Travel blog

Today, in the 3rd part of our series, we go for a shopping-trip to London. Let’s start at Oxford Street, London’s busiest shopping street. There you can find outlets of the most famous fashion-budget-labels: Gap, Dorothy Perkins, H&M, Miss Selfridge, Zara, Kookai… I recommend to look around in the store of French Connection UK (FCUK) located in 396 Oxford Street (reached with Central line tube, leave at Bond Street) in neighbourhood to the department store Selfridges. Let’s see, what Time Out London Visitors Guide publishes about French Connection: “As it’s cheeky double-take name suggests, this chain aspires to a cool, urban image with plenty of FCUK-off attitude. The clothes, while not cutting edge, are good quality. The well cut mannish trousers, neat denim jackets and little fitted sweaters here are all fabulous.”

For typical London souvenirs, the best address is Harrods in Knightsbridge (reached with Piccadilly line tube, leave at Knightsbridge station). Harrods is although famous for it’s food hall, even more since Krispy Kreme doughnuts have arrived.

Last but not least, you should not miss to visit one of the markets. A good tip is Portobello Road market in Notting Hill. Famous from the movie “Notting Hill” with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, this market is visited by tourists all over the world. Although, the market has retained it’s original character. Here you can find antiques, vintage-clothes and jewellery beside food stalls with fruits, cheese and crèpes (reached with Central, Circle or District line, leave at Notting Hill Gate).

Today, in the 2nd part of our London-report, I will give you some consumer tips. For all locations applies: Tipping ist standard, usual is 10 to 15 per cent. Some restaurants add service to the bill, so you should double-check to avoid that you pay tip twice.

A great breakfast Buffet with bacon, sausage, eggs, fruits, orange juice and caffè latte ist offered at the Ibis London Euston Hotel for favorably 5,95 GBP. This service ist not for Hotel Guests only, although others are welcome. Breakfast time ist from 6.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.
Ibis London Euston Hotel, 3 Cardington Street, reached with Piccadilly line or Northern line (leave at Euston Station and walk 2 minutes by foot).

For lunch you can go to the Cafè in the Crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. This atmospheric cafè ist underneath St Martin-in-the-Fields and near the National Gallery, the Mall and Whitehall. Warm dishes like pasta, smoked fish with salad, sandwiches or muffins must be taken by self-service. The food ist sensible and inexpensive.
Cafè in the Crypt, Crypt of St Martin-in-the-fields, Duncannon Street, reached with Northern line or Bakerloo line (leave at Charing Cross station). stmartin-in-the-fields online

Although a great tip for lunch (or for dinner) are the wagamama-restaurants, which are located in Soho, Kensington, Covent Garden, Canary Wharf…. Altogether there are 19 branches in London. Their slogan is “positive eating + positive living” and they serve noodles, rice dishes, juices, wine, sake and japanese beers. The food is fresh and tasty, the staff attentively. So it’s something like high qualitiy fast food.
wagamama, for example Covent Garden, 1a Tavistock Street, reached by Piccadilly line (leave at Covent Garden station). wagamama

For coffee I recommend Paul bakery. This quality french chain has two branches in London: One in Covent Garden and one in Marylebone. The cafè area is behind a glass screen, the atmosphere ist welcoming and relaxed. Except fresh patisserie and baked goods they serve omelettes, gratins, soups and salads. In any case you should try the rhubarb tarte – it’s marvellous!
Paul29 Bedford Street, reached with Piccadilly line (leave at Covent Garden station) or 115 Marylebone High Street, reached with Central line (leave at Bond Street station). Paul bakery

In evening meet some friends in one of the pubs. Order your beer and if there ist no more place for you inside, take your glass and talk to your friends outside on the sidewalk. Cheers!



click the picture to enlarge!

There are of course a LOT more attractions to see in london, and the London Pass gives you the option for express entrance to over 50 of them – without waiting or paying anything more… So if you are seriously planning to see a lot on London, that can be both – a saver for time AND money

For those of you, who are planning a trip to London, I have a great tip for sightseeing today: Take the Jubilee line tube and leave at Westminster station. You will be amazed about the futuristic design of this station, which reminds visitors to the Fritz Lang movie “Metropolis”. Leaving the station, you have a great view to the watchtower Big Ben an to the south bank of the Thames, where the world’s highest observation wheel London Eye is located. Walk over the bridge, take a ticket for the Eye and enjoy the amazing views to the city.
Special tip: Go for this trip in evening. There will be less people in the queue for London Eye and you can although enjoy the sunset and take some great photos like this one:

On these sites, you get some more information about London Underground and London Eye

It was a great time in London last year, when we visited Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern Gallery, Millennium Bridge, St. Pauls Cathedral, Madame Tussaud’s…. In May we’ll be back – not for sightseeing but especially for shopping, for example at Carnaby Street: