FabSwingers.com forum: Harrods as a northerner

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Morning all . Being a northerner I have only been to Harrods once on a visit to London. Is it an iconic place to visit or is it just another big supermarket . As a southerner is it just another store .

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

As a southerner/midlander I've never been to harrods. It has no appeal to me.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"Morning all . Being a northerner I have only been to Harrods once on a visit to London. Is it an iconic place to visit or is it just another big supermarket . As a southerner is it just another store .

Why would it be just another store?

I've never been to Harrods. I haven't been to London since 2007.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"As a southerner/midlander I've never been to harrods. It has no appeal to me. "
OK cheers and good morning

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *etcplCouple
over a year ago

Gapping Fanny

It’s a tourist attraction more than anything.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Why would it be just another store?

I've never been to Harrods. I haven't been to London since 2007."
Morning my friend it seems to me there are quite a few iconic stores in London and I wondered if London folk took them for granted

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It’s a tourist attraction more than anything."

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ichaelangelaCouple
over a year ago

notts

It's a pain in the arse if the Chinese tourists want to stop off there on the way back to Heathrow and buy more stuff and suitcases to put it in

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *pursChick aka ShortieWoman
over a year ago

On a mooch

Lived here just short of 40 years and never been

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

Why would it be just another store?

I've never been to Harrods. I haven't been to London since 2007.Morning my friend it seems to me there are quite a few iconic stores in London and I wondered if London folk took them for granted

I'm not from London so I don't know but I doubt it. Harrods is eye wateringly expensive so is Fortnums apparently.

The south isn't just London Mr Busman

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've been a few times but I consider it more of a tourist attraction than a shop honestly

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *irginieWoman
over a year ago

Near Marlborough

Lived in London for 30 years. Only place in Harrods even vaguely worth visiting is the food hall, but even then there are better places to eat

V x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's a nice place to visit around Christmas. If full of stuff you don't need but they used to go all out with the windows and Santa's grotto. Harrods is a shop for the tourist's. If you want high end crap Selfridges is better for Londoners.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Worth a visit if you're in the area. It's not just another store, it's bigger and flasher!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Why would it be just another store?

I've never been to Harrods. I haven't been to London since 2007.Morning my friend it seems to me there are quite a few iconic stores in London and I wondered if London folk took them for granted

I'm not from London so I don't know but I doubt it. Harrods is eye wateringly expensive so is Fortnums apparently.

The south isn't just London Mr Busman

"
No you are right I stereotyped London as the only place down South Hastings is lovely this time of year xxxx

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *iamondCougarWoman
over a year ago

Norfuck! / Lincolnshire

If you’ve been there, done that, once ….. don’t put it on your priority list. There are other more worthy attractions

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *eyond PurityCouple
over a year ago

Lincolnshire

It's a department store, a bit like House of Fraser with higher price tags

I remember seeing a clutch bag made of bubble wrap once. It was £110. My first thought was, surely it's not just bubble wrap, I could make that. I picked it up and almost popped a bubble (as you do). I had to put it down quickly

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ty31Man
over a year ago

NW London

Never been. For people on regular incomes it's a tourist attraction, for some (with money to burn) it's a status symbol.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

I’m in London quite a bit but avoid shops like harrods, fortnum & mason. For Christmas shopping get to Camden & Borough markets.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

Why would it be just another store?

I've never been to Harrods. I haven't been to London since 2007.Morning my friend it seems to me there are quite a few iconic stores in London and I wondered if London folk took them for granted

I'm not from London so I don't know but I doubt it. Harrods is eye wateringly expensive so is Fortnums apparently.

The south isn't just London Mr Busman

No you are right I stereotyped London as the only place down South Hastings is lovely this time of year xxxx

Hastings is lovely at any time of year if you know the right places to go.

. The south is a huge area with some great towns, cities, landmarks and countryside. We get a lot of northerners here on holiday.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *wisted999Man
over a year ago

North Bucks

Used to go to the pet store every year as my ex used to get her bulldog something to wear for Christmas. I used to sit downstairs in the food hall and drink fizz or eat some nice food. It’s ok for the odd bit down there.

Used to pick up clothing as well when stuff was harder to buy online.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

My mum used to love Harrods though. She never had loads of dosh but used to really enjoy looking round and buying a few small things. Last Christmas she found the Fortnums web site. We all got tins of biscuits from there

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *iltopbearMan
over a year ago

Norfolk

Ive had a.look when I've been to London, was a tourist attraction to me.

Some of the brands sold there can be bought much cheaper elsewhere.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *tephTV67TV/TS
over a year ago

Cheshire

Northerner who’s been into Harrods a couple of times. My advice, food hall worth a visit the rest

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

Busman I'm intrigued, why do you think people from the south think Harrods is just another store? Do people from the north think we're all extremely wealthy down here?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Busman I'm intrigued, why do you think people from the south think Harrods is just another store? Do people from the north think we're all extremely wealthy down here?"

