Harrods

What to expect

Harrods began in 1824 as a draper's shop and has stood on its Brompton Road site in Knightsbridge since 1849. After a fire in 1883 the store was rebuilt, and the present terracotta-fronted building dates from 1894 to 1905. Its Egyptian Escalator, installed in 1898, was said to be the first moving staircase in England, with customers reportedly offered brandy at the top to steady their nerves.

Today it is one of the largest department stores in the world, with several hundred departments. Plan it as a walk-through, not a shopping trip: the Food Halls, the Egyptian-themed escalator hall and the luxury floors are free to wander. There is no formal dress code, though staff can turn away people they judge badly dressed, and it can get very crowded in the run-up to Christmas.

Don't miss

• The Food Halls
• The Egyptian Escalator hall
• The terracotta Brompton Road facade
• Window displays on the street side

Tips for your visit

• Go on a weekday morning for the calmest aisles; Saturdays and the weeks before Christmas are packed.
• Knightsbridge station on the Piccadilly line is the closest.
• Most visitors spend one to two hours; the Food Halls alone are worth half an hour.
• Large bags may need to be handed in, and luggage storage is no longer offered.