21 of the Best Korean Shops in London for KPop, K-Beauty & More
I love living in the international hub of London where it’s so easy to find products and foods from other cultures. Japanese snacks? Korean beauty products? Jamón from Spain? It’s all at my doorstep.
Recently my cultural obsession is anything and everything Korean. I’ve become a Korean beauty convert, and my tweens are obsessed with K-pop, so we’ve been journeying the city to find all the best Korean shops in London.
Here’s my list of the best Korean shops in London that I’ve found so far, along with all the best K-pop shops in London, the best Korean skincare shops in London, and where to find all your other Korean favorites in this massive city.
Let’s go!
The Best KPop Shops in London
Looking for a basic BTS album, some cool merch, stickers, t-shirts, or cards? I’ve got you. Here are the best K-pop shops in London for whatever you’re looking for.
1. SoKollab, Tottenham Court Road
The largest of the K-pop shops in London with the most variety, SoKollab is a gem of a shop for anyone into K-pop.
Though the space itself is pretty small, it’s laid out really cleanly and beautifully. They have everything from albums to summer packages to t-shirts and K-beauty. The prices are actually pretty reasonable for a Central London shop!
2. Forbidden Planet, Covent Garden
Forbidden Planet’s London Megastore is one of my all-time favorite stores in London for whatever media you’re into. Anime, Marvel, graphic novels, K-Dramas, and Kpop; it’s all here in this one destination.
The selection of K-Pop isn’t as large as some of the dedicated K-pop shops in London, but you can still find cards, posters, t-shirts, and other merch from your favorite groups.
If you need a shopping break, pop by El Takoy for delicious tacos and margaritas.
3. KPop K Shop, Shoreditch
This is a newer store on Bethnal Green Road near Shoreditch and Brick Lane, so if you’re in the East London area, definitely check it out.
They also host and promote local Kpop events, so keep an eye on their Instagram for the latest London Kpop news!
4. Fopp, Seven Dials
Looking for limited release Kpop albums? Offshoot of HMV, record and cinema store Fopp is where you want to be. Not only will they (likely) have the newest releases, but they can order you anything you like.
Keep an eye out on their socials for the latest. Fopp specializes in smaller and less mainstream groups and albums than their parent store HMV, and it feels more like an independent retailer.
5. Seoul Bakery
This is a small but very popular Korean restaurant on top, and a small (but great!) selection of Kpop items downstairs. Go for the incredible food, but also check out the merch.
There’s usually a wait to be seated for food, so don’t go if you’re really starving and need to eat ASAP. It’s worth the wait!
6. HMV, Various Locations Across London
If it’s only Kpop albums you’re after, music store giant HMV sells quite a few different Kpop albums. Some stores also have a selection of posters, cards, and other merch.
Korean Beauty and Korean Skincare Shops in London (K-Beauty)
1. Glam Touch, Bloomsbury and Glam Touch Soho
The best Korean Beauty shops in London have to be this pair of Glam Touch stores. They’re like Sephora, but only for K-beauty!
They have a huge selection in these beautifully decorated stores, and the staff are so kind and knowledgeable about skin care needs. This definitely needs to be the first stop for a girls day out in London!
I’ve found my favorite standard products here like the Anua Heartleaf line and Round Lab sunscreen, and also some new-to-me products that staff recommended. It’s all done wonders for my skin. If you’re not yet a K-Beauty convert, you will be after a visit to Glam Touch.
The prices are pretty comparable to what you’d pay online, and keep an eye out for sales and special deals.
If you’re nearby, shop online.
2. PURESEOUL Soho
This lovely little shop in the Covent Garden/Soho area is another one of the best Korean skincare shops in London. They have a full range of all the standard brands, as well as some you may have not seen before.
The prices are pretty high, but considering import costs and the shopfront in a prime Central London location, you’re getting what you pay for here. The staff are very kind and helpful. You can also shop online.
3. K-Miso Beauty, Greenwich
I haven’t made it out to Greenwich yet to try this beautiful shop, but I’ve heard really good things on community threads. It’s primed to be one of the best Korean skincare shops in London, it’s just not super close to Central London!
They have all your favorite brands, as well as some sales and deals if you keep an eye on it. Plus, it’s near Greenwich Market which makes for a beautiful day out South of the Thames.
4. Nature Republic, Leicester Square
Nature Republic is one of Korea’s high-end skincare destinations, and they now have a shop in Leicester Square. Note that Nature Republic is its own range; they don’t have your favorite brands. They only carry their own line of products. But they’re excellent products!
They carry some great products and the staff is really helpful, though it is a bit pricey for some items. Keep up with their socials, though, as they have some great discounts sometimes.
5. TONIC15, Angel
TONIC15 is one of the best Korean beauty shops in London, with a huge variety of skincare and makeup.
