England and Norway 2015 (2) – London

London, England

Our stay in London this time was not long, two nights before the cruise to Norway and a night after the cruise. Going into it with no pre-planned itinerary, we ended up visiting Victoria and Albert Museum, Selfridge, Harrods and Fornum and Mason.

Most impressive at Victoria and Albert Museum was the Cast Court. As casts of some of Europe’s most famous master pieces, these works are remarkably beautiful all the same, let alone seeing so many of them in the same room.

A 13th Century Pulpit

Trajan’s Column

Last day in London was a Sunday, and happened to be the day UK celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. The Rubens at the Palace, where we stayed for the night, was right across the street from south west end of Buckingham Palace. From outside the hotel we got a glimpse of the Fly By and the colorful trails it left in the sky signifying the Union Jack. By the time we got to the front of the palace the crowd was dispersing and palace workers were removing the red carpet and drapery from the balcony.

The crowd was a motley of people. Those more appropriately dressed and hatted were probably the local royal enthusiasts, the rest, tourists.

We walked amongst the last of the crowd through the mall towards Trafalgar square. And of course it was quite crowded as well. I took a photo from across the street and turned around to head towards the nearest underground for Fornum and Mason.

Looking for Fornum and Mason, we went through Oxford Circus and Piccadilly, there were big crowds everywhere; it looked like everyone was out shopping. Interestingly, it seemed that quite a few people in London did not know about Fornum and Mason. Getting off at Oxford Circus by mistake, we got a bit lost and stopped to ask for directions. We asked a few passers-by, a shop keeper and a guy handing out religious pamphlets who said he was not from London, and none of them knew about Fornum and Mason, which turned out just a stop away on the tube from Oxford Circus.

Fornum and Mason was busy too but not too bad. We had a great meal at the Gallery, at a table with full view of busy going at the shop. We like Prestat chocolate and since it is in Princes Arcade next to Fornum and Mason, we had to stop by.

We used the Oyster card this time. You have to pay five pound up front for the card but it is refunded to you when you return the card. You can put as much on the card as you need to and recharge it. It works for both street buses and underground trains. You get one emergency ride, i.e. if you don’t have enough left on card, you can still ride one last time till your recharge the card. We found it very convenient.

Turkish Delight at Selfridge

Dim Sum at Harrods

Fornum and Mason

Fornum and Mason