Liberty opened in 1875, selling ornaments, fabric, and objets d'art from Japan and the East and is now a beautiful store expanding over many levels. Liberty is what Harrods wishes it were--unquestionably classy and unique. Each department is beautifully set out over wooden floors, but it's the book section which really holds my interest.

"Liberty celebrates originality and embraces a spirit of creativity," so it's safe to say that the quality of the books reflects this. Liberty sells a wide range of eclectic and high-market art books (when I was last there, I saw a glossy art book on shoes and Tibeten monks). You enter the book room from the large open-level main gallery, following the dark wooden steps.

If your budget can't stretch to the higher-end books, off to the sides of the book section are some very cute little journals and address books I've seen in the pages of glossy magazines. They make great gifts.

This is unquestionably the nicest place to browse for books in London.

Liberty is wonderful. I first came here with my grandmother, who was a dress-maker - they have a terrific haberdashery department on the second floor, full of their own design, delicate cotton floral prints, wonderful silks, and everything you could need for sewing. Liberty specialises in their own prints - you can buy the material on the second floor or buy glasses cases, address books, tissue holders, bags, cushions etc on the ground floor in Liberty print. The shop also sells some ready-made clothes in their own fabrics, but they tend to be for the mature lady buyer rather than to my taste.

On the ground floor is an exclusive cosmetics section, including Floris, a small but wonderful English floral brand of perfumes and soaps, that my mother always wears and buys from this shop. They also sell most of the main international brands, such as Chanel, but perfume is not a bargain in the UK. There is also a great leather section, selling bags, wallets, address and visitors books, and photo albums. They have a certain luxury smell and feel to them, and are incredibly well made – if you want to buy a special present, this is the place, but it won’t come cheap. I bought my sister a sketchbook from here for her last (18th) birthday gift

In the basement is an Oriental section, with lots of lovely wooden furniture, and beautifully made wood. Each section of the shop has a certain smell to it, and the smell of properly looked after wood in the basement is wonderful. There is also a cafe downstairs.

Apart from the gorgeous stuff in the shop, the building itself is wonderful. Even the lift is panelled in oak, and wooden floors are polished to a high shine. This place is well worth a look, even if you don't want to buy anything.