The 8 Best Department Stores in London (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 8 picks

The best department stores in London in 2026 are Harrods in Knightsbridge for sheer spectacle and its food halls, Selfridges on Oxford Street for fashion and beauty, Liberty for its Tudor-revival building and prints, and Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly for tea, hampers and British food gifts.

London's great department stores cluster in two areas: Oxford Street and Regent Street (Selfridges, John Lewis, Liberty) and Knightsbridge (Harrods, Harvey Nichols), with Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly in between. Visitors from outside the UK no longer get VAT-free shopping in stores, so prices are what you see. Weekday mornings are calmest; the run-up to Christmas brings famous window displays and big crowds.

1. Harrods — Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

London's most famous store, with spectacular Food Halls and luxury on every floor.

$$$$ Splurge

Harrods fills a vast terracotta building on Brompton Road with fashion, beauty, toys, homeware and some of the most famous food halls in the world. The Egyptian Escalator and the Christmas lights on its façade are sights in themselves.

Even if you do not buy anything, it is worth an hour for the Food Halls alone.

Good to know: Weekday mornings are much calmer than weekend afternoons.

87–135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL

Google Maps Website

2. Selfridges — Oxford Street, Soho & the West End

Oxford Street's landmark store, the best for fashion, beauty and window displays.

$$$ Upmarket

Selfridges has anchored the west end of Oxford Street since 1909. It is the most fashion-forward of London's big stores, with huge beauty and accessories halls, a large food hall and famous window displays.

It suits shoppers who want designer and contemporary brands under one roof.

Good to know: Check its own events pages for in-store launches and pop-ups.

400 Oxford Street, London W1A 1AB

Google Maps Website

3. Liberty London — Regent Street, Soho & the West End

A Tudor-revival landmark famous for its prints, fabrics and design-led gifts.

$$$ Upmarket

Liberty's black-and-white timbered building just off Regent Street is one of London's most beautiful shops. It is famous for its own floral prints, sold as fabric, scarves and homeware, and for its curated fashion, beauty and design.

It is a joy to browse even on a small budget.

Good to know: The Liberty print fabric department is a must for anyone who sews.

Regent Street, London W1B 5AH

Google Maps Website

4. Fortnum & Mason — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

The grand Piccadilly grocer for tea, biscuits, hampers and British food gifts.

$$$ Upmarket

Fortnum & Mason has sold fine food from Piccadilly since the 18th century. Its ground floor of teas, biscuits, preserves and chocolates in signature eau-de-nil packaging is the best place in London for edible gifts.

Upstairs are homeware and fashion floors, and its tea salon serves a famous afternoon tea.

Good to know: Book the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon for afternoon tea well ahead.

181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER

Google Maps Website

5. Harvey Nichols — Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

A fashion-led Knightsbridge store for designer labels and beauty.

$$$$ Splurge

Harvey Nichols on the corner of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street is smaller and more fashion-focused than Harrods, with designer womenswear and menswear, beauty and accessories.

It suits serious fashion shoppers who want a more edited choice.

Good to know: Combine it with Sloane Street's designer boutiques next door.

109–125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ

Google Maps Website

6. John Lewis Oxford Street — Oxford Street, Soho & the West End

The flagship of Britain's best-loved department store, strong on home and tech.

$$ Mid-range

John Lewis's Oxford Street flagship is the store Londoners trust for homeware, furniture, electricals, baby kit and everyday fashion, with knowledgeable staff and good after-sales service.

It is the practical choice for anyone setting up a London home.

Good to know: Use its free personal styling and home design appointments.

300 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DX

Google Maps Website

7. Peter Jones — Chelsea, Westminster & South Kensington

John Lewis's elegant Sloane Square sibling, a Chelsea institution.

$$ Mid-range

Peter Jones, part of the John Lewis Partnership, occupies a striking 1930s modernist building on Sloane Square. It sells the same trusted range as John Lewis, in a calmer setting.

The top-floor café has good views over Chelsea's rooftops.

Good to know: Go to the top-floor café for the view.

Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EL

Google Maps Website

8. Dover Street Market London — St James's, Soho & the West End

Comme des Garçons' multi-label store, the most directional fashion shop in town.

$$$$ Splurge

Dover Street Market, created by Comme des Garçons, spreads designer and streetwear labels across several floors of a building on Haymarket, each space styled like an art installation.

It is a must for fashion lovers, even if you are only looking.

Good to know: Visit on the day of a new collection drop for the full buzz.

18–22 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4DG

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous department store in London?

Harrods in Knightsbridge, with its celebrated Food Halls and floor after floor of luxury. Selfridges on Oxford Street is its great rival and arguably the more fashionable.

Is Harrods worth visiting if you are not shopping?

Yes, for the Food Halls, the Egyptian Escalator and the Christmas displays. It is busy, so go on a weekday morning.

Can tourists shop tax-free in London department stores?

No. The UK ended VAT-free shopping for international visitors in stores in 2021, so the shelf price includes VAT.

When are the London department store sales?

The biggest sales start just after Christmas, with summer sales from late June. Black Friday deals run in late November.

Which London department store is best for gifts?

Fortnum & Mason for tea, biscuits and hampers; Liberty for prints, scarves and design-led gifts. See also our London markets guide for one-off finds.

1. Harrods — Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

2. Selfridges — Oxford Street, Soho & the West End

3. Liberty London — Regent Street, Soho & the West End

4. Fortnum & Mason — Piccadilly, Soho & the West End

5. Harvey Nichols — Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

6. John Lewis Oxford Street — Oxford Street, Soho & the West End

7. Peter Jones — Chelsea, Westminster & South Kensington

8. Dover Street Market London — St James's, Soho & the West End

Frequently asked questions

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