Selfridges, Oxford Street

A store with a story

American retailer Harry Gordon Selfridge opened the store on 15 March 1909. Daniel Burnham designed it, with Francis Swales leading the colonnaded front and Sven Bylander engineering the steel frame. From the start it offered more than shopping, with reading and writing rooms and restaurants intended to keep customers lingering. During the Second World War the US Army used the building, including a secure communications terminal.

What to see

The 27 windows along Oxford Street are part of the visit, especially when the seasonal displays change. Inside, the food hall is a draw in its own right, and the store's restaurants and bars make it easy to stop for lunch. The Oxford Street frontage, with its giant columns, is best seen from across the road. In its early years the roof terrace held gardens, cafés and even a mini golf course.

Planning your visit

Weekday mornings are calmer than weekends. Marble Arch and the northern edge of Hyde Park are a few minutes' walk west, and Mayfair's restaurants are just south. Bond Street and Marble Arch Tube stations are both close. The store was named the world's best department store in 2010 and 2012, a reminder of its standing among London's big shops.

Highlights

• Opened by Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909
• Listed Oxford Street building
• Famous window displays
• Food hall
• UK's second-largest department store

Good to know

• Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends.
• Marble Arch and Hyde Park are a short walk away.

Frequently asked questions