London Department Stores

Britain has a number of iconic and historic department stores such as Harrods and Selfridges. We introduce 10 of the country's most loved department stores.

Harrods

Harrods Department Store, located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, originally started as a modest grocery market in 1849 and has grown into a luxury department store known worldwide for its high quality retail and fashion products. In May 2010, the department store was sold to Qatar Holdings for £1.5 billion following public statements that the store was not for sale. Harrods offers 330 different departments to its customers, served by over 5,000 staff, including: clothing for all genders and ages, sportswear, accessories, electronics, health and beauty items, furniture and stationery etc. Harrods' food hall is a tourist attraction in its own right with rare food items imported from all over the world. An impressive 300,000 customers visit Harrods on peak days to experience its high-end shopping.

Debenhams

Debenhams, located on Oxford Street, London, was a multinational department store PLC that offered a wide variety of fashion products ranging from affordable to high-end such as Jasper Conran, Henry Holland and Betty Jackson. The store on Oxford Street underwent a £25 million makeover that completely refurbished the interior of the store. On the seventh floor, there was a luxurious beauty hall, a modern home-ware department and a fashion forward men's attire section. Shoppers could shop affordably for reduced prices as well as visit their over 300 departments at the flagship store on Oxford Street. The store closed in January 2021.

Fenwick of Bond Street

Fenwick of Bond Street was first opened in 1891 as a hair accessories boutique but has since then been developed into a luxury department store offering five floors of fashion retail in central London. Visitors in search of designer bags, shoes, clothing, jewelry, home-ware and other fashion accessories are recommended to explore this chic department store to discover their perfect purchase. Fenwick of Bond Street is famed for their diverse selection of cosmetic products and their Carluccio's Cafe is a delightful place to take a sip of tea and relax. During the Christmas season, their window displays are full of sophisticated moving figures and detailed sets that Fenwick's has been known for since the store was redeveloped in 1981.

Fortnum and Mason

Fortnum & Mason, often called Fortnum's for short, is a upmarket department store located in Piccadilly, London. Originally built during the Victorian era as a grocery store, Fortnum & Mason are experts in providing quality food products to high-end shoppers around the city. William Fortnum was a footman in the royal household to Queen Anne who insisted on using new candles on every occasion. The enterprising Fortnum sold these half-used candles for a tidy profit and started his sideline business as a grocer in 1707, which was the beginning of Fortnum & Mason. The department store is known for its fine collection of quality foods, hampers, teas and wines. Aside from food, the upper floors have an assortment of men's accessories and women's clothing.

Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols was founded in 1831 as a linen shop on a corner of Knightsbridge, London. This classy department store is the ideal location for any tourists or fashionistas in search of designer brand clothing, jewelry and beauty accessories. With eight floors of high-end beauty and lifestyle products on display, Harvey Nichols is a must-see for any lover of beautiful clothes. Fashion on Four exhibits emerging British talents in fashion such as Peter Pilotto and Mary Katrantzou as well as established favorites like Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan. Visitors are also highly recommended to explore the many dining options at Harvey Nichols including: Yo! Sushi, Wagamama and the Fifth Floor bar, restaurant and cafe.

Liberty

Liberty, located on Great Marlborough Street, just off Oxford Street in London, is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and unique department stores in London. With intimate staircases, wooden balconies, and glass open-roofed entrances, it is easy for visitors to see why Liberty has captured the hearts of customers worldwide since 1875. This quintessential department store provides an assortment of cosmetics, jewelry, furniture, stationery and gifts for customers to explore. Liberty's interior shows the founder's interest in innovative design and Japanese artistry through its Eastern influences in the building. During the Christmas season, the cheerful Christmas decorations and lightings give Liberty its popularity along with their famed assortment of designer fashions such as Mary Quant, Betty Jackson and Martin Margiela.

Selfridges, Birmingham, UK — Selfridges, Birmingham

Selfridges & Co

Selfridges on Oxford Street, London is a fine example of quality shopping ranging from clothing and accessories to cosmetics, shoes, handbags and furniture. Selfridges prides itself in having the second largest retail space in all of the UK with 540,000 square feet of selling space. Selfridges emphasizes the importance of the saying that "shopping should be fun". They have upheld their theatrical and hands-on image since 1919 by offering various scientific exhibits to gather attention of customers. One of the most eccentric of these exhibits are the Japanese themed characters used to play out scenes from TV dating shows as well as an authentic seismograph located on their third floor, which has recorded the tremors from the 1938 Belgian Earthquake. The futuristic Selfridges store in the Bullring in Birmingham, which opened in 2003, has quickly become a new landmark of the city.

Bentalls

Bentalls brings you everything of your heart's desire including: clothing, cosmetics, home-ware appliances, electronics and healthy/organic food products. Starting at a small drapery shop in 1867, Bentalls grew into a full scale department store in Kingston upon Thames by 1935. The beautiful brick building was designed by Maurice Webb who also designed the Guild Hall in Kingston upon Thames. Visitors are recommended to visit Carluccio's Italian Restaurant in Bentalls where customers will be served hand prepared Italian dishes ranging from Beef Lagu Linguine to Chicken Milanese. Bentalls was acquired by Fenwick in 2001.

House of Fraser

House of Fraser has over 60 stores across the UK and Ireland. The department store prides itself on its assortment of fashion accessories, furniture, electrical items, cosmetics, house appliances and fitness gear. The House of Fraser has a 160 year history in the UK retail market and they started their operation as a small drapery shop in 1849 under the name of Fraser & Sons. People in search of affordable designer products are recommended to take a peek inside the House of Fraser because they accommodate every customer's preference with a vast collection of designer brands as well as their own household line.

John Lewis

John Lewis with its slogan, "never knowingly undersold", is a hot-spot for good deals in trendy fashions. The John Lewis department store is famous for its Christmas season advertisements, which have become an annual tradition in British culture. In January 2008, the Oxford Street store was awarded a Royal Warrant from the Queen as the "suppliers of haberdashery and household goods". John Lewis originally started trading in 1964 on Oxford Street, London, and has grown to over 34 department stores located all around the UK.

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