Fortnum & Mason is an institution as much as it is a store for foodies worldwide and those that want exclusive items from a very British retailer. It has been in existence for over three centuries and has three stores within the UK. Its flagship store is located at 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER and is a real treasure offering some of the most delectable and exquisite items that your mind could ever conjure and this is exactly why I’m going to share an insight with you. The store is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 10 pm and on Sunday from 11.30 am to 6 pm.
The best "corner shop" in town
Fortnum & Mason is worth visiting even if you’re only going to enjoy the creative window display and the heritage building with its clock and moving figures from the outside. Their motto is to make every customer feel like it is an honour to have their acquaintance and this certainly starts with the doorman, who will greet you like you’re royalty. On the point of royalty, you should also be aware that the Queen is a fan of shopping at Fortnum & Mason and in fact purchases items for her staff at Christmas time from this very store. However and unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will bump into her during your trip; although you will bump into quite a few other people as this institution is one very popular establishment.
Fortnum & Mason consists of a number of floors and has an array of products that will make your eyes light up and tempt your taste buds. As you enter, you will immediately note the gorgeous red carpeted floors and the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. On each floor, there will be a number of personable sales staff wearing formal attire including men that are dressed in tailcoats, which shows how this establishment still embodies rich British tradition.
The ground floor consists of a confectionary and has a gorgeous selection of teas, coffees, jams, preserves and sweet and savoury biscuits. The lower ground floor focuses on the butcher with his meats, fish and cheeses whereas the floors above the ground floor focus on high quality products for men and women, including exclusive merchandise. Each floor is a decadent, bright, vibrant and inviting area and you will feel like you are entering another time and place: a place with real old fashion charm. The store has easily accessible lifts on each floor but also has a stunning spiral staircase in the centre of the building which is beautifully decorated in the festive seasons.
If it's good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for us
The ground floor, in my view, has to be the floor in which to indulge the most time in because of the sweet treats on display in the confectionary and chocolates section. There are an abundance of absolutely heavenly delicacies that are waiting to be purchased. You can have the option of purchasing specific items by selecting them from the glistening glass counter or from picking items that are already packaged within boxes of various sizes.
I would certainly have to recommend that you try the one-of-a-kind Fortnum & Mason eclairs, which are a magnificent delight to experience. The salted butter with homemade caramel éclair and the vanilla pecan éclair each cost 5.90 GBP (7.95 USD). If you’re not looking for a lighter option that may be easier to enjoy on the go or perhaps give as a small gift to someone, then you may opt for purchasing two or three truffles for a total of 2.50 GBP (3.35 USD), which will be placed in a cute little package with a bow for you to take-away.
If you want to splash out a little bit more on the price range, then a beautifully boxed circular package of coffee truffles for 13.50 GBP (18.20 USD) is recommended. If the coffee flavour does not tickle your fancy, then perhaps Fortnum & Mason’s chocolate covered stem ginger for 16.95 GBP (22.85 USD) may appeal more to you. In the alternative, if you want something that screams soft sweetness, then the 7 marzipan strawberries package for 5.00 GBP (6.75 USD) awaits you. As I am sure you can imagine, it is very hard to walk out of Fortnum & Mason empty handed.
A beautiful and bright tea museum
The staff in Fortnum & Mason are all experts and curators; they will be able to tell you about the honey made from the bees on the roof, the champagne that is made by the same house of Cristal and how each and every cake is baked in-house. However, their faces will light up no more than when they tell you about the exclusive and exquisite tea that is offered and served up at Fortnum & Mason.
You will never see such a tea selection in your life as that which you will see at this very British establishment. It is like a museum of tea, where the souvenir is in fact the product that you are admiring, which is a real gem. The impressive and very large tea offering is perfect for your own enjoyment and also for a gift for others.
