Shopping in Britain. Shopping in London: shopping fit for a queen

London attracts tourists not only for its history, but also for the opportunity to fill their suitcases with clothes and other purchases. What to expect from shopping in the British capital?

Now Great Britain is no longer a leading trading country, but this does not mean that the streets of its cities are not imbued with the spirit of trade. London still enjoys the status of fashion capital of the world, alongside cities such as Milan and Paris. Just look at the famous Burberry check and clothes from Ben Sherman and Paul Smith. Once in the western part of the city, one cannot help but be surprised by the wealth of choice of goods available to visitors to the city on the Thames. This is not to mention other areas where there are shopping complexes, shops and markets with more affordable prices. The UK, like its capital, cannot be called cheap, but this does not reduce the love of shopaholics for it, especially during sales.

London Sales 2019

Where would we be without sales in the shopping capital of the world? They are held twice a year - at the height of summer and during the winter holidays. There are also plenty of additional sales, for example, during the company’s anniversary, but it is difficult for ordinary tourists to find out about them. So, you have to go with everyone else in the summer or at the end of December - beginning of January, when the period of great discounts begins, which sometimes amount to 50-75%.

Shopping etiquette

It's a pleasure to be a buyer in London - the service here is truly high level, so you get a lot of pleasure from shopping if you close your eyes to the price. Returning an item back to the store is not a problem here; you don’t even have to mention the reason for the return. If you have a receipt and intact tags, the item will be exchanged or its entire cost refunded.

In UK stores you are allowed to try on any items you like (except panties), no matter how many there are, while in other countries you can often take only three or four things into the fitting room. If the item does not fit, you can order it - the purchase will be delivered to the specified address (within London) within a few days.

Some British shoe stores offer a very interesting service. At the entrance, clients are given a special coupon with a number, and if it matches the number that will be displayed later on the display (or the seller calls it), then the buyer is served out of turn - they bring him as many shoes to try on as he asks for, until a choice will be made. Russians may be surprised by this type of service, but it helps sellers ensure that the customer does not leave the store empty-handed.

It should also be noted that in the UK there are no annoying sales consultants; they do not “stand over your soul”, as is often the case here. If consultation is needed, they will be happy to help store guests.

Tax refund in London

Tourists from Russia can make shopping a little less expensive on their pockets. For example, when leaving the UK or EU countries, you can return VAT - a tax that is levied at 15% of the cost of all goods, except clothes for children, books and food. In restaurants, VAT is usually included in the price of the meal. The advantage of the system is that its scope covers not only the purchases of ordinary tourists, but also the expenses of entrepreneurs.

Refunding VAT is simple - just keep the receipt (valid for 3 months from the date of purchase) and present it along with the unpacked goods at customs, where they will put a stamp on it. Upon arrival in the Russian Federation, you can return VAT at one of the refund points listed on the Global Refund and Tax-Free-Shopping websites. But there are some nuances here. Firstly, it is necessary that two years before making a purchase, the tourist has stayed in the UK for no more than 365 days, and left the EU while the check is valid. Secondly, the procedure is not supported by every store. It should also be taken into account that most stores where this system operates set a minimum amount that must be spent in order to then return VAT (about 75 feet).

You can also apply for a card on the Global Refund website for purchases in duty-free stores, this will save the time required to issue a tax-free check.

The tax-free service helps reimburse companies and entrepreneurs who come to the UK. Especially for this purpose, Tax Back International was created in London, which returns VAT on behalf of the entrepreneur.

Shopping areas

There are streets in London that every self-respecting tourist should definitely visit. They are not just shopping areas, but the most beautiful areas of the city. The West End deserves special attention, where there are world-famous streets: Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Jermyn Street, Tottenham Court Road and Piccadilly, glorified by writers and musicians.

OXFORD STREET

One of the busiest streets in Europe is located between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road - this is Oxford Street. More than 200 million pairs of feet pass through it every year, there are three hundred shops and about 5 million square meters. feet trading platforms. The title of the main shopping street came to Oxford Street at the beginning of the twentieth century, when Debenhams and Selfriges stores opened there, which still operate to this day. Tired of noisy and bustling places, you can go to the area of ​​​​large department stores, located between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus. Oxford Street has both expensive department stores and middle-class stores: Zara, Topshop, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, H&M, etc.

