London, England Comes Alive in a Department Store

My parents and relatives came from the UK, as virtually everyone I met in England called the United Kingdom. London is one of the worlds greatest cities, butI never expected that a department store would be the one experience I remembered the most.

Harrods is a London institution. For more than 160 years, Harrods has been a luxury shopping destination for exclusive collections and excellent service. With seven floors and 330 departments dedicated to the worlds finest products in food, fashion, homeware and technology, Harrods has something for everyone.

The Oyster Bar at the Food Court at Harrods also serves caviar.

MIchael McCarthy

For instance, the new luxury womens wear department, Superbrands, has 17 boutiques each dedicated to top international brands, including Valentino, Prada and Dior, while Salon du Parfums houses the finest fragrances exclusive to Harrods. Shoppers can choose to dine in one of the stores 27 restaurants, including a pizzeria, steakhouse, oyster bar and new contemporary Chinese restaurant, Chai Wu. The Georgian is an elegant venue for afternoon tea, while the Harrods Food Halls have a wide selection of tea, chocolate and fresh produce. Thats where I spent most of my time.

I bellied up to the counter at the Oyster Bar. A dozen padded leather stools perched on marble bases faced a marble counter wherein were ensconced a dozen different types of oyster from which to select. Although it was an oyster bar, caviar was also on offer. The server wore a white shirt and tie, as did all the staff in the building, including those in fine suits. The next counter, Bentleys Sea Grill, looked much the same but with expensive silverware laid out on linen napkins. I felt like a bumpkin in my Dockers and t-shirt. Thankfully all the other customers sported casual wear as well.

The Food Court ceiling featured stained glass and hand-painted designs. The walls were a muted shade of golden tile. The floors sparkled with glistening white tile, and every metal surface had been hand-polished to a glow. It felt a bit like going to a wedding in a cathedral. Service was impeccable, alert staff making eye contact and smiling. One thing you must say about the British, they have excellent manners.

The store also has a range of customer services, including the Gift Concierge, Tax Rewards, Urban Retreat spa and By Appointment Personal Shopping. Payment options include Euros, U.S. dollars and China Union Pay cards. No, they dont accept Canadian cash.

Harrods is found on Brompton Road in the posh Knightsbridge neighbourhood, not far from the Royal Albert Hall and just down the road from Buckingham Palace where the Queen of England resides. This makes one wonder if she likes to pop in for a cup of tea on occasion. Certainly the staff at Harrods seems ready for a Royal visit at any time. Amble up the road further west and youll come across the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Royal Museum. Its that type of neighbourhood. Posh.

Michael McCarthy is a freelance travel writer and owner of mccarthy-travels.com.