Pharmacies
John Bell & Croydon
50-54 WIGMORE STREET, London W1U 2AU
Overview
John Bell & Croydon is a long-established pharmacy and health retailer located on Wigmore Street in London's West End. The business has been serving the London community for many generations and is known for its comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products, health supplements, and beauty and skincare items. The location on Wigmore Street places it in a prestigious shopping area near Oxford Street, making it easily accessible to both residents and visitors to central London.
The pharmacy provides professional pharmaceutical services including prescription dispensing and health consultations. Beyond its core pharmacy offerings, John Bell & Croydon stocks a wide selection of beauty brands, fragrances, vitamins, and wellness products. The store maintains the standards expected of an established independent pharmacy, combining traditional service values with a modern product range that appeals to health-conscious customers across London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening hours at John Bell & Croydon in London vary — most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday, with some offering Sunday and bank holiday hours. Contact 020 7935 5555 for current opening times. Many pharmacies open early (8am) and close late (6:30pm or later). Check the NHS website for verified opening hours.
Some medicines require a prescription from your GP or hospital doctor, while many others are available over the counter without a prescription. The pharmacist at John Bell & Croydon can advise you on which medicines are available without a prescription and can recommend suitable treatments for common conditions such as coughs, colds, headaches, hay fever, and minor infections.
Yes, John Bell & Croydon offers free NHS flu vaccinations each autumn for eligible patients including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with long-term conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart disease), carers, and frontline health and social care workers. No appointment is needed at many pharmacies — walk in and ask. The pharmacist can check your eligibility on the spot.
Yes, you can collect a prescription on behalf of someone else from John Bell & Croydon. You will need to know the patient's name and date of birth, and you may be asked to sign for the collection. For controlled drugs, additional identification requirements may apply. If you regularly collect for someone, ask John Bell & Croydon about setting up a nominated representative.
John Bell & Croydon may offer COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as part of the NHS vaccination programme. Eligibility depends on current NHS guidance. Check the NHS website or call 020 7935 5555 to find out if COVID-19 vaccinations are currently available at this pharmacy and whether you are eligible.
Yes, you can return unwanted, expired, or unused medicines to John Bell & Croydon for safe disposal. Do not flush medicines down the toilet or throw them in household waste as they can harm the environment. Simply bring them to the pharmacy and hand them to a member of staff. This includes tablets, liquids, creams, inhalers, and needles/sharps (in a sharps bin).
Yes, emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) is available from John Bell & Croydon without a prescription. It is most effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel (effective up to 72 hours) is available over the counter. Ulipristal acetate (effective up to 120 hours) may also be available. The pharmacist will have a brief confidential consultation. Emergency contraception is free on the NHS for women of all ages from most pharmacies.
John Bell & Croydon can provide travel health advice and some travel vaccinations. Common travel vaccines available at pharmacies include hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. Other vaccinations such as yellow fever require a specialist travel clinic. Book a travel health consultation at least 6-8 weeks before your trip by calling 020 7935 5555. Some travel vaccines carry a charge as they are not available on the NHS.
You may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are aged 60 or over, under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, have certain medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, etc.), receiving certain benefits (Universal Credit with no earnings, Income Support, etc.), a war pensioner, or hold an HC2 certificate. If you pay for prescriptions, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) can save money — currently about £30 for 3 months or £108 for 12 months, covering unlimited prescriptions.
Yes, pharmacists at John Bell & Croydon can now prescribe for certain common conditions under the NHS Pharmacy First service. Conditions covered include sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. This means you can get treatment without seeing a GP. The pharmacist can also supply emergency contraception and some other medicines under Patient Group Directions.
John Bell & Croydon may offer a free prescription delivery service for patients who are housebound, elderly, or have difficulty visiting the pharmacy. Contact 020 7935 5555 to check availability and arrange delivery to your home in the London area. Some pharmacies use delivery apps or partner with delivery services for same-day delivery.
Yes, John Bell & Croydon can help you quit smoking with free NHS support including advice from the pharmacist, nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers), a structured stop smoking programme with regular check-ins, and access to prescription-only stop smoking medications via your GP. Evidence shows you are up to 3 times more likely to quit with professional support compared to going it alone.
Yes, John Bell & Croydon offers Medicine Use Reviews (MURs) and the New Medicine Service (NMS) to help you get the most from your medicines. These free NHS consultations help you understand what your medicines are for, how to take them correctly, identify side effects, and resolve any problems. Ask the pharmacist if you take multiple medications or have recently started a new medicine.
Yes, John Bell & Croydon offers free NHS blood pressure checks for adults aged 40 and over. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. The check takes about 5 minutes — walk in or call 020 7935 5555 to arrange. If your blood pressure is raised, the pharmacist will advise on next steps and may refer you to your GP.