SHOPPING IN LONDON - London 2015 - page 689

lover. Inside a small, clear pyramid, you can see a wine glass still dirty from their last din-
ner and the engagement ring that Dodi purchased the day before they died. True Di-hards
can go back up one level to the ground floor and follow signs to Door #3 in Menswear
(near Men's Designer and Men's Tailoring, at the escalator). A huge (and more than a little
creepy) bronze statue shows Di and Dodi releasing a symbolic albatross.
Back in the center of the store, ride the Egyptian Escalator—lined with pharaoh-
headed sconces, papyrus-plant lamps, and hieroglyphic balconies—to the fourth floor.
From the escalator, make a U-turn left and head to the far end to find the incredible
Toy Land, which includes an impressive Harry Potter section (wands go for upwards of
£ 100), and child-size luxury pedal cars ( £ 7,000)—the perfect gift for the child who has
everything.
More than two dozen eateries are scattered throughout the store, including a sushi bar,
deli, pizzeria, Ladurée macaron parlor, and—for the truly homesick—an American diner.
Many of my readers report that Harrods is overpriced, snooty, and teeming with
American, Japanese, and Middle Eastern tourists with zero concept of bargain shopping.
It's the only shopping mall I've seen with its own gift store. Still, it's the palace of depart-
ment stores. The nearby Beauchamp Place is lined with classy and fascinating shops.
Harvey Nichols: Once Princess Diana's favorite, “Harvey Nick's” remains the de-
partment store du jour (Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 11:30-18:00, near Harrods, 109-125
Knightsbridge, Tube: Knightsbridge, tel. [phone], www.harveynichols.com ). Want
to pick up a little £ 20 scarf for the wife? You won't do it here, where they're more like
£ 200. The store's fifth floor is a veritable food fest, with a gourmet grocery store, a fancy
restaurant, a Yo! Sushi bar, and a lively café. Consider a takeaway tray of sushi to eat on
a bench in the Hyde Park rose garden two blocks away.
Fortnum & Mason: The official department store of the Queen, Fortnum & Mason
embodies old-fashioned, British upper-class taste. While some may find it too stuffy, you
won't find another store with the same storybook atmosphere (Mon-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun
12:00-18:00, elegant tea served in their Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon—see here , 181 Pic-
cadilly, Tube: Green Park, tel. [phone], www.fortnumandmason.com , also see
West End Walk).
Liberty: Designed to make well-heeled shoppers feel at home, the half-timbered,
mock-Tudor emporium is a 19th-century institution that thrives today. Known for its gor-
geous floral fabrics and well-stocked crafts department, it's fun to stroll through just for a
look at its hip, artful displays and castle-like interior, constructed of two decommissioned
battleships (Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-18:00, Great Marlborough Street, Tube: Ox-
ford Circus, tel. [phone], www.liberty.co.uk , also see West End Walk).