This time my tube-exit of choice was "Knightsbridge", which practically took me directly into Harrods. Oh no, not another department store, you say? Well, Harrods is anything but the ordinary department store, believe me! I was walking around in there with my mouth wide open. But before I could actually get in, there were two incidents that almost dissuaded me from entering.
First, there were a group of demonstrators outside, who were shouting to boycott the store, because Harrods is the only department store in the UK that sells real fur coats.
They had brochures with pictures of "defurred" animals and I really thought about not going in. But then I thought that it was probably ok to go sightseeing in there (the likelyhood of me buying anything was slim anyway). If I had thought a little quicker, I could have taken a bunch of brochures inside and stuffed them into the pockets of the fur coats...!So then I made my way to the door, but was told by the doorman (and yes, there is one at each of the many doors) that I could not carry my backpack on my back. Instead I had to carry the darn (heavy) thing in my hand. "Impossible" I said and turned around back into the street. But after lurking there for 5 minutes it started raining heavily and so I went to another door (where I was told the same thing) and decided to venture inside.
And I have not regretted it.....what a store!!!
I could have spent a whole day in there, but think I managed at least 2 hours and didn't even see half of it. They have got absolutely everything (yes, including fur coats, unfortunately). And everything I saw was unusual....from hats to top-designer dresses to extravagant writing utensils and notepads. Ah, they even had official Wimbledon souvenirs!
There are five enormous food halls with meat, cheese, fruit, chocolate, cakes, etc... and everything looks delicious (with the exception of those chicken heads maybe).
When I was almost at the end of my tour I stumbled upon an information desk where they handed out Store Guides. Would have been handy before, I suppose. Anyway, I took one and had a look at what else I should possibly see in there. And there I noticed that the store has a 'Diana and Dodi Memorial' - couldn't leave without seeing that of course.
So, to summarize my trip to the Disney World of London:
1. go there on a rainy day
2. do not take any heavy backpacks
3. pick up a store guide at the beginning of your tour
4. don't buy anything unless you want the "anti-fur-trade" people to shout at you
5. oh and if you really must buy something, look out for the discretely placed signs that read "Seasonal Reductions", which I think is posh for "SALE"!
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