Glass shop fronts in London: styles and layouts
The layout of a glass shop front shapes how it looks from the street and how it works for your business: the number of bays, the position of the entrance and whether the glass runs flat, round a corner or in a curve. We bring 30 years of industry experience to every glass shop front we make, supplying and fitting them in London and across the UK. This guide walks through the main styles and how to choose between them. Request a free quotation.
What is a glass shop front?
A glass shop front is the glazed front of a shop. Glass panels sit in a frame, or are held with minimal visible framing, and the frontage includes the entrance door. A fascia above it and a roller shutter in front of it can be planned at the same time. For the choice of glass itself, see our guide to glass shopfronts.
Glass shop front styles at a glance
| Style | How it looks | Best suited to | Our example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat glass shop front | A straight frontage glazed in one or more panels, with the entrance placed to suit the opening. | Units with a single street-facing elevation. | Aluminium and glass shopfront system |
| Corner glass shop front | Glazing that turns the corner and continues along a return elevation. | Corner units with two street-facing sides. | Corner shopfront with a return elevation |
| Curved glass shop front | A curved run of glazing that follows the line of the building. | Buildings with a curved or bowed frontage. | Curved glazed shopfront |
| Multi-bay glass shop front | Several glazed bays with separate openings. | Wide units or buildings with more than one opening. | Multi-bay glazed shopfront |
Flat glass shop fronts
A flat glass shop front is the most common layout. The frontage runs straight across the opening, and the glass is divided into panels to suit the width of the unit. How many panels you want, and where the door sits, are decided from the survey.
Corner glass shop fronts
A corner unit shows two faces to the street. A corner glass shop front keeps the glazing continuous round the corner, with the return elevation treated as part of the same frontage rather than a separate job.
Curved glass shop fronts
Where the building line is curved, the glazing can follow it. Our curved glass shop front uses laminated glass.
Multi-bay glass shop fronts
A multi-bay glass shop front splits a wide frontage into several glazed bays, each with its own opening. It suits a long unit or a building where the structure sets the openings.
Framed or frameless?
Any of these styles can be framed in aluminium or built with minimal visible framing. Frameless glass keeps the view into the shop as clear as possible. Our frameless toughened glass shopfront is one example. You agree the frame finish and colour with us.
Entrance doors for a glass shop front
The entrance can be a single door or a double door, placed to suit the layout. See our single entrance door, double entrance doors and automatic doors.
How to choose a glass shop front style
Start with the building, then the business:
- the shape of the frontage: straight, on a corner, or curved
- how many openings the building allows
- where customers should enter
- how much window display you want visible
- whether a roller shutter or fascia is planned with it
- any landlord or planning requirements
Send us photos and rough measurements and we will suggest a layout.
Planning and landlord consent
Changing a shop front may need planning permission, and your lease may need the landlord's agreement. Please confirm both before you order.
What affects the cost of a glass shop front
Each glass shop front is specified individually, and the main factors are:
- the style and number of bays
- the size of the opening
- framed or frameless
- the entrance doors
- supply only, or a complete supply-and-install service
How a glass shop front project works
- Tell us about the premises and share photos.
- We survey the opening and agree the style.
- Your quotation sets out the layout, glass, frame, doors and finish.
- We make and fit the frontage, or supply it only where that suits.
Replacing or repairing glass in an existing shop front
Existing frontages can be reviewed for repair or replacement glazing. See shopfront repair. 24/7 emergency roller-shutter and shopfront glass repair and make-safe support is available. No specific response time is promised.
Request a free quotation
Photograph the opening, note rough measurements and the style you have in mind, and we can help you plan the next move. Request a free quotation. See completed work in our projects gallery, or browse all shopfronts.
Glass shop front questions
What is a glass shop front?
It is the glazed front of a shop: glass panels in a frame or with minimal framing, plus the entrance door. The layout and style are agreed with you after the survey.
Which style suits a corner unit?
A corner glass shop front keeps the glazing continuous round the corner and along the return elevation.
Can a glass shop front be curved?
Yes. We make curved glazed shop fronts for buildings with a curved frontage.
What is a multi-bay glass shop front?
It is a wide frontage split into several glazed bays, each with its own opening.
Can I choose between a framed and a frameless glass shop front?
Yes. Any of the styles can be framed in aluminium or built with minimal visible framing.
Where should the entrance door go?
It depends on the opening, the layout of the shop and where customers should enter. We agree the position with you after the survey.
Do I need consent from my landlord or local planning authority?
A change to a shop front may need one or both. Please confirm with your local authority or landlord.
Can you supply the glass shop front only, without fitting it?
Yes, we can supply it only, or supply and fit it, whichever works for you.
