CITY & AWAY · THE SHOPPING NOTES

The London Shopping Notes

Harrods, books, Jellycats, gifts and a budget that had opinions.

I went to London with a shopping list long enough to qualify as an itinerary. The challenge was not finding things I liked. It was deciding what deserved luggage space and what could stay a very nice photograph.

Harrods Christmas World, Selfridges, Waterstones, King’s Cross and London-specific gift shops were all on my radar. I also had very specific book wants, because apparently flying across an ocean does not cure book collecting.

The Jellycat mission became unexpectedly serious. I wanted the pilot bear at Harrods Jellycat Airlines, but it was out of stock. Instead of buying something random because I was already there, I moved on to the next priorities. That is growth, and I would like credit.

Gifts were part of the budget too. Jojo’s London bus gift was handled, and the Tower of London gifts were done early enough that I did not have to panic-shop at Heathrow.

My favorite purchase lesson from the trip was simple: the best souvenir is the thing you would still want if it did not have a vacation attached to it. London had plenty of temptation. I did not need to bring all of London home.