I am very hurt at having my beloved bear referred to as "junk". We were on our way home from Heathrow several years ago when I spotted him. I had never had a bear in my life and never planned to. But there he was, the most adorable medium brown bear with curly fur, wearing a little beige knit sweater with a union jack on the front. On the pad of one foot was embroidered "Harrods". Every year when we pass through Heathrow I see his cousins sitting around on various tables. I pass on regards from their now California cousin. None of them is ever as cute as he is but they can't help it!

I love Harrods. Still have a tote bag that a friend bought me about 20 years ago and it has held up under all kinds of duress. Plus, the last time I was in London was 1981 and I ended up sitting next to Princess Diana's mother in one of the juice bars they had there and we had quite a nice chat. I didn't know who she was so she told me all about her daughter's wedding and what she was doing without letting me know who the daughter was. It wasn't till she left that the server told me who she was. And no, I didn't get an invitation.

Yes, SharonG but you got a bag:)

My favorite gifts to bring home.... are the "oiled" cloth aprons or the shopping bags that you can buy at Harrods or any of thee shops.. Harrods had an entire wall of them in different designs. I would go into Harrods once for the experience..lol and of course Fornum and Masons,b ut I bought also at the Portabello Flea Market..To top it off they are easy to bring home, aren't breakable and don't take much room. I still have a bag from theTower of London.

Scarlett: that's true, and sometimes Le Clip has been in "the bag"!

I never miss going to Harrods when I go to London. I have found wonderful gardening books, bought a tote bag with Harrods logo, gaped at a set of $5000.00 sheets, and couldn't believe the wild hats in the millinary shop. Also bought very expensive hand lotion that reminds me of England every time I use it. Another great place to shop is Liberty--their fabrics are wonderful. I bought material for dresses for my Granddaughter, and some beautiful makeup bags as gifts.

If it's chocolate you're after, go to Charbonnel et Walker on Old Bond Street just across Picadilly from Fortnum & Mason. Oh, my! Oh, my!

Bellac, If YOU want to go to Harrods, then GO. You do NOT need permission and whether anyone here thinks it is "tacky" or "capitalism at its best or worst" or "for tourists" (could THIS possibly include the most famous shopper of Harrods' goods, HM The Queen...I doubt it) or anything else is totally IMO irrelevant.

The "cheapeast and most inexpensive gift"???? go and see for yourself...it is worth a visit if for no other reason than to see THE place that has SO many posters arguing back and forth about..as if the Tower of London could even come close to this, LOL.

Intrepid1:

Sorry, but the royal warrant was withdrawn from Harrods some years ago, roughly when Dodi's father, who owns Harrods and whose name I have fortunately forgotten, started claiming a royal-family conspiracy against Dodi, his playboy son, and Diana, Princess of Wales, who had been flaunting her relationship with Dodi in the face of the British and world media.

There's another branch of Charbonnel et Walker just around the corner from Harrods.

Loved Harrod's. The food court is amazing. I bought my mother the cure little preserves. Over priced, probably, a nice souvenir for my mother, absolutely. Reading the other posts makes me wish I'd purchased some tea for myself. Of course at the time I didn't know how to prepare it so I passed. Don't miss the Egyptian escalator, it is georgous. And the rest room, you may as well go when in the store. The one I was in, don't recall the floor, was huge. (Keep going up floors, if the lower levels are full.) Toilets on one side, sinks in the middle, and on the other side individual mirrors with chairs for hair and make up check. Fabulous.

My Gucci, Eloise, even Mrs. Beckham could come up with Mohamed Al Fayed.

"Don't miss the Egyptian escalator, it is georgous (sic)"

It's the tacky installation orchestrated by Mr. Al Fayed, marble, gold leaf, Las Vegas tack! I was there this afternoon (buying next season's Dior Homme...they've got winter wear in already - fabulous!) and bumped into Mohammed as he was leaving for his rather elegant Rolls Royce Phantom (70s pedigree) resprayed in Harrods green with a gold coachline along the side. One often bumps into him, he seems to like walking around his own store.

Didn't take the time to read all 52 posts to see if this was mentioned, but about 3 or 4 years ago I bought several gifts of Harrod's umbrellas--the fold up kind, Harrods green with the name embroidered on the case. Back then they were under $20 each U.S. and I thought a nice gift. You know, umbrellas, London, etc. Anyway, just a thought.

I didn't find a lot to buy at Harrods as posted previously but I have to tell you, if you've never been there you have to go see that store. It is truly amazing and the food court...well you can't describe it..you have to see it. It was too much for my tiny system..too many choices..like good grief, 100's of cheeses or at least that what' it looked like. So, whether you buy anything or not isn't the point..just go and see it.

I've loved Harrods for years and years. The mosaic wall downstairs in the food court is wonderful to look at. One of my best teapots was bought in July 18 years ago at Harrods' summer sale (if that's when you'll be there, be forewarned that it's a mob scene!). If you want to get a preview, bellac, you can get on the website, www.harrods.com, and look at all the goodiess---three pages of souvenirs alone! Includes totes and bears. :D

JohnG, "even Mrs. Beckham could come up with Mohamed Al Fayed"? Do you mean Wotsername Spice? Or do you mean Mrs Bucket?

Agree that the Egyptian escalator is totally over the top, but I do like the store. Mr Fayed does indeed walk around often, seems to notice everything. I used to be a guest shopper there; I was paid (well, in Harrods vouchers and discounts) to go and shop, and report anything that was not in order. These reports were always taken seriously; there were even awards for the best suggestions to improve the store.
Even if you don't like shopping, Harrods is definitely worth seeing.

>..bumped into Mohammed as he was leaving for his rather elegant Rolls Royce ...<

I hope you said, "Excuse me".

>...he seems to like walking around his own store.<

Isn't that what a shopkeeper is supposed to do?

BTW, we call him "Mo".

((I))

My daughter and I travelled to London recently and if your teens are similar to my American teen, walk Oxford street instead. Just people watching on this street while your teens pop into the trendy shops is worth your time and your Type A husband's leisure.