London Hotels

Harrods - London An unmissable landmark on the Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, Harrods is probably the world's best known department store. Trading since 1849 when Henry Charles Harrod, a wholesale tea merchant of Eastcheap took over a grocer's shop, it is now as much a tourist attraction as well as a magnificent temple to the cult of shopping. If you want a grand piano or a bag of jelly beans, there is a huge range of goods in this resplendent store. Address: 87-135 Brompton Road Kensington and Chelsea Nearest tube: Knightsbridge Buses:10, 14, 74, C1, A1, 19, 22, 137<br>

Fortnum and Mason An emporium of culinary and other delights. Situated on one of the grandest streets in the capital, this renowned department store has acquired a world famous reputation for teas and chocolates. Try the handmade Belgian bonbons and sip afternoon tea in the elegant surroundings of the tea room or restaurants upstairs. There are also designer clothes to try on and the atmosphere is refined. Pay a visit, if only to see the interior, which is decorated with hand painted murals. 181 Piccadilly, W1 Tel 020 7734 8040 Piccadilly or Green Park tube stations nearby Buses 9, 14, 19, 22, 38 www.Fortnumandmason.com

Selfridges For over a hundred years Selfridges have been selling some of rather stylish items to fashionable London home owners and their families. Look out for Toast clothes, as well as the sumptuous cushions and extensive range of kitchen appliances. Oxford Street Open: Monday to Friday 10:00 - 8:00pm Saturday 09:30 - 8:00pm Sunday 12:00 noon - 6:00pm www.selfridges.co.uk Nearest Tube Bond Street. Take any bus serving the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street. Selfridges has a car park accessed from Duke Street. However, you can't drive down Oxford Street.

John Lewis An unusual, perhaps uniquely British Institution, based on sound retail principles: Unusually, John Lewis's shareholders are their own staff, so anyone from an advisor in the kitchen department to the chief executive takes a share of the profits and as everything in their branches is 'never knowingly undersold', you will probably find the cheapest version of anything from Calvin Klein perfume to a Bosch oven. The store may not be the world's most exciting or cutting edge, but everything is very easy to find, the staff treat customers with respect and the kitchen department is pure heaven for amateur cooks. Branches in Oxford Street, next to Oxford Circus tube (buses 25, 73, 10 ) and at Blue water Shopping centre, as well as Peter Jones (same shop, different name), King's Road, Chelsea. (bus 11) www.johnlewis.com

Harvey Nichols If you wondered where Patsy and Edina go shopping in the TV comedy Absolutely Fabulous, this is where they have their shopping sprees. The food emporium on the top floor has some well designed packages, from pasta to biscuits and their bread counter has many treats. Yo Sushi! Have opened up a branch inside the department store, so after trying on some designer clothes, having a make up session on the ground floor, you can enjoy Japanese fish in congenial surroundings. 109-125 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7RJ Tel: 020 7235 5000 Hair & Beauty salon: 020 7235 5573 Opening Times: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 10:00- 19.00pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 - 20:00pm Sunday 12:00 - 18:00pm www.harveynichols.com Nearest underground: Knightsbridge

Books for Cooks A remarkable shop selling nothing but cookery books. It is run by a famous TV chef, and a place for both amateurs and experts. This shop is a delight to browse in and there is even a café at the rear to sample some of the recommended recipes. 4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London W11 Tel 020-7221-1992 Fax 020-7221-1517 <br>

Waterstones The former Simpson's store in Piccadilly was sold a few years ago to house probably the biggest UK chain of bookstores: Waterstones. This innovative building (one of the first to have a 'curtain wall that hung from rather than held up the building) is now one of the largest bookshops in the world. There are a few cafes strategically positioned on different floors (serving nice food and drinks), so you can spend hours in here browsing and don't even need to go out for refreshment. The company will order any book in print although you are likely to find what you want here. There is also a good second hand and antiquarian department at their other branch in Gower Street, next to the University of London. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus for Waterstones Piccadilly and Euston Square for the Gower Street store. www.waterstones.co.uk 82 Gower Street, Bloomsbury London, WC1 Tel 0207 6361577 Monday 9.30-20.00 Tuesday 10.00-20.00 Wednesday 9.30-20.00 Thursday 9.30-20.00 Friday 9.30-20.00 Saturday 9.30-19.00 Sunday 11.00-17.00 Bookmarks A central London bookshop which specialises in history and politics. Near to the British Museum, this is a good place to find out about Britain's turbulent past and to browse the many magazines on offer. Gower Street, buses 73, 10 1 Bloomsbury Street, London, WCIB Tel 020 7637 1848.