A Shopper’s Guide to Knightsbridge

 

Sloane Ranger fashionistas and AllSaints hipsters come together in this glitzy London district. Here’s a complete guide to shopping in Knightsbridge.

 
Shopper’s Guide to Knightsbridge
 
 
Those who don’t live in Knightsbridge flock there for three reasons: a five-star hotel, a spot of fine dining, and some serious retail therapy. Home to Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Sloane Street and more, this glamorous London district is the best location in the city to revitalise your wardrobe, pick up some thoughtful gifts, or give your home interiors a refresh. Here’s a complete guide to getting the most out of your shopping trip in Knightsbridge.
 
 

Visit Harrods for a full-day shopping experience

With its picturesque terracotta facade and deep green awnings, this historic department store truly is the heart of Knightsbridge. The pinnacle of high-end London retail, Harrods is home to the most expensive global designer brands in the world, including Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Tom Ford, and more. If you’re thinking you’ve already seen all that before, think again. Harrods has an exclusive selection of items you’ll only find at Harrods, from Tom Ford overcoats to Harrods-green Tudor watches.
 
It’s not all about luxury clothing, though. If you’re looking for some thoughtful gifts, unique items for yourself, or some new goodies for your home, you’re spoiled for choice. Linger on the lower ground floor for books, wines and flowers (what more could you want?), or venture up to the third floor for some tasteful home interior shopping in iconic shops like Smeg, The White Company and Le Creuset.
 
Spread over six floors of style, a full shopping trip in Harrods can be exhausting, but don’t worry – there’s plenty to eat and drink in between. Refresh in the vibrant food hall, enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the Harrods Tea Rooms, or if you’re feeling particularly indulgent, sip on some refreshing bubbles in the Moët & Chandon champagne bar.
 
Omnia, Omnibus, Ubique (all things, for all people, everywhere) is the motto of this world-famous Knightsbridge luxury department store, and it’s easy to see why.
 
 
 
 

For a more fashion-focused, modern experience, try Harvey Nichols

Replete with champagne bars, tea rooms and exclusive designer items, Harrods is the heavyweight of European department stores, but if you’re looking for something that’s more focused on fashion than tradition, Harvey Nichols is just around the corner. This flagship Knightsbridge department store was founded in 1831 and has since expanded to international cities like Dubai and Hong Kong, so it will be familiar to those visiting London from far climes.
 
Navigating the maze-like Harvey Nichols can be a little confusing, but there’s plenty to discover on all seven floors. Here, you’ll find a string of luxury brands with creative window displays, in addition to specialist stores like The Wine Shop, which stocks a lovely selection of unusual wines.
 
Beauty aficionados will be well in their element on the fourth floor of Harvey Nichols, which is stocked to the rafters with high-end niche brands like Atelier Des Ors, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Ormonde Jayne.
 
Food options at this Knightsbridge luxury department store range from fine-dining eateries to more casual establishments like the bright and airy Fifth Floor Café and Terrace.
 
 
 
 

Scoop up some rare jewels or art at Bonhams

Across from Harrods you’ll find Bonhams – one of the UK’s oldest auction houses. Bonham’s now has a global presence, but the Knightsbridge location is a wonderful spot to discover some truly unique and valuable items, from crocodile skin Birkin bags to antique teapots and rare artworks – ideal for putting on display should you happen to have just bought a townhouse in the area, for example.

The Knightsbridge auctions are treasure troves for rare and fine jewellery, whether you’re looking for some dainty vintage diamond earrings, or an extravagant 19th-century porcelain brooch to really make that sartorial statement.

Roughly 80 auctions take place at Bonhams every year, so you’ll want to time your trip accordingly to maximise your shopping experience.

 
 

Meander down Sloane Street for some boutique shopping

In the nineteenth century, Sloane Street – replete with sophisticated penthouses – was a residential area for London's elite. Today, this Knightsbridge street is the epitome of style and luxury, so much so that the term "Sloane Ranger" has emerged to describe an upper-class English fashion stereotype, famously embodied by Princess Diana.

 
On this glamorous fashion avenue you’ll find familiar designer boutiques like Balenciaga and Prada, alongside a curated selection of smaller local designers like Emilia Wickstead and Gina’s.
 
No shopping trip is complete without a hearty lunch to punctuate the afternoon, and as you’d expect in Knightsbridge, the dining options on Sloane Street are as glamorous as the retail options. For a decadent slice of Italy, Harry’s Dolce Vita is a Knightsbridge must, or if you want some refreshment on the go, treat yourself to an organic cold-pressed juice from the Raw Press café.
 
It wouldn’t be a full Sloane Ranger experience if you didn’t pop your head into the subterranean candle-lit Sloane Bar after your shopping trip to enjoy some DJ-led electronica and fine wine until the early hours.
 
 
 
 

Visit Brompton Street for some affordable high street favourites

With a strong rental market to complement its abundance of exclusive properties for sale, Knightsbridge is London’s most affluent neighbourhood – but there are some shops in the district that won’t break the bank. Brompton Street is the central vein of Knightsbridge (and home to Harrods), and it’s where you’ll find familiar high street brands like Zara, AllSaints and Guess Accessories, if you want to pick up those casual outfit essentials.
 
It isn’t all high street brands though: Patek Philippe, one of the world’s most expensive watch brands, has a boutique on Brompton Road, which neighbours the luxurious Watches of Switzerland.
 
If you’re more of a window shopper or the ‘I’ll just buy it online’ type, Brompton Road is still a lovely spot to wander down with a hot drink in your hand to soak up the hustle and bustle of Knightsbridge culture.
 
 

Final Take

There is very little you can’t buy online these days, but a shopping trip in Knightsbridge is about much more than what you purchase. It’s about the experience: the historic buildings, the sturdy property market, the charming lunches, and the sense of exclusive living – Sloane Ranger style. Whether you want to pick up some simple AllSaints t-shirts on Brompton Road, or spend a rainy day shopping your way through Harrods, you definitely won’t be able to leave Knightsbridge empty-handed. 
 
 
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