Grays Of Westminster

As a Photographer that has a borderline obsessive love for Nikon, Grays is a mecca for a self confessed camera perv like myself.


I love going in there to look at all the amazing equipment, but also love that the staff are very knowledgeable about the stuff there and I have received very good advice in regards to choosing lenses and kit that will suit my needs.

As previously mentioned this is THE place to buy Nikon equipment in the Uk,I've used Grays many times and I must say their knowledge,expertise and service are second to none, and they are more than happy to answer questions over the phone or via email. The shop itself can only be described as quintessentially English!

Nice shop but they're a bit snooty. Whenever I go in there, even if I've got a grand burning a whole in my pocket, the fact that I'm a bit scruffy always seems to make them look down their noses at me.
And it's expensive. They don't really offer a lot of incentives to buy (i.e. no nice little discounts if you buy a body and a couple of lenses), which is a bit silly as they really should be luring in younger photographers and getting them hooked on their shop. Patronizing and condescending service is a great way to encourage people to shop online!

Grays is THE Nikon dealer in England! I personally don't give a fig whether or not they sell other brands - it's the service and prices you pay that counts to me. You can often dig around on the web & find some Nikon item cheaper but Grays is very competitive, possibly helped by their mail order business.
I visited April 2010 to buy a 16-35mm f4 VR lens & filter. I was served by a young guy who knew his stuff & didn't bat an eyelid when my girlfriend came out with totally off-the-wall comments on totally unrelated topics!
What make Grays so different from the average Nikon Professional Dealer is not only the vast selection of accessories but the collection of 2nd hand equipment. A delightful shop with a great atmosphere that exudes class (in the style sense - not social background). My transaction was conducted at a rather large bureau. Worth a visit! I left the premises feeling pride in owning Nikon equipment. I don't recall having to press a bell - the door was opened for me ;)

This place has pretty huge margins, their prices are not competitive. I strongly advise you shop around a bit.


Nikon D3x camera body:
Gray's price: £5,069.00


OneStop Digital: £4,579.99 (£489.01 cheaper. You could buy a lens for that, or at least put money towards a good one, or stock up on memory and batteries etc)


If web shops aren't your thing and you prefer the over-the-counter and aftersales service of a real retail shop then you could still save £169 by walking round the corner and up the road to Jessops.


I also found the staff there very condescending and snarky.


It's annoying to have to ring the bell to get in.

I'm always a bit aprehensive about any shop where you have to ring a bell to get in, and Gray's is no exception. The staff can be a bit condescending sometimes, but they know everything there is to know about Nikon equipment. You'll generally pay a premium for this though.