Snap up your gifts the London way
LONDON’S Oxford Street has secret services you need to know about, says CLAIRE SPREADBURY.
It’s pitch black, raining sideways and I’ve had a day from hell in the office.
London’s Oxford Street welcomes me with a rainbow of lights, reiterating the reason I’m here: ‘Christmas is calling’ is written in the sky, and I have approximately two-and-a-half hours to sort out my festive shopping.
It’s a tall order, but as I take a seat in a quiet little side room in John Lewis and slurp a glass of champagne, all my troubles seem to fade away.
Chris Payne, personal shopper and royal warrant liaison, is telling me all about a service which will change the way I Christmas shop forever.
Maybe you still need to buy your entire family’s Christmas presents. Or you might be really struggling with a gift for your 90-year-old nan. Perhaps you fancy treating a partner to a coat or a handbag – both notoriously tricky gifts to buy. And without paying any additional money or having a set minimum spend, Oxford Street’s John Lewis will do all the hard work for you.
I put Fiona, a former personal stylist of 17 years and now part of this elite shopping team (who looks utterly fabulous – every inch of her colour-coordinated with her grey fingernails), to the test.
I pretend to be my husband buying me a handbag. As we make our way down to the bag section, we walk every stand while she asks questions to ascertain style credentials and personal needs. Are brand names important? Would I want something that’s practical? What colours do I wear? And all questions my other half would be able to answer. In the end, there’s a choice of at least three bags he could have picked.
I’m so impressed, I instantly hand over a list of all the remaining people and gifts I need to shop for, and set the team to work.
And while they’re off selecting gifts for your nearest and dearest, you can peruse the behind-thescenes mini exhibition of this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert. Play Elton John’s signed piano, watch the documentary and marvel at the gorgeously retro recording studio and fabulous threads worn in the ad. There’s also a working piano on every floor of the store, so if you fancy a singalong while they take the hard work out of Christmas shopping, you’re in the right place.
Over the road at Swarovski, they too understand that shopping has to be an experiential pleasure now. Because why else would we pound busy pavements rammed with people instead of clicking online and splashing our cash there?
There’s a great ‘virtual try-on’ screen, where you can photograph and adorn yourself in jewellery. Plus a selfie booth and glittery red telephone box, begging for a Boomerang, and a wireless charging hub, though you’ll need an iPhone 8 or equivalent.
As my lids start to feel weary, I walk a short distance to Hyatt Regency hotel, The Churchill (rooms from around £280 a night). The rain shower washes away any remaining cares I have left and the giant, sumptuous bed envelopes me as I drift off to sleep.
It’s midnight, and in the space of a single evening, I’ve nailed all of my Christmas shopping on London’s busiest street, enjoyed a little TLC and bagged myself a good night’s sleep and a cheeky hotel breakfast in the morning.
The rain is still sideways but my mind is straight. I’m doing my festive shopping sprees like this every year.