Sunday 13 December 2009

City lights and magical windows

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London................
At this time of year I am always struck by the urge to visit the Big Smoke and wonder at the lights and wonderful window displays put on by the big stores.
One of the things I miss most about no longer living in London is not travelling on the buses everyday and soaking up the sights and sounds of the city.
One of the things I love about no longer living in London is the thrill I now have as a visitor returning to it with renewed eagerness to see everything, and once again appreciate what a wonderful capital city it is.
I especially miss the bridges at night. I adore Albert Bridge with all those twinkly white lights adorning it. Even just crossing the Thames by train and seeing the lights reflected in the waters below is magical to me.
Any way the excuse arrived in the form of a Liberty invitation ten days ago now! So off I went after work on a wet windy night in December.........................

Much has been said already about the marvelous Luella Christmas windows so I will skip my photos of those but check out Hen's post here or Wee Birdy Here for more delights on this topic!


I thought you might just like to see this furry chap and toadstool just inside the store as you enter from Carnaby Street.



I couldn't resist a couple of snaps of these wonderfully English room sets in the windows, eclectic and gorgeous details. See the tin of Quality Streets below!


Now indulge me a little with these less than brilliant shots of lights and buses!
I love them!





Sorry about that! You get the idea though!

Anthropologie was shut by the time I got there, BOO HISS!
But I did love their window too



Sorry now a bit more of this.....



Basically I was consoling myself as I walked back up Regent Street towards Liberty!
Where I was not disappointed!

This was a heavenly Christmassy empire on the 4th Floor I think?



Then off to Bond Street where the theme changed from Stars to Bows





And outside Sothebys.....







These amazing arrangements were flanking the Grand Entrance!


Not a brilliant picture but a favourite with the moon peeping over the top of the buildings and Union Jack fluttering in the night breeze.

And then.... OH MY PIE, Tiffany and Co.

Speechless with joy I shot far too many picures of these masterpieces, imagine during the day when they are decorated with diamonds too!




They are exquisite!
Now in closing this post I must apologise for my woeful attendance these last few weeks! Working, working and stressing have been my watch-words and so I have been very lapse in writing to you all! I shall try and make up for it today and catch up on what you are up to, but if I don't manage to leave you a message sending you all Seasons Greetings and thanks for reading!


Love Sarah x























Hello! you made it to the bonus picture!

x x x

22 comments:

  1. Great post! I loved it!
    I would love to visit Liberty but don't go as far as London nowadays!
    Glad you had such a wonderful time!
    ;-)

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  2. thank you for that awesome post! I've never been to London and now I know I must go during the holidays! take care of yourself...I know what you mean about stressing and working too hard...it's easy to do at this time of year. I'm glad you got away for a little bit to enjoy the shops and the lights of London :)

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  3. I want the welsh blanket on the back of that sofa!!
    The lights are what we really miss in a southern hemisphere Xmas- too much of the daylight saving!
    Have a lovely Xmas Ms S-J
    pen x

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  4. Sarah,

    London looks wonderful at Christmas I have visited many times but never at Christmas. Looks like you had a lovely time and got around to all the nice shops.

    All things nice...

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  5. Wonderful twinkly post!
    I could never live in London, but still get a thrill when visiting, so pretty!
    Happy Christmas to you and yours.
    Lisa x

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  6. What a gorgeous post!The lights and shop displays are amazing!
    I never make it to London at this time of year, too busy for me, so thanks for sharing!Have a Wonderful Christmas!
    Rachel x

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  7. Hi Sarah, Mr Bee has just been to London for business and told me none of the sparkly wonders to behold there – thank goodness for lovely blogs such as your or I would feel as if I am living under a rock.

    We are going to make a Christmas pilgrimage to London next year for a bit of Christmas shopping. It has to waiting until next year as herding the Bumble B’eers around takes a strong constitution and I need a year or so to build up to it ;P

    Gillian

    XX

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  8. I haven't been to London at Christmas since I was a child when I used to go with my family to sing carols around the Christmas Tree at Trafalgar Square. It looks just as magical now,as I remember it.

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  9. I LOVE THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS SO VERY MUCH..IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN. YOU HAVE SOME GREAT PIC'S HERE..THANKS FOR SHARING THEM. I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT THERE! (did you see my post of Temple Square in Salt Lake City..a couple of posts back it is the most beautiful place ever at Christmas time!) Come say hi :D

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  10. Hi Sarah

    I love going to London at this time of the year but for various reasons will not be able to go this year. I have really enjoyed your virtual trip, thank you.

    Tiffany's display is probably my favourite!

    I've always liked visiting London but have alsp always thought that I could not live there, too busy every day!

    Warm wishes
    Isabelle x
    It certainly looks like you had fun.

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  11. Love, love your photos! I so wanted to go to London before Christmas but just haven't managed it, so thanks for the virtual tour!

    Jayne

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  12. It looks wonderful! We visited London at Christmas several times before we left the UK, and your photos really bring it back. Don't worry about blogging absences if you're too busy - we all understand. I've been posting but not commenting much, for similar reasons.

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  13. I'm thinking of braving Oxford Street after work tomorrow but am slightly scared!!!
    Was it awfully busy?

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  14. Oh Sarah thankyou for these lovely photos, 2 years ago i was in London/Lakes District/Bath for Christmas, oh how i wish i were there now, i loved every minute of it, sooo different to Australia at Christmas time. I have some lovely photos of Christmas decorations around London myself, all differet to yours of course, so thankyou again, Amanda

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  15. Wonderful photos!I remember as a child being driven up to London by my father to see the Xmas lights and the beautiful window displays.A real treat.

    Bellaboo

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  16. Sarah darling thank you for taking us along on your visit. I love the bows and the lights and I agree with you London is magical during this wonderful season.

    P.S. My dad is sending you his regards, what can I say he is in love with the name!!

    Love & Hugs
    Duchess

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  17. Wow Sarah! It was so lovely to see these beautiful pics...we have nothing like this in Tassie! Sublime...those beautiful windows are a gift to everyone who stops to appreciate.
    thank you!
    Luisa
    x

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  18. WOW! The Tiffany stuff is divine! I've only been to London once and spent the entire time looking up with my jaw open...I couldn't believe how big everything was and dodging black cabs instead of tractors was most amusing! :D
    I'll go back one day for sure, I'd love to show my son the Natural History Museum etc. Thanks for sharing your lovely piccies. Glad you had a good trip to the big smoke. Xx

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  19. It all looks very lovely and sparkly!

    Pomona x

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  20. Oh it has been like being transported to a magical wonderland reading your lovely post! Suzie. xxx

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  21. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pics of London. I will continue to just dream of the day I will hopefully get there. Looks like you had a wonderful outing.

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  22. Ooh the bonus picture is my favourite! These are such lovely festive photos. I miss the glamour of London sometimes but I'm now a country mouse at heart.


    On a trip to London a few weeks ago I visited Anthropologie. I had never heard of it! I was open mouthed the whole time. Not a good look. It IS gorgeous in there.

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