I wonder if once Selfridges used to be really good...

I wonder if once Selfridges used to be really good.

When people think of the big department stores in London, you think 'Selfridges' and 'Harrods'.

In truth Selfridges feels like it's sold out and lost its soul somewhere compared to Harrods.

Don't get me wrong, if you can afford the designer labels here you may well be in heaven, and if you threw a stone you'd probably hit a customer service assistant, there's one everywhere. Unfortunately they're generally more interested in talking to one another, looking bored and generally feeling as if they're getting paid minimum wage whilst wealthy people mill around and buy items they could never dream of.

It's possibly true, maybe at least partly, and that's where Selfridges let's itself down, the service isn't necessary bad, it's just inconsistent and I've never felt as if anyone wants to help but rather are forced to do so.

The music in the store is horrendous, I don't know who came up with it, but wow, it's part night club and part designer stuff.

I'd say hit the food court and the basement for the great things they have. The clothes...Oxford Street itself has a better variety, but if you have more money than sense you may as well stay.

I like iconic stores like this, especially with the imposing exterior and great window displays to have personality, unfortunately this one has lost it, buried beneath loud awful music, insanely high prices, disinterested customer service folk and a selection which could do better.

I recommend to visit for the window displays and the exterior building design, the wide range of highly priced items and it's iconic presence.

Go to Harrods though, that's where the real charm lives on in London.

For ships on Oxford street, House of Fraser, Debenhams, John Lewis do a better job at a variety of price ranges.