Harrods department store

Harrods department store in London's Knightsbridge

> Harrods seems almost to have its own station. One of the exits from the underground at Knightsbridge is just a few metres from the store entrance (1).


> At night the Edwardian terracotta facade of Harrods is lit up with 12,000 lights. The Harrods motto 'Omnia Omnibus Ubique' (all things for all people) can be seen high up on the pediment (2).


> The baroque dome (3) at the highest point conceals the water tank for the store. Harrods has its own water supply from 3 wells, one of which is nearly 500ft deep.


> From a small fruit and vegetable shop employing two staff, Harrods has evolved into this four and a half acre, seven-storey giant with more than 5,000 employees and 200 departments.

>  For a while the store occupied just the ground and first floor, while above were four floors of luxurious apartments. The entrance to the apartments can still be seen in Hans Road (4).


> Harrods installed the first escalators in the country and had staff on duty to assist shoppers who might be overcome by the experience.


> To maintain decorum, the signs on the doors (5) give advice on how Harrods expects its customers to look and behave.


> The Harrods website can be seen here

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