7440 3205/www.foyles.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-9pm, Sun 12noon-6pm.

18. Sound 323
Possibly the most specialised record shop in London, selling avant-garde jazz, improv, contemporary classical, difficult post-rock and unlistenable electronica.
Sound 323, 323 Archway Rd, N6 (020 8348 9595/www.secureonlineshopping.biz/sound323). Open Tue-Sat 12noon-5.30pm.

19. Intoxica
Decked out like a 1950s Hawaiian cabin, with old film posters and 1950s music blaring from the speakers, this is a vinyl collector’s paradise, with lots of rare punk, garage rock, blues and R&B. Be warned, though, it can be pricey.
Intoxica, 231 Portobello Rd, W11 (020 7229 8010/www.intoxica.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-6.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

20. Phonica
Boutique-styled shop that specialises in all things electronic and, more recently, reggae and dub. Big-name DJs are regular visitors.
Phonica, 51 Poland St, W1 (020 7025 6071/www.phonicarecords.co.uk). Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-9pm.