BOND STREET

In the Oxford Circus area, Oxford Street intersects with another equally famous street - Bond Street. It included New Bond street, located a short walk from Bond Street station, and Old Bond street (near Picadilly). This is a favorite place for those shopaholics who are not limited by budget. The most expensive and upscale boutiques of world brands are located here. But, it must be said that in some stores the prices are simply incommensurable.

Those whom high prices don’t be embarrassed, they can safely go to Bond Street to buy clothes from Versace, Prada, Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton. There are also stores here from British fashion houses, such as Burberry and Mulberry. On the same street is Sotheby's, a famous auction house. For expensive jewelry you can go to Cartier, Tiffany and Asprey stores. But the heart of Bond Street is the Fenwick department store, which occupies five floors.

CARNABY STREET

The center of Swinging London was once Carnaby Street. She has been mentioned more than once in songs and films, for example in “Blow-Up” by Michelangelo Antonioni. Now the street has changed somewhat, but has not lost its spirit. Carnaby street is filled with fashionable boutiques, bars and restaurants. For those who prefer urban style in clothing, you can suggest Diesel, American Apparel, and Puma stores. Not far from Carnaby street there are several places that will also be of interest to shopping lovers: Newburgh Street, Foubert’s Place, Kingly Court. Although, unlike Carnaby Street, they cannot be called central. She stays best place to buy shoes, sporting goods and vintage items. If we talk about prices, it is much cheaper here than on Bond Street.

REGENT STREET

Regent street has gained a reputation as one of the most original streets in London. Here you will find shops and boutiques where you can find a wide range of goods: clothes made in Britain, toys, food, various fabrics and many other products. Even if shopping isn't your thing, you can simply stroll down the street and admire the elegant displays.

The main highlight of Regent street is the popular department store Liberty's. A large selection of toys to suit every taste can be found at Hamleys. This store is a real paradise for children.

Tourists who have visited London more than once claim that there are also many shops on the neighboring streets (for example, Saville Row). However, high prices deter many buyers.

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Knightsbridge is an area of ​​London that is popular among shopaholics. It is very rare to find company offices here, but there are shops on almost every corner. The only thing that can stop shopping fans is high prices.

It is worth noting that shopping in Knightsbridge is very prestigious. There are two legendary department stores here ( we're talking about about Harrod's and Harvey Nichols). According to experts, these are some of the best shopping centers in the UK capital. But don’t indulge yourself with illusions - only wealthy people can make purchases here.

A variety of modern shops line the streets of Knightsbridge. Therefore, a walk around the area can be combined with shopping. In local boutiques you can find items from famous brands and world-famous designers.

On Sloane Street you can look into the stores of Prada, Armani, Dior, etc. There is also a large Peter Jones store, where you can find a lot of interesting things. For exclusive lingerie, check out La Perla or Rigby & Peller.

COVENT GARDEN

According to experienced tourists, the Covent Garden area is a must-visit. In addition to shopping, you can find many interesting activities here. It is worth noting that this area of ​​London is historically associated with trade. Back in the Middle Ages, a monastic market was opened on the site of Covent Garden, which operated for several centuries.

One of the most unusual attractions of Covent Garden is the mimes that you can meet literally at every turn. This area is an ideal place for shopping lovers different ages. Turning onto High Street you can visit French Connection, Mango, Oasis and other shops. It will be useful for men to look into men's clothing stores Diesel, Paul Smith, etc.

At Neal Street you can find quality shoes that will last you for years to come. In order to purchase new clothes, you can visit Office, Foot Locker, etc. To get to Neal Street, you need to turn left when near the Covent Garden metro station.

KING'S ROAD

King’s road is a street that locals and tourists associate with the underground culture of the last century. Here you can visit the famous store of Vivienne Westwood, who is a recognized designer and trendsetter of punk fashion.

The street is home to several popular boutiques, French Connection, Benetton, etc. In addition, you can visit Levi's and Johnsons stores, where you can buy vintage American goods. These boutiques sell unique items made in the spirit of the era of the 50s and 60s of the last century.

Shopping fans should also definitely check out Ben de Lisi’s. This boutique features stylish evening dresses for sale. For an elegant headdress, head to Philip Treacy. At Lulu Guinness's boutique you will find a large assortment of bags, many of which are made in a single copy.

