London: Some Things to Avoid

Today I found a few things that I wouldn’t recommend. The Ben Franklin House, Harrods, and The Sherlock Holmes Museum top the list.

If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, by all means go. You’ll enjoy it. Just didn’t do much for me.

I am a Ben Franklin fan, but there just wasn’t much in the way of content.

For my money avoid The London Eye. This is an enormous Ferris Wheel. My guess is that it’s the world’s tallest.  It’s literally right outside my hotel room window. They put you in capsules that will hold about 20 people for the ride.

I don’t do heights. Put me up high in an enclosed space with several other people moving rapidly and jabbering……its not a pretty picture. If you are like my family—a bit adventurous and heights don’t bother you—then by all means ride the Eye. But if you are like me and could take it or leave it, leave it.

Finally, there is the venerable Harrods department store; a bit bigger, definitely fancier, but still, just a big department store. Their motto should be “ridiculously overpriced.” I saw shoes I’m pretty sure I could buy in Springfield for $75. They were $300. I’ve been needing a wallet and thought it might be fun to get one at Harrods. I generally spend about $25 on a leather wallet and carry it for five years. The leather wallets at Harrods were $150 so I had to decide: new wallet and no money to go in it? Or, keep my worn and ratty one? Guess what I decided?

As a guy who only goes to the mall maybe once a year, department stores aren’t my gig. So, in my opinion, if you are on a compressed time schedule and have to cut something from your visit to London, cut Harrods. You won’t be any worse for it.