vmcenroe

Trying to plan my itinerary in London is like a puzzle. I've had to scratch and rewrite it so many times I can hardly read it. Here's my latest.

I was going to go to Harrods on our first day of arrival (Friday) and everyone said don't do it. We leave Tuesday and it's closed Sunday. That leaves Saturday and Monday. Monday is the day we plan to do our whirlwind sightseeing in the Tower area. Saturday is best. I have to do Portobello on Saturday morning and I wanted to do Westminster Abbey after that and end with the 3:00 evensong.

Wow, all of that just to ask this question. Would Saturday after evensong give us enough time to see Harrods and have dinner there? Also, people say the food halls are expensive. How expensive is it?

mclaurie

The food halls are strictly for take away-not for eating there. Imagine the fanciest, largest gourmet food shop-caviar, smoked salmon from around the world, all kinds of bread, cheeses, chocolate etc. That's the food halls.

While there may be a nice restaurant at Harrod's, I've only ever had a coffee or sandwich there. I doubt they're open very late on a Saturday. You should find their website & while there, check their store hours & their restaurant offerings. I personally would not attempt to eat there.

I don't know why you were told not to go there on first arriving. (I would tell you not to go at all, but that another story). If you wnat to see Harrods, go when it's convenient for you.

m_kingdom2

They close at 7pm every evening, so quite how one could take dinner there is another matter.

Go on the Friday, I don't see the point in going to Harrods to gawk, they have superb fashions and, for a store, not a bad selection of fine jewellery. As for walking around open mouthed with no intention of purchasing anything, you could spend your time (and money) better elsewhere. It's nothing so spectacular, it's an ornate delicatessen of supermarket proportions, it's hundreds of designer collections, etcetera etcetera.

As for how expensive is expensive - they sell items that most British supermarkets sell, these are sold at the RRP. People have this misconception that Harrods is more expensive than anywhere else - only because they sell goods that are, by their very nature, more expensive; they do not make a much larger mark-up than any other retailer on like for like products.

HeatherH

I don't really understand why you wouldn't go your first day either - we were there on a Friday, right around noon, and it wasn't that bad. There are several places to eat in Harrods - I think two restaurants (it may have been one) on the upper floors, plus there IS a section off the food halls where it is sit down dining. There was a pizzeria (not too bad, actually - that is where we ate), something that looked like maybe an ice cream bar, plus a little cafe setting kind of thing.

We really enjoyed shopping there - prices on some stuff was very high, other prices were reasonable, it is just a large department store, but we liked it.

ChatNoir

Why do you want to have dinner there?

IMHO, an hour or so to look around is enough. Is there something in the store that you really want to buy?

Another option would be to get something from the food hall and go have a picnic in one of London's great parks.

obxgirl

There are a few places to do some sit down eating at Harrods (tapas, deli's, seafood bar among them) but it's always so crowded and noisy, I can't imagine it would be much fun.

I don't see the problem with going your first day unless you're really comatose. ChatNoir is right, shouldn't take more than an hour. If you chose to go on Saturday, you could stop by after Portobello Rd. I'm sure someone has told you all ready not to arrive at Portobello any later than 7am unless you enjoying the salmon swimming up a stream experience. As previously suggested, pick up some food for a picnic lunch before heading over to Westminister Abbey.

Tulips

I really don't know why you shouldn't go to Harrods when you arrive. And Friday's are not as busy as Saturday's anyway. It's not far from your hotel. Dinner is out since the store is not open then. (dinner at Harvey Nichols is nice though!).

vmcenroe

obxgirl: I like your suggestion. What park would you recommend for our picnic? I don't think I'm going to make it to Portobello before 9:00. I'm going to try to get there as early as possbile but with jet lag I don't see how I can get up by 6:00 to eat and be there by 7:30. I'm not looking for deals. Just want to see it, look at a few venders, make a small purchase and get out of there (by 10:00). Will I miss the worst of the mob by 10:00? Oops, really got off the topic here.

Back to Harrods. I'm trying to have my itinerary down to the minute in advance so I have the right amount of time scheduled for everything I want to do. So help me out here. You're going to think I'm crazy. What time do I have to end my picnic to catch the tube to Westminster to see it, take the Vergers tour and be done in time to see Evensong at 3:00?

Keith

I had lunch at the Santi Thai restaurant on the 2nd floor at Harrods, on a Wednesday, last month. The restaurant was attractive and there was only 2 other occupied tables

The food didn't impress me and the servings were small. I would say that it was overpriced, but I thought that about many of the restaurants in London. Still is was a nice setting and I enjoyed the Thai iced tea ($6 for iced tea!).