PICCADILLY

Piccadilly Circus is one of the most famous and popular streets in the British capital. However, shopping lovers are unanimous: Piccadilly is inferior to Oxford Street in some respects.

It is worth noting that Piccadilly Street, which connects Hyde Park and Piccadilly Circus, was known back in the Middle Ages. True, in these ancient times it was called Portugal Street. In the 17th century, it was here that Robert Baker moved, who quickly became famous as a merchant of “picadils” - special collars with jagged edges on a rigid base. The dimensions of the product were adjusted using a wide cord.

Over the course of several centuries, the street developed at a rapid pace: over time, new buildings appeared on it. On this moment Piccadilly Circus is one of the main streets of London. Locals call it the cultural center of the city.

Tourists who want to buy tea, traditional sweets, dishes, gifts - perfumes, jewelry can go to Fortnum & Mason. Shopping lovers will not be able to miss the popular Simpsons store. You can buy new books at Hatchards and Waterstone's supermarkets.

It is also worth planning a visit to one of the most modern shopping centers in London - Westfield Shopping Center. There are 5 department stores on its territory: House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, etc. In addition, more than 260 boutiques are at the complete disposal of customers, which regularly receive new arrivals. The stores offer goods from 15 countries for sale. The only negative in this case is the location of the center; it is not in the heart of London. There are very few historical places and monuments in this area, but here you can meet a whole army of shopping fans.

To get to the shopping centre, you can stop at Wood Lane or Shepherd's Bush tube station.

Hello again! Welcome to my channel! My name is Anya, I make a video about life in England. In today's video I will talk about shopping in the UK, namely about the stores that I discovered here. Many of these brands will be purely British.

I'll start with clothes and shoes, and the first such store is Karen Millen. I was simply delighted when I first walked into the store and saw this variety of dresses and styles. For any figure, you will find a simply stunning dress with an interesting design and you will feel simply at your best. If you have an event for which you need to buy a wonderful dress, then I highly recommend checking out Karen Millen.

Another store that captivated me from the first time I met it is Ted Baker. I liked it because of its interesting prints, good quality, variety of materials and cuts. Baker has a large collection for men and I also love their accessories, bags, wallets for both women and men, and toiletries.

Another store where I also really like to buy clothes is Monsoon. It is part of the Accessorize store, that is, an accessories store that exists in Ukraine. But Monsoon, as part of this brand, was not represented in Ukraine, I don’t know how it is now. Monsoon is a store for very feminine girls, since all the clothes there are very delicate cuts, materials, and patterns. There is also often very beautiful embroidery and some decorations. The quality of these clothes was not always at a high level, I noticed that some dresses changed shape after washing, but overall I am very pleased with this brand.

My favorite shoe store is Clarks. I want to say that, unlike those models that are exported to our countries, Ukraine, Russia, there are more casual shoes here. At the same time, you can still find very beautiful and comfortable models, and the quality of these shoes has never let me down.

Another brand is TK Maxx. This is a stock store where you will find an outlet of various brands, that is, all designer items with huge discounts. Moreover, this will include clothes, household items, and I even saw some food. That is, a wide variety of designer products.

The last clothing store I want to mention is Primark. This is a unique store. When I got there for the first time, I was shocked by the number of people, the amount of clothes, the chaos that reigned there, especially if you go to Primark, which is located on the main street of London or other big city. The reason for all this chaos is that the prices are simply cheap by local standards. Clothes at very affordable prices, home decoration, shoes, jewelry, etc. What's good about this store? The clothing collection is updated very, very often, models are copied from famous brands, you will really find some interesting options there. Yes, the quality of the clothes will not be the best, and you need to be prepared for the fact that after a couple of washes your item will lose its color or shape, the threads will stick out. But you don’t have a lot of money, you moved to a new place, and you need a lot of interior items or household supplies, like a blanket, bedding, pillow. There you can safely buy all these things. They will not be of the best quality, but for the first time this is what you need. The catch with this store is that when you see these low prices, you start taking, taking and taking, and in the end the bill at the checkout turns out to be higher than expected.

