In case you don’t know, along with Harrods and Harvey Nicols, Selfridges is one of London’s most famous department stores. There is also a branch in Manchester which I have never been to.
“Location”
It’s located on Oxford Street closer to the Marble Arch side, ... Read review
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A review by Modena on Selfridges (London) May 1st, 2001
Author's product rating:
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Advantages:
Large, spacious, choice, service, location, value during the sales, find things you are unlikely to find on the High Street .
Disadvantages:
Odour of the food hall, one might get lost, sometimes it is expensive, sometimes it is better to shop on Bond Street shop by shop .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
In case you don’t know, along with Harrods and Harvey Nicols, Selfridges is one of London’s most famous department stores. There is also a branch in Manchester which I have never been to.
“Location” It’s located on Oxford Street closer to the Marble Arch side, with Bond Street the nearest tube station. Personally, being in the Oxford Street area is more convenient for me than the Knightsbridge area of the other two shops that I mentioned. There is also a bus stop right outside so no excuses not going there if you ever get the chance.
“Floor Guide” Selfridges (& Co) as I said, is a very large store probably about the size of a football pitch and a little spanning 4 floors and a small 5th floor. There are countless entrances and the store is set out in a way where’s it’s fairly difficult to get lost, and with three sets of escalators and lifts it’s quite n easy shopping experience. Toilets are aplenty, but fairly difficult to find.
B The basement sells a large range of household items, electronics and durables, all at good value and a brilliant range too. A portion of it is a really modern electronics retailer, not your cramped Dixons sort, but more the 40’ digital widescreen sort. You can also find CDs, computer software/hardware, and there’s also a Carphone Warehouse. The range of household items, such a kitchenware is really chic, being called SelFridges, there is a range of fridges too (ho ho ho)
G The ground floor has an average food hall, a stationer, watch department (with a large range of designer watches), men's shirts, handbags/accessories, the beauty section (perfumes, lotions etc) and much much more. There is a heaven for chocolate lovers and newsagent. As well as a Miss Selfridge, there is also a brasserie, and a sushi bar too! The atmosphere is great, a real feeling of space, and aroma near the main entrance, it’s also very bright too. One niggle is the odour of the food hall, it’s revolting!
1 This is the Men’s floor with shoes, coats, suits, casual/formal designerwear, and a sports section. This is also where the kids will find the toys section, which isn’t too good really. For the men’s clothing, each designer/marque has it’s own little boutique with a healthy range of clothes, including Armani, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, etc etc… Prices are similar to the ones you find at Bond Street, but variety is small.
2 This is the ladies version on the 1st floor.
3 The third floor sells formal womenswear and lingerie. Tonnes of choice here, one of the “poshest” parts of the store, the atmosphere is very quiet and slightly eerie.
4 The fourth floor is dedicated to furniture and has a large restaurant there too. I’ve pretty much forgotten what this floor looks like so apologies for that.
5 The small fifth floor is for hair and beauty/health spa. For obvious reasons I have not been and don’t think I ever will.
“Service” The service at Selfridges is always a great "service with a smile" from knowledgeable staff, of course this is what your would expect. You would expect there to be some variance because they are employed by different people, but I have found this not to be the case.
Honestly think about this, if you are planning to buy a designer watch, say a top notch Seiko, would you purchase it from the High Street, or enjoy the tranquility and professionalism of this store?
“Value” Value is excellent, you get what you pay for, good are always sold at RRP or less. Watch out for the sales! get up to 50% off or more after you fight to get your goods! Obviously shop around before hand, sometimes I have found goods to be much more expensive, sometimes a little cheaper at Selfridges. This is especially true because there is no cartel with the Bond Street sales (well not explicitly) so you can shop to save.
“The Overall Experience” This is what I think differentiates Selfridges. Harvey Nic’s to me is a great shop that is perhaps less spacious and more crowded less fresh. Harrods more traditional with more tourists and less spacious once again. Selfridges is really fresh, always changing with the times and it is so much different to how it was years ago, but still has the same virtues. If you haven’t been for around 5 or 6 years, you will know what I mean. This makes it my favourite department store.
Advantages: everything you want (and can't afford) under one roof Disadvantages: never enough time or money to enjoy it properly
...Marble Arch. You can't miss Selfridges itself. To quote someone I once knew "it's the huge-ass expensive looking shop which says 'selfridges and co' on the door". Once you've made your way past the people collecting for charity and used all your upper body strength on the big revolving doors to actually get into the shop, it's time to die, because you will have already mentally spent about 5 grand.
