Today Bo and I spent the afternoon shopping for our Marylebone flat. Have I mentioned how tough it is to set up two homes simultaneously? Unfortunately for Bo, our Geneva flat was prioritized since the moving process started there earlier and is now solidly in a place where I am comfortable entertaining for girl’s night this week! That said, the London flat is still in much rougher shape.
Luckily, during the madness better known as fighting London crowds while trying to shop on a Saturday, we discovered three new spots, each serving a different purpose.
Selfridges: There is something to be said for the convenience of shopping in a large department store. Our list of things to buy today included everything and anything including, but not limited to a duvet and cover, shoes for both Bo and myself, a bread knife, power strip, and a UK Apple TV. Walking through the front doors of Selfridges we expected it to be most similar to Saks in New York, delivering a high end shopping experience while still having a range of brands. What was shocking and delighting was the fact that each level in the store served just about every consumer need from clothing to home goods to electronics. In addition, the customer service was absolutely incredible which was so nice given that customer service in Europe (except for five star restaurants and hotels) generally lags far behind the US. Every single salesperson went above and beyond to meet our needs and help us in anyway possible, even when it included handing us over to another brand shop or associate. We spent more than 30 minutes meandering through their Food Hall which was more like a farmer’s market than a food court. While their prices are on average higher than John Lewis, their competition located across the street, the experience is far more pleasant and worth the extra pence, especially if you have a long list. If you’re visiting London, similar to Harrod’s, it is an experience you shouldn’t miss. Hop into their Food Hall for a delicious lunch and then spend a few hours meandering through their many boutiques and aisles, especially the shoe floor and beauty section.
The Fromagerie: In New York City we never lacked for an abundance of great cheese shops. However, one thing that we’d never seen until today was a walk-in, refrigerated room with showcased cheese. There were even cheese monger’s on hand who happily made phenomenal recommendations and allowed samples. If you don’t want to find cheeses to take home for your next cheese plate, go for the experience and stay for a snack served in their on-site cafe which looked equally as inviting. 
The Marylebone: Maybe this bar wins points because it is walking distance from our flat. Or because we happened to walk up to the bar just as we were both reaching the point in the day when we couldn’t handle shopping or walking into one more shop. Regardless, any bar who serves cocktails in Mason jars wrapped in burlap is pretty epic, especially in London. The service was friendly and fast even though they were overflowing with customers on this rainy Saturday evening. From 12-8pm on Saturday they have 2 for 1 specialty cocktails which is quite rare for a bar with mixology as sophisticated as theirs (think house made liquor infusions and blow torches used to caramelize garnishes). We spent an hour sitting in their outdoor seating relaxing with the bar’s flavored popcorn and sipping drinks. Not a bad way to end a long day of shopping. 
I’ve never visited Selfridge’s, but my cousin’s wedding registry was at John Lewis and I definitely found their customer service a bit lacking when trying to purchase a gift. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Yes, we went to John Lewis on Sunday and it was NOTHING compared to Selfridge’s. While it was more expensive, Selfridge’s was perfect if you need help finding things and have a couple of quality things to buy.
Those drinks are seriously adorable!!! They almost look like a wedding drink, or something along those lines. Little details like that can absolutely make a place stand out.
Ashley you’re so right! The first thing I thought about was Meghann’s wedding which I was in last year! Her colors were navy and burlap!
too funny! I saw the pictures from her wedding, you ladies looked beautiful. Leave it to Meghann to plan such a beautiful event!
I’m glad you got your list taken care of, but Selfridge’s is far more than “a few pence” difference in price to other London based outlets. Good for you that you can afford it, but it’s not exactly advice that most people can take, is it? We just moved home from a year abroad and found that Amazon Prime was our best bet for buying all the odds and ends, especially since you’ll just be getting rid of them at the end of your stint! Oh well, just my two cents. Have fun!
Thanks for the feedback Anne. Actually, we most likely won’t be getting rid of the things at the end of our stint as the linens, etc will be used in either our new bedroom or a spare bedroom. We have definitely used Amazon for things like converters, etc. Also, I called out that it is a great place to visit as I believe it’s a place that tourists would enjoy similar to Saks or Macy’s flagship doors in NYC. But, thanks for the feedback!