FREE OFFICIAL GUIDE SHOP LONDON WHAT S IN STORE IMAGE CAPTURED IN SELFRIDGES SHOE DEPARTMENT SPONSORED BY
SHOP LONDON Every year London s department stores and shopping arcades lead the way in providing consumers with retail experiences that could never be replicated. London is an historic city with a modern attitude and a fierce sense of humour, and nowhere demonstrates this better than the capital s totally unique department stores. HARRODS The most famous department store in the world 87 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW1 www.harrods.com Tel: (020 ) 7730 1234 Ë Knightsbridge When describing Harrods, somehow the word shop or department store doesn t suffice. The palatial interior is almost museum-worthy and the Edwardian terracotta façade with its baroque dome is as famous as Buckingham Palace. But this 4.5 acre site in Knightsbridge is a store the most famous department store in the world. The Harrods motto Omnia Omnibus Ubique means All Things, For All People, Everywhere. The story began in 1834 when East End wholesale grocer Charles Henry Harrod left his shop in Stepney for a site in the new district of Knightsbridge in order to capitalise on the Great Exhibition of 1851 in nearby Hyde Park. Harrod s son Charles Digby built the business into a thriving store selling medicines, perfumes, stationery and groceries, employing over 100 staff. In 1883 the shop burnt to the ground, but thanks to Charles Digby s determination, a new shop soon rose from the ashes. This was a bigger and better Harrods that soon extended credit to the likes of Oscar Wilde, Lillie Langtry and Ellen Terry. Today Harrods occupies over 1 million square feet of retailing space making it the largest department store in the world. There is nothing anonymous, run-of-the-mill or predictable about Harrods: everything it does, it does big and grand. Adorned with original Edwardian Royal Doulton tiling, marble-topped counters and enormous chandeliers, the food halls are particularly spectacular and busy. Items like Sevruga Caviar at 100 an ounce, a tin of Harrods Stilton at 20, or even a punnet of wild strawberries at 8 fly off the shelves. The food halls share the ground floor with the Egyptian Hall, resplendent with gold friezes and a three-metre high gold Ramses II Pharaoh. Most of the women s collections are located on the first floor. Every taste is catered for - from the glitz of Lacroix, Balenciaga and Versace, to the sleek lines of Prada and Armani, the choice is endless. A huge section of the fourth floor is devoted to children. The Toy Kingdom in particular shouldn t be missed as it is home to a superb collection of Steiff animals. There is no stone left unturned at Harrods. It houses 28 bars, cafes and restaurants and provides gift-wrapping and personal shopping services. Harrods isn t just a store, it s a lifestyle brand that offers real estate, helicopters and bank accounts. But you don t need to have millions to buy into the Harrods world a few pounds will buy you a Harrods address book, a teddy bear or even a pair of socks. for more information on shopping...
SELFRIDGES The innovator 400 Oxford Street, W1 www.selfridges.com Tel: 08708 377 377 Ë Bond Street/Marble Arch The awesome Selfridges is the London department store on every fashionista s lips. Always on top of its game, Selfridges offers up ever-changing window displays, storewide themes, exhibitions, entertainment and world-class facilities. The store that boldly goes where no other shop has gone before was the brainchild of the American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge. Mr. Selfridge believed that shopping should be fun and as a fan of all things scientific, used an unorthodox approach to attracting business to his store. In 1909, after the first cross-channel flight, Louis Blériot s monoplane was exhibited at Selfridges where it was seen by over 12,000 people. In 1925, John Logie Baird demonstrated his new invention, the television, on the first floor. And the earth really moved when a seismograph was installed on the third floor to record the tremors from the Belgian earthquake of 1938. This tradition for originality continues