Selfridges vs. Harrods: Which is the Largest Department Store in the UK?

Selfridges and Harrods are the two most famous names in British luxury retail. Department stores like these are popular with shoppers from all over the world, but which one is the best? We look at everything from a place’s glory and money to its size and variety of items to find the best shopping destination. Explore to see which of these grand and unique stores should be crowned the best.

A Brief History and Overview

In 1908, Harry Gordon Selfridge, an American visionary, opened Selfridges in London at 400 Oxford Street on March 15. Daniel Burnham designed the building which is an impressive architectural work. Currently, Selfridges is recognized for its creative retail style which mixes luxury fashion, high-quality home items and innovative shopping. It is the UK’s second-biggest department store after Harrods and keeps leading the way in modern retail.

Charles Henry Harrod founded this Knightsbridge store in 1849 and it has since become known for its unmatched luxury. The world’s most famous department store provides a wide range of special products and memorable shopping. Because of its unrivaled elegance, unique fashion and luxurious setting, Harrods has long been the top department store, drawing the world’s elite for many years.

Revenue and Size

Harrods is able to earn more money than Selfridges each year, thanks to its huge flagship store and its famous luxury image. Although the numbers may vary, Harrods’ worldwide reputation and great selection of luxury items keep it in the lead.

Selfridges (540,000 sq ft)

• A range of both luxury and high-street brands is offered
• Departments that lead the way: from bold fashion to popular new beauty products
• Choosing home decor that brings together design and usefulness
• Pioneers are experimenting with new ways of retail

Harrods (1 million sq ft – UK’s largest)

• A huge luxury playground that includes more than 330 departments
• The best parts of the mall are the haute couture, gourmet food halls and tech boutique
• Legendary Pet Kingdom and the service of luxury gift wrapping
• The brand’s broad range of products helps it maintain its position as a top luxury brand globally

Product Range and Selection

The stores may have many similar products, but their philosophies attract different kinds of customers:

Selfridges – The Curated Edit

• Fashion Fusion: Skillfully blends expensive high fashion (Saint Laurent, Chanel) with popular modern ones (SKIMS, Adidas)
• Beauty Authority: A favorite department that sells Charlotte Tilbury, Tom Ford and exclusive makeup products
• Designer Living: You’ll find Dyson, Smeg and Le Creuset among the essentials in any designer home
• Vibe: A mixture of high fashion and streetwear that’s easy to wear

Harrods – The Ultimate Luxury Showcase

• Haute Couture Focus: You’ll find the most prestigious brands (Dior, Chanel) and exclusive private atelier collections here
• Epicurean Excellence: Food Hall is known for its excellent selection of rare and handmade dishes
• Opulent Living: The Home section displays Miele’s top appliances and Fornasetti’s fine designs
• Exclusive Beauty: Houses fragrances and cosmetics that you won’t find anywhere else
• Vibe: Going all out with luxury – the best of high-end shopping

Customer Experience and Atmosphere

Their customer service is excellent, but their store experiences are very different:

Selfridges – The Energetic Innovator

• Stays lively and modern with displays and installations that are updated regularly
• Organizes one-of-a-kind brand releases and cultural events that turn shopping into a fun experience
• The team offers helpful and engaging service to make it easier to explore new trends.
• Created for people who love retail as an exciting experience

Harrods – The Palace of Refined Luxury

• Gives a timeless look with marble floors, gilded details and plenty of luxurious features
• Provides personalized shopping services for those looking for luxury from head to home
• The way the hotel is decorated and the way staff are trained shows the same respect as if you were a royal.
• Offers the highest level of exclusive and premium service to its clients

Which is Larger: Selfridges or Harrods?

Harrods is larger in every way, with its 1 million square feet of space almost twice as large as Selfridges’ 540,000 square feet. Thanks to its large size, Harrods can provide an unmatched range of luxury products and remains the UK’s largest department store.

Selfridges demonstrates that size isn’t always necessary. Even though it’s smaller, its modern design and trend-driven choices have turned it into a popular national attraction for people looking for the latest fashion.

Each of these stores has its own style of luxury retail that draws customers with unique likes. Selfridges stands out by offering creative store designs and making luxury accessible, by mixing top designers with current street fashion.

Harrods is known for being opulent, with a carefully chosen range of the world’s top brands found in its impressive palace-like building. Harrods is known for its grand size and old-fashioned luxury, while Selfridges stands out with its unusual style and new retail ideas.

Both stores offer the best retail experience, using different ideas: one by reinventing shopping, the other by perfecting traditional luxury.