In an era when shopping has evolved beyond purchasing goods to become an expression of lifestyle, creativity, and inspiration, Selfridges, the iconic British department store, stands as a destination that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. With a 116-year heritage, Selfridges masterfully combines luxury, creativity, and contemporary spirit, transforming itself into an enduring symbol of London. It is also the only department store in the world to be named Best Department Store in the World 4 times by the Global Department Store Summit.

Recently, Central Group a world-leading multi-format and multi-category retail and service conglomerate with a presence spanning Thailand, Southeast Asia, and Europe, in collaboration with Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Türkiye, hosted a special media trip to the United Kingdom. The visit invited Thai journalists to explore the artistic, cultural, and fashion universe of Selfridges — one of the most influential department stores in the world — and to experience first-hand the brand’s distinctive blend of creativity and purpose.

More Than a Store: A Theatre of Experience

Selfridges was founded in 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge, an entrepreneur who redefined retail by turning the department store into a “theatre of experience” and placing this concept at the heart of the brand. This forward-looking idea transformed shopping into a stage for imagination and inspiration, fusing art, fashion and culture. That spirit continues today through constant creativity and an ambition to elevate culture through customer experiences that exceed expectations.

Today, Selfridges has four stores in three key cities, spanning over 96,000 square metres of retail space: London Oxford Street, Manchester Exchange Square, Manchester Trafford and Birmingham. It also offers online and app channels that ship to over 130 countries. Each store expresses the character of its city and the brand in different ways, yet all share the same essence: a space where everyone is welcome and a constant spark of new ideas for every visitor.

Selfridges Oxford Street, London: a symbol of elevated experiences in a global city

This is where the Selfridges story began. Open since 1909 and covering 54,951 square metres, it is the brand’s beating heart and a symbol of London’s luxury. Every area of the building brims with vitality and imagination. Visitors can enjoy highlights such as The Cinema at Selfridges, a luxury theatre blending entertainment with refined style; The Bowl, an indoor skate bowl open for skate sessions or bookable lessons; and the Jellycat Fish & Chips Experience, which creates an irresistibly charming British atmosphere that combines creativity with playfulness.

Dining and café options are abundant: the Brasserie of Light with its spectacular Damien Hirst art installation, Dolly’s Café with Art Deco flair, and Alto by San Carlo, a rooftop Italian restaurant that opens to beautiful views over London.

Another unmissable highlight is The Corner Shop, a conceptual space that changes theme every month, presenting ideas and special collections from leading global names such as LOEWE, Fenty, Celine, Prada, Telfar and Martine Rose, along with imaginative collaborations and continuous global product launches—ensuring there is always something new to discover. At the same time, The Wonder Room welcomes visitors to a comprehensive selection of luxury jewellery and watches from around the world, in an elegant, private atmosphere that suits the search for special collector pieces or meaningful gifts.

In May 2024, the iconic Selfridges London Beauty Hall revealed its new look after a year-long renovation, becoming a global beauty destination featuring products from 300 leading brands and a team of over 1,000 experts, plus The Beauty Spot, a creative space that sparks the future of beauty innovation.

The excitement continues: in August 2025, the Jewellery Destination reopened in a new guise, bringing together contemporary collections from renowned global brands and emerging designers such as Lie Studio, Misho, Le Sundial and Phoria alongside piercing and welding services by Astrid & Miyu and monogramming services by Monica Vinader.

Through RESELFRIDGES, Selfridges brings circular shopping to the forefront, with rental, repair, pre-loved and refill services available in-store and on Selfridges.com. Services include repairs by SOJO, Sneakers ER and The Handbag Clinic, and vintage fashion curation from Vintage Threads and We Are Cow, allowing shoppers to enjoy meaningful style without buying new.

Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square: luxurious, lively and full of inspiration

From the allure of London to the heart of Manchester, a hub of culture and innovation in the North, Selfridges Exchange Square has been welcoming customers since 2002 across 10,641 square metres. It has become a luxury shopping destination where fashion, art and lifestyle blend seamlessly - reflecting a city renowned for creativity and individuality.

Each visit offers exclusive experiences, from masterclasses with experts from brands like Tom Ford, to signature cocktails at San Carlo Bottega, discovering your dream scent with Olfactory fragrance specialists, or refreshing your look with full personal shopping services.

For fashion lovers, this is a paradise featuring global Fashion brands, plus a special shop-in-shop for Adanola, a British brand founded in Manchester. During the year-end festive season, the Christmas Shop on Level 3 becomes especially enchanting.

Food and drink are equally satisfying, from premium Italian dining at San Carlo Bottega to stylish matcha at The Matcha Kyoto—perfect for taking a break and recharging after shopping.

Beauty fans will love the Beauty Concierge services from world-class brands including SUQQU, Hourglass, Pat McGrath Labs and Victoria Beckham Beauty, while those seeking more privacy can book the Personal Shopping Lounge, available at both Manchester stores—with two private suites at Exchange Square and one large suite at Trafford—for a truly luxurious and warm shopping experience.

Selfridges Manchester Trafford: a luxury store with a family-lifestyle feel

Just minutes from central Manchester is another shopping gem—Selfridges Manchester Trafford, located within The Trafford Centre. Open since 1998 and spanning 14,152 square metres, this store stands out for its blend of luxury with a welcoming family atmosphere.

