If I could choose the view that every tourist should see the very second they arrive in London, then this would be it. I’d take them on the tube to Bank and walk them up the station steps (with their eyes closed), stand them outside Mansion House and go… ta-da! Forget Big Ben. Forget St. Paul’s and Buckingham Palace… this is your first photo right here.
It took me ages to pluck up the courage to go inside the Royal Exchange because it’s another one of those intimidating looking buildings that looks out of bounds to the likes of you and me. What on earth is it? Maybe it’s a courthouse or a big bank’s headquarters, or some kind of government department? You would never guess what it really is from the outside. Do you know what it actually is? It’s a shopping centre! I kid you not. It’s the poshest shopping centre in London.
Back in the original building (before it burnt down 400 years ago) the shops around the edge were selling fruit and veg and coffee. Now it’s all diamond rings and handbags.
You don’t want to come here to do your Sunday shop, that is for sure – not unless you want to live on truffles and white wine all week. It’s full of shops like Tiffany, Gucci and Paul Smith. They’ve got ten thousand pound watches, jewellery you couldn’t even rent for a thousand pounds a night, fine art, leather handbags and beauty treatments. I had a quick nose through the windows and most of the items haven’t even got a price tag on, and you know how the old saying goes: if you need to ask the price then you probably can’t afford it.
Here’s a list of some of the things they sell:
A can of coke? nope. A ham sandwich? nope. A champagne flute and salmon pâté on a triangle of toast? yes!
A copy of The Sun and a packet of fags? nope. A copy of Tatler and a tin of menthol snuff? yes!
You get the idea. I thought I’d try and buy a cup of coffee instead because they’ve got a big cafe on the ground floor taking up the central space, but it’s not like Costas or Starbucks – it’s more like a wine bar and the waiters are all waltzing around with silver trays balanced on their upturned palms, dropping off cappuccinos and cupcakes to the suited and booted patrons.
This must be where the City businessmen come for canapés, or whatever it is you’re supposed to eat in a Savile Row suit.
If you enjoy this then try Burlington Arcade (travel from Bank to Piccadilly Circus via tube). The other great buildings near the Royal Exchange are the Bank of England, Mansion House and Guildhall