You beat me to this sentence!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Busman I'm intrigued, why do you think people from the south think Harrods is just another store? Do people from the north think we're all extremely wealthy down here?"
No not at all is it just like say Blackpool Tower for us is just a place to visit as say if you come up North from down south it may be iconic ?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *aviniaCDTV/TS
over a year ago

Leeds (close to GAP)

Fair to say us Northerners aren't as easily 'taken in' by a posh shop maybe?....

They have Harrods, we've got Arkwright's, which ones on telly more?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

Busman I'm intrigued, why do you think people from the south think Harrods is just another store? Do people from the north think we're all extremely wealthy down here?No not at all is it just like say Blackpool Tower for us is just a place to visit as say if you come up North from down south it may be iconic ?"

I see. Does it cost a lot of money to get in to Blackpool Tower?

Harrods is undeniably a tourist attraction and I suppose you could say it's iconic. I'd say the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace is more so though. I went to college in Brighton and daily went past The Pavilion but never once went inside, that was just another building to me in the end

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"Fair to say us Northerners aren't as easily 'taken in' by a posh shop maybe?....

They have Harrods, we've got Arkwright's, which ones on telly more? "

, you think we're "taken in" by Harrods?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm a Southerner and now a Londoner and I have never in to Harrods.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Fair to say us Northerners aren't as easily 'taken in' by a posh shop maybe?....

They have Harrods, we've got Arkwright's, which ones on telly more?

, you think we're "taken in" by Harrods?"
I'm reading straight away you are not

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

" I'm a Southerner and now a Londoner and I have never in to Harrods. "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It is a proper store. The thing that makes it appealing is that if you can’t find it there, you can pretty much order what you want with them and they’ll seek it out for you.

Of course, everything comes with a price. I’m explaining that it isn’t simply a tourist attraction. It has basically everything under one roof. It can all be sent to their collection point where you or your staff can collect at the end of your shop or they can arrange for it to be sent to your hotel/home. You needn’t lug shopping bags with you as you shop in there throughout the day.

Just select, pay and carry on shopping. They’ll do the rest.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It is a proper store. The thing that makes it appealing is that if you can’t find it there, you can pretty much order what you want with them and they’ll seek it out for you.

Just select, pay and carry on shopping. They’ll do the rest."

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Harrods is harrods! Tho I am a selfridges kinda girl x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Harrods is harrods! Tho I am a selfridges kinda girl x "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *yron69Man
over a year ago

Fareham

It’s huge, it’s busy, it’s largely unaffordable. You’ll be bored after one floor but it is worth a visit. Especially the food halls.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"Fair to say us Northerners aren't as easily 'taken in' by a posh shop maybe?....

They have Harrods, we've got Arkwright's, which ones on telly more?

, you think we're "taken in" by Harrods?I'm reading straight away you are not

I'm not "taken in" by much Busman. Although sometimes it suits me to act as if I am.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Fair to say us Northerners aren't as easily 'taken in' by a posh shop maybe?....

They have Harrods, we've got Arkwright's, which ones on telly more?

, you think we're "taken in" by Harrods?I'm reading straight away you are not

I'm not "taken in" by much Busman. Although sometimes it suits me to act as if I am.

"
it's good to be yourself and I still respect you xxx

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *inkbunny888Couple
over a year ago

Surrey

So here's our understanding of Harrods being a Londoner for a very long time.

For international tourists it's an opportunity for tax free high end shopping malarky (much like Bicester village). Especially for South East Asia. As luxury products is seen as a status symbol for them. Which is an important part of their culture.

For locals it's a very expensive shop that usually gets passed on for the regular weekend outing unless you got money to burn. Because let's face it. How many department stores sells million pound yachts.

Majority of Londoners much prefer Selfridge's as it has more of mixed bag of high end without it being to the point of extortionate plus the more affordable day to day shopping in comparison to Harrods. But then Harrods demographic is slightly different to Selfridge's, Westfield and Harvey Nichols

Personally never seen it as a tourist attraction as per say.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"Fair to say us Northerners aren't as easily 'taken in' by a posh shop maybe?....

They have Harrods, we've got Arkwright's, which ones on telly more?

, you think we're "taken in" by Harrods?I'm reading straight away you are not

I'm not "taken in" by much Busman. Although sometimes it suits me to act as if I am.

it's good to be yourself and I still respect you xxx

I'm not quite sure how to answer that

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

I always go in at Christmas just to have a mooch. Never bought anything though.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensibleBlokeMan
over a year ago

cambridge

As previously said unless you're loaded, Harrods is nothing more than any other London tourist attraction.

Worth a visit for the food halls nothing more.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It’s just a glorified pound shop

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

"It’s just a glorified pound shop"

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"So here's our understanding of Harrods being a Londoner for a very long time.

