London Day 4: British Museum & Oxford Street

As the conference ended at noon, I said farewell to the University of Roehampton and returned to the hotel. Mum, Baby Boy and I then headed out to the famous British Museum, where the Rosetta Stone is housed.

We boarded the District line (green) from Hammersmith Station to Embankment Station thinking that it would be an easy switch to the Northern line (black). However, they were doing renovations to the station so we had to exit the station and walk a short distance to Charing Cross Station (on the Northern line).

Embankment Station
(you can see the London Eye in the background!)

Red post boxes on the street to Charing Cross Station

Charing Cross Station

We boarded the Northern line (black) to Tottenham Court Road Station, one of the stations nearest to the British Museum. Note that there are no lifts at the Embankment, Charing Cross and Tottenham Court Road Station so be prepared to carry your baby and your stroller.

Tottenham Court Road Station

The British Museum is about a 10-15 minute walk from Tottenham Court Road Station but still manageable (just follow the Direction Map on vertical signboards). It is also FREE for the public (except for special exhibitions) =)

The entrance to the British Museum reminded me of our Singapore Supreme Court, with the typical European pillars setting the frame for the main door.

British Museum
(Opening hours: Everyday 10am-5.30pm; Fri till 8.30pm)

We were greeted by a beautiful geometric ceiling inside, which allows natural light from outside to illuminate the building.

Inside the British Museum

A selfie with the mum & baby

It's a pity that Baby Boy was seeing all these awesome things but wiould not be able to remember any of it!

There were a lot of people at the museum! I think it was because it was the summer vacation. In any case, it became harder and harder for us to push our stroller around the museum (and even harder for us to push through the crowd to see the Rosetta stone) so we decided to head on to our next destination.

Another selfie at the entrance as we were leaving
(Baby Boy was very sleepy)

We walked back to Tottenham Court Station and then to Oxford Street (likened to Singapore's Orchard Road), which spans from Tottenham Court Station to Marble Arch Station. You can find all kinds of shopping from Topshop to Marks and Spencer, each of which consisted of at least 2-3 floors of retail therapy! =)

Oxford Street
(Opening hours of shops along the street)

TOPSHOP
(Opening hours: 9am-9pm)

Clockwise from left: H&M (Opening hours: 10am-9pm), there are A LOT of them on the same street!;
NEXT (Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 11am-7pm);
Marks & Spencer (Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-9pm; Sun 12pm-6pm)

House of Fraser
(Opening hours: 9.30am-9pm)
I breastfed Baby Boy in the nursing room at House of Fraser

We walked and walked and didn't buy a single thing! Ok except for souvenirs (I love souvenirs! *laughs*). Seriously, I think it's because many of the stores were really crowded (I cringed at the queues for the fitting room) and some were already available near our hotel (why lug it all back when we can buy it at Hammersmith?).

In any case, the street was really long! It was exactly like walking from Isetan Scotts to Plaza Singapura. Needless to say, we got really tired and decided to take a break at McDonald's.

Baby Boy licking a fry for the first time!

It has been a tradition of sorts for me to dine at a McDonald's no matter where I am in the world (Switzerland, Malaysia, Thailand, Taipei, Hong Kong, Australia and now London).

We continued our shopping day at Selfridges, which came highly recommended by the colleagues for buying luxury goods.

Selfridges & Co
(Opening hours: 9.30am-10pm)

I had wanted to buy a Burberry / Gucci / Prada bag for myself and the mum-in-law but I didn't see any that I liked. I'm quite picky.. my bag has to look good, be light and functional (it better be good if I'm going to pay more than four figures on a bag). Instead, I bought a cheaper, pink Longchamp bag that fits everything that I was looking for. I quite like it a lot =)

Bought this pink Longchamp bag for work
(when I stop pumping and can actually bring a tiny bag to work..)

I was also looking for a Ermenegildo Zegna wallet for the husband but the store in Selfridges did not sell wallets. We were advised to visit their boutique store on New Bond Street and when we walked all the way there (it wasn't far but we were really tired, so it felt really far!), we were super disappointed to find out that it was closed! *sigh*

Mum and I decided it was time to head back so we took the tube from Bond Street Station to Green Park Station on the Jubilee line (grey) and changed to the Piccadilly line (blue) back to Hammersmith Station.

After a long day of walking, it felt good to be sprawled on the bed! =)


Continue to >> London Day 5: Westminster, Shangri-La at The Shard & Tower Bridge
<< Back to London Day 3: Natural History, Victoria Albert Museum & Harrods

~~~~~~

Download our London Itinerary 2014 Printable, 
Read my London Train Travel Tips if it's your first time travelling by train in London,
OR

Visit MADPSYCHMUM TRAVELS for the rest of my posts on London, UK 

as well as other travel itineraries! Many thanks to my friends, who had contributed many of the recommendations included in our London Itinerary 2014.

You can also follow my travel adventures on Instagram via the hashtag #madpsychmumtravels! =)