Harrods, Liberty and Fortnum & Mason are unique, different from each other and different stores in the UK.
These three London department stores are too famous for shopping dogs to miss, and with the pound weak against the dollar amid all the Brexit uncertainty, you can probably buy a lot more than you imagined.
Unlike other London stores, these three have no actual branches outside the capital (there are selections of their products in some duty-free shops at airports). So if you’re on tour and determined to visit them, don’t leave it until later in your trip. They are unique london.
Harrods
What can you say about Harrods that hasn’t been said a million times before? It is the most famous department store in Britain, and is as much a tourist attraction as it is a shop. It’s still worth checking out, if only to tell your friends you’ve been there.
Harrods is packed with every luxury imaginable including:
- diamond jewelry and designer clothing
- an apartment for just about anything you can think of: real estate, banking, travel, even a children’s reading room
- perfume and cosmetic departments that seem to be infinite
- A series of legendary dining rooms that cannot be missed.
The motto of the store, ” Omnia, omnibus, ubique” means everything, for everyone, everywhere. That says everything. Harrods may not be as complete as it once was; The prices are spectacular and the ground floor is always full of tourists. But, if you love shopping and have never visited before, join the crush (more than 15 million people visit each year) and explore its 500 departments and 30 cafes and restaurants, spread over 7 floors.
Where to find it: Harrods is at 87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL, you really can’t miss it as it takes up an entire square block. And when darkness falls, it lights up like a Christmas tree all year long.
Visit the Harrods website for hours, sale dates, and online purchases.
The Capital Hotel, on Basil Street, just behind Harrods, is THE place to stay for shopping ladies.
Liberty
Once they’ve seen it, few would disagree that Liberty, at the corner of Regent Street and Great Marlborough Street, is the most beautiful store in London. In fact, many would claim that with its half-timbered building, influenced by Arts & Crafts, it is one of the most beautiful shops in the world. Founded by Arthur Liberty in the 19th century, the store was at the forefront of Arts and Crafts, England’s Art Nouveau movement, led by stars such as William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelite painters.
Its faux Tudor façade is just a hint of the wonderful things inside. It’s like an oak-paneled treasure chest, filled with eclectic collections of fashion, jewelry, homeware, and decorative items. Of course, you can find various accessories in the familiar Liberty prints. But the real joys of this store are the rare and highly sought-after items and the unique fashion collections gathered from around the world. Being a Liberty buyer could be the most fun job in the world.
Visit the Liberty website to see if you agree.
Where to find it: The official address for Liberty (and by the way, it’s Liberty, never Liberty) is Regent Street, London W1B 5AH. But don’t be fooled into missing out. The actual entrance is around the corner from Great Marlborough Street. Right along Great Marlborough Street, the Courthouse Hotel has a rooftop bar overlooking the incredible Liberty Building.
Fortnum & Mason
Calling Fortnum’s the hottest grocery store doesn’t begin to suggest the incredible array of goodies at this 310-plus-year-old store on Piccadilly. Exotic foods and wines from around the world, sweets and cakes and cookies, caviar and pate, rare game, dozens of mustards and honeys and sauces and chocolates and teas. And it’s all served by Fortnum’s famous lingerie-covered store clerks.
There are also some everyday products. This is the shop that introduced Heinz Baked Beans to Britain in the 19th century and in the 18th century invented the Scotch Egg for travelers.
Fortnums even has its own bee hives to collect honey. Four colonies live on the roof of central London in Georgian-style hives. They only produce one crop of honey a year and it is apparently so good that there is a waiting list to buy it.
Don’t worry – Fortnum’s bees also gather a flavor of London’s summer from various locations around the city, including a Thames barge near Tower Bridge! And, if you’ve been to Stonehenge, you might want to try honey from Fortnum’s hives on Salisbury Plain.
The upper floors have gifts and accessories for men, women and the home, but it is the dining rooms that have a fascinating history and are the main reason to visit. See their website for more information.
Where to find it: Fortnum & Mason is at 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER, directly opposite the Royal Academy of Arts and the Burlington Arcade. If you really want to push the boat, you can stay at the Ritz Hotel while you shop there. This is definitely one of the high-income districts in London. But there are always deals if you search.
