London Shopping London Department Stores Harvey NicholsHarvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols predates both Harrods and Selfridges; the present building was completed in 1880 and 
is situated in Knightsbridge, a street away from Harrods. If you're at Harrods, head up Brompton Road taking in Harvey Nichols en route, swing past Knightsbridge Tube and continue on down Sloane Street - in less than half a mile you'll have taken in every global designer who's worth name-checking. Known for being upmarket and expensive, especially with regard to its designer clothing lines, Harvey Nics was mercilessly lampooned in the comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous', which did nothing but raise the public's awareness and boost the prestigious reputation of the store. Harvey Nichols still employs staff to open and close the doors for customers and despite having a reputation for snobbery, has positively responded to public pressure (via PETA) on contemporary issues, such as stocking animal fur and selling foie gras.
With five floors of Womenswear and beauty products & services (ground floor to fourth floor) and two floors of Menswear (lower ground and lower ground 2: "Men... to the basement with you!"), the fifth floor is entirely dedicated to food. Although their speciality is designer clothing, it's not all regal and established brands like Gucci, Fendi and Dior. Malene Birger, J-Brand and 7 for all Mankind feature too, so they're aiming for a broader age range than just ladies who lunch (in the SW1, 2 and 3 districts). It's certainly noted for drawing a younger crowd than Harrods fashion floors.
Harvey Nichols began trading as a linen store (just plain old Harvey then) in the early nineteenth century before moving to its current location 70 years or so
later. It was acquired by Debenhams in 1919 and became part of the Burton Group in 1985. In 1996 it was listed on the Stock Exchange and expansion of the brand began - albeit modestly at first. It was de-listed and became privately owned again in 2003 and since then, expansion into other territories including Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Turkey has continued apace.The restaurant on the fifth floor has been a popular destination for shoppers taking a breather, with suitably upscale food and wine. A good place to celeb-spot, though most of the Hollywood stars and royalty tend to shop when the store's closed to the public. It's an unofficial indicator of having 'arrived' if Harvey Nics will open out-of-hours to let you shop - recent celeb shoppers who call on Harvey Nichols when in town include:
- - Rhianna
- - Britney Spears
- - Beyonce & Jay-Z
- - Gwyneth Paltrow
- - Emma Watson
- - Danni and Kylie
- - Kate Moss
- - Posh 'n' Becks
- - Natalie Portman
- - Kirsten Dunst
- - Kate Bosworth
Opening Times
Mon - Sat: 10am - 8pm
Sun: 11:30am* - 6pm
(*browsing only between 11:30am - 12 noon)
Harvey Nichols Store, 109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ.
Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge.
Call: 020 7235 5000
