grocery shop, and a fresh sushi bar. If the weather permits, do as Londoners do and order sushi to go for a lunch in nearby Hyde Park.
The Portobello Road Market
If you’re a flea market lover, don’t miss two thousand-stall Portobello Road Market where you can find everything from the freshest of produce to the mustiest of antiques, separated by stalls of books, apparel, and assorted rummage sale regulars. Saturday is the day when antiques take center stage. The market is closed on Sunday.
Hamleys
If you’ve brought the kids along on your visit to London, they deserve a trip to Hamleys in Piccadilly Circus. Hamleys is not only London’s, but Great Britain’s, largest toy store. Its staff of two hundred is in charge of more than 28,000 toys spread over seven floors. Kids of all ages will love the idea of having their very own Teddy Bear created on the premises as a “skin” they choose is filled and stitched together before their eyes at The Bear Factory.
Waterstones and New Age Mysteries
When you’ve exhausted the possibilities at Hamleys, escape from the bustle of Piccadilly Circus by heading for the quiet of Waterstones. Waterstones, on Piccadilly Street, is the largest bookstore in all of Europe with seven well-organized floors of volumes on every conceivable topic. The fifth floor has sits own bar where you can relax with a drink while enjoying your purchases or the knock-out views of Big Ben and the Houses of parliament.
If your taste in literature runs to the occult, head for Covent Garden and New Age Mysteries at 9 Monmouth Street. You’ll find plenty of reading material. If you’d like a glimpse of the future, you can