Thursday, 3rd January, 2019
Today was my day to venture back to the West End to see more Christmas Lights. My plan was to start at Selfridges, go down New Bond Street to Fortnum & Mason, then along Piccadilly and end up at Chinatown again to buy some dim sum supplies and two new steamer baskets. I think I did pretty well.
I started out around 3pm by taking the bus to Bethnal Green. On the bus I thought I saw Gemma Collins but perhaps not. This version was neater, a bit trimmer, and understated but maybe the on-screen Gemma is more outrageous. Then I took the Central line to Bond Street, Yes! I hardly ever take the tube. I really don’t like being underground but sometimes I just go for it.
I arrived at Bond Street just as it was getting dark, but not dark enough to see the lights at their best. Luckily I’d already seen Oxford Street and my only reason for being there was to see Selfridges a few minutes’ walk away. But I did take in the crowds on the street. Everyone must still be on holiday! And I took a lot of photos so sit back. As far as photos go, this will be epic, starting with a good look at Oxford Street.
Sadly, when I got to Selfridges the windows were all papered over. I’d missed them! So I walked towards the food hall anyway, to see what was going on there. That’s when I saw that a few windows at the Food Hall side were still there. To be honest, I can’t say I was too impressed.
Selfridge’s Food Hall is always a favourite. I actually like it better than Harrods – at least I can afford some of the food there. This time was a disappointment. I couldn’t see all the counters I was used to. Perhaps it’s a Christmas thing or maybe things have changed. Nothing stays the same but some things I just count on! I did cruise around though and see what I could see.
Keep reading! There’s loads more to come. According to the map, if I went straight down New Bond Street, it becomes (Old) Bond Street and I’ll be almost in front of Fortnum & Mason. Perfect.
I found both Bond Streets absolutely magic this year. The lights were gorgeous, the crowds that I saw on Oxford Street hadn’t trickled down this far, and the windows were beautiful. I’ve said that window shopping on Oxford Street used to be wonderful. Now that crown has passed to Bond Street.
Most beautiful were the arcades. This whole area is littered with arcades and each one outdid the other. I wish I had a good enough memory to name each arcade I photographed but I don’t. There’s an air of money and leisure in these places, though.
New Bond Street is full of designer boutiques, like Stella McCarney and Alexander McQueen, and the luxury labels like Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dior… Most of the stores are richly decorated and full of clothes and goods with high price tags. There are a lot less people on the street and many are dressed in expensive clothes. There are also a lot of tourists from China and Europe – dodging people taking glamour shots and selfies becomes a fulltime job!
Fortnum & Mason is rather glorious at Christmas. The windows were still set up, the shoppers were hot for bargains, and there was glamour and glitz everywhere.
From there I walked along Piccadilly to Chinatown. My plan was to buy steamer baskets and some dim sum but both supermarkets were ridiculously crowded. In fact, the line to pay wound all the way around the aisles and out into the street. By now I was tired and needed a toilet. I abandoned the supermarket and found a toilet in the pub, Waxy’s Little Sister. I’ve never been in there before and really liked the decor and the fireplace upstairs at the back. Maybe I’ll go back for a drink.
I had plans to take a Smartride cab home but there was an hour wait. Still, it’s easy to jump on a 38 bus – from Shaftesbury Avenue, past the British Museum, through Bloomsbury, Holborn, along to Angel and on to Hackney. An exhausting but satisfying day.