Shopping in London

We decided that today would be a shopping day and not a sightseeing day in London. With no particular urgency for the day, we got up late and so didn't get out until l1. The objective was Oxford Street and, with the Victoria Tube closed for the weekend, we decided to take a bus. Not having checked out the bus routes first, this was a bit of a gamble. We were generally heading in the right direction but then suddenly the bus turned left and we went over the Thames.

The quiet before the storm - the business district of London

We jumped off the bus at the first opportunity and started back on foot. So with a little impromptu sightseeing, we made our way past the Savoy Hotel and through Covent Garden until we made Oxford Street. We then headed west towards Marble Arch visiting the House of Fraser, Selfridges and M&S (Marks & Spencer re-badged) to name a few. It seemed that half of London had decided to go shopping on Oxford Street today. The crowds inside the shops and on the street were bedlam. By the time we reached Marble Arch we were a little tired so we caught a couple of tubes back to Russell Square. This was a near as we could conveniently get to our hotel with the Victoria Tube closed.

 Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

 The Savoy Hotel

 Covent Garden

Marble Arch

Later in the afternoon, we ventured out shopping again. This time we headed for Knightsbridge and Harrods. If half of London was in Oxford Street, the other half was inside Harrods itself. It was Sale time and you couldn't move at times for people hunting a bargain. Still, it was worth the effort of looking around, the place is amazing. The Egyptian Escalators are unlike anything I have ever seen in a shop of any type. After a while we fought our way out and went wandering down Sloane Street, the home of just about every upmarket shop that every existed. 

 Harrods of Knightsbridge

Harrod's Egyptian Escalator

From there we wandered through Belgrave Square and the Embassy corner of London until we got to Victoria Station. This was a very different corner of London as characterised by the cars. Ferraris were that common it was a bit boring. If you wanted something special it needed to be a Lamborghini or a Maserati of which there were a few...

We took the Tube back to Euston via Embankment and went into the Royal George for dinner. We went there for old times sake, it being the pub that Anita's Aunty Muriel and Uncle Jim were running when we were in England 35 years ago.

 The Royal George in Euston