Museum of London Tour-through-Time!
The Museum of London was a fascinating walk through the city’s social history from prehistoric to modern times. It overlooks the Roman city wall remains and is known to house “the largest urban history collection in the world, with more than six million objects.” * Incredible (and daunting!) to peruse everything there including items from “London before London (before the city was even built)”*, Roman London (the biggest city Britain would have for over 1,000 years), medieval artefacts, items from the Great Fire, including those relating to war & plague, insights into how the city rebuilt itself after the fire, Blitz-time relics, and modern-day displays that showed revolutions in technology, fashion and culture. There were also areas dedicated to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
*from the Museum of London website
Bits and Bobs (i.e. This and That)
Just a few fun bits ‘n bobs around town . . . Visits to our Southwark haunts of the Gothic Revival Southwark Cathedral (earliest reference to the site was in a 1086 survey) and fabulous Borough Market (overflowing with all kinds of fresh fruit, veg, flowers, meats, fish, bakery items, candy, sandwiches, cooking items, spices, etc., etc., etc.), Street Food eatery stalls for feasting, the wonderful play, Show Boat, on the West End and a wander through Primrose Hill with rolling grass and great views of the city.
Oxford, Carnaby, Bond and Regent Streets
Those streets are home to much of the famous shopping in London. They’re full of designer outlets, high-street chains and landmark stores.
Oxford is considered London’s main shopping street and It’s 1½ miles long and has hundreds of stores of every kind from posh to cheap, small to large with both huge department stores, and tiny shops.
Carnaby is associated with the cultural phenomenon of “the Swinging Sixties” in London. It’s a walking area in Soho, full of stylish shops and cute cafes and concept stores. It's quite a pretty walk.
Bond is world-famous for its wealth of elegant stores, exclusive brands, fine jewelry, art and antiques, and designer fashion. It is billed as "an unrivalled mix of history, traditional elegance and modern luxury" and is considered a haven for society's wealthiest and most stylish people.
Regent Street is a big-brand, luxury street with its curved layout, Art Deco designs and two of my top picks for stores to frequent: Liberty Department Store and Hamley's, which is a treasure trove of kid's toys in fabulous visual and hands-on displays! They opened on Regent in 1881 and are still playing strong today. Check out the picture included in the photo grid of Queen Elizabeth, created completely from Legos!
Regent Street
London is teeming with amazing markets and arcades brimming with delectable foods, artisan crafts, funky art, luxury brands, galleries, clothing, accessories, and everything in between. Ranging from those with bargains to those with high-end items, each place features its own personality, flare and fare!
Some favorites of ours include Hays Galleria, Covent Garden & its Apple Market, Spitalfields Market and the architecturally amazing Leadenhall Arcade. Of course, we especially like some I've already covered in previous posts, such as Borough Mkt, the Rope Mkt and many spots in Shoreditch and Camden Locks! Other popular spots are the Piccadilly, Burlington and Royal Arcades.
Something for everyone, everywhere you look! Just window shopping alone here would take years!
Hays Galleria, Piccadilly Arcade, Royal Arcade & Burlington Arcade
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