London is a haven for those who love to shop and the city is famous for its illustrious emporiums – the big-name department stores to which visitors from around the world flock.
One such store is Harrods. With more than a million square feet of retail space, the luxury department store is recognisable for its signature green bags and extravagant offerings. Yet this is no exclusive club; the store’s motto is ‘Omnia Omnibus Ubique’, which is Latin for ‘all things for all people, everywhere’ – a notion reflected in the visitor numbers it attracts. Every year, more than 15 million people pass through the doors of the Knightsbridge store.
Harrods had humble beginnings. Established in 1849 by Charles Henry Harrod, the store was comprised of a single room selling tea and groceries. Steady expansion saw Harrods evolve into a thriving department store, and in the following years it became a public company with its own bank and estate agents. Its famous pet department closed in 2014 after nearly 100 years, during which time – and before the 1976 Endangered Species Act came into force – it sold exotic animals such as tigers, camels and alligators!
Today, Harrods stretches over seven floors and stocks goods from the ordinary to the exquisite. Visitors can sample food produced by internationally acclaimed chefs in its restaurants and cafes, and the store frequently stages exhibitions and shows. Known for its grandeur, the store's palatial exterior and the baroque-style dome are instantly recognisable.
From Knightsbridge, visitors can make the short journey north to Oxford Street, home to Selfridges department store. Like Harrods, Selfridges boasts a regal exterior, identifiable by its towering stone columns and intricate, ornate clock. Yet inside, the store nods to modernity, with glossy surfaces and more accessible product lines for younger customers. Selfridges boasts the largest women’s and men’s shoe departments in the world, and across all product ranges it aims to suit a variety of tastes and budgets.
As with Harrods, Selfridges is all about the experience. From DJs spinning tracks to live cookery demonstrations and fashion shows, the store is a hive of activity. Famed for creating some of the most imaginative window displays in London, customers visiting during seasonal periods will be wowed by the creativity on display.
Not far from Oxford Street is Bond Street, a thoroughfare in historic Mayfair revered for its elegant stores, luxury brands and exclusive designer products. Fashion items, fine jewellery, art and antiques are all available, and, since its founding in 1700, the street has become synonymous with the rich and famous.
Designer brands including Bulgari, Burberry, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Ralph Lauren all call Bond Street home, and such prestigious brands come together to offer a unique blend of style, history, elegance and opulence. The area is a playground for celebrities, socialites and the wealthy, and shopping is not the only activity on offer – it also houses some of the world’s leading and best-known hotels and restaurants, including Claridge’s and The Ritz, where visitors can enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea in luxurious surroundings.
Other big-name emporiums in London include Hamleys, the world’s oldest and largest toy shop. The Regent Street store is set over seven floors and sells more than 50,000 toys. Iconic stores Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason and Liberty can all be found nearby on the tourist trail.
