[omairp]

Chiefly because they tend to be a bit more affordable than certain English ones (C&J, EG, Church's)

You can get C&J starting at 200 pounds from A&G Martin-Stone on Edgeware Road, and seconds starting around 100 pounds from their factory store (only open Fridays) in Northampton. If you're in London, you're better off buying C&J or the better quality Cheaney's (the ones that aren't made from corrected grain leather, visit John Rushton on Wigmore street and they can give you guidance.)

Alden and AE will cost an arm and a leg in the UK, and are not as stylish as the alternatives.

 

[Brideshead]

J Simons often have a small range of AE. I got these a year or so back.

The appeal to any ex skinhead/suedehead/mod is that they are different to the Englishman's idea of a 'gentleman's' shoe and all the stuffy associations......as I have got older I can find room for a more eclectic collection. But my first love is still an Ivy influenced style.

 

[Trimmer]

There are a few London stockists listed on the AE website. Otherwise, if you know your size, the mail order service will probably work out cheaper (even after tax and P&P).

London

Flamco Ltd. Fifty Seven Degrees
Palmer 125 Northcote Road
Rochester Big & Tall 90 Brompton Road
The Master Cobbler 21 Highbury Park

I have no knowledge of any of these places.

 

[Brideshead]

Good prices - poor selection here

https://www.solelyshoes.com/acatalog/allen_edmonds.html

 

[Trimmer]

Good prices - poor selection here

https://www.solelyshoes.com/acatalog/allen_edmonds.html

They don't look very appealing.

 

[omairp]

They don't look very appealing.

They look like... Allen Edmonds

 

[Odradek]

Just out of curiosity, why does an Englishman wishes to purchase American shoes when English shoes are available? Just wondering.

Well certain more American styles are very hard to find in Europe. Saddle shoes for instance.
My wife is taking a trip to Massachusetts next month and I'm still trying to decide if I should get her to buy me some AE Finch purely on a size conversion chart basis.
Is a UK 7.5F about the same as a US 8D or 8E?

 

[blue suede shoes]

Well certain more American styles are very hard to find in Europe. Saddle shoes for instance.
My wife is taking a trip to Massachusetts next month and I'm still trying to decide if I should get her to buy me some AE Finch purely on a size conversion chart basis.
Is a UK 7.5F about the same as a US 8D or 8E?

The US D width is about the same as the UK F width, and the US E width is about the same as the UK G width.

The Finch is on the same "1" last as the AE Sheldon. I have them both and they feel the same, so you might want to consider the Sheldon also.