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| John Lewis Exhibition |
With my brother staying for a few days we had the chance to go out and about and luckily the weather has been lovely. On the Bank Holiday Monday we just went locally to the River Thames and walked along the banks. Everyone and his wife seemed to be out enjoying the sunshine. We bought lunch in a little riverside cafe and watched the swans and a family of ducks...such tiny ducklings!
I'd heard on the news that John Lewis are celebrating their 150 year and had an exhibition at the store in Oxford Street. They had also opened up their roof garden to the public. So on Tuesday we set off to check it out. The exhibition is on the third floor (next to the kitchen and bathroom department) where they have a mock shop front. As you enter the doors you encounter a room with a counter behind which are bales of rich fabrics. Then you walk into the main exhibition with a timeline and a photo of the first partner who was a keen naturalist. Exhibits include agreements, letter, artifacts from the times of war. There were details of how John Lewis expanded, the buying of some Selfridges stores from Gordon Selfridge and the buying of Waitrose. There is a book setting out the code of conduct for employers....I remember one line about the employer, if sitting, to rise when a customer enters the department. These were the times of chairs for customers at the counter, personal service....ah, something sadly lacking in many shops these days. There were fashions on display, including some student ones, a map showing where new stores will be opening. (Birmingham....there is one coming New Street station!) There was a Silver Cross Pram on show (my parents had one and my dad would polish it....his pride and joy....car substitute!). It really was an interesting exhibition. There is a book you can buy for £20 as well as other merchandise for the 150 years but not much of it in stock, apart from the book.
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| Silver Cross Pram |
We then went up to the fifth floor and were ushered by staff up the stairs the roof garden,. WOW! This was really surprising. There is a hut for buying drinks and sandwiches and plenty of places to sit, including deckchairs. There is some nice planting of flowers, artificial grass, a potting shed and great views across London and down to Oxford Street.
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| Roof Garden |
Overall I was impressed with John Lewis. The store is lovely and the staff very polite and obliging. If you get the chance go along and see for yourself.
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| The many floors of John Lewis, Oxford Street |
From there we caught the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich and I took my brother over on the Emirates Cable Car for the first time (this was the third time for me!). We then got the DLR to Tower Gateway where we saw the old Roman London Wall and gates into the City before coming home.
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| The music wall (where else would you find me?) O2 |
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| View from the Cable Car |
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| London Wall |
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