LONDON HIGHLIGHTS: PART 3

There is one place in London that starts to lose its sparkle after a while, and that is Oxford Street. Besides its iconic Christmas decorations, it is mostly just crowds and traffic. But, it does have some of the best shopping on that side of the globe. The shopping is phenomenal, to put it lightly. On my last trip to London, I found a way to love Oxford Street again by throwing Marylebone into the mix. Just off of this notorious street, is a little land of indie labels, Georgian flats and a residential feel. But first, Selfridges.

Selfridges

Even though I am picking on Oxford Street a little, I can because I used to love it. I used to take photos of the flagship Topshop and be entranced by the electronic music in the stores (still am). I'm pretty sure the Oxford Circus station sign was my Facebook cover photo at one point too. But battling crowds got tired, and now I need motivation to go. After going into a few stores, I decided to make a stop at Selfridges. I wasn't going to buy anything, just look. Selfridges is a landmark on Oxford Street, a legendary and boldly glamourous department store. I would always recommend going, if only to ride the escalators from floor to floor and be enamored by the gorgeous displays. I am more likely to buy something on sale at H&M than splurge here. But I love the world of designer fashion, so visiting is a real treat.

Virtually one minute away from Selfridges is St. Christopher's Place. I had a coffee here before and found it very charming, a sort of refuge from the crowds. It qualifies as a hidden gem and is so easily missed by shoppers. It was also here I discovered Marylebone Village. If you continue walking up the street, you will enter the high street of this beautiful neighbourhood. Welcome to Marylebone! The energy starts to shift and you are likely to see more locals than tourists. It did seem busier than the last time I was there years ago. Simply put, Marylebone is known for its adorable shops. Everything seems beautiful and of good quality. Whether you are looking for a unique piece of clothing or fresh food, there is so much to choose from. There are many London neighbourhoods that match Marylebone's beauty but there is a lovely, relaxed mood here that I really love. Even though it is very upscale, it does not feel full of itself at all and is good vibes only.  

There were so many old streets here. There were pubs on charming corners and bistros spilling out onto the sidewalk. I was snapping so many photos. By afternoon the rain had returned and I started looking for the nearest tube station. It just so happened to be Baker Street, famous of course for Sherlock Holmes and more. The rain was really coming down by now, so I hurriedly walked past the tourists lined up for the Madame Tussauds mueseum and admired Regent's Park from a distance, disappointed by the change of weather. This is such a great part of London.

Essentially, Marylebone is a nice little break from Oxford Street and let's face it, we all need a break sometimes. Once you realize how close it is, you will wonder how you missed it before.

Highlights:

Oxford Street

Selfridges

St. Christopher's Place

Marylebone High Street

Regent's Park

Baker Street