London: Mr. Selfridge's Bakery and Big Ben

So we land on time, get into London, check in to the Cumberland Hotel at Marble Arch and Hyde Park, and it’s now 11-ish.   We truck on down to Selfridge’s on Oxford Street.   This is Willow mugging at the entrance and unbeknownst to me, her doppelganger was just to the left.  The hats?  C’mon, girls.  The store?  We l-o-v-e-d it. 

We went to the roof and had lunch.  It was enclosed but you could go out on the roof where they had seating and tons of plants.  It was a touch nippy that day but lovely nonetheless.

After lunch?  More food!  The Food Hall was magnificent.  Not as big as Harrods but just as comprehensive and lovely.  Check it out!

Now, had I not watched Mr Selfridge (Season 4, Episode 1, just broadcast!) I would not have know that this statue above the entrance is the "Queen of Time" and was unveiled in 1931 to celebrate the store's 30th anniversary.

Then we walked down to see Big Ben, Parliament Square (that’s Nelson Mandela’s statue) and Westminster Abbey.   I was fascinated by the unicorn, bat and other fearsome creature!