Shops and Cafes no longer here.

Not the most obvious shop people would miss, but independent betting shops. Many towns had one of these on a side street, often referred to as a turf accountant to make them sound more upmarket.

More recent - but I still miss BHS and Littlewoods.

Terribull I too remember Lyons Corner houses. Proper restaurants, and uite smart, but open to all. it is where we usually ate when we come up to London from the suburbs.

The Indian and Ceylon governments separately funded lovely tea houses, one in Hay Market, the other in Oxford Street. Delicious tea and light bite catering.

All the department stores, Swan & Edgar at Piccadilly and convenien for where I liked. Dickens & Jones at the top of Regent Street with its lovely logo of a woman's head developing from a picture of a rose. I saw that same logo yesterday, on a hat box in the window of a local charity shop. Its clothes had much more edge and were more fashionable than other more run of the mill department stores.

Oxford Street was department stores end to end on one side, or it felt like that.

Nancat I often used to visit it Rackhams in Birmingham where I used to work in the late 1960s. I loved to see the models walking around the store in the latest fashions.

I haven’t been back to Birmingham in decades, I think I would see it very changed.

I remember Daniel Neal in Kensington Magenta. The other shops were Barkers, Derry & Toms and Pontins

I often think fondly of the big department stores, specially when it's raining. Usually carpeted, and luxurious, where you could spend all day and have lunch! Usually had at least one per large city, and loads in London.

The Copper Kettle in London to meet my pals for very long lunch breaks. Don’t know how we got away with it.

My mum was a Lyon’s House Nippy at Trafalgar Square, I think.

Chaitriona

Biba in Kensington Church Street, Kensington Market in Kensington High Street, Miss Selfridge in Oxford Street.

I remember being taken to Biba by my late older brother.when I was about 17. How I wish that I had kept the items, which were so trendy! Also Laura Ashley- I had a gorgeous full length maxi dress, which I wore as a student. Happy memories.

My wedding dress was a maxi corduroy high necked dress. In a sort of tobacco colour. I probably looked like a pair of curtains but I loved it.
Had I kept it, it would sell on vinted for £200 or so. And cost me £13 in 1973.

Have loved everything I bought there. I still wear a pair of navy long shorts in a navy heavy cotton. Beautifully cut.

Never bought their furniture or homeware, but admired it.

My last purchase was in their closng down sale 6nor eo yrars ago. . I felt quite tearful.

Sorry that was from L Ashley jot Biba. But I loved Biba as well. Such a dramtic shop. Wonderful.

Forgive the typos. Am on the list for a cataract op. Fingers crossed my sight will improve for proof reading.

We use to have a Dorothy Perkins, Edinburgh Wool, Bon Marche and a M and S foodhall. There was a Curry's and Eastern Electric shop, Co Op, Wilkinson and Fine Fare but all gone now. Plus many independent shops. Also had two cafes as well but they've gone and replaced with coffee shops serving horrid bitter coffee in huge cups I can hardly pickup!! No wonder people shop on line now.

I loved Laura Ashley in Kensington Church Street .
The lovely Victoruan dresses were crammed very tightly on the rails on wire hangers -rather like Primark !
Rita Tushingham and I collided going through the doors .
I also loved Bus Stop .
I went to the one in Croydon .
It had originally been a pub and was near the bus terminal.
I had a few dresses from Biba -older friends passed them on .
One unpleasant thing that I recall vividly-old men used to frequent it to pick up the "dolly birds " -their expression not mine.
Waiting for friends who worked there a guy tried to pick me up .
I was 15 .