Harrods, A Mandatory Stop For Your Purchases In London
Harrods is probably the most famous mall in the world, and that’s because it is so much more than just a mall. Located on London’s Brompton Road, it is one of the mandatory stops for all tourists, especially those who love shopping. We tell you all the secrets of these stores, will you join us?
A huge shopping center
Harrods It is located in the heart of the British capital. It has a size of more than 20,000 m² and 90,000 m² of commercial space, spread over seven floors and 330 different stores dedicated to all kinds of products, from women’s and men’s clothing, through accessories, home or drink and food, and how no,own merchandise and London souvenirs.
Thus, Harrods are the largest and most famous department stores in all of Europe. We can find everything from haute couture to accessories for pets, all with the unmistakable stamp of the house, marked by exclusivity and luxury.
It has about 30 different bars and restaurants to adapt to all the needs of its customers, which are probably not few. And we can also find first-rate services, such as Harrods Bank or gold bars.
Quality of service, the hallmark of Harrods
Harrods is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sundays from 11:30 AM to 6 PM. A place visited by hundreds of tourists and international buyers. And there are many reasons for this: the first-class service, its incredible atmosphere, the very high quality of its products or the unbeatable selection of top brands from around the world.
But keep in mind that Harrods is one of the most luxurious shopping centers in the world, so its prices are quite high. The most popular souvenirs for tourists are tea pots, stuffed animals, chocolates or other inexpensive items.
If London is far away, remember that Harrods has stores at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as those in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau.
The story behind Harrods
Harrods began in 1834, when Charles Henry Harrod opened a small grocery and tea shop in London, though not at the present location, but in Stepney. In 1849 it was moved to the place where we can find it now and little by little it was expanded, through the purchase of adjacent businesses and houses.
In 1883, the shopping center suffered a great fire, supposing its collapse. Its reconstruction took place on a larger scale, remaining practically as we know it today. The current owner of Harrods is the royal family of Qatar, who bought it in 2010 from Egyptian magnate Mohamed Al Fayed.
Things to do in Harrods
The first thing you can do at Harrods is, of course, buy. But as we said before, it is one of the most luxurious shopping centers in the world, so if your travel budget is tight, you better get used to the idea that you won’t be able to buy too many things in it.
Another thing you can do there is have a drink. There is a huge hotel offer in the shopping center, ranging from tea rooms, pubs or tapas bars, passing through haute cuisine restaurants.
But the cheapest thing you can do there is just look. The Harrods décor is incredible, with a huge number of statues, fountains and rooms decorated with different motifs, all spectacular. Special mention should be made of the Egyptian room and the commemorative monuments to Diana of Wales that we can find in the store.
How to get to Harrods
As we said, it is in the heart of London, so getting to Harrods is very easy. On the one hand, you can go by tube, through the Piccadilly line (the dark blue one) and get off at the Knightsbridge stop, the closest to the store. If you prefer to arrive by bus, the ones that arrive are lines 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 137, 414 and C1.
Very close to Harrods we can find other places of interest, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, Hyde Park or the Natural History Museum in London.
