You can smell the luxury when you walk into this iconic London department store.

Well, maybe not quite, but you’ll definitely catch a whiff of some fairly strong perfume as you stroll through the cosmetics department.

Situated across the road from that other retail therapy haven Harrods, Harvey Nicks is packed any time of the day with rich European and Arab shoppers shopping up a storm. What credit crunch?

The flagship London store has been trading in Knightsbridge since the 1880s and is spread out over eight floors of top-notch goodies.

Browse your way around top designer labels including Vivienne Westwood and Dolce & Gabbana, before taking tea at the restaurant on the fifth floor. ERIN MILLER

» Knightsbride, SW1X 7RJ, Knightsbridge (harveynichols.com).

Verdict: definitely not credit crunch friendly