After our leisurely lunch at Les Deux Salons, we strolled along the Strand eastbound towards the Somerset House.
The origin of the Somerset house goes back to the 16th Century, the most illustrious and notorious era of the Tudor time. In 1539, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, the brother of Henry VIII’s beloved third wife, Jane Seymour obtained a grant of land at “Chester Place, outside Temple Bar, London” from the King. After Seymour became Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector for the boy-king Edward VI, the manor became known as the Somerset House. The present neoclassical building is the result of the refurbishment designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1685.
As we walked into the courtyard, Alex and I were greeted by excited chatters and laughs from the ice skate rink in the middle. This year, an American handbag and accessories manufacturer, Coach, was supporting this annual fun…
Our purpose of visiting to the Somerset House was not for a post-lunch skating but their well reputed Christmas Arcade…
Each room of the West Wing Galleries was designed as an independent shop occupied by well-chosen non high street retailers…
The item on sale were all irresistibly sweet!
They were highly original, modern without being too sleek, humorous, sophisticated and affordable…
The main corridor was decorated with pretty lighting…
And everywhere I turned to, I found at least one Christmas tree…
The items I was smitten were gingerbread tree decorations…
A plate with a motto…
Porcelain doggie necklaces. What a shame that they didn’t have a chihuahua…
There was a hat seller in one of the galleries…
I just couldn’t resist trying on a top hat…
When we emerged from the market, the ice rink was still busy with skaters…
We moved on to the cafe in the East Wing and had latte & cake…
The Somerset House Christmas Arcade will be a god send for anyone who is stuck with gift ideas.
The items on sale cater for young & old, male & female. The choice is plentiful. The prices are affordable. And the most importantly, it is INDOOR! What are you waiting for?
I may return to the arcade next week for another gift hunting since I have had enough of West End shopping craze during my repeated trips to the Genius Bar…
Oooh, so many goodies in the shop! I would want to buy them all for myself !
Hope your phone frustration is over ?!
The arcade was really pretty. It’s not far from you. You should check them out! My phone seems to be behaving so far. I am keeping a watchful eye though… 😒
Love your review, great photos too! I had no idea there was such a nice market there– I’ve been to the Winter Wonderland thing in Hyde Park a couple of times but there is nothing interesting there at all– I wasn’t sure whether to even bother writing about it. Next time I’m in London for the holidays I will have to check it out.
Apparently, this year’s Winter Wonderland is much better than the past ones. Even thigh I haven’t been there myself yet, I’ve heard some positive comments. However, the Somerset House’s Christmas Arcade is much more fun for grown up like us because there are so many stuff to ogle and buy. In fact, I am going back there again this week for more shopping! Highly recommended. 🎄 x
Saw some cushions that have caught my eye! xxx
They were really good. You should go! 😄 xxx
Love those porcelain doggie necklaces! I’m sorry they didn’t have a Mr. B one. But I was so happy to see the pug one, my favorite dog breed!
It was a really shame that they didn’t have a chihuahua necklace! I would have bought it if they had any. 😫
Nice plate and hat! Good to know that your phone is behaving. Hope it continues to do so. 🙂
Ohhhh, my iPhone! I don’t trust it anymore. Therefore I’ve bought iPod touch as a backup. 😨
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