On this last trip, we decided to stay at the Peninsula Hotel, located in Belgravia. We’d never stayed in Belgravia before; we normally opt for the Mayfair area, wonderful for shopping and fun restaurants, or Knightsbridge, if we want to be close to Harrod’s and the Victoria & Albert Museum. But time and again, I’ve driven by the Peninsula and heard of Belgravia, so we decided to give it a go.
As you might expect, the hotel was awesome. Peninsulas usually are. But what was even cooler than the hotel itself was the location. We were right by the Wellington Arch, where pillars engraved with the names of England’s territories line the way and which leads to Green Park.
The first morning we were there, we stumbled upon a group of people who were tossing crackers to the birds in the trees. The birds actually landed in the people’s outstretched hands and perched calmly. Josephine was mesmerized, especially because a few of the birds looked like miniature parrots (perhaps escaped pets??). She, of course, had to feed the birds, too. Thankfully, those sweet strangers shared their biscuits and nuts to lure the birds and squirrels Josephine’s way.
It’s often unexpected, simple activities, like tempting park wildlife to eat out of our palms, that make our trips memorable. So I think we’ll stay there again and come prepared with a pile of oyster crackers to attract all the runaway parrots we can.
Fortnum & Mason’s
We also had a wonderful experience visiting Fortnum & Mason’s. Fortnum & Mason’s is by far one of my favorite department stores in the world, rivaling Mitsukoshi in Tokyo. Actually, it’s more like a shopping amusement park. Every level is something more magnificent than the last. Walking in on the first floor, you’re immediately shocked by the vibrant display of marzipans and other luxury candies. In the basement, you can wander through their grocery selection, including the most gorgeous pork chops I’ve ever seen, phenomenal mustards and jams, etc. Then, upstairs, you have levels with wonderful home goods, like unusual China patterns and luxurious wrapping paper; clothing and accessories, showcasing fabulous designers you’ve never heard of; a fabulous bar with velvet couches and great cocktails. The list goes on and on. And to make it even better, Fortnum’s creates beautiful, wildly decorated window displays, which make it a treat just to go in and out the front door! Josephine adores the entire experience, and I always let her pick something out – last time, marzipan; this time, a headband – so she’ll have something to remember our magical time gawking at F&M’s wares.
Even if you don’t venture inside F&M, I recommend that you just walk past the window displays, which are impressive enough to warrant a visit on their own.
The Shopping Arcades
While near F&M, we also found ourselves checking out London’s shopping arcades. Arcades in the US are generally associated with Pac-Man and Mortal Kombat. But in London, an arcade is a long hallway with arched entryways and ceilings, lined on both sides with beautiful shops. We rarely enter the shops because they’re quite pricey – and because it’s always awkward entering a tiny shop, where you’re the center of the salesperson’s attention. However, this time, Josephine desperately wanted to go into the Faberge boutique. I don’t know where she learned about Faberge eggs, but she’s obsessed. Anyway, the gentlemen in the Faberge store were so sweet. They let Josephine try on various jewelry, although they had to know there was no way I would be buying her a begemmed 18-karat gold egg pendant.
I’ve been trying to make those silly stops with Josephine, walking into gorgeous shops even when we have no intention of buying anything. It just makes the world more fun. – however, the Faberge salesman can stop contacting me because we’re not really in the market for wearable eggs.
The Dickens Museum
I confess, I’m not a huge Dickens fan. Every Dickens book I’ve tried to read has put me to sleep. However, I do love A Christmas Carol, even if I prefer the stage to the page. And I’m kind of a sucker for historical figures’ former homes – Monticello, Mount Vernon, the House of Augustus, Hadrian’s Villa. The list really goes on and on. Why not add Dickens’ London townhouse to the mix?
The museum was cool, as it turned out. We got there about 45 minutes before closing (par for the course with this crew), so we didn’t linger. But there was no need. We got to see all the rooms of the house, including the study where Dickens wrote a masterpiece or twelve. And we got to see a Victorian-era kitchen and a Victorian-era toilet… And we learned that Dickens’s dad went to prison and left the family dirt-poor. It’s amazing that he became one of the most prolific, well-recognized authors in the English language.
Okay, it wasn’t exactly scintillating, so I wouldn’t recommend it to people seeing London for the first time, but we come often enough that it was worth a visit.
