London, Day 7

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! Wishing you a safe and festive Christmas. Yesterday – English major Mecca. Today – shopping Mecca: Harrods Department Store.

Harrod's Department Store, London, Dec. 2016
Harrod’s Department Store, London, Dec. 2016
Harrod's Department Store, London, Dec. 2016
Harrod’s Department Store, London, Dec. 2016

Harrods was established in 1834 and is a London institution. The multi floor store covers about 5 acres and has hundreds of departments as well as food halls and restaurants. The building was completed in 1905 and is opulent. The current owner is the state of Qatar and many of the finishes now reflect an art deco Egyptian feel. It is beautiful.
The Christmas windows are sponsored each year, and this year is Burberry. The windows tell a story and wrap whole sides of the building. Here are a couple of the windows.

Harrod's Department Store, London, Dec. 2016
Harrod’s Department Store, London, Dec. 2016
Harrod's Department Store, London, Dec. 2016
Harrod’s Department Store, London, Dec. 2016

The food halls are well know and have everything from fresh produce, caviar and donuts.

One of the food halls, Harrods, London, Dec. 2016
One of the food halls, Harrods, London, Dec. 2016

The confectionary section is a large as some grocery stores and offers an incredible variety of chocolates, including coffee confections in a tiny chocolate coffee mug!

Coffee confection, Harrods, London, Dec. 2016
Coffee confection, Harrods, London, Dec. 2016

Right before Christmas and on Boxing Day (December 26), Harrods also has big sales, so the store was mobbed. We did manage to purchase a number of gifts, pastries for breakfast tomorrow and the chocolates. We also had lunch at one of the restaurants, which was delicious.

Exploring Harrods took the better part of the day, and everything is closing early for Christmas, so we will sign off too. Tomorrow we have a Thames River cruise with a traditional British Christmas dinner. We will be sure to get some pics for you all. Best wishes for happy holidays –
J & K

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