Visiting London

[GoingMyWay]

We're going to be visiting London for 3-4 days at the end of August.  This is going to be our first time in the UK.  I found another post from earlier in the year suggesting that D&M Tools is a good Festool dealer.  It looks to be a bit far (almost 10 miles) from where we're staying near Hyde Park.  All the Axminster Tools locations seem to be even further away.  Are there any smaller hardware stores near the city (doesn't have to be a Festool dealer)?

Are there any "must have" tool(s) that should I consider buying that can't be found in the US or perhaps something that's normally cost prohibitive to ship, something I could easily take back?

We are planning on visiting all of the touristy places in London and eating the famous dishes like fish and chips, pie and mash, Sunday Roast, Scotch Eggs, English Breakfast.

Any other recommendations?

 

[Svar]

It's time for Harrods to open a Festool section. Have a cuppa in their sophisticated Tea Room to have something to brag about to your woodworking buddies.

 

[neth27]

If you only have 3 or 4 days in London I would give tool shopping a miss. Visit the tourist sites instead.

 

[sancho57]

this time of year youd best stay with the basics, tower of london(crown jewels), tower bridge, st pauls cathedral , london eye melenial bridge, take a water taxi to get around, buckass palace see the change of guard etc etc, you have to get tickets and stand in long lines to get in each, if ya got time see the natural history museum. 4 days isnt much. But if ya wanna buy some tool order on line have them sent to your Hotel.
Toolfest is very good and ships stuff quickly using couriers.

 

[GoingMyWay]

Oh dear.  Is it prime time tourist season??

I don't really like standing in line for things.  Seems like you need to get there very early if you want to see the changing of the guard.

Are there any tools in particular??  Chisels, mallet, saws, something else??

 

[xedos]

Not really a hardware store sort of town or population.

That said, Leylands is a DIY / decorators store with some tools.  Many locations. If you're west of the park Notting Hill, if east then one in Pimlico.

A real treat in north Notting Hill is NuLine. Takes up at least half a block and they now have a second store two block north. They are about the only Festool outlet in the city center. Be warned, they close early and have limited Sat. hours. 

Screwfix has an outpost close to the west end of Hyde Park but, I'd go there last unless you're walking right by. Longer hours though and a Festool dealer too.  I don't know what this location carries if anything. So, report back if you visit.

Monday is a bank holiday so check the opening times of places you want to visit.

 

[ss]

Have to agree with neth27 - I'd enjoy London and skip the tool shops. You can easily lose lots of time exploring Harrods and it's a great (though expensive) place to have a bite to eat. The food halls are amazing. (Personally I'm not a fan of Laduree's tean rooms in Harrods though.) Whether Fortnum and Mason in Picadilly still sell scotch eggs I don't know, but that's where they were invented, and a lovely shop to explore.

You could do worse than find some cocktail bars if that's your thing - Mr Foggs in Mayfair is fun (https://www.mr-foggs.com), as is the Rev Simpson just off Tottenham Court Road (https://www.revjwsimpson.com). You'd probably need to call ahead but they're very friendly.

Covent Garden is a lovely place to wander, though near the market in the centre can be a bit of a tourist trap so keep your wits about you! Depending on budget, an excellent traditional English restaurant is Rules (https://rules.co.uk) and their pies are very good. Again, I'd say booking essential.

Assuming you're staying to the North/East of Hyde Park, Marylebone High Street has a great Peruvian restaurant (https://www.pachamamalondon.com) that might be within walking distance (Thayer Street).

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Many of the big London tool stores are gone now, giving way to online sales.
There used to be a great store on the Old Kent Road, not sure if it’s still there? They had everything in there.

I know some good stores but, nowhere near Hyde Park. I agree with others, three days will fly by, so maybe take in some of the sites etc.

D&M is a very good tool shop, I’ll be popping in there tomorrow. Trouble is, I always spend big money in there.
Plenty of Festool, Mafell in there, so can be dangerous, especially if there’s a deal on.
If you find a decent shop for fish and chips, it’s lovely! Same goes for pie and mash, and eels if you like.
English breakfast, I have a weakness for it.

Whatever you do, I hope you have a great time!

 

[sancho57]

If ya decide ya do want to go to a tool shop, Toucan Tools had the biggest selection of festools I seen

If ya want something then get some festool bling, festool swiss army knives, they sell another one with a locking blade and has a olive wood handle, maybe see if they have a limited edition kit like the one I bought for timber framing (great for outdoor projects). Healeys tools is where I found mind.

But again if ya wanna see the sites your gonna be pressed for time. there are long lines and look on line for advance ticket sales, they charge admission to the tower, the abby and there are long lines especially if you have to wait to buy tickets.

Use the water taxis to get around, they are pretty cool and will take you to most places and it will help you avoid the crowd of the tube.

If you do use the tube get a Oyster card its a pass you top up and is available at most tube stations and I think you can use them for buses as well.

they also have hop on hop off busses that take you to all the sites they run a route and run on schedule. you have to find one of their stops (no worries they are everywhere) and buy a pass. theyll take you all the sites.

