Harrods, the famous luxury department store in London

Harrods in London is an icon of luxury and opulence.

If you ever feel that your life lacks wealth and luxury, take a shopping trip to Harrods department store in London. It’s a place whose selection and atmosphere of exclusive indulgence amaze not only ordinary people like me but also Russian billionaires and Arab sheikhs, who eagerly spend their fortunes there. In the article below, I’ll tell you about our visit to London’s famous Harrods department store and what we saw there. At the end of the article, you’ll also find plenty of facts and curiosities about this extraordinary place.

Harrods practical information about the luxury department store in London

Harrods is located in a Victorian building at 87-135 Brompton Rd, SW1X 7XL in London.

Harrods is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and on Sundays from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Harrods is so large that it has its app that will help you find your way around thanks to its interactive map. I recommend downloading it before your visit, as it allows you to track promotions on luxury brands, and you might just find something really nice at a more affordable price.

When shopping at Harrods, you can also take advantage of numerous services, such as a beautician, hairdresser, or shopping advisor.

You’ll find over 20 restaurants in the store, with meals costing enough to feed several students for a week. Of course, I recommend trying the coffee, which is worth every penny.

If you’ve ever had the unwise thought of driving around London, the nearest car park is in Brompton Place (SW31QE), a mere two-minute walk from Harrods. Unfortunately, parking isn’t cheap, nor is the store you’re visiting. A much better option is to take the tube; the nearest station is Knightsbridge.

Remember that Harrods has an unwritten dress code, introduced in 1989. The store reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone wearing dirty and unkempt clothing, cycling shorts, flip-flops, or swimsuits. You won’t be allowed to enter the store barefoot or with a bare midriff. These rules don’t just apply to ordinary citizens; Kylie Minogue and a famous football team were not allowed inside Harrods because they were all wearing tracksuits.

The Story of a Luxury Department Store in London

The history of the store dates back to 1840, when it was founded by Charles Henry Harrod. Charles was quite lucky, as at the beginning of his retail career he rented one of the small shops in Knightsbridge — a district that at the time was not particularly attractive. He sold everyday products and groceries, but business was modest, with weekly takings of just £20. Fortunately for Charles, things changed dramatically in the mid-19th century, when Knightsbridge became a fashionable and desirable part of London. Within just a few years, the shop expanded and profits soared to £1,000 per week. Harrod and his son found a way to attract wealthy customers by creating their own brand of products packaged in the colours of the British flag and offering personalized service to every client.

Gradually, the range of goods became more diverse. Perfumes, medicines, stationery, fruits, and vegetables appeared on the shelves. The shop owners quickly realized that revenue increased when they showcased luxurious versions of ordinary items. They began importing fine goods from across Europe and beyond while also developing their own line under the Harrods brand.

By 1881, many of the surrounding buildings already belonged to Harrods, and the company employed over 100 people. Unfortunately, just a year later, a fire broke out in the district and nearly the entire business was destroyed. It might have seemed like the end for this rapidly growing company — but far from it. Harrod not only refused to give up, but he also decided to live up to his customers’ expectations. Since it happened just before Christmas, he and his employees personally delivered all previously ordered goods to clients’ homes, earning a real fortune in the process. The following year, construction began on a brand-new department store on the site of the old buildings — one fully owned by Harrods.

The newly built grand building opened in 1905 and quickly became a temple of luxury, attracting London’s wealthy elite. Once again, the owners showed their business genius by offering credit accounts to their best clients. Considering that among Harrods’ shoppers were the likes of Oscar Wilde, Ellen Terry, and Charlie Chaplin, sales skyrocketed. Even members of the royal family began shopping there, and the store was granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment — a document allowing it to supply goods and services to the royal household. This greatly boosted its prestige and attracted even more affluent customers.

Other ideas from Harrods’ owners brought further profits and fame. In the early 20th century, Harrods signed an exclusive contract with author Beatrix Potter for the merchandising rights to her creation, Peter Rabbit. Plush toys depicting the beloved storybook character appeared in the store — the first licensed pop culture character in history. The idea was a giant success, and soon more licensed characters followed. In 1921, author A. A. Milne visited Harrods and bought a teddy bear for his son Christopher, which later inspired the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh and the character of Christopher Robin.

Over the years, Harrods has partnered with many well-known brands such as Disney and Starbucks. Today, the London department store occupies more than 100,000 square meters, making it the largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world, attracting over 15 million visitors each year. As you can see, the modest business grew far beyond what Charles Harrod could have ever dreamed of. Today, Harrods belongs to Qatar Holding — the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar — which paid $1.5 billion for the legendary brand.

Summary of our visit to the famous department store

Wandering through a luxury department store like Harrods is quite an adventure — though it can be exhausting, and the price tags are enough to make your head spin. As you might guess, we didn’t go on a major shopping spree, but we did buy some handmade souvenirs featuring the Harrods logo. These were artisanal chocolates packaged in beautiful little boxes — so lovely, in fact, that it felt almost wrong to open them later. Besides, the visit made me realize that although I’m not poor, there’s a vast gap between me and the truly wealthy people who shop at Harrods daily.

