We just came back from a week in London and I used so many tips and suggestions from this site that I wanted to report back. <BR> I went to Lush and loved it there. The people were so helpful. Be careful transporting the bubble bars and ballistic bars back. Mine all broke apart and crumbled in the suitcase. I had them in a zip loc bag, but they don't look very appealing to give as a gift since they are all broken.<BR> The weather in London was rainy and cold. Thank goodness I had my hooded rain jacket, thanks to a suggestion from this site. I wore black slacks all the time and felt very comfortable.<BR> I only brought 2 pairs of shoes. I wore my Dansko shoes everywhere. They were not the best choice since many of the sidewalks and streets in London are cobbled and Danskos are not recommended on uneven ground. I had a pair of Ecco dress shoes that were great, but for some reason they hurt my feet after awhile. I wish I had bought a pair of SAS tie-up walking shoes. I looked everywhere in London to buy Ecco tie shoes, but I couldn't find them anywhere.<BR> The bottle of Febreeze was invaluable. After being in a smoky pub at night, it was terrific being able to spray my clothes and raincoat and start the next day smelling fresh.<BR> We stayed at Myhotel in Bloomsbury and loved it. The location was great, near Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. The hotel is very very clean and near the tube and lots of great restaurants. I recommend it highly.<BR> We took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg and a train to Bayeux. We spent 2 days in Bayeux and then the overnight ferry back. We were exhausted. I would recommend taking the day ferry and getting a good nights sleep in a hotel. It was hard to sleep in the ferry and it arrived in Cherbourg at 5:45 A.M. We arrived at our hotel in Bayeux at 9:15 A.M. and our hotel room wasn't ready till 3:00 P.M. Since we arrived on a Sunday, all the shops were closed. We did not enjoy waiting in the hotel lobby for 6 hours. We stayed at the Hotel Lion D'or. The people there were not very friendly, but it is a beautiful hotel. Also, car rentals are all closed on Sunday, so Sunday is not a good day to arrive if you want to tour around.<BR> I received so many helpful tips and suggestions from people at this site. I hope I can help someone in return. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I would love to be able to help in any way.

Welcome back, Ellie!<BR>Very glad to hear you had a great trip. You're probably already planning your next one in your mind, right?<BR><BR>That's the addiction...

Hi Ellie,<BR>We're off to London Thursday and are sooo excited. Planning to go to Lush for the goodies like you did. After your problems transporting things back, do you have any advise for me? Should I take something special to wrap them in? <BR><BR>Any other shops you enjoyed? Joy

Joy<BR>I have in the past asked LUSH staff to provide an old box for me and they threw in some packaging paper to pack the goodies in more tightly. <BR>I dont know if they would still do this for free but their gift packing service is only a few pounds and that would include a box and packaging as well as gift wrap.<BR>Alternatively just pick up a small box (in Lush or a supermarket or somewhere) and a newspaper and just pack them yourself.<BR>The bath ballistics aren't usually a huge problem but the bubble bar slices are pretty soft and crumbly.<BR>Also when you select each item them put it into one of the clear plastic sleeves provided just for this purpose, so that even if they do crumble, each item will still be seperated. If they are for your own use this would be best then you can still tell which product you are throwing into the bath!<BR>Enjoy!<BR>Kavey

Would like to take Febreeze and some no-iron spray as well. Did you pack the Febreeze in your checked baggage or carry-on in a plastic zip bag?

Joy, I hope you received enough advise for transporting your Lush purchases home. I did have each bubble bar in a separate plastic sleeve that Lush provided, but I was thinking of giving a few of them as gifts, and I can't with them all crumbled up. Maybe bring some Zip-loc bags with you and wrap each item separately and cushion them in your clothing so they don't bang into each other. I had each wrapped separately in a ziploc but I but all the zip locs together in a bigger zip loc and I think they rubbed together and caused them to crumble.<BR> As far as the Febreeze - I bought the travel sized bottle, put it in a ziploc bag and put it with my toiletries in my suitcase. It didn't leak at all and was fine.<BR> I'm envious of all of you heading to London. It is a terrific city and the people couldn't have been nicer. I hope you have as wonderful a time as we did.

London is a sewer! And can not stand those stuffy brits!

Hi Ellie,<BR> Thanks for the great ideas Ellie! I'll throw some zip-locks into the suitcase - you never know when you might want one.<BR>Also, the 'Febreeze' is a great idea. <BR> Did you get to any other shops you loved? How about Herrods? I read you need to have a 'receipt' or pay to use the restrooom. Sound like they have gone over the top - but I'm sure we'll stop in anyway.<BR> Did you get to any of the markets? Tell me EVERYTHING - we're leaving Thursday and can't wait! Joy

Hi Joy. I'm excited for your trip. You will have such a great time. I think the weather in London is improving also. We had lots of rain, but I understand it has been clear and dry in the last 4-5 days.<BR> I didn't get to Harrods, but my husband did. He thought it was very fancy, with the basement offering more affordable things. He didn't use the bathroom so he doesn't know about the receipts being required.<BR> We went to the Camden Town Market. It was fun walking around with a great, outside food area. Lots of ethnic food, like kebabs, gyros, Chinese, Thai, etc. We were there on a Thursday, but I understand that weekends are better there because more booths are open. It was a fun place to people watch also.<BR> I just thought of something else that helped with the trip-but has nothing to do with London. We used inflatable u-shaped pillows for the airplane ride. They fit around your neck and offer support no matter what position you are in. They are so comfortable and we all were able to sleep on the plane. You can buy them at the airport.<BR> Joy, if I think of anything else, I'll write you. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip. Let me know how it goes. Ellie

Just a pointer on the Ecco shoes if anyone else is looking for them. There is an Ecco shop on Oxford Street - somewhere around the Selfridges area but on the other side of the road. I can't remember exactly where, but I could look when I'm shopping tomorrow night if anyone needs to know.

The Ecco store is directly across the street from the main entrance to Selfridges (Selfridges is at 400 Oxford Street W1). Tube stops Bond Street or Marble Arch. The Ecco store had a full selection, including tie shoes. Sorry you missed them!

Joy - 4 years ago it was a pound to pee at Harrods unless you had already spent 100 pounds.....and could prove it. Oh well, when you gotta go!!!

I sure wish I had found that Ecco store. Would have saved some tired feet. Hopefully someone else will benefit knowing where it is. Thanks

Hi,<BR>Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions. We're thinking about going to a market on Sunday....either Camden or Spitalfields. Any ideas on which one would be better? We have 2 teens girls with us. <BR>Thank you for the info on Herrods.....<BR>About the Ecco shoes. I'm always interested in something new - what are they exactly? We'll be in that area and might have unhappy feet by then and will be needing something 'comfy'.<BR>Joy<BR>

Joy<BR><BR>Head for Camden. Your teenagers will love it.

What do they sell at Lush stores and where are they located

Hi Lilian. Lush stores produce their own soaps and lotions. They have terrific shampoo bars and bubble bath bars. All their stuff smells great. There are 2 stores in Covent Garden, 1 at Victoria Station and I believe there are 2 or 3 others. You can check them out online also.

Lush sells cardboard tubes that hold around 4 bath balls. I don't remember how much they cost, but I bought and used them to bring my bath balls home. Not one ball was crushed on the plane trip home, and I am sure I will find other uses for these tubes.

Also, when packing, you could probably fit a piece or two of bubble plastic in your luggage (the small bubbles, not the large ones I think) and use that when you pack to come home. I frequently also take one or two small flatened boxes for potential breakables. Then of course if you end up not needing them, you can toss it before you come home. It's saved fragiles for me many a time.