I'm heading to London soon for a few days and never been into either of those stores, but they are in my plans. What are your experiences in these stores? Do any of you have favourite products from these stores? Any favourite things to do while visiting them, especially Harrods? Be interesting to hear your views.
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Fortnums is lovely but expensive,they do all types of tea,their jams etc are great.It’s really nice.
Have to say I've not been to either for years, do Harrods still tell you off if you've got a bag on your shoulders and make you take it off?
I'm not sure either are that relevant these days now lots of specialist stuff is more widespread. I saw kinda specialist things that were exactly the same (same packaging and all) as stuff in my local Turkish shop that were in Harrods for a 300% markup - £4.50 in Harrods compared to £1.50 in the Turkish shop.
I'm sure they used to sell junk like aunt Jemima GMO fake maple syrup for £8 a bottle when it sold for $3 in the states at the time. And a small jar of black jack's for a £10 with the f&m sticker on. Lots of it is overpriced junk for tourists but there's some stuff you won't find elsewhere.
Last time I went to Harrods there was someone mugged right outside who was screaming that their Rolex was stolen. We let the apparent mugger run right past as I'm not in endangering my life over someone's status symbol jewelry. The undercover Harrods security did wrestle the guy to the ground after he'd done a loop around the block, but not before he'd been able to pass on the valuables. Security told us this happens all the time. I'd leave at night via the entrance that's next to the tube station rather than walk along the side streets towards Sloan square.
Not that I mean to tit all over them, I'd still go there for afternoon tea. I prefer the foohalls in Selfridge's or Oxford Street John Lewis. Writing this is probably going to make me go back there soon, I think the top floor of Harvey nicks is a food hall - it used to be.
I'm not sure either are that relevant these days now lots of specialist stuff is more widespread. I saw kinda specialist things that were exactly the same (same packaging and all) as stuff in my local Turkish shop that were in Harrods for a 300% markup - £4.50 in Harrods compared to £1.50 in the Turkish shop.
I'm sure they used to sell junk like aunt Jemima GMO fake maple syrup for £8 a bottle when it sold for $3 in the states at the time. And a small jar of black jack's for a £10 with the f&m sticker on. Lots of it is overpriced junk for tourists but there's some stuff you won't find elsewhere.
Last time I went to Harrods there was someone mugged right outside who was screaming that their Rolex was stolen. We let the apparent mugger run right past as I'm not in endangering my life over someone's status symbol jewelry. The undercover Harrods security did wrestle the guy to the ground after he'd done a loop around the block, but not before he'd been able to pass on the valuables. Security told us this happens all the time. I'd leave at night via the entrance that's next to the tube station rather than walk along the side streets towards Sloan square.
Not that I mean to tit all over them, I'd still go there for afternoon tea. I prefer the foohalls in Selfridge's or Oxford Street John Lewis. Writing this is probably going to make me go back there soon, I think the top floor of Harvey nicks is a food hall - it used to be.
If you've never been it's nice to walk around but I don't think it'll make or break your trip. The shoe department in Harrods is dreamy.
Fortnum & Mason truffle honey is delicious.
Fortnum & Mason truffle honey is delicious.
Yeah, I expect their products to be expensive. I'm not sure I'll be picking up much haha, mainly browsing. I'll buy a thing or two, but nothing crazy.
I read that Harrods has something like 5000 brands. I've never been to Harrods, so I mostly wanted to just browse around. Would you recommend any places to eat inside Harrods? Or would I be better to go elsewhere and just browse around Harrods.
I love browsing Harrods food halls. I love any food hall in general. The toy department is fab, eventhough I'm an adult 
They have a Tiffany's cafe too. Breakfast at Tiffany's!
Also the Christmas department opens in the summer every year... So if you want to get some early decorations, you can have a browse haha.
They have a Tiffany's cafe too. Breakfast at Tiffany's!
Also the Christmas department opens in the summer every year... So if you want to get some early decorations, you can have a browse haha.
Fortnums shortbread is the best ever ( if you are a shortbread fan). I bought three boxes when we visited a few weeks back and I’ve still not opened them. Not massively expensive and worth every penny. I also really like their Jams and chutneys. Never had afternoon tea or anything in there though. Great time to visit now due to the very low visitor numbers .
