The UK has a rich tradition of quality knife making and retail. From folding pocket knives to kitchen cutlery, there are many excellent UK-based knife shops offering a wide selection. Here is an overview of some of the top knife shops across the UK that knife enthusiasts should know about.
London
As the capital and largest city in the UK, London unsurprisingly has some of the best knife shops in the country.
The Japanese Knife Company
Located in Borough Market, this shop specializes in high-end Japanese kitchen knives. They stock many brands including Takeshi Saji, Yu Kurosaki, and Misono. Their knowledgeable staff can help you select the ideal Japanese knife for your needs. They also offer knife sharpening services.
Fox Cutlery Shop
With a wide array of pocket knives, kitchen knives, and outdoors/hunting knives, Fox Cutlery Shop in Islington has an extensive selection of blades. Major brands stocked include Opinel, Victorinox, Buck, Leatherman, and Spyderco.
Harrods Cutlery Department
The iconic luxury department store Harrods offers an upscale knife shopping experience. Top brands featured include Miyabi, Wüsthof, Global, and Shun. Harrods also sells customized and engraved knives. Expect high prices but also exceptional service.
Sheffield
Known historically as the center of knife manufacturing in the UK, Sheffield still contains several excellent knife shops today:
Rösle Cutlery
This shop sells meticulously crafted German kitchen and chef’s knives. Their showroom features the full Rösle range of cook’s knives, paring knives, boning knives, and knife blocks.
Ashgate Cutlery Centre
Located in Sheffield’s Cutler’s Hall, this shop sells pocket and kitchen knives from brands like Case, Victorinox, and Robert Welch. Their knowledgeable staff can assist you in finding the right knife.
Bill Deakin Cutlery
A family-owned Sheffield knife shop uk that has been in business over 60 years. They specialize in kitchen knives, pocket knives, and hunting/camping knives.
Online Knife Shops
While visiting a physical knife shop can be an immersive experience, shopping online is convenient and many UK knife companies now sell primarily online:
Heinnie Haynes
This Newcastle-based shop has a massive online selection of knives inspired by owner Danny Haynes’ passion for blades. Folding knives, fixed blade knives, kitchen knives, and sword canes – Heinnie Haynes stocks them all.
Knives and Tools
Located in Norfolk, this online shop lives up to its name with a vast array of knives and tools. Brands carried include Spyderco, Leatherman, CRKT, Victorinox, and many more.
Knife Shop UK
Specializing in restricted UK “non-locking” folding knives, this is one of the best online sources for slipjoint pocket knives that adhere to UK knife laws. They stock brands like LionSteel, Boker, and Opinel.
Conclusion
For knife enthusiasts visiting or living in the UK, there is an impressive range of knife shops to explore. London, Sheffield, Newcastle, and Norfolk are all major knife retail hubs, with a mix of brick-and-mortar shops and online stores offering quality blades. From Japanese chef’s knives to traditional English slipjoints, the UK knife market has something for everyone.