today. Selfridges is the biggest store on Oxford Street and really does provide inspiration particularly when it comes to fashion. All of the big international design houses are represented in Selfridges, as are the edgy, young designers. But part of this store s beauty is on the ground floor, where consumers can find the high street in the form of Warehouse, French Connection and Top Shop. The big money however, heads to the second floor, to the jaw-dropping Women s Designer Room and the nine mini boutiques dedicated to labels that include Stella McCartney, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Chloé. To offset the finery, take a trip to the lingerie department on the third floor particularly the cheeky Agent Provocateur. This is not the only department that may please the gentlemen. Located on the first floor, Selfridges boasts an exhaustive collection of menswear and the largest men s shoe department in the western world. Aspiring 007s may want to peruse Spymaster s state-of-the-art surveillance equipment on the lower ground floor. Many brands sell more products in Selfridges than anywhere else in the world and Europe s largest beauty hall is on the ground floor. Should you need to re-fuel, there is a choice of 19 restaurants, bars and cafés ranging from a Japanese sushi bar to an Italian Mozzarella eatery, as a well as a superb Food Hall. And if you are one of those people who doesn t enjoy shopping, there are personal shoppers on hand to advise. Other in-store services include tax-free shopping and an astounding variety of beauty treatments. visitlondon.com/shop
SHOP LONDON LIBERTY The beautiful store Regent Street, W1 www.liberty.co.uk Tel: (020)7734 1234 Ë Oxford Circus Beautiful Liberty is something of a contradiction. The grand Tudor-style façade and sumptuous, wood-panelled interior almost suggest conservative, safe and conformist products, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not content with merely following trends, Liberty regularly showcases and sponsors new designers and always offers cutting-edge fashion. A treasure trove of all that is happening and avant-garde, the emphasis at Liberty is on style as well as quality. Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened his store selling ornaments, fabrics and objets d art from Japan and the East in 1875. Within 15 years 218a Regent Street was taking up the entire block. Liberty had become the most fashionable place to shop in London. The textile department in the Liberty store dramatically grew in the 1920s. By this time Liberty had introduced a range of small-scale prints that complemented the fashions of the day, known as the Liberty Print. To take advantage of the evergrowing demand for the prints, a wholesale company was formed in 1939 called Liberty of London Prints. Visitors from around the world flock to Liberty. The Liberty Print is as quintessentially English as croquet or cucumber sandwiches. Very few shops in the world have such iconic associations with design. Liberty can now be found on Great Marlborough Street where the ground floor is devoted to gifts and beauty. Particularly alluring are the bags by Aristolasia and Mulberry, and the stunning jewellery by Bijoux Heart. The basement belongs to menswear. In the Liberty tradition, designs are classic with a contemporary twist. Designers to look out for include Canada Goose, Paul Smith, Oliver Spencer and Viktor and Rolf. The wonderful collection of womenswear can be found on the first floor. In keeping with the Liberty ethos, style and quality are paramount. Shoppers will find gorgeous gowns from Matthew Williamson and Temperley and quirky styles from Madeleine Press and Jonathan Saunders. The first floor also features muchloved designers like Ghost and Alexander McQueen, as well as excellent casual and shoe departments. The upper floors are devoted to furniture, lighting, antiques, rugs and of course Liberty s iconic fabrics. Liberty offers a wide range of services that include a blind, curtain and cushionmaking service, while expert advice is also on hand for those wishing to purchase wallpaper and haberdashery. for more information on shopping...
