Fortnum
& Mason
181
Piccadilly, W1 tel 020/7734 8040. Tube: Green Park or Piccadilly
Circus.
Beautiful and eccentric store featuring heavenly ceiling
murals, gilded cherubs, chandeliers and fountains as a backdrop
to its perfectly English offerings. Justly famed for its
fabulous, gorgeously presented and pricey food, plus upmarket
clothes, furniture and stationery.
Harrods
Knightsbridge,
SW1 tel 020/7730 1234; www.harrods.com. Tube: Knightsbridge.
Put an afternoon aside to visit this enduring landmark
of quirks and pretensions, most notable for its fantastic
Art Nouveau tiled food hall, obscenely huge toy department,
and supremely tasteless memorial to Diana and Dodi in the
basement. Wear jeans and you may fail the rigorous dress
code for entry.
Harvey Nichols
109-125
Knightsbridge, SW1 tel 020/7235 5000. Tube: Knightsbridge.
All
the latest designer collections on the scarily fashionable
first floor, where the shop assistants look better dressed
than most of the customers. The cosmetics department is
equally essential, while the food hall offers famously frivolous
and pricey luxuries.
John
Lewis
278-306
Oxford St, W1 020/7629 7711; www.johnlewis.com. Tube: Oxford
Circus.
Famous
for being "never knowingly undersold", this reliable
institution can't be beaten for basics, from buttons to
stockings to rugs, along with reasonably priced and well-made
clothes, furniture and household goods. The staff are knowledgeable
and friendly, too.
Liberty
210-220
Regent St, W1 tel 020/7734 1234; www.liberty-of-london.com.
Tube: Oxford Circus.
This
fabulous and rather regal emporium of luxury is most famous
for its fabrics and accessories, but is also building an
excellent reputation for both mainstream and new fashion.
The perfume, cosmetics and household departments are good,
too.
Marks
& Spencer
458
Oxford St, W1 tel 020/7935 7954. Tube: Marble Arch.
The
flagship store of this British institution offers a huge
range of well-made own-brand clothes (the lingerie selection
is fancier than in local branches), food, homeware and furnishings.
Selfridges
400
Oxford St, W1 tel 020/7629 1234. Tube: Bond Street.
This huge, airy mecca of clothes, food and furnishings
was London's first great department store, and remains one
of its best, with a fashionable menswear department and
a solid womenswear floor; the food hall is impressive, too