They have a small in-person shop in Angel, Islington, though the last time I walked by it was shuttered – I don’t know if it was permanently or just temporarily. Check Google Maps before you go.
Either way, you can shop online for their whole incredible range.
6. P2Bus Leicester Square
This is a little hole-in-the-wall shop in the Leicester Square/Chinatown area, but they have a great range of products. However, I’ve noticed that the prices are a bit higher than the other shops mentioned above.
You can shop online, though I tried the website and it was a little difficult to navigate and glitchy.
In person, I’d only really go here if I was out of something and needed it immediately, or if I didn’t have time to travel to other stores before I left London. Any of the stores mentioned above have a bigger selection and lower prices, to be totally honest.
Best Korean Shops in London
1. Seoul Plaza, 3 Locations in Central London
Seoul Plaza is a gem of a grocery and food shop chain with 3 locations in Central London.
Here you can find all your favorite Korean snacks, drinks, frozen foods, and there’s even a hot food buffet, all for fairly reasonable prices. Some items are more expensive than others, but there’s a good variety here.
Smaller Store: On Tottenham Court Road near the British Museum, there is a smaller branch of Seoul Plaza.
Larger Store: At St. Giles Square you’ll find a large branch of Seoul Plaza with lots of fresh, ready foods, and a good variety of imports.
Larger Store: A bit further south on Charing Cross Road, there’s a large branch of Seoul Plaza with a bigger variety and more ready foods.
2. Oseyo, Several Locations Across London
Oseyo is a chain of Korean & Asian markets that carry a variety of snacks, frozen foods, Korean imports, spices, drinks, and prepared foods. Some locations are larger than others, and some even have a selection of K-pop albums and merch!
I have one near me and I love picking up the delicious frozen foods to have on hand, as well as staples for my favorite Korean recipes. My kids love all the incredible Korean snacks and drinks.
3. Centre Point, New Oxford Street
Centre Point is a Korean and Japanese market near the British Museum that sells a variety of fresh and prepared foods, frozen foods, snacks, drinks, ingredients, and fruits and veg.
The prices here are a bit higher than chains like Oseyo, but since it’s an independent store in a prime location, you’re paying a bit more for the privilege.
4. Hedecke Asian Market, Elephant & Castle
A smaller market in Elephant & Castle, Hedecke offers a pretty wide variety of Korean and Asian foods, including fresh fruit and veg that are hard to find elsewhere.
They have some Japanese snacks you might not find elsewhere, and they even deliver!
5. Dofu City, Shoreditch
This little gem of a market in Shoreditch is a little more upscale than most. Not only do they have a wide variety of affordable snacks and noodles, but they also have prime meats like Japanese Waygu beef and other fresh foods. The staff is really friendly, too!
6. New Loon Moon Supermarket, Chinatown
In the heart of Chinatown is this small grocer with a wide variety. You can find all the fresh and dried ingredients you’re looking for, and though it may be a bit pricey with the prime retail location, it has everything you need in one shop!
7. Golden Square Mart, Soho
With a food hall on the lower floor and a grocery on the main floor, you’re sure to find everything you could want at Golden Square Mart.
You choose a bowl and basically create your own meal, and the prices are really affordable for Central London.
In the shop you can find a variety of fresh and dried foods, drinks, snacks, frozen foods, and so much more.
8. H-Mart, New Malden
H-Mart in New Malden (pretty far outside Central London) is the largest Korean shop in the area. This massive, worldwide chain has absolutely everything, including a selection of K-pop items and K-Beauty products. It’s worth the trek down South!
9. Korean Sections of Local Supermarkets (Sainsburys, Tesco etc):
Your large local branch of these chains will have a decent (passable) selection of your favorite Korean staples.
I’ve heard that some of the really large branches in Greater London have a selection of K-pop albums and merch, though I’ve never seen it in person! I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s only BTS, but if you see more, please let me know!
Korean Shops in London: Final Thoughts
There are so many Korean shops in London, these are just a few of my favorites. Here’s are my current rankings:
Best Korean Beauty Shops in London:
GlamTouch is one of the best Korean skincare shops in London, with PURESEOUL coming in at a close second. I love the variety and shopping experience of both. These are two excellent Korean Beauty shops in London.
Best KPop Shops in London:
Sokollab has the best selection of all the Kpop shops in London, including albums and photo cards. Forbidden Planet has more of a variety of lots of Korean imports, like Anime and other merch.
Best Korean Shops in London for Food:
Seoul Plaza for hot and prepared foods and variety, Oseyo for convenience. There are so many locations of Oseyo that it’s easy to grab a quick bag of Korean groceries wherever you are.
What are your favorite Korean shops in London?
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