Shopping In London: From Harrods To Harveys To Hamleys, And More
When you imagine your trip to London, you may be thinking in terms of the Tower, Big Ben, Buckingham Place, and the hallowed stones of Westminster Abbey. Hardly a street in London is without historical significance and a monument or two.
London, however, has for centuries been one of the world’s great mercantile centers, and remains so today. No trip to London would be complete without a day exploring its legendary shopping opportunities. Here are just a few of them:
Harrods
Harrods is undoubtedly the best-known of all London’s department stores, and the one most appealing to tourists. Its seven floors contain over a million square feet of retail space, and is so large that shoppers are advised to pick up a Shopper’s Guide at any of its information booths. Don’t miss the Food Halls on the ground and lower ground floors, where you can purchase all sorts of delicacies from clerks garbed in Edwardian dress.
If you’re touched by the story of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed, you might appreciate the memorial to them by the Egyptian Escalator. If you have the kids in tow, ride the Escalator to the fourth floor, where you can find the toy department and child-sized Mercedes automobiles which actually run. Finish your day with a proper English High Tea at the fourth-floor Georgian restaurant, where you can munch pastries and finger sandwiches to music played on the world’s costliest piano.
Harvey Nichols
It may not be Harrods, but Harvey Nichols was once the favorite retail establishment of Princess Diana, and it has prices to match. It’s still frequented by well-heeled Londoners, and its fifth floor contains a four-star restaurant, a gourmet