The store’s interior — especially the part adorned with gold and Egyptian motifs — might seem over-the-top, slightly tacky, and even overwhelming, yet it undeniably has its charm. The same goes for many other parts of the store, including the restrooms, which could easily pass for those of a luxury hotel — or, as someone once joked, an upscale brothel. Don’t get me wrong — Harrods is a fantastic place, but you really have to see it with your own eyes to understand what I mean.

Harrods is more than just a store — it’s a legend, its history intertwined with that of London itself. From the first escalators to its lavish interiors and royal clientele, every corner of Harrods tells a story of elegance, innovation, and a touch of British eccentricity. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting!

Harrods Department Store Information and interesting facts

• Harrods was founded in 1849, and the current building opened in 1905.
• Harrods is one of the largest department stores in Europe, covering an area of ​​over 100,000 square meters, equivalent to several football stadiums!
• The entire complex is situated on five acres in the elegant Knightsbridge district – the heart of luxury London.
• Inside, you’ll find 330 departments – from fashion, jewellery, and cosmetics to food, books, and furniture.
• During the pre-Christmas period, Harrods attracts up to 300,000 visitors a day!
• The store’s motto is Latin: “Omnia Omnibus Ubique,” meaning “everything for everyone, everywhere.”
• In 1898, Harrods was the first in Great Britain to install an escalator.
• Customers who were afraid of the escalator were given a glass of brandy or smelling salts at the top to reassure them.
• In 1883, the building burned down almost completely, but despite the fire, the store’s employees fulfilled all Christmas orders.
• Harrods once had a pet department, which even sold exotic specimens – from parrots to lion cubs!
• The last exotic animals disappeared from the shelves in 2014 when the department closed, making way for luxury fashion.
• Unfortunately, Harrods’ history also has its dark moments – in the 1980s and 1990s, the store was the target of IRA bombings.
• In 2010, Harrods was sold to the Qatar Investment Authority, a fund owned by the Qatari royal family.
• The previous owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, burned the official royal warrants, believing they brought bad luck to the store.
• Harrods is home to the famous “Innocent Victims” monument, dedicated to Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed.
• The previous monument depicted a glass from Diana’s last dinner and the engagement ring Dodi was supposed to buy for her.
• Harrods employees in distinctive green uniforms, known as Green Men, assist customers and serve as representatives.
• Around 5,000 people work at Harrods every day, rising to 5,500 during the holiday season.
• The store’s facade is adorned with 12,000 light bulbs, giving it a unique glow – several hundred are replaced daily!
• Harrods once had its Furniture Warehouse on the Thames, where customers’ enormous furniture was stored – today, the building has been transformed into luxury flats.
• It was at Harrods that the teddy bear that inspired the character of Winnie-the-Pooh was purchased – A.A. Milne gave it to his son Christopher.
• The Food Hall was recently renovated as part of the “Taste Revolution” project, which includes four rooms, including a dining room, a dining room, and a dining room. Roastery & Bakehall, Fresh Market Hall, Dining Hall, and Chocolate Hall.
• The new Roastery & Bakehall was designed to restore the rooms to their historic proportions (from 1925) and recreate features such as Carrara marble floors, decorative ceilings, and ornate glass panels.
• The Roastery & Bakehall houses a bakery, coffee roastery, and patisserie, serving coffee and baked goods prepared in-house.
• Harrods has its coffee blend, called “Knightsbridge blend,” specially roasted in-store.
• The Georgian, a fourth-floor restaurant, could from the outset seat up to 1,200 people in its main dining room.
• The Georgian offered early menus that today seem exotic—for example, mulligatawny soup, chopped lamb chops, and boiled veal knuckle.
• The Meat & Fish Hall, in 1903, featured Art Nouveau ceramics, glazed tiles, and a glass roof, which were entirely new and impressive at the time.
• During the renovation of the Food Halls, much of the original decorative elements were retained—glaze, marble detailing, original columns, and mouldings.
• Harrods has a dedicated Chocolate Hall—designed to provide the perfect environment for storing and showcasing luxury chocolates.
• The Fresh Market Hall offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, seafood, truffles, and artisan cheeses—all in an elegant setting.
• The Dining Hall—part of the renovated Food Hall—features a central wine bar and numerous bars/food stalls where you can sample various cuisines and dishes prepared by Harrods’ own chefs.
• The renovations utilized designs by renowned studios, such as David Collins Studio, who sought to blend modernity with the building’s historic architecture.
• Aesthetic considerations were also emphasized during the renovation: hand-embroidered leather, custom-fit bar stools, brass finishes, and Art Deco elements.
• Harrods invests significantly in maintaining the quality of the store environment, for example, by controlling the temperature in the Chocolate Hall to ensure the chocolate retains its flavour and texture.
• The “Roastery & Bake Hall” allows customers to observe the bread-baking and coffee-making processes—part of the experience, not just the shopping experience.
• The Fresh Market Hall and other halls allow customers access to local and international products, combining a wholesale market with a luxurious experience.
• Harrods offers the opportunity to create your own tea blend in the Food Hall.
• The Meat and Fish Hall – once criticized for its decorative elements – is now considered one of the most spectacular examples of applied art and interior design in London.
• Harrods sells luxury products and strives to offer an experience – lounge spaces, dining rooms, and tasting booths – making a visit there more than just shopping.

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