Harrods

Britain's most famous store and possibly the most famous store in the world, Harrods features on many tourist 'must-see' lists - and with good reason. Its humble beginnings date back to 1849, when Henry Charles Harrod opened a small grocery shop that emphasised impeccable service over value. Today, it occupies a vast site in London's fashionable Knightsbridge and boasts a phenomenal range of products from pianos and cooking pans to pets and perfumery with a large Hair and Beauty department its crowning glory on the top floor. The Food Hall is ostentatious to the core and mouth-wateringly exotic, and the store as a whole is well served with restaurants. At Christmas time, Harrods boasts an enchanting Santa's Grotto for the kids and an extensive range of festive decorations. The summer and winter sales are calendar events in the shopping year, and although both sales are extremely crowded there are some great bargains on offer.