Liberty is the most beautiful department store in London — a Tudor Revival building constructed in 1924 using timber from two Royal Navy ships, its dark wood interior divided into labyrinthine floors of fabric, fashion, beauty, and homewares. The building is as much the attraction as the merchandise.
Liberty is particularly strong on fabric (the Liberty print florals are internationally famous), menswear, and accessories. The Christmas shop, which opens in August and runs through December, is genuinely spectacular. Unlike most London department stores, Liberty feels like a place that someone built with care and that the world has not yet quite managed to make generic.