We’re not exactly saying Harrods is gaudy, but it does succeed in single-handedly bringing some Vegas-style casino chic to otherwise conservative Knightsbridge. This gargantuan retail theme park—the largest department store in the world with over one million square feet of selling space—has come a long way since its birth in 1834. We can only imagine what Charles Henry Harrod envisaged of the store’s future when he opened a modest wholesale grocery in East London, but we’d wager that the now infamous Eqyptian staircase and live operatic accompaniment to one’s shopping trip may not have been all too high up on his ‘to do’ list.

Harrods’ motto is ‘Omnia Omnibus Ubique’ (All Things for All People), and within the 4.5-acre site you’ll most likely find something to take your fancy. Whether you can afford to leave the store with what you desire is another story.

Gone are the days of philanthropic gestures—in 1898 when Harrods installed the world’s first moving staircase (escalator), overwhelmed customers were offered brandy at the top to revive them after their ‘ordeal’. These days most visitors go to Harrods just to relish the spectacle. There are, however, some fabulous bargains to be found in the twice-annual insanity that is the Harrods’ sale. Be there early to witness this year’s celeb of choice opening the event after arriving from the big paraded through Knightsbridge in a Harrod’s-branded horse-drawn carriage—a remarkably nauseating but hugely entertaining event—and then strap on your elbow pads and hard-hat to bulldoze your way to the best reductions. Even if you’re put off by all the rampant consumption, there’s something to be said for an experience of such grandeur—miss it and you’ll miss out on a unique retail adventure.