Classy, timeless and unique: Fortnum & Mason is definitely one of the most worthy to visit department stores located in London.

I’m afraid to say so but I guess it IS in fact the most beautiful, classic department store I’ve ever been to (and believe me: There are dozens I entered and left in my little life).

I’m rarely talking about any “places to go” (besides from the restaurants) I visit (frequently or now and then) but I thought of giving this new category at least a try.

When strolling around Princes Arcade a few weeks ago during my parents’ stay, I obviously couldn’t resist of expressing that little hint to “go for a little spree” to the highly visible and beautifully decorated building of Fortnum.

As my parents were frequent customers at the time we lived in London together (especially for our jam/jelly/call however you want to and tea), they were more than happy to take me there and do me a little good with some treats & sweets.

(Once you experience the infinite advantages as the single child in your first years, you barely stop using them whenever the chances turn up ;))

And yes, I sound like a little girl in the candy store but guess what – I was one at that moment.

Quite frankly, I have to tell that I haven’t been to Fortnum & Mason as often as I would have loved to do so this term.

It’s not really on my trail on weekdays (besides from the weekend) but after visiting it for the first time since my return to the city, I understood how much I missed out on the REAL beautiful parts of London shopping.

I don’t want to mess around with other department stores I’m heavily loving (and heavily visiting on a more frequent basis) but Fortnum & Mason has something, which obviously distinguishes it from others.

It’s not only about the never ending types of teas they offer (half of the ground floor contains of different tea types!) or the classic, delicious range of cookies and other sweets – it’s the whole appearance and the atmosphere the store is setting the moment you enter.

Each customer, no matter if easily identified as a tourist or a frequent visitor, is treated in the most respectful way and always gets the feeling to be welcomed – something, which I miss in other stores a lot.

It starts with receiving proper help (if needed) from the first moment and ends by wrapping everything up in the much recognisable, minty shades of paper, which then will get another packaging by being put into a Fortnum & Mason bag.

(Even the jam jar (no matter how many you bought) is going to receive a paper,box,bag packaging process – so you want to make sure you’re not in a hurry when doing your groceries in there ;)).

The classic, old architecture crowned with beautiful plastering at the ceilings and a very well ordered way of stocking everything give a great overview.

However, I have to admit, it’s hard to stay focused. The decoration all year but particularly in the pre-christmas time whips Fortnum & Mason up in a magnificent interior.

My favourite grounds are definitely the groceries floors (lower & ground floor), which give you a broad but still very well selected offer of different things (something which is definitely missed out at another department store in London).

You can clearly tell that it’s not much in Fortnum & Mason’s interest to get things simply “out of the house” as it appears to be the case in others stores. You rather get the feeling of being offered a broad range yet nothing, which wants to be bought by tourists only.

(Come on, you can’t see the Big Ben shaped chocolate tablets or the Teddy bears dressed in the Union Jack any longer after a while)

Besides from the groceries floors, I’m truly in love with their offer in tea and tablewear. Well, it’s possibly not so surprising for others that an English department store sells an exquisite range of tea-and tablewear but seriously – Fortnum & Mason seems to have the most bizarre ones, too. Definitely worthy to take a closer look on them.

And what would a classic English department store be without an obviously striking (and challenging to others) window display? Right, it wouldn’t be able to exist!

That’s why Fortnum & Mason always pays a lot of effort into their display decoration. The main entrance with its big oak doors is currently decorated with little carousel like figures whereas the side entrance windows are decorated with the store’s finest selection of food and the aforementioned tablewear. They seem to pay a lot of attention to detailing… and so should you!

Overall, I can definitely recommend visiting this place – even if it’s just for the “having a look around’s” sake.

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Fortnum & Mason

181 Piccadilly

W1A 1ER London

The much decorated window displays at the side entrance

The little hall of the side entrance…

…leads directly to the candy area of the groceries ground floor ;)

Beautifully packaged biscuit selection

and some more biscuits…

The honey house!

Wanna have some cake?!

Half of the floor being full with different types of candles and soaps…

Nicely packaged soap

MY INITIALS made with shea butter soap ;)

The wall of another staircase

Christmas soap, anyone?!

Handmade soap by Fortnum & Mason

Front side’s window displays