If I could, I would book a weekend trip to London at this time for Christmas shopping. It would be nice to have something to look forward to when the numbing November darkness is soon upon us.
Christmas shopping in London is something truly special. The English are so good at decorating their city for Christmas and the Christmas spirit sets in immediately.
I was going to book a room at the Portobello hotel in Notting Hill. A small luxury boutique hotel with a little something extra that I have stayed at before. I stayed at one of their cheaper options. If I were at the checkout I would choose the most special room. It costs 320 pounds per night, but “what the heck”, if it tastes good, it costs. The room has a round bed and an en suite bathroom, as the English say.
A bit special, isn’t it? Round beds are nothing new, but the bathtub with all the brass pipes is a bit different.
First stop is Oxford Street to get it done on a weekday. On the weekend you don’t want to be there, it’s overcrowded with people. I visit Marks and Spencer and Selfridges. I stay in the Selfridges book department for a long time, maybe I’ll get lucky and find a book signed by the author. It’s actually happened several times. Then it’s time to hit the road down to Regent Street to see what’s going on at Liberty’s.
Liberty’s is a fascinating blend of history and the latest in design. And just walking around on the creaking floorboards and breathing in the atmosphere of this historic Tudor House is an experience in itself.
I buy a luxurious scented candle signed Tom Dixon and cruise on to Bond Street and the Ralph Lauren flagship store. There is both fashion and interior design and everything is so tastefully arranged that you want to stay there for a long time and just enjoy.
Then I take the tube to Chelsea where there are a lot of exciting shops. A must is the Designers Guild which is quite far down on King’s Road. You are completely overwhelmed by the splendor of colors. But it feels good to get a shower of color among all the dullness that there is so much of at home.
After this cascade of colors, something more minimalist feels right. So I head for a stop at the Conran shop on Fulham Road.
It is located in Michelin House, which has a unique architecture. It was built by the famous tire manufacturer and it was one of the company’s engineers who designed the house, which can be said to be in the Art Noveau style. At the Conran shop, it is the gadget department on the ground floor that is the most attractive. There are so many designer things there and I take the opportunity to buy some Christmas presents.
Also have to make time for Abigail Ahern’s little shop. Abigail is the latest rising star in interior design in England and has a slightly cool, slightly “edgy” modern baroque style. This is what it might look like:
This will be the last stop for today. Tired legs and feet, now it’s dinner. The rest will be divided between Friday and Saturday. Then it will be Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Heals, Habitat, India Jane and much, much more….
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