Speaking as a Londoner I have always been very disappointed (and slightly baffled) as to why there's such a dearth of good guitar shops here.

Having got my fingers burned a couple of times during the quest to find "My Perfect Guitar", I vowed never to buy a guitar unplayed ever again.

I still basically adhere to that rule, even though the closest I have got to "My Perfect Guitar" is one I ended up buying via mail-order from Thomann's: an all-solid mahogany Grand Auditorium size 12-fret-to-body by Recording King. Made in a Chinese factory, but bags more tone and character than any of the guitars I tried out in various London shops.

None of the Martins, Taylors and luthier-made guitars I played during my quest did it for me at all. Then again, I never tried out any all-mahogany models. I suspect that's what is key for me, I just like the sound of a 'hog'.