Shopping in London - don't do it! (do free stuff instead)

According to a Mercer Consulting survey (consultants - beware!) =) - here are the most expensive cities in the world ...

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Osaka, Japan
3. London, United Kingdom
4. Moscow, Russia
5. Seoul, South Korea
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Zurich, Switzerland
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
9. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
10. Oslo, Norway
11. Milan, Italy
12. Paris, France
13. New York City, United States
14. Dublin, Ireland
15. St. Petersburg, Russia
16. Vienna, Austria
17. Rome, Italy
18. Stockholm, Sweden
19. Beijing, China
20. Sydney, Australia

I don't know if I can believe Sydney is the 20th most expensive - nor Hong Kong more expensive than New York?! - but I DO believe that London is at least the third most expensive city on earth. It is not cheap: here stands the owner of the famous Harrod's store, Mohammed Al-Fayed (a wax replica thereof, that is, in his store). Harrod's is ridiculously expensive, which makes me wonder if most of the people in the store are like me (visitors, not buyers) ...



And yes, the following is actually also in Harrod's, in their themed "Egyptian Room" (which sells things that have nothing to do with Egypt!):



Even in the cheaper markets at the edge of town, all they seem to sell is weird stuff:



... The solution, of course, is to sample London's free stuff. One of the best places is the incredible British Museum ...



... or to watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace ...



... or feed the birds (and dogs!) in the parks!