Selfridges vs Harrods: What Is the Difference?

Both are famous London department stores, but they differ in location, history and ownership. The facts below come from Wikipedia.

Harrods

Harrods stands at 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge. Charles Henry Harrod started in business in 1824 and took over the Brompton shop in 1849. Wikipedia calls it the largest department store in Europe, with more than 330 departments. It belongs to the Harrods Group, owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, which bought it in 2010 for 1.5 billion pounds.

Selfridges

Selfridges was founded by American retail magnate Harry Gordon Selfridge, and the Oxford Street store opened on 15 March 1909. The flagship at 400 Oxford Street is the UK’s second-largest shop after Harrods. There are four stores as of 2024: Oxford Street, the Trafford Centre and Exchange Square in Manchester, and the Bullring in Birmingham. Central Group of Thailand holds 60 percent and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund holds 40 percent.

Which to visit

• Harrods suits those who want sheer scale and its food halls.
• Selfridges is on Oxford Street and has stores outside London.
• Both stock designer fashion, beauty and accessories.

Ownership and store details can change, so check the retailers’ websites.

To explore designer labels, visit the designers page, browse the brands page, or head to the shop.