Going on holiday to the UK? Shopping in London is something you shouldn't refuse. Don't even doubt it. After all, shopping in London is one of the most wonderful entertainments. It has many advantages.
Shopping in London: planning ahead
So, more details. Shopping in London, of course, must be planned in advance. And it’s worth starting with the tickets themselves. In principle, you can meet only seven thousand rubles. Once again, we clarify: only if you begin to decide on such nuances as early as possible. A visa is issued, as a rule, for six months (or even for a longer period). Thus, on one visa you can go to England several times. If the purpose of your trip is specifically shopping, consider settling near the center of the capital and Oxford Street, the main shopping street in London.
Big department stores are very popular here. You can buy almost anything in them. Some of these malls sell exclusively luxury goods. In others, more affordable goods. Many of these stores have their own websites on the Internet, where all products and prices are listed. Accordingly, withEvery tourist can easily get acquainted with the assortment, having outlined for himself what he wants to buy, and how much it will cost him. Sometimes this allows you to avoid even spontaneous rash spending.
Large department stores
Shopping in London is also very interesting. The main thing is to know where to go. One of the most famous London department stores is Harrods. Here you can buy food, cosmetics, shoes, clothes, souvenirs and household goods. For the most part, these are luxury goods. However, during the department store sales, you can make a lot of great purchases at absolutely affordable prices.
Many tourists mention the House of Fraser chain of stores in their reviews. Here you can also buy shoes, clothes, furniture and various household goods. True, the price range is much wider than in Harrods. Both luxury brands and inexpensive goods are presented in stores. Among them: Radley, Hobbs, Ted Baker, Lulu Guinness, Aspinal of London, etc. By the way, many of the items presented here can only be purchased in London. That is, you get a great chance to buy exactly what you can’t get in Russia.
No less popular department store chains with low prices are John Lewis and Selfridges. If you want to shop for famous designers, visit Harvey Nichols.
How to get there?
Shopping in London receives extremely positive reviews. Especially if the stores are located in the most convenientareas of the city. Harrods is located at Knightsbridge tube station at 87-135 Brompton Road. This store is the most famous in all of London.
The House of Fraser is located at 318 Oxford Street, Oxford Circus tube station. The stores of this network are located at many other addresses.
The largest Selfridges store is located at 400 Oxford Street (Bond Street tube station). One of the busiest and most interesting malls.
The largest store "John Lewis" is located at 300 Oxford Street. It has almost the most affordable prices.
Regent Street is home to a premium store called Liberty. The establishment also features a restaurant and a literary lounge.
On the same street is a huge Hamleys toy store. It was discovered back in 1790 by William Hamley.
Harvey Nichols is a shop at Knightsbridge tube station. This is a mall for young fashion lovers.
Top Shop is located on Great Castle Street. The largest clothing store in the UK capital for young people.
Some nuances
Inexpensive shopping in London, however, is not so simple as it might seem at first glance. Do not forget about some of the nuances. Let's say you want a value added tax refund. In England it is 17.5%. This means that you must make purchases for at least 75 pounds. After that, a special Tax Free check is issued in the store. By showing the customs officers the packaged purchases at the airport, you will receivechecks stamps. After that, the above percentage of the amount spent on the credit card will be returned to you. They can also be issued in cash at some special exchange offices. Just do not forget that an additional commission may be charged for cashing out. It is best to return the money to a credit card.
Remember also that when shopping in London, be sure to take into account the local shoe and clothing size system. It differs from Russian. As a rule, there are tables in stores that compare the size ranges of different countries.
Shopping streets
What else do you need to know about shopping? Accompanying guides to the most famous places in London is a common thing for many tourists. Many say that it is very convenient. Not everyone knows all the shopping streets and shops. And even more so the most convenient ways to these points.
The main shopping street in London is Oxford Street. It is here that most of the well-known stores are located, offering the consumer a wide variety of goods at very affordable prices.
Regent Street also boasts a huge number of shops. There are many luxury boutiques on Bond Street.
Keep in mind that most shops are open until 18-19. Maximum, up to 20. Unlike Moscow retail outlets that work until late, such a schedule for guests of the UK capital can be noticeably surprising. Especially in winter, when you want to use daylight for inspectionattractions, and the evening - for shopping.
When to go shopping?
But that's not all! Shopping for a home in London is not always convenient. Reviews suggest that it is advisable to come to the UK during sales, as mentioned above. In winter - from the beginning of December to the end of January. During the summer, the period of discounts lasts the whole season - from the beginning of June to the end of August. Prices at this time are reduced by almost 70%.
Many sales are also held during the New Year holidays. On Oxford Street during this period, it happens that it is simply impossible to push through. Huge streams of people flow along the sidewalks, running to various shops. Lines at the box office and fitting rooms are getting much longer.
Small discounts (up to 30%) can be obtained during off-season sales. April and October.
Bicester Outlet Shopping Village
Thus, shopping in London is considered incredibly exciting. It is best to buy shoes, clothes and all kinds of household goods not during sales in the capital of England in outlets. By visiting the Bicester Outlet Shopping Village, you can save a lot on your shopping.
You can get to the outlet by bus, train or taxi. Trains from the city depart from London Marylebone station. Travel time is about an hour. A special bus then goes to the outlet from Bicester station. One ticket is valid for him and for the train. At the box office, you only need to say that you are heading to BicesterVillage.
In principle, shopping in London is considered one of the best in the world. Of course, this is the birthplace of many famous designers and brands of shoes and clothing. Judging by the reviews, it is extremely difficult to return from here without good purchases. Here you can find quality items for every taste at affordable prices.
Markets
Another way to shop in London. Photos of such outlets cannot but attract the attention of tourists. A variety of inexpensive goods makes it possible to easily purchase exactly what you need. Many markets are open seven days a week. One of them is Camden Market. However, it's best to come here on Saturdays.
It is undesirable to buy simple clothes in the markets. But all kinds of outlandish souvenirs - you are always welcome! At the Camden Market, you can buy clothing designed for various subcultures, or national. For just a couple of pounds, you can buy here, for example, a hand-painted T-shirt or an original hat.
Portobello Market, open exclusively on Saturdays, offers books, unique souvenirs and antiques to shoppers. Here it is customary to bargain with sellers. The initial price sometimes drops by as much as 90%. However, caution must be exercised. The markets are very crowded. Therefore, there are many pickpockets here. Keep an eye on your belongings so as not to overshadow the joy of the purchase.
Results
In a word, if you want fun, interesting and usefulspend your free time - go shopping in London! Shops and markets will delight you with an abundance of goods and quite affordable prices. Here you can buy men's, women's and children's clothing and shoes from famous designers, personal care and home care products. By the way, budget stores are often visited by young designers themselves. They claim that you can find a lot of things in them that will become relevant only after a couple of months.
Good advice: there are quite a lot of outlets on the outskirts of London where you can buy a lot of things at lower prices than in the city center. And among them, even one of the largest in the country. Here you can “get stuck” for almost the whole day. Although large shopping centers also have places to relax - cinemas, cafeterias, hairdressers, etc.
Outlets provide an opportunity for residents and visitors of the city to buy chic branded items. The consumer is offered designer shoes, clothing and a variety of accessories with deep discounts. Pay attention only to the fact that outlets can sell items with a small marriage - those that are unsuitable for sale in boutiques. That's basically all you need to know. Happy shopping!
