London - My shopping Mecca
June equals summer sales.. and a week in London is definately the best retail therapy.
Eurostar is the fastest and best way to get into London from Brussels Midi station. Business class passengers were served champagne and a choice of cold and hot canapes, which is a big difference from economy class. In just under 2 hours, we arrived at the new St Pancreas Station.
Eurostar is the fastest and best way to get into London from Brussels Midi station. Business class passengers were served champagne and a choice of cold and hot canapes, which is a big difference from economy class. In just under 2 hours, we arrived at the new St Pancreas Station.
We stayed on Knightsbridge, right across from Harvey Nicholas and Hyde Park. I did my morning runs in Hyde Park and the connecting Kensington Gardens. One tend to forget just how wonderful it is to have a large area of green right in the middle of a bustling city. Back for a quick shower and a healthy breakfast of stewed prunes, figs, cereals, a danish and coffee. No greasy sausages and eggs, thank you.
Day 1: I walked all the way down knightsbridge to Exhibition road where i visited the V&A museum - there was a jewellery exhibition that day. I poked around South Kensington area, lunched at an upmarket bistro, before heading to Harrods. At Harrods, i picked up some Lebanese sweets - my favourite and still the best, if one can't find a local Lebanese sweet shop.
Day 2: For the fashionistas, Harvey Nics is the place to be. I wandered through all levels of the store, pausing at favourite brands but the sales was not in full force yet. The rest of the afternoon, I meandered into stores like Jigsaw, Ghost, Urban Outfitters, Principles, Monsoon and Warehouse.
Day 1: I walked all the way down knightsbridge to Exhibition road where i visited the V&A museum - there was a jewellery exhibition that day. I poked around South Kensington area, lunched at an upmarket bistro, before heading to Harrods. At Harrods, i picked up some Lebanese sweets - my favourite and still the best, if one can't find a local Lebanese sweet shop.
Day 2: For the fashionistas, Harvey Nics is the place to be. I wandered through all levels of the store, pausing at favourite brands but the sales was not in full force yet. The rest of the afternoon, I meandered into stores like Jigsaw, Ghost, Urban Outfitters, Principles, Monsoon and Warehouse.
Day 3: Time to hit the 4 iconic stores on my list: M&S, Debenhams, Selfridges, Fortnam & Mason. First stop Marks & Spencer's flagship store on Marble Arch and worked my way eastwards, going past Debenhams, Selfridges on Oxford and ending up in Picadilly's Fortnam and Mason. I refuelled around noon in Soho, at a small Japanese restaurant I had read on a London food blog. The sushi set lunch was good and quick and cost 10 pounds. I went to Chinatown to lookup an old friend who was working as a hairdresser in one of the salons above a chinese restaurant. He was grateful to see me and bought me a round of dim sum - my second lunch of the day. At day's end, I had picked up some orange marmalade cookies at Fortnam & Masons It was the only brand around-hence i've contributed to the Prince of Wales- charity cause. As usual, this store was full of Japanese tourists. Debenhams is a good address to pick up home stuff like bedlinens. I got some designer ones - 100% Egyptian cotton at 60% off the original price!
Day 4: I saw workers put up sale signages outside Harvey Nics the night before and so I made sure I got there bright and early the next day. Everything was 50% off, ! I purchased some trouser suits from Maxmara and bought a Milly dress. I gave a shot at the shoe department but it was already elbow room only. I hesitated on a pair of Gucci shoes but decided against it. I stalked some more designer names before heading back.
Day 5: I stopped at Selfridges and ended up with a jacket and dress from Kenzo and a pair of MaxMara pants. Level one at Selfridges with its trendy, up to the minute- a la Britney Spears' fashion used to be my favourite department, but that day, I felt strangely out of place. It dawned on me that my taste has markedly evolved together with my age. One less department - a good sign?
Day 6 & 7: I could smell burning plastic from my credit card! My girlfriends came to join me for some girlie time and we decided to eat at the Malaysian House located at Bayswater and ended up eating there for the next three days. We also caught two musicals: Sound of Music and Grease. The Nelson Mandela farewell gig was held at Hyde Park, but we couldn't get tickets.
Day 4: I saw workers put up sale signages outside Harvey Nics the night before and so I made sure I got there bright and early the next day. Everything was 50% off, ! I purchased some trouser suits from Maxmara and bought a Milly dress. I gave a shot at the shoe department but it was already elbow room only. I hesitated on a pair of Gucci shoes but decided against it. I stalked some more designer names before heading back.
Day 5: I stopped at Selfridges and ended up with a jacket and dress from Kenzo and a pair of MaxMara pants. Level one at Selfridges with its trendy, up to the minute- a la Britney Spears' fashion used to be my favourite department, but that day, I felt strangely out of place. It dawned on me that my taste has markedly evolved together with my age. One less department - a good sign?
Day 6 & 7: I could smell burning plastic from my credit card! My girlfriends came to join me for some girlie time and we decided to eat at the Malaysian House located at Bayswater and ended up eating there for the next three days. We also caught two musicals: Sound of Music and Grease. The Nelson Mandela farewell gig was held at Hyde Park, but we couldn't get tickets.
Day 8: Armed with huge shopping bags and two jars of my favourite Indian Sweets - Gulab Jamun, I made my journey back to St Pancreas to catch the Eurostar. Only one Indian food outlet in London, located near the Euston Metro stop, sells this sinfully rich dessert. Yum in a jar.
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