JOHN LEWIS Never knowingly undersold 300 Oxford Street, W1 www.johnlewis.co.uk Tel: (020) 7629 7711 Ë Oxford Circus Generally regarded as London s most sensible department store, John Lewis is a bastion of reliability, but being dependable doesn t mean you can t also be exciting and innovative. In fact, the 61.5 million refurbishment that is now underway will put John Lewis at the top of the department store class. The amount of choice on offer is endless. There are 20 departments spanning six floors and the service at John Lewis is arguably the best in London. It s said that John Lewis took 16 shillings and four pence on his first day of Sloane Square, SW1 www.peterjones.co.uk Tel: (020) 7730 3434 Ë Sloane Square In 2004 Peter Jones threw open its doors and revealed its gleaming new 100 million face lift. Part of the John Lewis group, Peter Jones is special not only because of the quality of its products and high level of service, but because it is considered Chelsea s corner shop. From the made-to-measure menswear service and fashion advisors, to the children s shoe department, Peter Jones really does feel like a very select local store. visitlondon.com/shop trading in 1864. The Oxford Street shop opened as a draper s but business soon grew and John Lewis acquired his second department store, Peter Jones, in 1914. The company s slogan never knowingly undersold is still in place today. Consistent with its roots, John Lewis is a seamstress s dream store. Not only does it offer an inspired range of fabrics and haberdashery, it also houses a superb selection of sewing and knitting machines. Meanwhile, cooks will find themselves in heaven in the basement kitchenware and white goods departments. All departments are excellent, and combined with the helpful and wellinformed staff, make PETER JONES Chelsea s corner shop A critical part of Peter Jones design brief was to attract a younger, more fashionable crowd. And it delivers this with its new shopping a pleasurable experience. The refurbishment project now on its way to completion, will treat shoppers to a new restaurant, perfumery chic Footopia Spa and Perfumery Treatment Rooms plus a beauty floor that features cosmetic brands such as REN, Dr. Sebagh department, atrium and a much-anticipated food hall. John Lewis Oxford Street is the flagship department store of the John Lewis chain. and Philosophy. All of the departments are well stocked, and although Peter Jones has become more design conscious, it still manages to please its more mature, established clients with superb china, fabric and haberdashery departments. Many products are exclusive to this Peter Jones store. As one of the store s employees explains: Peter Jones customers are unique and have special tastes and requirements and it s this attention to detail that makes Chelsea s corner shop one of London s most loved department stores.
HAMLEYS London s playroom 188-196 Regent Street, W1 www.hamleys.com Tel: 0870 333 2455 Ë Oxford Circus The treasure trove of toys that is Hamleys has been lighting up children s lives for over 250 years. William Hamley first opened his small shop in Holborn, London in 1760. A toy fanatic, Mr. Hamley crammed his tiny store with rag dolls, tin soldiers, hoops and wooden horses he even called the shop Noah s Ark. His ambition was to build the largest and finest toy shop in the world. William s grandsons moved the toy emporium to a new site in Regent Street in 1881. By the end of Queen Victoria s reign the shop was an immense success and had even introduced table tennis to the western world. William s dream had come true and his shop had indeed become the largest and finest toy shop in the world. Walking into Hamleys FORTNUM & MASON The Queen s grocer bombards all the senses. Everywhere you look, all you can see are toys, toys, toys. Shop staff roam the ground floor dressed as clowns armed with bubble guns; remote-controlled cars and trains buzz around underfoot, stuffed toys tumble off shelves and there is a very large blow-up airplane swooping down from the ceiling. Hamleys has six floors of magic. There is even a life-sized stuffed giraffe peering down at you by the ground floor escalator yours for only 3,300! The shop is not, however, all about spending vast amounts of cash. There are treats available for all budgets. The choice on display is enormous, Hamleys sells an estimated 40,000 different toys, including its own branded collection of toys and games. Hamleys may no longer be the largest toyshop in the world, but it is the most famous. 181 Piccadilly, W1 www.fortnumandmason.com Tel: (020) 7734 8040 Ë Piccadilly Circus/ Green Park No shop does luxury, pomp and elegance quite like Fortnum & Mason. In 1707 the shopkeeper Hugh Mason and his lodger William Fortnum, a footman in the household of Queen Anne, opened a grocer s in Piccadilly. The shop began supplying luxury foodstuffs to the Royal Family, a relationship that still exists today. Fortnum & Mason s heritage is the stuff of legend. It s the only store to have ever had a department dedicated to expeditions Fortnum s supplied Mallory s 1922 expedition to the peak of Everest with gourmet tidbits that included 60 tins of quail in foie gras and four dozen bottles of champagne. In 1738 the shop invented the Scotch egg. In 1886 it introduced Mr. Heinz s baked beans and in 1950 was one of the first stores to stock avocados. Famous for tea, Fortnum still stocks over 200 different varieties. In days gone by if you weren t sure which tea or coffee blend suited the drinking water in your area, Fortnum s would supply a small flask for you to send some water to them, so they could analyse it and suggest a blend especially for you. This extraordinary attention to detail still exists today, as does the courtly tailcoated staff. The celebrated Food Hall has recently been expanded and now offers truly unbeatable traditional produce. Who could resist a cheese counter with over 130 cheeses, or perhaps an exclusive Fortnum & Mason condiment? There are over 30 honeys, 58 preserves plus 40 chutneys and pickles. In a world of chain stores and super brands, Fortnum & Mason is more unique now, than ever. for more information on shopping...