Fortnum & Mason offers loose leaf and tea bag tea, so whichever your heart desires, it will be there. The types of tea that it sells are black, green, white, oolong, yellow and various infusions and combinations of these flavours. I would recommend that you try its Queen Anne Blend tea, which can be purchased either as loose leaf or tea bag. If you opt for the loose leaf option, the cost for is 5.75 GBP (7.75 USD) whereas the cost of 25 tea bags is 4.50 GBP (6 USD)
If you’re not sure which flavour tea to purchase, then you may wish to consider purchasing an assortment of teas. For example, an offering of three types of “Fortnum’s Famous Teas” in a loose leaf form is 13.95 GBP (18.80 USD). If your heart adores green tea, then as an alternative, you may wish to select the 60 types of green tea box worth 13.95 GBP (18.80 USD), which is also recommended. Fortnum & Mason also has some unusual types of teas such as its box of 15 tea bags of pistachio and clotted cream tea, which is also positively rated and costing only 6.96 GBP (9.35 USD).
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Will you heart the heart tea infuser as much as I did?
On the topic of tea, you won’t be surprised to hear that the magnificent Fortnum & Mason also and unsurprisingly sells tea accessories. For example, the St. James tea for two set is worth a rather steep, 330.00 GBP (445 USD) or the Fortnum’s silver plated three piece tea set is 265.00 GBP (357 USD). If that is not within your price range, then fear not as there are other items that can be purchased for a lot less such as the Fortnum’s silver plated heart tea infuser which is 35.00 GBP (47.15 USD).
If you would rather have a hamper filled with a variety of goods, then you will be pleased to know that Fortnum & Mason is known for its luxury hampers. It has hampers of different themes including food hampers, tea hampers, wine hampers, picnic hampers and festive hampers. The price ranges vary, but I think you can infer that as they’re luxury hampers, the cost will reflect their high quality. The most expensive of such hampers is the Imperial Hamper which is valued at 6,000.00 GBP (8,083.45 USD).
If purchasing tea accessories and top-to-bottom filled hampers isn’t for you, then you may instead wish to visit one of the places to enjoy some tea and delicacies within Fortnum & Mason. For example, you have the option to enjoy The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, The Gallery, The Wine Bar, The Parlour or the 3 and 6 Bar which are all located within the store. The store itself is a tourist mecca and a must-see if you’re in the area of Piccadilly, London, so if you’re feeling a bit peckish and want a bite to eat, then it may be worth visiting this place too.
London Tour Guide
Robert Woolf
I am a London tour guide and my tours include talking about people who have shaped the city plus the many connected places such as Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the commercial centre of the city: the City of London, and London’s world class museums and galleries. I have been guiding for 12 years. I am a licenced London Blue Badge Tour Guide, a City of London Guide, and a Westminster Guide. The reviews I receive from clients speak of their enjoyment from the local knowledge and the humour I bring to my tours. Born within sight of Hampton Court Palace, I am a Londoner and apart from 2 years in the Middle East, I have worked in this capital city all my business and tour guiding careers. I have travelled widely and I appreciate what appeals to visitors coming to London. I can tailor my tours to interest children. I guide couples, families and larger tour groups. I particularly enjoy visits to Westminster Abbey, where I also volunteer guiding students and children through its wonderful interior – on my tours you will hear about monarchs, why scientists and poets are remembered, the architecture and religious history. The Abbey is the story of England. Come on an engaging and fun tour with me. There is so much to show you !
Tours by Robert
.JPG)
A British icon that is not to be missed
Whilst the upmarket Fortnum & Mason does stock some very expensive items, it is equally possible to buy small inexpensive gifts such as small boxes of chocolates and biscuits.
If your budget is under 50.00 GBP (67.35 USD) and you would like to buy someone a special gift, I would recommend that you hand pick a variety of items that you want and request for them to be added in one of the special Fortnum & Mason turquoise boxes. The cost of the boxes vary contingent on size but a medium sized one is worth 5.00 GBP (6.65 USD) and could be easily filled up with some delicious Fortnum & Mason goodies and is far more affordable than one of the luxury hampers.
I would also suggest that you visit late in the afternoon or in the early evening as the store is open quite late and you won’t find that it’s as populated as during the daytime, meaning that you will be able to peruse the products with more leisure. The store is a delightful shopping and wandering experience and I certainly rate it as an excellent British icon that is not to be missed.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10 Best Hip Hop Bars And Clubs In LondonHemasudha -
Create an account to