 

[ChuckM]

V & A Museum -- Fine Furniture section.

 

[Cheese]

Now that you've turned into a "router guy" investigate the possibility of purchasing a small MFS system for the return trip. The 400/700 series is a great start and they can be tucked into a suitcase for the trip to a new home...they're also NAINA.  [smile]

You know you want it... [poke]

I've made so many things with my MFS stuff that I'd be lost without them. I'm serious, I could name a dozen Festool tools that have had less bench time than the MFS including a TS 55.  [eek]

 

[GoingMyWay]

Not really a hardware store sort of town or population.

That said, Leylands is a DIY / decorators store with some tools.  Many locations. If you're west of the park Notting Hill, if east then one in Pimlico.

A real treat in north Notting Hill is NuLine. Takes up at least half a block and they now have a second store two block north. They are about the only Festool outlet in the city center. Be warned, they close early and have limited Sat. hours. 

Screwfix has an outpost close to the west end of Hyde Park but, I'd go there last unless you're walking right by. Longer hours though and a Festool dealer too.  I don't know what this location carries if anything. So, report back if you visit.

Monday is a bank holiday so check the opening times of places you want to visit.

Thanks for that information.  I had heard about the bank holiday "at the end of August."  I was afraid that might impact our trip, but fortunately we're going after the 26th.

Have to agree with neth27 - I'd enjoy London and skip the tool shops. You can easily lose lots of time exploring Harrods and it's a great (though expensive) place to have a bite to eat. The food halls are amazing. (Personally I'm not a fan of Laduree's tean rooms in Harrods though.) Whether Fortnum and Mason in Picadilly still sell scotch eggs I don't know, but that's where they were invented, and a lovely shop to explore.

You could do worse than find some cocktail bars if that's your thing - Mr Foggs in Mayfair is fun (https://www.mr-foggs.com), as is the Rev Simpson just off Tottenham Court Road (https://www.revjwsimpson.com). You'd probably need to call ahead but they're very friendly.

Covent Garden is a lovely place to wander, though near the market in the centre can be a bit of a tourist trap so keep your wits about you! Depending on budget, an excellent traditional English restaurant is Rules (https://rules.co.uk) and their pies are very good. Again, I'd say booking essential.

Assuming you're staying to the North/East of Hyde Park, Marylebone High Street has a great Peruvian restaurant (https://www.pachamamalondon.com) that might be within walking distance (Thayer Street).

Thanks for the recommendation to try and make reservations wherever we plan to go.  That will just require a little bit of forethought on our part (we often wait until the last minute to decide).

Many of the big London tool stores are gone now, giving way to online sales.
There used to be a great store on the Old Kent Road, not sure if it’s still there? They had everything in there.

I know some good stores but, nowhere near Hyde Park. I agree with others, three days will fly by, so maybe take in some of the sites etc.

D&M is a very good tool shop, I’ll be popping in there tomorrow. Trouble is, I always spend big money in there.
Plenty of Festool, Mafell in there, so can be dangerous, especially if there’s a deal on.
If you find a decent shop for fish and chips, it’s lovely! Same goes for pie and mash, and eels if you like.
English breakfast, I have a weakness for it.

Whatever you do, I hope you have a great time!

Fish and chips always sound great, but I think I'm always disappointed when I've had them in the US.  Maybe real deal authentic fish and chips will be better.  I saw some YouTube videos showing those eels.  They don't seem that appetizing to me, but I think my wife will like them.

If ya decide ya do want to go to a tool shop, Toucan Tools had the biggest selection of festools I seen

If ya want something then get some festool bling, festool swiss army knives, they sell another one with a locking blade and has a olive wood handle, maybe see if they have a limited edition kit like the one I bought for timber framing (great for outdoor projects). Healeys tools is where I found mind.

But again if ya wanna see the sites your gonna be pressed for time. there are long lines and look on line for advance ticket sales, they charge admission to the tower, the abby and there are long lines especially if you have to wait to buy tickets.

Use the water taxis to get around, they are pretty cool and will take you to most places and it will help you avoid the crowd of the tube.

If you do use the tube get a Oyster card its a pass you top up and is available at most tube stations and I think you can use them for buses as well.

they also have hop on hop off busses that take you to all the sites they run a route and run on schedule. you have to find one of their stops (no worries they are everywhere) and buy a pass. theyll take you all the sites.

Yeah some Festool bling would be cool to pick up.  I don't think I had heard about using water taxis.  Thanks for that tip.  I think we were primarily thinking of just walking or taking the tube.

V & A Museum -- Fine Furniture section.

That sounds good - makes me think of the furniture that I saw at that Museum in Chicago.

