23:13
Faizan
Harrods welcomes 15 million visitors a year to Europe's biggest department store, where 26 restaurants and eight floors of upmarket retail space cover 4.5 acres. In business since 1834, Harrods is a short walk from London landmarks such as Hyde Park and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The Heart of Knightsbridge
Harrods is in the middle of Knightsbridge, at 87-135 Brompton Road, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, right at its border with Westminster. Covering an entire city block, the distinctive terra-cotta brick facade of Harrods is accented by green awnings and outlined by 12,000 white lights that come on at dusk. Knightsbridge Underground Station on the Piccadilly Line is adjacent to the department store; follows signs for the Brompton Road exit when leaving the Tube. At the time of publication, London buses stopping nearby are the 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 137, 414, 452 and the C1.
The Food Halls
Shiny display cases and polished countertops compete for attention with high stuccoed ceilings, intricate mosaic designs, and black and white tiled floors. However, food is the real star of the show in this series of interconnected rooms collectively known as Harrods Food Halls. Customers take a number to discuss meat, fish, shellfish, deli, cheese, pastry and cakes, served by smartly aproned clerks with pedigree knowledge. Immaculately arranged baskets are piled high with perfect produce beside vitrines loaded with chocolates, petits fours and pastel colored macaroons. Fancy gift items from Royal Warrant suppliers -- such as truffles, champagne, smoked salmon, oysters and caviar -- could upset most household budgets in a flash.
Luxuries and Teddy Bears
Adjacent to the Food Halls, the ground floor is Harrods' most impressive -- there the all-white Cosmetics Hall, one of Harrods' highest grossing departments, is adorned with a custom hand-blown glass chandelier. Fine jewelry, precision watches for him and her, designer handbags, fragrances and luxury accessories are among the larger collections on this floor, where browsing may bring you to the room with Harrods own brand items, featuring the famous teddy bear collection. Every year, a cuddly Harrods teddy bear is launched with the year embroidered onto its right foot. Picnic hampers filled with imported teas, tins of shortbread and other condiments are also popular items.
Harrods Annual Sales
Twice a year, Harrods holds its famous store-wide winter and summer sales beginning on Boxing Day, December 26, and again in late June. For opening day, guests typically queue up for hours. While in line, they're served refreshments and provided blankets; television cameras film a celebrity performance and ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with fireworks for Christmas. Sales continue for approximately three weeks or until the inventory is gone. Locals may plan a major household appliance purchase around the sale dates. Brides think similarly, as do international visitors, as savings in all departments except the Food Halls are as much as 50 percent. Harrods tax-free shopping service on the second floor provides paperwork for non-EC international visitors to claim a VAT refund at the airport.
The Heart of Knightsbridge
Harrods is in the middle of Knightsbridge, at 87-135 Brompton Road, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, right at its border with Westminster. Covering an entire city block, the distinctive terra-cotta brick facade of Harrods is accented by green awnings and outlined by 12,000 white lights that come on at dusk. Knightsbridge Underground Station on the Piccadilly Line is adjacent to the department store; follows signs for the Brompton Road exit when leaving the Tube. At the time of publication, London buses stopping nearby are the 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 137, 414, 452 and the C1.
The Food Halls
Shiny display cases and polished countertops compete for attention with high stuccoed ceilings, intricate mosaic designs, and black and white tiled floors. However, food is the real star of the show in this series of interconnected rooms collectively known as Harrods Food Halls. Customers take a number to discuss meat, fish, shellfish, deli, cheese, pastry and cakes, served by smartly aproned clerks with pedigree knowledge. Immaculately arranged baskets are piled high with perfect produce beside vitrines loaded with chocolates, petits fours and pastel colored macaroons. Fancy gift items from Royal Warrant suppliers -- such as truffles, champagne, smoked salmon, oysters and caviar -- could upset most household budgets in a flash.
Luxuries and Teddy Bears
Adjacent to the Food Halls, the ground floor is Harrods' most impressive -- there the all-white Cosmetics Hall, one of Harrods' highest grossing departments, is adorned with a custom hand-blown glass chandelier. Fine jewelry, precision watches for him and her, designer handbags, fragrances and luxury accessories are among the larger collections on this floor, where browsing may bring you to the room with Harrods own brand items, featuring the famous teddy bear collection. Every year, a cuddly Harrods teddy bear is launched with the year embroidered onto its right foot. Picnic hampers filled with imported teas, tins of shortbread and other condiments are also popular items.
Harrods Annual Sales
Twice a year, Harrods holds its famous store-wide winter and summer sales beginning on Boxing Day, December 26, and again in late June. For opening day, guests typically queue up for hours. While in line, they're served refreshments and provided blankets; television cameras film a celebrity performance and ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with fireworks for Christmas. Sales continue for approximately three weeks or until the inventory is gone. Locals may plan a major household appliance purchase around the sale dates. Brides think similarly, as do international visitors, as savings in all departments except the Food Halls are as much as 50 percent. Harrods tax-free shopping service on the second floor provides paperwork for non-EC international visitors to claim a VAT refund at the airport.
Posted in: Travel UK