Among cosmetic stores, The Body Shop comes first for me. I discovered it several years ago and was simply amazed by the ideology of this store. He promotes ethics in trade, that is, supporting the population in third world countries where raw materials are produced. Therefore, you will find a lot of cosmetics with various extracts, oils that were purchased in African countries and other low-income countries. And The Body Shop has always said that they support this population in such a way that most of their proceeds are used to return these resources to one country or another. Of course, all the processes of globalization and commercial processes have not escaped The Body Shop. I read interesting article that L’Oreal acquired this brand from its founders. From this point on, questions began to be raised about whether their products or their ingredients were tested on animals. If you are not very concerned about these points, then I highly recommend purchasing The Body Shop care cosmetics. Decorative cosmetics also at a decent level, but it is the care that is business card brand. That is, all face and body creams, various oils are very popular.

And a few words about these chain stores, like Boots and Superdrug. These are stores where you can find various departments, including prescription and non-prescription pharmacies. But you can also buy various brands of cosmetics there. Boots and Superdrug are stores where, depending on the size of one store, it may only have cosmetics, while another may only have a pharmacy. But there are huge stores where you will find exclusive cosmetics, more affordable cosmetics, a pharmacy, and sometimes in these same stores you can even get yourself vaccinated. You can get advice or get a flu shot at Boots. Or there may be an optics department, sometimes you can even print photos there. But I want to note that I like Boots because they have a loyalty program, and every time you purchase their products, you accumulate points from each purchase, and then with these same points you can buy something in this store very profitably . At the same time, you can purchase perfumes and cosmetics from exclusive brands at good prices.

I would like to tell you about shopping in the United Kingdom. Marks & Spencer is Britain's favorite store. Tourists love it too. It attracts a great variability of customers from house wives to millionaires. Princess Diana, Dustin Hoffman and the British Prime-minister are just a few of its famous customers. Last year it made a profit of 529 million pounds. Which is more than 10 million a week.

It all started 105 years ago when a young Polish immigrant Michael Marks had a stall in Leeds market. He didn't have many things to sell: some cotton, a little wool, lots of buttons and a few shoelaces. Above his stall he put the now famous notice: "Don"t ask how much - it"s a penny." Ten years later he met Tom Spencer and together they started Penny stalls in many towns in the North of England. Today there are 564 brances of Marks & Spencer all over the world: in America, Canada, Spain, France, Belguim and Hungary.

The store bases its business on 3 principals: good value, good quality and good service. Also, it changes with the times; once it was all jumpers and knickers. Now it is food, furniture and flowers as well. Top fashion designers advice on styles of clothes. Perhaps the most important key to its success is its happy well-trained staff. Conditions of work are excellent. There are company doctors, dentists, hairdressers, etc. And all the staff can have lunch for under 40 pence.

Suprisingly tastes in food and clothes are international. What sells well in Paris, sells just as well in Newcastle and Moscow. Their best selling clothes are: for women - jumpers and knickers (M & S is famous for its knickers); for men - shirts, socks, pajamas, dressing gowns and suits; for children - underwear and socks. Best sellers in food include: fresh chickens, vegetables and sandwiches, "Chicken Kiev" is internationally the most popular convience food.

Shopping in Britain is also famous for its Freshfood. Freshfood is a chain of food stores and very successful supermarkets which has grown tremendously in the twenty years since it was founded, and now it has branches in the High Streets of all the towns of any size in Britain. In the beginning the stores sold only foodstuffs, but in recent years they have diversified enormously and now sell clothes, books, records, electrical and domestic equipment. The success of the chain has been due to an enterprising managment and to attractive layout and display in the stores. It has been discovered that impulse buying accounts for almost 35 per cent of the total turn over of the stores. The stores are organized comprehensively for self-service and customers are encouraged to wander around the spaciously laid out stands. Special free gifts and reduced prices are used to tempt customers into the stores and they can"t stand the temptation.

Shopping in Britain

I would like to tell you about shopping in the United Kingdom. Marks and Spencer is Britain's favorite store. Tourists love it too. He attracts a large number of clients from housewives to wives of millionaires. Princess Diana, Dustin Hoffman and the British Prime Minister are just some of his celebrity clients. Last year it made a profit of £529m, more than £10m a week.

