7 top-notch trainer shops in London

The iconic American skate brand has just opened its biggest store in Europe on lil ol’ Oxford Street. As well as stocking all the classics in the Vans range (from Old Skools to Eras and everything in between), the 4,714-square-foot site is also home to a number of features you won’t find anywhere else. For those who take their skating seriously or are more likely to be found on a board in the sea, Vans Oxford Street is the go-to destination for its pro-skate and surf ranges. And, if you just want to add a personal touch to any of your purchases, in-house artists will be on hand in the Customs Lab area to help you make your next pair of kicks truly unique.

The Newcastle-based shop and mahoosive online retailer opened its doors to a swanky space just off Carnaby Street towards the end of 2018, and it’s a fab place to head to for those limited edition launches and collaborations. Skip the queue and head inside to find yourself in luxe streetwear heaven.

Want to have a pair of kicks that are something of a conversation starter? This ace Berwick Street space is worth a visit. Minimalist in design, the shop is a far cry from some of the other shoe shops in Soho, and you’re given the time and space to make a decision (rather than having to fight your way through crowds of teenagers, tourists and teenage tourists). Expect unique colourways and collabs of your favourite designs and helpful advice from the knowledgeable sneakerheads behind the till.

A Carnaby Street institution, Size? (don’t forget the question mark) reliably stocks all the classics. It’s also one of the few London stores where you can get your mitts on limited-edition lines in person, hence the queues of salivating sneakerheads snaking around the block on release day.

Originally located on Coronet Road in Hoxton, you can now find the mega-size Goodhood store on Shoreditch’s Curtain Road. Its cult status makes it hard to believe it only opened in 2007, but its booming popularity is all down to the canny direction and choices of its streetwear-loving owners. You could easily stock most of your house (never mind wardrobe) from this place, but ignore the ceramic incense diffusers for a moment and head straight to the sneaker dept instead. Its fashion-forward selection ranges from minimalistic classics to kicks that demand to be the centrepiece of your outfit. Oh, and it also sells trainer care travel kits to keep your babies looking box fresh.

If you haven’t bust the bank at Goodhood, make space in your Shoreditch shopping spree for Sneakersnstuff, another expertly curated selection of our favourite variety of footwear. A big-hitter with hardcore sneaker fans, when the store opened its Berlin branch in 2016 there was queues around the block for the whole first weekend. Back home at the Blighty shop, you can pick up limited-edition styles and shoes you’ll want to place on the mantelpiece and admire as a work of art. To make things fairer, Sneakersnstuff has developed a raffle system for the latest high-demand releases so you all get an equal chance of landing a pair. Oh, and it also has an excellent online sale section. Just saying.

Offspring Seven Dials shouldn’t be missed if you’re looking for a centrally located and always well-stocked sneaker shop. We’re heading here to purchase the Christmas presents sure to make us that favourite relative, and picking up some floral Old Skool Vans to inject colour into the winter wardrobe at the same time.