Keith

ladylawyer42

We've always found wandering in Harrods a great way to stave off jet lag on our first day. There are lots of interesting things to look at, a great book section with a huge selection of magazines, and the food halls are fun just to walk around and look at. There are several restaurants, but I don't know how late they are open. There are lots of places to eat in the area, however, so you could just wander around after you've finished shopping.

obxgirl

Well, actually, there's a flaw in my suggestion for Saturday. I forgot that Westminster closes earlier on Sat (1:30 or so) than M-F. Sorry, my bad. That's going to make the Portobello Rd/Harrods/Picnic/Westminster itinerary too tight to make, especially if you realistically know you can't get to Portobello Rd. before 9 am. The crowds will be getting quite unwieldy by 10 am.

I don't know what time the verger's tours are scheduled, but it's got to be at least an hour before closing. If you need to be at Westminister in the noonish timeframe, you could leave the market at 10 am, tube to Knightsbridge, look around Harrods for an hour or so, and then tube to Westminster. There's probably a little slack in there but not enough (for me anyway!) to organize a picnic.

I still don't understand why folks were steering you away from Harrods on Friday even though it's your first day in town. While a spectacular store, it is only a store after all and it shouldn't require too much brain to browse for an hour or so. Don't know what else you had on board for Friday, but if it's a fine day you could have your picnic then in nearby Hyde Park.

Scarlett

Hyde Park is almost right across the street. Lovely lovely park..sigh.
We have been to Harrods ,countless times, and I will only have a snack or drink, there is no appeal in their restaurants beyond that. (JMHO)
There are so many nice places to eat nearby, you can easily walk to some nice little not too expensive place to eat where it is quiet and comfortable.
Beauchamp Pl comes to mind

vmcenroe

obxgirl: The reason people said not to go to Harrods upon arrival is that it is too crowded. I'll take your advice and go back to my orginal plan...Harrods on Friday.

On Saturday after Portobello, I will go straight to Westminster since it closes earlier on Saturday. Not sure how to fit lunch in. Will probably squeeze in a quick lunch at a deli somewhere. Any ideas? After Evensong I plan to go straight to the Orangery for Tea. It seems like the best tea at a reasonable price. Please fill free to offer any other suggestions.

Scarlett: Is there a particular restaurant on Beauchamp that you like? Or anywhere else in the Knightsbridge area?

mclaurie

I remember just stumbling into an Italian rest. on Beauchamp Pl. 8-10 yrs ago during Wimbledon. We were seated at a table next to Billy Jean King, Pam Shriver & some other players. The food was good too. It was up a flght of stairs as I recall. Don't remember the name.

There's an excellent dining guide at www.hardens.com You can do searches by neighborhood, cuisine, etc.

highledge

If you MUST go to Harrods to make YOUR London visit complete go Friday.
I did pause a bit on your comment on having planned your trip down to the minute. Please consider taking a deep breath and try to not be consumed with racing around checking off places on your list. Perhaps you'd love to sit in the park a bit longer than on your schedule- that's quite the London experience in itself. Or you might get carried away with Portobello........just understand that sometimes it's better to enjoy a few things and be able to experience them a bit in depth than to race on through a miss the experiece all together.
I have been struck by my experieces in London and in other parts of Europe of stumbling into an amazing sight. The horses in Hyde park with soldiers in full uniform returning from an embassy or the donkey carrying building supplies in Italy. A man in a park in Paris who lust looked so french- he's on my wall now (his picture that is). One minute too late or too early and I would have missed it. All sorts of amazing unique things are going on in London and if you slow down a bit you can catch a few!

rosita

Hi

When you are in Harrods, don't forget to go to the chocolate bar where everything there to eat or drink is some form of chocolate....really nice and yummy.

If you have time for a very nice dinner, try the "Blue Elephant" in Fulham. This is a Thai restaruant with excellent food and the ambience is incredible with water falls etc etc.

Scarlett

At thte end of Beauchamp is a store that sells China. Right near that store is a Thai restaurant that we loved.
At the other end is the Italian place, you have to walk up some stairs. Very very good.
Across the street , in the middle of the block, is a nice pub that we have lunched in.
Have fun!

mikemo

Recommend RACINE a lovely inexpensive French restaurant SW of Harrod's just X from M. Victoria and Albert.
M
PS that and more from my soon to be daughter-in-law, a Brit chef:
La Trouvaille / Soho / S. French
Manicomio / IT/ Sloan SQ
River Cafe W. London
St John and St John Bread and Wine E London
Anchor and Hope - gastro Pub

Scarlett

Ooooh, mikemo, how lucky to have a daughter chef

vmcenroe

Thank you everyone. This has been an incredible help to me.

Highledge: I definitely appreciate your advice. What a great lesson to remember.