Fortnums is fab for fancy tea and coffee. There’s verities there I’ve never seen before as well as standard breakfast/Earl grey etc. Yes they do the fancy tins however if you might be able to buy some buy weight in just a plain bag. (I know you can/used to be able to do this in Harrods and I’m sure there’s the same service in F&M but covid may have stopped this.) The chocolate stand is good too and although I’ve never had one the patisserie looks incredible.
Always worth a look at the upper floors. F&M have a nice beauty department. Not as many brands as Harrods/selfridges but a overall nicer experience imo. Fortnums is the nicer for a general browse as is liberty. They’ve got more character than Harrods to me and sell more different things.
Overall I’m not a fan of Harrods. I had a not so nice experience there the only time I’ve been and I’ve been put off visiting again. It was far too hot inside felt like I was walking for a ages before I found ten toilets and generally didn’t feel special walking around.
Always worth a look at the upper floors. F&M have a nice beauty department. Not as many brands as Harrods/selfridges but a overall nicer experience imo. Fortnums is the nicer for a general browse as is liberty. They’ve got more character than Harrods to me and sell more different things.
Overall I’m not a fan of Harrods. I had a not so nice experience there the only time I’ve been and I’ve been put off visiting again. It was far too hot inside felt like I was walking for a ages before I found ten toilets and generally didn’t feel special walking around.
Harrods is a real maze of a place, even the staff have a hard time navigating it. I usually buy anything I want from there at Gatwick. Fortnum is lovely, tea, coffee, biccies, chocolate, jute bags, water bottles, flasks and lunch bags.
There used to be quite a lot of kudos in visiting Harrods. I went many years ago with my family, we had lunch in a restaurant, where they had a piano being played. Nice, but nothing phenominal. Don't forget to purchase the obligitory carrier bag, to prove you have been there!
Harrods homeware department is an eye opener - how the other half live.
If you have time after Harrods you could pop next door to Harvey Nichols, they have a food market, bar and cafe on the 5th floor.
F &M have a wine bar and a tea salon and also an icecream and sweets parlour.
I end up having to take American relatives to these places when they visit and I find F&M staff are really friendly and helpful without being condescending.. unlike some other top end places.
If you have time after Harrods you could pop next door to Harvey Nichols, they have a food market, bar and cafe on the 5th floor.
F &M have a wine bar and a tea salon and also an icecream and sweets parlour.
I end up having to take American relatives to these places when they visit and I find F&M staff are really friendly and helpful without being condescending.. unlike some other top end places.
Agree absolut Liberty , much better beauty hall and Home but not much food! I’m a big fan of the Maria Tash earrings
I think Fortnum's is a nicer shop than Harrod's and not as big. I used to get Fortnum's pickle. It's delicious and goes with everything. I've also bought their cranberry sauce before for the Christmas table. I make a point of not decanting it from the jar because I want everyone to know where it's come from 
www.fortnumandmason.com
Years ago Harrods used to do a fabulous carvery in the Georgian restaurant. At Christmas we used to take our daughter there and let her have a good mooch around the toy and Christmas departments (and a visit to Father Christmas obvs) then lunch at the carvery which was always fabulously decorated. The carvery is no longer sadly.
Harrods has definitely lost a lot of that glamour over the years and getting to see Santa is a nightmare.
Fortnum’s Pickle, 220g
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Years ago Harrods used to do a fabulous carvery in the Georgian restaurant. At Christmas we used to take our daughter there and let her have a good mooch around the toy and Christmas departments (and a visit to Father Christmas obvs) then lunch at the carvery which was always fabulously decorated. The carvery is no longer sadly.
Harrods has definitely lost a lot of that glamour over the years and getting to see Santa is a nightmare.
Fortnums is nicer, like a lot of people have said. The food hall is great, even if you just buy a little tin of biscuits or tea, the packaging is cute and will be a nice souvenir. Also the beauty department is lovely, I went there with a friend recently and the fragrance sales lady there was so knowledgeable and helpful and spent lots of time with us. They also have a fab stationery section although it was a lot emptier than usual, because of all the distancing rules.