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Kurt Geiger
With several branches around town, Kurt Geiger has truly nailed the modern shoe-shopping experience with its mix of cheaper own brands (Carvela and KG) and cherry-picked designers (60-plus including Louboutin, Prada, Marc Jacobs). The South Molton Street store is the best – and most comfortable – for trying on multiple pairs.
Best buy Carvela Kool sandals £35.
65 South Molton St, W1 (020 7758 8020/www.kurtgeiger.com) Bond St tube.

Lollipop
A shoe boudoir complete with plush velvet trying-on stool and chandeliers, there is always a satisfyingly wacky range of styles from designers like Beatrix Ong and Lulu Guinness.
Best buy Wilomena snakeskin pumps £79.
114 Islington High St, N1 (020 7226 4005/www.lollipoplondon.com) Angel tube. Feature continues

Poste Mistress
Designed as an ever-so-posh powder room-cum-brothel, Poste Mistress’s solo store (it’s also an Office concession) is a must for shoe fetishists. It specialises in sexy dominatrix heels, but there’s also a good selection of hip trainers and Chloë Sevigny’s range for Opening Ceremony.
Best buy Poste Mistress ‘Next to Wings’ peep toe £85
61-63 Monmouth St, WC2 (020 7379 4040/www.office.com/postemistress) Covent Garden tube.

The Old Curiosity Shop
Built circa 1567, this creaking shop built from salvaged ships' timbers lays claim to the title of the oldest shop in London.These days you’ll find Japanese designer Daiko Kimura creating stunning avant-garde handmade shoes in his basement.
Best buy Hogtoe shoes £250.
13-14 Portsmouth St, WC2 (020 7405 9891) Holborn tube.

Georgina Goodman
This swanky two-floor boutique on Bond Street is proudly the youngest brand on the street. Small but perfectly formed, it showcases Goodman’s sculptural, lovingly made high heels and flat shoes, long admired by shoe king Manolo Blahnik.
Best buy Patent slipper £170.
44 Old Bond St, W1 (020 7493 7673/www.georginagoodman.com) Green Park tube.

Sniff
This cute boutique offers style and affordability; established designers and Sniff’s own brand, featuring 1940s-inspired peep-toes and wedges.
Sniff, 1 Great Titchfield St, W1 (020 7299 3560/www.sniff.co.uk) Oxford Circus tube.

Church’s Shoes
Church’s still manufactures all its shoes at the original Northampton factory; each shoe goes through a rigorous 250 stages of production, taking up to ten weeks to finish. The flagship store on Regent Street could easily pass for the headquarters of MI6 with its dark, polished wood, smell of expensive leather, and super-efficient staff.
Best buy The Consul (traditional Oxford dress shoe) £270.
201 Regent St, W1 (020 7734 2438/www.church-footwear.com) Oxford Circus tube.

John Lobb
Originator of the expression ‘got a lob on?’, John Lobb was a Cornish farmboy who became a cobbler in Victorian London. Exquisitely made leather and crocodile shoes, and jodhpur boots.
John Lobb, 9 St James’s St, SW1 (020 7930 3664/www.johnlobbltd.co.uk) Green Park tube.

Black Truffle
Black Truffle’s second boutique stocks super-cute styles from Chie Mihara, Arche, Paul & Joe, Trippen, Alberto Fermani, Loake and KTW.
Best buy Chie Mihara sandals in yellow £165
52 Warren St, W1 (020 7388 4547/www.blacktruffle.com) Warren St tube.

Bookshops | Fashion boutiques | Department stores | Erotica and Lingerie Gifts | Health & beauty | High street | Interiors | Jewellery | Menswear | Shoes Specialist | Sports & Technology | Vintage fashion | Shopping Awards 2008