Personally never seen it as a tourist attraction as per say. "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It’s just a glorified pound shop"

pound shop for the billionaires

I’ve witnessed some Russian guy buying a Louis Vuitton hanging chair at the very small price tag

Of £67K…. Yes, I’ll get 5! X

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *uke olovingmanMan
over a year ago

Gravesend

Put t'pate de foie gras and t' Moët et chandon in t'basket and proceed to t' till

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ck BasswardsMan
over a year ago

Newcastle

“As a northerner”…. I have never shoplifted in harrods ????

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It's a department store, a bit like House of Fraser with higher price tags

Are you sure there wasn't a really expensive invisible bag inside. And the bubble wrap was there to protect it..

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Biggest corner shop in the world!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *iamondCougarWoman
over a year ago

Norfuck! / Lincolnshire

A tourist destination but def not a London icon

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"A tourist destination but def not a London icon "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *orbidden eastMan
over a year ago

london dodging electric scooters

It’s okay but since I had to pay £8 for a roll with some meat inside of it which was not bad I have to say. I don’t think I will be doing that again.

I will definitely advise to swiftly move on to Hyde Park afterwards much more nicer and of course you have to get on the pedalos

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It’s okay but since I had to pay £8 for a roll with some meat inside of it which was not bad I have to say. I don’t think I will be doing that again.

I will definitely advise to swiftly move on to Hyde Park afterwards much more nicer and of course you have to get on the pedalos

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *alcon43Woman
over a year ago

Paisley

There’s the Egyptian stairwell which is amazing and the Majolica ceiling in the food court is gaudy but interesting.

I’m sure there are other areas that are interesting in Harrods. Liberty’s is also a lovely building to see inside and out.

There are some great buildings to see. Some of the theatres are beautiful as well.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"There’s the Egyptian stairwell which is amazing and the Majolica ceiling in the food court is gaudy but interesting.

I’m sure there are other areas that are interesting in Harrods. Liberty’s is also a lovely building to see inside and out.

There are some great buildings to see. Some of the theatres are beautiful as well. "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *asycouple1971Couple
over a year ago

midlands

Never been to Harrods. Been to London a few times.

Dont feel the need to go in Harrods as London is expensive as it is.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *alcon43Woman
over a year ago

Paisley

"Never been to Harrods. Been to London a few times.

Dont feel the need to go in Harrods as London is expensive as it is.

You don’t need to buy anything but there some great things to see inside it.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *asmeenTV/TS
over a year ago

STOKE ON TRENT

It's a shop

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Its just a shop.

They mix perfumes instore which is useful when the brands discontinued ect.

Have a fantastic 'barbour' clothing collection.

I enjoy the tea room.

Nice at christmas

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Its just a shop.

They mix perfumes instore which is useful when the brands discontinued ect.

Have a fantastic 'barbour' clothing collection.

I enjoy the tea room.

Nice at christmas

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As a Northerner who lived down South and worked in London for 20+ years, I can say that the only times I visited Harrods was with my offspring who loved looking at unaffordable handbags and shoes. We went there many times and didn't buy any goods apart from bits n bobs from in the overpriced food hall. Harrods is a magnet for the Chinese and Middle Eastern people who always seem to have money to burn in there. Plenty of people in there who, like myself, went just for a mooch round the place to see what's what.

After going round Harrods, we usually ended up in Selfridge's for another mooch round.

I'm glad I'm back up North now and rarely venture back dahn Sarf.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *heOriginalLoisWoman
over a year ago

London

As someone who has shopped in Harrods from when it was still owned by the House of Fraser group, Al Fayed and the current owners it has it's place on the tourist circuit if that is your thing.

A bit like going to Macy's on 34th or Bloomingdale's on Lexington if you go to New York.

It had changed vastly in the last 4 decades, as has Selfridges on Oxford Street, to cater for the Chinese and Russian markets. Both already knew how to cater for the Middle East buck, especially during July and August when London is descended on by half of the Arab elite.

I am sat in the kitchen typing this, my Kitchen Aid kettle and toaster came from Harrods as does my oven. The oven incidentally was £700 in 2010 when it was purchased, John Lewis (never knowingly undersold) wanted £1200 for the same model. My china all comes from Harrods too. Does that make me something special? Of course not.

It is a department store at the end of the day. It has a Food Hall to mooch about in and somewhere you can spend your millions too.

I would say though since it was last sold it has lost some of its soul.

I am still in touch with people who I knew, as their client from years ago in Harrods, I don't have that connection any longer. Old staff had to reapply for jobs, the favoured ones needed to speak Arabic, Russian or Chinese. This is the way of the world now.

So if you are going to London and you want to see what the fuss is, go for it. Try out Liberty on Regent Street for the architecture, Fortnums to buy some biscuits from the Food Hall

In actual fact none of the department stores are really what they used to be. Then all shops and retail have had a shift.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *angerous123Man
over a year ago

Leeds

The food hall is awesome and mostly decent value for the quality you're getting

The donut croissant thingies they make...oh lord

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wouldn't a Northerner rarely visiting - buy a tea towel or a large bag with 'Harrods' wrote on. Just to show off to the common people back home

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

Post new Message to Thread