The ground floor is home to everything but clothes. ... ...people who've quaffed champagne in selfridges (very nice, if very expensive) but Spirit is my spiritual home. Lower floors aren't my forte, but I have it on good authority that, like the rest of selfridges, it's hell on your credit card and your self-discipline.
One of the things I like about Selfidges is the slightly less pretentious attitude, and the fact there are fewer tourists. Selfridges is where the locals go, as well as the visitors. The ...
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very helpful
17.06.2003
A great store Review ofSelfridges (London)by
Liberty1
Advantages: Goods ranges and quality Disadvantages: can get crowded
I first went to Selfridges to look at their wonderful Christmas displays but was soon drawn though the door. It's a retail experience to be enjoyed and I doubt that you would come away emptyhanded. Departments are well signposted and the goods and displayed well. Although it can get crowded, I has always found queues are not too bad and the service polite and quick. The quality of goods for sale is excellant and of course the range is far reaching, ...
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Advantages: Huge. Wide array of merchandise.Value for money Disadvantages: Busy
...a fashion area known as Selfridges Spirit,just for them, this stocks many of the top designer names.There is a one-stop Men's Accessory Hall created by internationally renowned interior designer Christian Liagre and for women there are new names such as Asian-based Song and Kelly, World a collection from Australia ,as well as hordes of traditional and famous designer labels.Glamorous and glitzy party wear,shimmering colourful textiles,accessories,embroidery,satin,velvet,and ... ...Other goodies you can buy include traditional wicker hampers for picnics.
The tourists may want to head for Harrods but if I want to buy a shirt,some magazines, a present for a friend or something for my daughter, Selfridges is where I head for when I am in London. ...
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Advantages: They have a huge range of quality shops,lovely building, right for the whole family. Disadvantages: none
...brilliant shops available. For example selfridges & co. This huge department store offers the most choices in shops, whether it is for household care, to baby wear! At night the lights offer a fabulous attraction, and it is a must-go store for shop-acholics! They also have personal shopping for those who don't like to wander round the store, of course for an extra charge though. Selfridges is located in one of the busiest streets in london, Oxford ...
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...me to Selfridges, Oxford Street, London. Here in their sweet department is a whole range of these wonderful sweets. Pick and mix your own or buy gift packs, bean dispencer machines. They have the whole range. So if you like these sweets, pop along to selfridges and have your fill. ...
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Advantages: Too many to describe Disadvantages: Absolutly none
...branch of Selfridges outside of london and fashion takes pride of place beneath the roofs of this gem in the crown of the North West of England.
There are also the greatest collection of resturaunts of different countries and cooking styles to be found anywhere beneath ione roof anywhere-else in europe and this is besides a full multiplex cinema end entertainment facilities.... in fact I am not going to tell you any-more...Just visit...Parking is easy and if your in a wheelchair then dont worry...you'l be well catered for.
Got to the Trafford Centre..and be ammazed!...
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Advantages: Great variety and suitable for all ages. Disadvantages: Queues can be big to enter and exit the complex especially at rush hour
...To me the trafford centre is a completely different world.
The trafford centre is located on the edge of the Manchester orbital Motorway (M60) and is set back close to trafford park hence the name the trafford centre.
The trafford centre caters for all tastes wherever expensive or budget. Or exquisite or ordinary run of the mill. The shops range to the High quality and prices of Selfridges (The only one outside of london) and to the welcome high street name of Sock Shop. The trafford centre has aproximately 50,000 free car parking spaces with about half of them under shelter to allow you to enter the complex while keeping under shelter from wind rain whatever the weather throws at you.
There are excellent facilities for the disabled at the trafford centre. They provide fee wheelchair loand and scooter hire to allow...
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Advantages: A brilliant city that has everything Disadvantages: Expensive
..., Thai and so on. I’m sure you all get the picture.
Shopping & Fashion:
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London will spoil you in this department, there are lots of shopping areas scattered all over London, which offers everything you, can possibly want. Central London has hundreds of fashion department stores and smaller designer outlets. Selfridges, Harrods, Debenhams, John Lewis and many more.
Parks:
******
Regents Park is my favourite park in London, this park is complete in everyway, you have London Zoo on the premises, lakes, restaurants, acres of playing field, and beautiful wildlife. Regents is not the only park in London – Hyde park, St James Park, Holland Park, all acres of playing field and pleasure to take walks in.
Accommodation:
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Superb hotels and hostels to choose from – ranging from 2 star to five star...
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The London Eye clearly offers nice views over London, but if you want to enjoy even more spectacular views over Europe's biggest city, then you must come to (or have already been to) Primrose Hill. Primrose Hill borders to the north end of Regents Park,... more