SHOP LONDON BURLINGTON ARCADE The most elegant arcade in the world Mayfair, W1 www.burlington-arcade.co.uk Tel: (020) 7630 1411 Ë Green Park Burlington Arcade was the world's first shopping arcade, opened in 1819 to great acclaim and is now recognised as an historic and architectural masterpiece. It is not only the longest but also one of the most beautiful arcades in Britain. Since its opening it has been protected by the Beadles liveried guards wearing traditional Edwardian frock coats and gold braided top hats which are now synonymous with its heritage. Originally recruited from the 10th Hussars, they enforced a stipulated code of behaviour in the Arcade. There was to be no whistling, singing, playing of musical instruments, running, carrying of large parcels or opening of umbrellas and no babies prams. Today, these rules in the main still apply and the Beadles the smallest private police force in existence continue to patrol the Arcade and uphold these regulations. From the classic to the contemporary, the Arcade offers a treasure trove of timeless objects, some which date back to the 16th century. Creations by Theo Fabergé are exclusively available from the St. Petersburg Collection. Other highlights include Globetrotter, one of the world s most famous and sought after luggage brands, Vilebrequin, the trendsetting French men s beachwear company, and Polistas, which sells authentic and timeless polo clothing in a style that is synonymous with the 'sport of Kings'. There are also numerous stores for those who love unique jewellery and watches. Coral and turquoise jewellery hand-crafted in Italy is to be discovered in BI-ZU, while Milleperle has two showrooms devoted to pearls which include the beautiful Japanese Akoya and the Indonesian Gold. Unique gifts can also be found amongst the eclectic and individual shops in the Arcade. Since its launch in 1870, Penhaligon s has established a reputation for luxury fragrances, bath and body treats, leather-ware and beautiful home goods of the highest calibre. For those with an appreciation for sophistication and highquality writing instruments, Montblanc s boutique offers exquisite writing accessories, luxury leather goods, eyewear and jewellery. For its genteel setting, historic charm, luxury brands and excellent onestop shopping, the Arcade epitomises impeccable service and specialist knowledge. TAX BACK SHOPPING If you re visiting from overseas, why not take advantage of tax free shopping? Sales tax is added to all purchases in the UK, and non EU visitors are entitled to a refund on this, so you can get even more for your money! GLOBAL REFUND www.globalrefund.com Tel: (020) 8222 0101 Global Refund provides a comprehensive service to over 210,000 affiliated retailers internationally. Simply look out for the Global Refund Tax Free Shopping sign and ask for your Global Refund Cheque. You will then need to show your purchases, receipts and passport to customs officials when leaving the EU to receive your refund. visitlondon.com/shop PRODUCED BY the LONDONGUIDE
HOW HOW TO TO SHOP SHOP TAX TAX FREE FREE As traveller residing in non-eu country you are As a traveller residing in a non-eu country you are entitled to claim back the VAT on your purchases when entitled to claim back the VAT on your purchases when you bring them home. you bring them home. So whilst shopping in many of the world s most exciting So whilst shopping in many of the world s most exciting stores you can save money, to make your trip even stores you can save money, to make your trip even more rewarding. more rewarding. Form 1 Shop where you see the Tax Free Shopping logo and simply ask for your refund Form. 2 STAMP Show your purchases, receipts and passport at the border then have your Global Refund Form stamped. PLEASE REMEMBER NO REFUND WITHOUT CUSTOMS STAMP! 3 REFUND Mail back the Form to Global Refund for direct crediting of your credit card or a bank cheque to your address. Alternatively, collect your refund in cash at nearby Cash Refund Offices. o F rm For more information call: Traveller Services 020 8222 0101 www.globalrefund.com