Harrods is named after its founder, Charles Henry Harrod, an East End grocer and tea merchant who established the business in 1834 and later moved it to its current Knightsbridge location in 1849. The name became synonymous with the store's rapid expansion and reputation for high-quality goods, which continued under his son, Charles Digby Harrod.
/ˈhærədz/ /ˈhærədz/ a large, expensive department store in the Knightsbridge area of central London. It claims to be able to supply any article and provide any service.
Harrods was sold for £1.5 billion. Al-Fayed later said that he decided to sell Harrods following the difficulty in getting his dividend approved by the trustee of the Harrods pension fund.
In 2010 the Gulf state of Qatar bought luxury department store Harrods for £1.5bn, via its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority. It should have been the jewel in the Qatari crown. However, Harrods now faces serious sexual abuse allegations over the actions of its former boss, Mohamed Al Fayed.
The business was in turn purchased by the Fayed brothers in 1985 for £615 million. In 1994, Harrods was moved out of the House of Fraser Group to remain a private company prior to the group's relisting on the London Stock Exchange.
Harrods in London is the most luxurious shop in the UK. This iconic department store is renowned for its world-class customer service and luxury goods. More than 100,000 visitors flock to Harrods every day to experience this famous British institution.
Harrods doesn't have a single "most expensive item" as it changes, but historically, multi-million dollar yachts, rare vintage wines (like the £987k Dalmore Collection), diamond-studded items, and bespoke luxury goods have held the title, with recent examples including multi-million pound cars and super-exclusive perfumes, showing the record is constantly broken by ultra-high-end, one-off luxury sales.
In 2009, the State of Qatar consolidated its ownership of London Bridge Quarter (known now as Shard Quarter), including The Shard, through the purchase of the private Qatari investors' stakes. Shard Quarter is today jointly owned by the State of Qatar and Sellar Property Group.
Photos of Diana and Dodi incorporated into the work exhibited at Harrods. Diana, Princess of Wales out shopping at Harrods in London, during her first pregnancy, 1982. The Egyptian staircase of Harrods on July 17, 2012;it was built in honor of Lady Diana and Doddy Al Fayed, in London, United Kingdom.
Yes, Mohamed Al-Fayed attended Princess Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey in September 1997 alongside his wife, Heini, arriving to cheers from the crowds as he mourned the tragic loss of his son, Dodi Fayed, who died in the same crash as the Princess. He was a prominent figure among the mourners, though his relationship with the Royal Family soured as he later alleged a conspiracy behind the crash.
How rich was Dodi Fayed? As the eldest son of Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi was born into a billionaire family (his father died in August 2023 with an estimated net worth of $2 billion).
An IRA detonated a car bomb outside Harrods on December 17th, 1983. It killed six people and wounded 91. This Today in London History podcast tells the horrific tale.
Harrods, with its distinctive green awnings and ornate gold facade, is an emporium that occupies an entire block of wealthy west London. The store's eight floors are home to more than 330 departments, many of which sell goods that come with a hefty price tag.
Ascend the escalator into a secluded scented nirvana on the Sixth Floor, complete with a striking crystal chandelier at its heart. Walk the exquisite fragrance gallery, following metre upon metre of polished marble, to experience some of the world's finest and rarest creations.
harrods.com vs Competitors, December 2025. The closest competitor to harrods.com are selfridges.com, flannels.com and harveynichols.com. To understand more about harrods.com and its competitors, sign up for a free account to explore Semrush's Traffic Analytics and Market Explorer tools.
What was Princess Diana's favorite department store?
The late Princess of Wales was reportedly a big fan of JCPenney. The American department store offers clothes and shoes, beauty products, jewelry, and home décor. Royal author Edward White shared this interesting tidbit in Dianaworld: An Obsession, as reported by Marie Claire.
For luxury shopping, Mayfair and Knightsbridge are the top districts in London. Mayfair is home to Bond Street, known for its exclusive boutiques and high-end brands. Knightsbridge features the iconic Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores, offering a range of luxury goods and designer labels.
A solemn-faced Mohamed Al Fayed arrived at the Abbey with his wife and was cheered in by the waiting crowds. Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi, the Princess's close friend, died in the fatal car crash with her.
They officially inherited it in 2014, upon the latter's 30th birthday. They've since loaned out the wedding dress for exhibition: in 2021, it was put on display as part of Kensington Palace's show titled “Royal Style in the Making,” which concluded in 2022.
