Don't be fooled into thinking that this huge department store is simply a Mecca for commercialism and shopaholics. Selfridges has a truly fascinating history that supports its excellent reputation for providing a huge range of high quality goods. Emphasising the ethos that "shopping should be fun", the stores original founder, US entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge, defined the shop's hands-on, theatrical image that has endured since its opening in 1909. A lover of all things scientific, unusual exhibits were often used to attract and amaze customers - John Logie Baird carried out his first public demonstration of television from the first floor of the store in 1925, it was in Selfridges that 12,000 people viewed the monoplane used to complete the first cross-Channel flight, while a seismograph installed on the third floor, recorded tremors from the Belgian earthquake in 1938. This tradition for unique displays and unusual exhibitions continues to this day and is a major reason to visit the store. Selfridges' ever-changing window displays always attract immense interest and are consistently groundbreaking and often controversial - one of the most bizarre has to be the series of Japanese-inspired characters used to depict scenes from TV dating shows, which in turn encouraged shoppers to record their own personal video ad in one of the dating pods located in-store. Scores of excellent clothes retailers, a superb Food Hall, and a number of first class restaurants all under one roof make Selfridges, understandably, the biggest draw on Oxford Street.
Selfridges Christmas Shop
400 Oxford Street, W1A 2LR
This famous department store on Oxford Street prides itself on its consummate flair and sophistication and Christmas... More
Oxford Street Christmas Market
Parklife, W1K 6DE
20th November 2009 - 3rd January 2010
On one of London's busiest shopping streets you'll find the first ever Oxford Street Christmas... More
Parklife Winter Ice Skating
Parklife, W1K 6DE
29th October 2009 - 10th January 2010
No, this isn't one of Blur's most famous songs put on a three-month loop... More
Pride London 2009
Trafalgar Square, WC2H 7BP
4th July 2009
For the past few years London's Pride Parade has been growing in scale and ambition. Now they've got... More
Men's Afternoon Tea at the Mandeville
Mandeville Place, W1U 2BE
14th February 2009
Sophisticated, single man-about-town? Or simply frustrated when your girlfriend insists on more sale shopping in... More
An Oxford Street institution - trading now for nearly 150 years, John Lewis mightn't have the glitz of its Knightsbridge department store counterparts, but it ... More
Leading supplier of high-tech gadgets, communication and surveillance equipment.
Shhhh! Just between you and me there’s this great shop in London that’s just perfect for those ... More
If homeopathy or flower remedies are your thing then this is the shop to visit. Nelsons was established in 1860 and now produces homeopathic remedies ...More
Smart and modern with slate floors and a unique leather reception area, the Sussex is one of Radisson’s more contemporary hotels. Italian designer influences are ... More
At the Oxford Street end of pretty Marylebone village, this hotel earns its ‘boutique’ label due to its uniquely designed funky interiors. The swanky deVigne ... More
Jim Carrey has the honour of turning on the Christmas Lights on Oxford Street this year, part of the city-wide celebrations to mark the premier ...More
Coming across the pretty, pedestrianised streets off St Christopher's Place is like discovering an oasis of Continental cafe culture in the most unlikely place - ... More
Taking inspiration from Japanese ramman-noodle bars, Wagamama is the ultimate in high-quality, fast food. Huge bowls of steaming, soupy noodles, chicken dumplings with a chilli-soy ... More
The Caldesi family first set up a cooking school in Giancarlo's native Tuscany. His 'Return to Tuscany' was captured by BBC cameras and dished up ... More
Cordwainers, specialists in leather, accessories and footwear, have now merged with the London College of Fashion. Among the very best specialist textile and fashion courses ...More
This beautiful garden just off Oxford Street and close to Selfridges occupies an unlikely position - above an electricity sub-station. Brown Hart Gardens were re-opened ...More
Presided over by the outrageous, extravagant artist Michael Charalambous, Nyumba is not so much a unisex salon as a place of rest and relaxation, boasting ... More
Famous for its famous owner, the Punch Bowl became a celebrity hang-out when Guy Ritchie split up with Madonna. The director of 'Lock, Stock' could ...More
This boozer in Marylebone is the first pub from prolific restaurateur Claudio Pulze, the man behind such famous eateries as Aubergine and Zafferano. The cross-over ...More
Between the Victorian elegance of Berkley Square and the Imperial magnificence of Piccadilly, you might be surprised to find a club that oozes with Eastern ... More
Molton House is a stylish restaurant, cocktail bar and club on South Molton Street directly opposite Browns, Joan Burstein's well-known designer clothes store. Brought to ...More
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Don't be fooled into thinking that this huge department store is simply a Mecca for commercialism and shopaholics. Selfridges has a truly fascinating history that supports its excellent reputation for providing a huge range of high quality goods. Emphasising the ethos that "shopping should be fun", the stores original founder, US entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge, defined the shop's hands-on, theatrical image that has endured since its opening in 1909. A lover of all things scientific, unusual exhibits were often used to attract and amaze customers - John Logie Baird carried out his first public demonstration of television from the first floor of the store in 1925, it was in Selfridges that 12,000 people viewed the monoplane used to complete the first cross-Channel flight, while a seismograph installed on the third floor, recorded tremors from the Belgian earthquake in 1938. This tradition for unique displays and unusual exhibitions continues to this day and is a major reason to visit the store. Selfridges' ever-changing window displays always attract immense interest and are consistently groundbreaking and often controversial - one of the most bizarre has to be the series of Japanese-inspired characters used to depict scenes from TV dating shows, which in turn encouraged shoppers to record their own personal video ad in one of the dating pods located in-store. Scores of excellent clothes retailers, a superb 