There is something delicious at every corner - from YO! Japanese street food and Mooboo’s variety of bubble teas to San Carlo’s elegant champagne bar for those who enjoy refined relaxation. For families, don’t miss the Jellycat General Store, an adorable space featuring one of the largest Jellycat collections in the UK.

In beauty, the Selfridges Beauty Hall brings together leading names such as Armani Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, GHD, Refy and YSL. Special services include “The Makeover”, a makeup session led by the expert Beauty Concierge team, and “The Glow Up”, a full look upgrade—from makeup and skin to hair—by professional teams from Face Gym and Andrew Collinge.

Selfridges Birmingham: an architectural landmark and a source of inspiration

Opened in September 2003 within the Bullring in the city centre, Selfridges Birmingham covers 17,169 square metres and is distinguished by its iconic contemporary architecture. It is one of the Midlands’ most important landmarks and a true playground of inspiration for lovers of art, fashion and culture.

Step into a world where luxury merges with modernity - from global Fashion boutiques to expansive Food, Kids and Beauty areas that serve every urban lifestyle. When it’s time to relax, a variety of restaurants and cafés await, including authentic Italian at San Carlo Fumo, freshly baked pastries and coffee at Medicine Bakery, and street-style sushi at YO!

But it’s not only about shopping and dining. Selfridges Birmingham offers special experiences for everyone—from fun Build-A-Bear Workshop parties for children, to Cocktail Masterclasses with the professional team at San Carlo Fumo, to creating your own bespoke scent through the Olfactory Fragrance Experience, as well as Personal Shopping with expert stylists who provide friendly, tailored advice.

For beauty lovers, this is a haven with over 160 beauty brands, including 30 exclusive to Selfridges Birmingham. Long-term partners include much-loved innovators Charlotte Tilbury, Pat McGrath, REFY and Victoria Beckham Beauty.

The store is currently undergoing a major Beauty expansion set for completion on 24 November 2025. At 30,000 sq ft, it will become the UK’s largest beauty hall outside London. As part of the project, the store has opened the Beauty Workshop, showcasing skincare, makeup and hair products from 55 niche and founder-led brands such as Gisou, ColourWow, Tatcha and K18. In the Beauty Hall, a flagship fragrance space opened on 11 November, bringing together iconic houses including Loewe, Le Labo and Maison Francis Kurkdjian.

‘A Most Magical Christmas’ with Selfridges & Disney

For Christmas 2025, Selfridges and Disney have unveiled a festive collaboration like no other. Visitors from around the world can step into a wondrous world of magical experiences, bespoke animation, interactive windows and exclusive product collections across stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as Selfridges.com.

The exterior of the Oxford Street store has been transformed with a bespoke façade and light show featuring an iconic Disney Castle, inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris, along with Christmas windows set to beloved Disney Classic stories, bringing characters to life within hand-painted sets, many set to music.

In-store, Disney has inspired this year’s all-singing, all-dancing Confetti Spectacle, which returns to London, Birmingham and Manchester Exchange Square stores (6–8 November and 5, 6, 8–13 December). Santa is joined by a troupe of dancing Mickey Mouse-inspired baubles alongside special guest, Stardust, a Christmas fashion fairy.

Customers can shop exclusive festive product collaborations from the likes of Christian Louboutin, Coach, Jo Malone and Bobbi Brown, with more than 70 brands collaborating with Disney across fashion, food, beauty, lifestyle and toys.

RESELFRIDGES: from luxury store to a leader in sustainability

Selfridges is committed to imagining and creating a more sustainable future for its customers. Built on a legacy of retail activism, including banning fur in 2005 and removing all plastic-based cosmetic glitter from its stores in 2021, RESELFRIDGES brings together Selfridges’ ecosystem of circular products, services and activities, with permanent Reselfridges destinations across all four stores and Selfridges.com. Spanning across resell, rental, refill, repair and pre-loved, these dedicated spaces are embedded right alongside luxury brands with the ambition to make circular shopping feel as elevated and luxurious as buying new.

Selfridges Unlocked – unlocking the extraordinary Selfridges Universe for everyone

Selfridges Unlocked is the store’s membership programme, first launched in 2023, giving customers access to the very best of Selfridges via the “Selfridges Key,” a digital key that unlocks exclusive perks across different levels. Free to join and open to all, it is the world’s first membership scheme to reward customers both for money spent and time spent in-store. Keys can be collected by shopping, but also by checking in at in-store destinations such as restaurants or the skate bowl, and by taking part in the store’s special events and experiences.

A leading European luxury department store within Selfridges Group

Selfridges is one of Europe’s leading luxury department stores within Selfridges Group, under the management of Central Group, Thailand’s retail and services leader. Selfridges Group operates 18 stores in three countries: Selfridges in the United Kingdom, de Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, and Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, supported by e-commerce and omnichannel services that blend offline and online to deliver elevated experiences for customers worldwide.

Selfridges reflects Central Group’s vision of sustainably elevating the global retail experience. It is not just a department store but a place where art, fashion, culture and innovation meet in vibrant harmony. Every element, from architecture to the shopping journey, intertwines long history with creativity and meticulous care, inviting people to spend time gathering beautiful experiences and to leave with a fresh feeling and new inspiration on every visit.