Now that you've turned into a "router guy" investigate the possibility of purchasing a small MFS system for the return trip. The 400/700 series is a great start and they can be tucked into a suitcase for the trip to a new home...they're also NAINA.  [smile]

You know you want it... [poke]

I've made so many things with my MFS stuff that I'd be lost without them. I'm serious, I could name a dozen Festool tools that have had less bench time than the MFS including a TS 55.  [eek]

YES!  The MFS system!  This is exactly the kind of "must have" NAINA item I was thinking of, but just couldn't think of a specific example.  Thanks!  [not worthy]

I wonder if an MFS would be eligible for the VAT refund.  If it were, I suppose I'd need to actually make the purchase in person as opposed to ordering it and having it delivered to the hotel since someone would need to see my passport?

 

[Cheese]

YES!  The MFS system!  This is exactly the kind of "must have" NAINA item I was thinking of, but just couldn't think of a specific example.  Thanks!  [not worthy]

I wonder if an MFS would be eligible for the VAT refund.  If it were, I suppose I'd need to actually make the purchase in person as opposed to ordering it and having it delivered to the hotel since someone would need to see my passport?

I'm sure the MFS will qualify for a VAT refund. You just need to settle on a supplier and work things out. I'd start the email campaign today. There was a discussion probably about 9 months ago of the MFS being out of stock at several Festool suppliers both in GB and in Europe. They were all waiting for their inventory to arrive. [eek]

 

[GoingMyWay]

Oh yeah.  I just checked D & M Tools's website and I couldn't find the MFS listed on there.

I better start emailing some UK dealers to see if anyone has any in stock.

 

[sancho57]

Call Toolfest. If its available Warren will have it. He might have to order it.

So I would order it in advanced and have it delivered to your hotel when ya get there.
https://toolfest.co.uk

Toucan tools had the largest inventory of festools I seen
https://www.toucantools.co.uk

I dont know how their delivery is. But you can give them a shot call them and see.

FFX used to have some of the best prices. Once again call them
https://www.ffx.co.uk

skype is your friend

 

[GoingMyWay]

Call Toolfest. If its available Warren will have it. He might have to order it.

So I would order it in advanced and have it delivered to your hotel when ya get there.
https://toolfest.co.uk

Toucan tools had the largest inventory of festools I seen
https://www.toucantools.co.uk

I dont know how their delivery is. But you can give them a shot call them and see.

FFX used to have some of the best prices. Once again call them
https://www.ffx.co.uk

skype is your friend

Thanks for those links.  I forgot 2 things: London is 5 hours ahead of me and I don't think Festool prices are fixed in the UK.

 

[neth27]

Also tryhttp://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/ for Festool

 

[GoingMyWay]

Unfortunately, I didn't end up buying the MFS.  I wasn't sure about trying get a VAT refund at the airport and I ran a little short on time trying to coordinate the order/delivery to the hotel.

We did, however, have a lovely time in London.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions and advice.

Here are some pictures of the food we had:

fish and chips and mushy peas  (this was Halibut)
[attachimg=1]

We ate at St. JOHN.  For as famous as the restaurant is, I was disappointed.

bone marrow
[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

grouse (something I had only heard about in regard to hunting season, but never seen on a menu before)

[attachimg=4]

grunard (I had never heard of this fish before either)

[attachimg=5]

a set breakfast, not quite a full English breakfast since it was missing the mushrooms and tomato
[attachimg=6]

afternoon tea
[attachimg=7]

[attachimg=8]

[attachimg=9]

[attachimg=10]

[attachimg=11]

Indian dinner
[attachimg=12]

[attachimg=13]

a proper Sunday roast
[attachimg=14]

sausage and mash and a steak and red wine pie
[attachimg=15]

[attachimg=16]

haloumi fries
[attachimg=17]

a full English breakfast
[attachimg=18]

 

[GoingMyWay]

We did of course also do some sightseeing.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

[attachimg=5]

[attachimg=6]

[attachimg=7]

[attachimg=8]

[attachimg=9]

[attachimg=10]

[attachimg=11]

[attachimg=12]

[attachimg=13]

 

[Dusty.House]

Unfortunately, I didn't end up buying the MFS.  I wasn't sure about trying get a VAT refund at the airport and I ran a little short on time trying to coordinate the order/delivery to the hotel.

We did, however, have a lovely time in London.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions and advice.

Here are some pictures of the food we had:

fish and chips and mushy peas  (this was Halibut)
[attachimg=1]

We ate at St. JOHN.  For as famous as the restaurant is, I was disappointed.

bone marrow
[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

grouse (something I had only heard about in regard to hunting season, but never seen on a menu before)

[attachimg=4]

grunard (I had never heard of this fish before either)

[attachimg=5]

a set breakfast, not quite a full English breakfast since it was missing the mushrooms and tomato
[attachimg=6]

afternoon tea
[attachimg=7]

[attachimg=8]

[attachimg=9]

[attachimg=10]

[attachimg=11]

Indian dinner
[attachimg=12]

[attachimg=13]

a proper Sunday roast
[attachimg=14]

sausage and mash and a steak and red wine pie
[attachimg=15]

[attachimg=16]

haloumi fries
[attachimg=17]

a full English breakfast
[attachimg=18]

Well done sir!

That’s a great selection of British food. Proof that our food no longer sucks

From a proud Brit who lives in Seattle, who is now hungry!

——————————
dusty.tools