Where to buy umbrellas in london

On average, it rains one-hundred-and-thirty-three days a year in Britain. That is just over one-third of each year that we spend battling through the torrents with our umbrellas. This makes it all the more surprising that the humble umbrella is not considered a lifelong investment in the way our shoes, bags, or watches are.

Having a sturdy umbrella on hand can save you valuable time sheltering under restaurant canopies, or from having your hair ruined by the inevitable downpour. How to Leave Lockdown in Style. For centuries, British umbrella makers have built a reputation as crafting the very best in the world, supplying customers with a diverse range of pieces to match all personalities and protect them from the ghastliest of weather.

A good umbrella, as many of these brands will tell you, should survive a lifetime. To help you decide which umbrella is best for you, we have compiled a list of the very best British umbrella brands in operation today, and how their unique styles can make a little show of rain rather fun. Before you learn more about the brands, shop our edit, below. Although the Fox family business has been making umbrellas in various forms since , when Queen Victoria was still on the throne, today the London based-firm is the quintessentially English pick.

Aside from a few animal-head designs and whangee crooks, these Made in England umbrellas are understated and extremely well-crafted — coming in foldable, telescopic and pure stick. The underlayer: a canopy featuring a bright, colourful pattern very eye-catching and very Paul Smith.

A high-quality piece that will bring a shine to dreary days — what more do you need? Manager Phil Naisbitt tells me they refer to "special orders", rather than bespoke purchases, because "we've always been the average man's umbrella".

The range of woods and fabric patterns is so wide that many buyers feel no need to customise further. The nylon cover known in the trade as a "canopy" is available in any colour or combination of colours, and if you're feeling creative, the team can screen-print a design of your choice onto one or more panels.

Umbrellas where the shaft and handle are made from one solid piece of wood are known as "solid stick" models don't worry about asking the sales assistants for one of these, they've heard it all before. Quite simply, they're beautiful. Especially useful on particularly rough days at the office. The boys get top marks for their superbly easy-to-use online bespoke service. Here, you can design your own umbrella choosing from six different woods for the handle oak, maple, hickory, hazel, ash or chestnut , eight shades for the waterproof cotton canopy, and five different fastening buttons.

Each umbrella arrives in a bag hand-printed with its owner's name and details. Aesthetics aside, Lockwood may soon have an answer to the eternal "left it on a train" heartbreak. Rumour has it they're considering adding GPS devices. Get customising now at lockwoodumbrellas. Pickett take luxury extremely seriously, and if your ideal umbrella is one that's completely unique, these guys should be your first stop.

For around 30 per cent more, you can have an umbrella run up using your own fabric, to match an outfit, or print a picture on the inside or outside of the canopy. Want a contrasting colour on the inside of your umbrella?

And once your brolly is sorted out, take a look at our pick of the best wellies and best Barbour jackets to help protect you still further from the elements.

A Liberty-print umbrella never goes out of style. But what an umbrella! No umbrella is more of a classic than the Fox GT1 in black, with polished-hardwood handle.