One of the perks of being a travel agent is occasionally receiving a trip to check out a hotel. It’s hard work verifying the thread counts on sheets, certifying that the meals live up to their 5-star criteria and making sure the cream is ever so clotted at afternoon tea service. This past month, I made a whirlwind inspection tour of a hotel in London over the course a weekend. I was able to steal away a bit of time to visit some of my favorite haunts and hideaways. If you find yourself with 48 hours (or a bit more) in “The City”* might I recommend the following:
*Unless you're a New Yorker
Southbank Centre Food Market
With some of the best street food in London, SCFood Market, as it is known, delights food lovers and explorers alike with its diverse selection of international and local vendors. Bursting with fresh, creative and vibrant flavors, SCFood Market is not only one of London’s top food destinations -- it’s also one of the most affordable. You can find the market on Southbank Centre Square every weekend, even on bank holidays. The market is open until 9pm in the summer and 8pm year-round.
Department Stores
While it’s true that you can buy nearly everything you need online, Amazon, EBay and their ilk will never be able to recreate the pure joy of shopping. And London’s fabled department stores are perhaps the best place to enjoy the hallowed rituals of browsing, discovering and comparing wonderful goods that range from the essential to the whimsical.
Harrods and Selfridges
Harrods and Selfridges is the first and second largest London department stores. Harrods flagship store in Kensington covers 5 acres, while Selfridges is known for its resplendent roofgardens. Damaged during the blitz, the roofgarden only re-opened in 2011. Harrods and Selfridges are a must for any first-time London visitor.
For a little more specialized (I would never say boutique) shopping experience, I enjoy:
Fortnum and Mason
Operating since 1707 and the official grocer to Her Majesty, you can rest assured that Fortnum and Mason will supply you with nourishment of the highest standard. If you’d like a little bit of everything English in one box, pick out a traditional wicker Hamper with “F&M” stamped on the front. Prices range from £55 for “The Afternoon Indulgence Basket” to £1000 for “The Expeditions Hamper,” complete with caviar, champagne, five bottles of wine, a bottle of single malt Scotch and a Wiltshire Ham.
Marks and Spencer
If Fortnum and Mason is a bit too...tasteful for your tastes, you might prefer Marks and Spencer’s affordable but sumptuous dining hall. Marks and Spencer made its reputation as the quintessential retailer of “British Quality Goods,” at reasonable prices. Especially beloved for its clothing, “M&S” is the UK’s largest seller of underwear.
Browsing is, of course, completely free.
Cecil Court
A treasure-hunters paradise, Cecil court is the perfect place to find antiques, rare books and venerable British antiquarians. Even if you don’t have room in your carry-on luggage for a Ming vase or Guttenburg Bible, an encounter with a venerable British antiquarian will surely be the highlight of your trip.
Sir John Soane Museum
London is home to some of the world’s greatest and best known museums. While the crowds flock to the Tate and the British Museum, some of the smaller, less known museums also deserve a look. I love the Sir John Soane home. Soane was a prolific architect of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At the time his death in 1837, Soane was engaged in a bitter dispute with his son and heir, George Soame. Rather than leave the house to his son, he arranged for his friends in Parliament to turn the house into a museum, maintained “as nearly as possible” as it was when he died. Although the Soane museum is now a center for the study of architecture, its great appeal comes from the feeling of being inside the house of an incredibly intelligent and worldly English gentleman. Admission is free www.soane.org
Sky Garden Restaurant
Rising 155 meters (500 feet, or 50 stories) above London, the Sky Garden offers three restaurants with astounding views. To the North is “The City,” London’s modern financial district, while the Thames rolls along to the East and West, with views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge and the Tower of London. If you don’t want a full meal, enjoy a drink at the Fenchurch Terrace, where a pint will set you back only £5.50. Admission is free with purchase of food or drink. Please note that shorts, sportswear, trainers/sneakers and flip flops are not considered appropriate attire. www.skygarden.london
Shepherd Market
Shepherd Market is a charming small square and piazza with a variety of boutique shops, restaurants and impressive Victorian pubs. This unique little enclave is tucked away between Picadilly and Curzon Street, in the heart of London's Mayfair. A hidden gem known for its wonderful relaxed village-like atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of touristing and just enjoy London as the locals do. Visit http://www.shepherdmarket.co.uk/ for a map and directory of stores and restaurants.
