



London: Harrods
Operating Hours:Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 21:00. Sunday: 11:30 - 18:00
The Vibe:World-famous department store, terracotta and luxury.
Britain's most famous department store has occupied its Knightsbridge landmark since 1849. Its seven floors and over 300 departments range from fresh oysters in the Food Halls to haute couture, jewellery and toys. The illuminated terracotta façade is a London landmark in itself.
Perfume clouds envelop the ground floor; marble floors echo with 300+ languages daily. The food halls' freshness smells of fish and herbs; the Egyptian Escalator climbs past gilded sphinxes to luxury menswear above.
- • Britain's most famous department store, founded 1849
- • Over 300 departments across seven floors and one million square feet
- • Landmark terracotta façade illuminated by 11,500 exterior lightbulbs
- • Holds Royal Warrant granted to Harrods Food Hall for over 100 years
Persona Fit
- 👨👩👧 Families: Fourth-floor toy department is legendary for all ages
- 💕 Couples: Afternoon tea at The Tea Rooms or champagne at the Salmon & Caviar Bar
- 👵 Seniors: Full step-free access; escalators throughout; concierge services
- 📸 Photographers: Egyptian Escalator and Food Halls interiors
Highlights
- Food Halls — legendary ground-floor food emporium, Royal Warrant-holder
- Egyptian Escalator — gilded Egyptian-themed escalator to upper floors
- Fourth-floor Toy Kingdom — one of London's best luxury toy departments
- Harrods Tea Room — traditional afternoon tea with caviar service available
- Menswear Hall — high-end tailoring, watches and luxury accessories
- Diana Memorial Fountain — small memorial to Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed — Hidden Gem

Sarah Riches
Our London Local Expert
Table of Contents
Things To Do Nearby
Hyde Park — directly across Brompton Road
Victoria and Albert Museum — 10 minutes south
Natural History Museum — 10 minutes south
King's Road — Chelsea shopping, 15 minutes south
Hyde Park — directly across Brompton Road
Victoria and Albert Museum — 10 minutes south
Natural History Museum — 10 minutes south
King's Road — Chelsea shopping, 15 minutes south
TJ's Guide - Harrods
Know Before You Go
Insider Tips
Best Time: Weekday mornings for space; Saturdays can be overwhelming
Hack: The Food Hall at 10:00 opening gives prime picks before crowds arrive
Hidden Gem: The Diana memorial on Lower Ground Floor remembers Diana and Dodi Fayed
Sale season in early January and late June has genuine discounts
Free personal shopping service available to anyone who books
Best Time: Weekday mornings for space; Saturdays can be overwhelming
Hack: The Food Hall at 10:00 opening gives prime picks before crowds arrive
Hidden Gem: The Diana memorial on Lower Ground Floor remembers Diana and Dodi Fayed
Sale season in early January and late June has genuine discounts
Free personal shopping service available to anyone who books
Know Your Facts
- Closest Tube: Knightsbridge (Piccadilly), direct tunnel exit into the store
- Multiple entrances: Brompton Road (main), Hans Road (side), Knightsbridge
- Bus 9, 14, 19, 22, 52, 137, 414 stop on Brompton Road
- First-time tip: Knightsbridge Tube exits directly inside the store — follow signs from the platform
Once You Reach
Internal Navigation
Seven floors: Lower Ground (Diana memorial), Ground (beauty, food halls), First (women's fashion), Second (menswear), Third (children), Fourth (toys, technology), Fifth (restaurants)
Egyptian Escalator: The dramatic central feature connecting all floors
Venue map: Free at main entrance; concierge on each floor
Accessibility: Lifts to all floors; step-free throughout
Efficient route: Start Food Halls, Egyptian Escalator up, concentrate on two floors (e.g., women's fashion + kids' toys)
Food & Coffee Shops
Rotisserie (Fifth Floor): Roast meats and classic British
The Tea Room (Ground Floor): Traditional afternoon tea with caviar
Veronica's Deli (Ground Floor): Luxury sandwiches and charcuterie
Rotisserie (Fifth Floor): Roast meats and classic British
The Tea Room (Ground Floor): Traditional afternoon tea with caviar
Veronica's Deli (Ground Floor): Luxury sandwiches and charcuterie
Photography Tips
Photography permitted in public areas; tripods discouraged at peak times
Food Halls' marble, mosaics and tiled arches work with wide-angle lens
Egyptian Escalator benefits from symmetrical centred compositions
Exterior terracotta façade is illuminated from dusk — blue hour is the best shot
Photography permitted in public areas; tripods discouraged at peak times
Food Halls' marble, mosaics and tiled arches work with wide-angle lens
Egyptian Escalator benefits from symmetrical centred compositions
Exterior terracotta façade is illuminated from dusk — blue hour is the best shot
Explore Deeper
Charles Henry Harrod opened a grocery on Cable Street in 1834, then a Knightsbridge store in 1849. The current building was constructed between 1905 and 1917 in terracotta, designed by Charles William Stephens. The store has remained at the cutting edge of luxury retail for over 170 years.
The Egyptian Escalator was installed in 1997 by then-owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, whose son Dodi died with Princess Diana the same year; the memorial on the lower ground floor commemorates them
During the 1898 fire, Harrods introduced London's first escalator — a wooden moving staircase that was steadied by attendants offering brandy to customers afraid of the unusual sensation
The store was sold in 1985 to Mohamed Al-Fayed for £615 million; in 2010 the Qatar Investment Authority purchased it for £1.5 billion
Harrods' Food Halls hold multiple Royal Warrants — officially supplying the British Royal Family — and have done so for over a century
The Egyptian Escalator was installed in 1997 by then-owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, whose son Dodi died with Princess Diana the same year; the memorial on the lower ground floor commemorates them
During the 1898 fire, Harrods introduced London's first escalator — a wooden moving staircase that was steadied by attendants offering brandy to customers afraid of the unusual sensation
The store was sold in 1985 to Mohamed Al-Fayed for £615 million; in 2010 the Qatar Investment Authority purchased it for £1.5 billion
Harrods' Food Halls hold multiple Royal Warrants — officially supplying the British Royal Family — and have done so for over a century
Did You Know?
Lighting — The terracotta façade is illuminated by 11,500 exterior lightbulbs, refreshed nightly
First escalator — London's first escalator was installed at Harrods in 1898
Qatari ownership — Owned since 2010 by the Qatar Investment Authority
Unusual orders — Harrods has historically supplied customers with lion cubs, crocodiles and a baby elephant (for Ronald Reagan)