It all started 105 years ago when young Polish immigrant Michael Marks opened a stall in Leeds Market. He didn't have many things to sell: some cotton, wool, a lot of buttons and a few laces. Above the stall he hung the now well-known inscription: “Don’t ask how much - just a penny.” Ten years later he met Tom Spencer, and together they began building "penny kiosks" in many cities in the north of England. Today there are 564 Marks and Spencer subsidiary stores around the world: in America, Canada, Spain, France, Belgium and Hungary.

The store bases its business on 3 principles: good prices, good quality and good service. In addition, it changes over time, before it was jumpers and panties. Now it also includes food, furniture and flowers. The best fashion designers advise on clothing. Perhaps the most important key to success is its happy, well-trained staff. The working conditions are excellent. The company has its own doctors, dentists, hairdressers, etc. And all staff can eat lunch for less than 40p.

It's amazing how tastes in food and clothing coincide throughout the world. What sells well in Paris also sells well in Newcastle and Moscow. The bestsellers are: for women - sweaters and panties ("M and S" is famous for panties), for men - shirts, socks, pajamas, robes and suits, for children - underwear and socks. Best products In food products include: fresh chicken, vegetables and sandwiches, Kiev is internationally the most popular among prepared food products.

Shopping in the UK is also famous for its "Fresh Food". Fresh Food is a highly successful chain of shops and supermarkets that has grown substantially in the twenty years since it was founded and now has branches on the High Street and in every town of any size in the UK. In the beginning, only food products were sold in stores, but in last years they have an extremely diverse range and now sell clothing, books, records, electrical equipment and household appliances. The chain's success was due to entrepreneurial management and attractive design and display in stores. It was found that impulse buying accounts for almost 35 percent of a company's total turnover. The stores are designed for self-service and customers are encouraged to wander through spacious rows of stands. Special gifts and discounted prices are used to tempt customers and they cannot resist the temptation.

Before we start talking about shopping in London, we should distinguish between three groups of “Russian tourists”. The first, not numerous, but very wealthy, belongs to the “classic” category of people for whom shopping is a kind of illness on a psychological level. At the same time, prices don’t matter, the main thing is to buy!

However, both of them often find it difficult to navigate the diverse appearance of large and small stores, of which there are more than enough in England. And, since people of the second and third categories in London can be found more often than the first, the guide is to places with affordable prices.

By following the basic rules, you can eliminate false directions as much as possible and focus exclusively on purchases with 100% efficiency.

Experts and simply knowledgeable people believe that the most preferred range of goods in England is everything related to wool.

That is, you should not pass by shirts and coats, jackets and suits, cardigans and sweaters. English wool has been known all over the world since the Middle Ages and is almost the most important national product, so the concept of quality is revered sacredly in London. As for scarves, and partly shoes, as well as gloves and bags, it is preferable to go to Italy for them.

TK Maxx

The first place to start shopping in London is the TK Maxx chain of stores.. In order to have complete information about them, it would be useful to visit the company’s website.

Here you can find clothes and shoes that have been left behind in shopping centers and boutiques (even in such exclusive outlets as those found on Bond Street). It is clear that this is where you can find the most modern little thing, which the conservative English simply did not have time to appreciate.

The trading floor of the average store of this retail chain is divided by long rows of tightly packed hangers, each with a certain amount of goods. The main thing that shopping at such a retail outlet requires is patience and a little adventurism. And then you can become the owner of the finest Gilliano mohair pullover, which cost 450 pounds in the boutique, but here - only 65.

The abundance of jeans is amazing. Great fitting D&G trousers available for £40. An hour or two - and shopping is rewarded with a pair of beautiful, comfortable and surprisingly inexpensive “pearls”.

COS (Collection of Style)

It is a Swedish retail chain of stores owned by H&M in London. Here you can buy surprisingly inexpensive things that are not inferior in quality to any competitor.

In such stores, shopping is always a journey with a happy ending in the form of a pleasant surprise. Fully true to the name, COS stores are not only about quality, but also about style. Unlike other popular places in England, here instead of the Chinese you can meet the Japanese, who are famous for their passion for everything stylish.

Primark

An excellent opportunity to get rich with things cheaply, on the verge of a foul, is to visit one of the stores of the most famous retail chain in London. It's actually a flea market. You don’t have to buy anything, but visiting it while in England is like visiting the pyramids in Egypt.

Primark is a great opportunity to buy gifts in bulk for all your friends and acquaintances.

