Does anyone know of a shop (or shoppe) in London devoted to Christmas Stuff? I have a friend who wants an ornament for a souvenir. We're leaving Thursday!

Thanks!

I also get Christmas ornaments from different countries as souveniers. What I've often done is get a key chain with something that represents the country I've been to (example--a key chain with a red phone box) I remember trying to get English ornaments and really didn't find any that were much different than what I could get anywhere, so I did the "keychain" approach.

You might check the Reject China Shop in Covent Garden. I don't know if they would still have ornaments on sale, but a few years ago I bought some nice ones there.

Most of the department stores have sales on all of their christmas stuff right now. Try harrods first- follow the signs to the "ABC carpet sale" on the second floor. The holiday stuff is next to the carpets. Also try Fortum and Mason in their basement. The gift shops at the V &A or any of the major museums might also have some. Any remaining christmas items will be in the sales area of the stores. Good luck!

The gift shop at the Tower of London had some nice Christmas ornaments when we were there last April. I bought the Royal Coach which was marked Christmas.

One of my favorite ornaments is one I got at the Tower of London. They have a new one every year. Hope you can find one.
Have a great time.
Judy

There is an all year Christmas Shop in Hays Galleria. Hays Galleria is on the Sounth Bank of the Thames just west of Tower Bridge - indeed use Towere Bridge if you're going there by tube.
Open M-F: 9.45 am - 5.30 pm. Sat-Sun (Apr-Dec): 11.00 am. to 5.00 pm

(phone number of shop is 0207 3781998)

I think that is the reply you were after!

Dr D.

If you get to York, there is a neat Christmas shop where we purchased ornaments of William Shakespeare and Dick Turpin in April.

I think Harrod's may also have a year-round Christmas shop.

You probably don't want to take the time upon arrival, so if you fail to find one, be sure and check the duty free shop at the airport. You never know...I found an adorable santa on a swing whose top bar was adorned by the eiffel tower, and arc de triomphe in Paris in the dfs at Paris CDG in February. Maybe they would have some ornaments still hanging arount in London too.

Craycraft-
We leave Wednesday for London! I collect Christmas ornaments while on vacation- I think its a sickness. My husband says that if I don't stop buying them we will have to reinforce the tree next year!

Anyway, everyone else has given you really great ideas for places to look for ornaments. Here is the website to a Christmas shop we plan on visting in London:

www.thechristmasshop.co.uk

Have fun!

Erin: I suffer from the same affliction and we do reinforce our tree. We have a metal eye screwed in the ceiling and tie the tree to it with heavy monofilament fish line!

Craycraft: I have several felt ornaments, the first of which I bought in the Tower of London gift shop. I have a queen's guard, yeoman warder and Scot in a kilt. Each has a little gold cord for hanging. I've also seen Henry VIII and his wives, as well as other well-known historical figures. They seem to be available many places and they travel nicely too which is a plus.

P.S. Just went to the web site Erin suggested and clicked on products to buy online, and there are several of the felt (they say fabric) figures I noted in my first post.

My wife and I also bought a set of collectors Christmas ornaments at the Tower of London three years ago. It is a set of four enameled ornaments representing the Crown Jewels. They were very expensive as ornaments generally go, something around $80 USD for the set. We love to reminisce about them each year when we unpack our Christmas stuff. Also, When we were there, Harrod's had a huge Christmas section with many beautiful, one-of-a-kind ornaments.

These are all wonderful suggestions -- thank you!