A Visit to Geo. F. Trumper-Jermyn St London

**HoustonianYankee** · 12-07-2007, 06:46 PM

Just got back from a business trip to London and had to make my way to GFT's on 20 Jermyn St. My friend took a photo, of course, and I am proud to display it. The twit in the back of me got a bit brusque as he had to wait for my photo. The shop was very nice, the attendant was informative and hospitable, and the creams were approx. $28. Fancy that.

Cheerio,

**Austin** · 12-07-2007, 07:39 PM

Dennis, more details man! What did you see and sample?

**MaxP** · 12-07-2007, 07:53 PM

Definitely one for the family album!

**castlecraver** · 12-07-2007, 08:22 PM

Oh, how I want to live in a place with shop windows that look like that. Simply splendid photo... hope you enjoyed your visit!

**OldSaw** · 12-07-2007, 08:29 PM

What fun. How many hours did you spend there?

**D'Brie** · 12-07-2007, 10:37 PM

No place like England, well done Dennis. Smashing photo.

**Must Dash** · 12-08-2007, 12:35 AM

I had the pleasure of stopping by there in September ('tis a long way from home for me). I hope you had time to visit TOBs, DR Harris and Penhaligons while you were there. All within brush flicking distance.

Cheers

Jeremy

**HoustonianYankee** · 12-08-2007, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by jeremy

I had the pleasure of stopping by there in September ('tis a long way from home for me). I hope you had time to visit TOBs, DR Harris and Penhaligons while you were there. All within brush flicking distance.

Cheers

Jeremy

Only Penhaligons. We didn't have a lot of time and I was with my wife and friends who had their own destinations. In general, I found London extraordinarily expensive. Trumper was on the high side as well. There was a nice selection of brushes, both hand filled and machine filled with the former costing twice as much as the latter. Hand filled brushes were $250 and up.

They also sold some Merkurs at virtually twice the price we are accustomed to paying. So, all in all, it was a nice place to visit, buy a tub of cream just for grins, and then move on.

Anyone contemplating a trip to London, be prepared for prices, on average, at least 30-50% higher than NYC! Hotel rooms and restaurants are sky high. The place has changed a lot since I had been there 15 yrs ago. Many good restaurants and selection of cuisines. We went to Portobello Rd market on Saturday. This was fun and a worthwhile visit. There are lots of antiques, bric a brac, and some really good restaurants in this upscale area known as Notting Hill. We went to two restaurants there: Mediterraneo and Osteria Basilico, both Italian and very good. They have common ownership and are on oppsite ends of the same block.

I'll upload some photos to my website (below my signature is a link) in a day or two for those who are interested.

**ravkesef** · 12-08-2007, 06:57 AM

Dennis, what a magnificent experience you had! I can't stop salivating. The shop window itself is truly a work of art. Compare that with the sterile glass and steel things we're accustomed to seeing. Walking into that place must be a sensory experience that is simply hard to top. One step inside and my various acquisition disorders would blow off the top of my head.
things to do today:
book reservation for London.
Cab waiting at airport to take me to 20 Jermyn street.
cab waiting outside shop to take me back to airport.
return flight.
repeat tomorrow.

**Rhett** · 12-08-2007, 02:20 PM

Funnily enough, I was walking past that shop window between Clifford Street and St James Square the other day and I thought that their Christmas Display window was a bit too vulgar, lit up and brash for me. It looked more like a department store window display than their normal understated class.

-N

**Must Dash** · 12-09-2007, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by HoustonianYankee

Anyone contemplating a trip to London, be prepared for prices, on average, at least 30-50% higher than NYC! Hotel rooms and restaurants are sky high. The place has changed a lot since I had been there 15 yrs ago.

London was my home town for quite a few years. It's a great city but, as you say, very pricey. And unless you are at one of the top flight hotels, rooms can also be absurdly small, and the standards are rubbish, especially compared to Asia. Some aspects of London though - like the pubs and the theater - are an absolute pleasure. Hope that, despite the prices, you enjoyed your trip.

Cheers

Jeremy

**HoustonianYankee** · 12-09-2007, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by jeremy

London was my home town for quite a few years. It's a great city but, as you say, very pricey. And unless you are at one of the top flight hotels, rooms can also be absurdly small, and the standards are rubbish, especially compared to Asia. Some aspects of London though - like the pubs and the theater - are an absolute pleasure. Hope that, despite the prices, you enjoyed your trip.

Cheers

Jeremy

We had a great time. Enjoyed some fine restaurants and did some touristy things. Had a few beers in some nice pubs. I was a bit purturbed there were no scottish eggs though; haven't had one in years.

**Must Dash** · 12-10-2007, 12:02 AM

No Scotch Eggs at Fortnum and Mason? They invented the thing.

**HoustonianYankee** · 12-11-2007, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by jeremy

No Scotch Eggs at Fortnum and Mason? They invented the thing.

Didn't make it there. Guess I should have looked harder.

**Suzuki** · 12-11-2007, 06:09 AM

I managed to go on a business boondoggle to London this summer and stayed at a hotel within walking distance of Trumper, Haris, Taylor, Penhaligons, Saville Row suitmakers, Floris, etc...

While the shops were beautiful and I did pick up a couple of things here and there, the prices were quite high and I ultimately decided to do most of my serious shopping online. That being said, London is a great city and it was an absolute pleasure to spend an afternoon flitting from one shaving emporium to another, as well as having the chance to look, touch and load up on samples.

At the other end of the spectrum, I was able to pick up some Boots shaving sticks, Erasmic and other English "drug store" products quite cheaply, which was nice since shipping is so high.

**momo360** · 12-11-2007, 09:16 PM

wow, does that look old-world class or what!?

I mean, just check out the colour scheme!

**Doc4** · 12-11-2007, 09:42 PM

Fantastic photo!! I love the way the lighting outside and inside the store both are at their peak.

**Crhis** · 01-10-2008, 08:21 AM

I've been going back and forth to Jermyn and St. James' St. for the past few days looking at shaving products. Handy when you only live <20 minutes walk away.

And while they are expensive usually they all have sales on that don't seem to have made it online. 50% off or more on Taylors of Old Bond St brushes? Thankyouverymuch.

**Hobbesoxon** · 01-10-2008, 08:28 AM

50%?! I'm coming to town!

(I had no idea where this place was, and only live an hour away. Many thanks for bringing it up!)

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

**Crhis** · 01-11-2008, 03:13 PM

When I went past today they had a sign in the window saying it's the last few days of the sale!

Went in to Floris today as well which is just around the corner and picked up a shaving bowl+soap for £11. They had the refills at £7.50 too - might go back tomorrow and stock up on those.

They also have the JF Eau De Toilette for £22.50 and a travel bag with a comb, toothbrush, shoehorn and shoebuffer for £5 from £25.