Shopping centers and outlets

Before you go to any of them, it is wise to go to the website and see how the prices are doing, what exactly you should buy and what floor it is on. Such a preliminary virtual tour is a great time saver, and after that shopping doesn’t seem like such an overwhelming task.

A great place for leisurely shopping and luck - outlets or sale villages. Absolutely contrary to their name, such “villages” look extremely modern. Here you can buy items that have just emerged from the trend at breathtaking discounts.

Usually the prices here are very different. A great opportunity to have a blast for a shopper who missed out on the cool London sale. It is better to go to an outlet that you have chosen in advance from the Internet with a reserve of time. Crowds of Chinese tourists attacking shelves with Zegna, Ferrogamo and Gucci products are somewhat tiresome. It can be a good idea to check in advance whether there is convenient parking nearby.

Portobello and Camden markets

The first of their number, where shopping will be a pleasure for everyone, is Portobello.. In fact, this is a kind of mixture of an antique market and a souvenir market, or, even more simply, a flea market.

This place is well known in England and beyond its borders, so the crowds of people should not frighten the staunch “Russian tourist”.

The market is inexpensive and is a narrow street literally crammed with junk shops and antique shops. A mass of motley audience flows through it like a deep, slow river.

Finding it in London is easy: take the metro to Notting Hill, and from there walk along Pembroke Road.

Tip number one: when entering the territory of the market and immediately finding yourself in its “tourist” zone, you should not rush into shopping. In this part of the market, traders focus specifically on ignorant people in order to sell their goods at a higher price.

Tip number two: you should buy any product by initially reducing the proposed amount by 70 percent, and then bargain until the last penny. In England, such markets have long adopted the eastern traditions of this gambling “bazaar game”, so a tourist who does not bargain is considered a sucker.

An excellent world-class market for gothic, punk and “metal” products in London is in Camden (see the metro station of the same name), and to get to it you need to walk to the canal.

For the complete enjoyment of those who love shopping, Camden is open daily. There is no better place in England to buy a high-quality, stylish costume if you are going to Halloween, to a fashion club or just to a party. Here you can get the coolest tattoo or piercing in London.

And for those who are thoroughly tired of shopping, there is good food from all over the world, and the prices, like everything else, are the most reasonable. In terms of attendance, this place is on the list of the best in England after Buckingham and the Tower.

There are several markets here, they are connected to each other using bridges, tunnels and passages. Inexpensive accessories (belt, scarf, hat, bracelet) are available here in abundance. You might stumble across a unique piece of bronze or wood, jewelry, or just buy some incense.

Rules for returns/exchanges and just good manners

Unlike your home country, in England returning or exchanging goods is done pleasantly and easily. You can collect a bunch of clothes, come to your senses, get upset, and bring them back with a sad smile on your face.

English shopping provides such an opportunity, and without a passport, a consumer statement or a dissatisfied person. All you need to present is this cash receipt. You can come within a month after purchase, and not only in a “real” store, but also on the Internet.

Another thing is that not all retail chains provide a refund. Some people ask for an exchange. For this procedure, you should learn the words “refund” (return the money) and “exchange” (I want to change).

England is a country of European culture, with well-established traditions. Therefore, it would be useful to remember the addresses to the buyer “ar yu o-key” and “need any help”. This is how sellers in London offer help. The dissatisfied answer “know” is not accepted here, it is better to say “aim o-kay, senk u”.

The common appeal “lukin for samsin partikyula?” - this is a question of whether something specific interests you. You shouldn’t be surprised when you hear “how ar yu?” at the checkout, you just need to smile and say “aime fain, senk yu.”

At the checkout they also ask the question “do you want cashback”, which translates as an offer to give out a purchase by bank card"change" in cash, up to £50.

Happy shopping!

Great Britain is associated, first of all, with high-quality shopping. The most suitable city for travel Enjoy the shopping considered, of course, its capital is London, which offers its residents and guests of the city a countless variety of shops and shopping centers designed to suit every taste and budget. Here you can buy absolutely everything: from trinkets to antiques and art, from cosmetics and clothing to household goods and home goods. While walking along the streets of the city, you should not neglect small shops, because in some of them you can find goods from famous brands sold at a reduced price.

In addition to London, you can safely go shopping in other major cities of the country. The most popular of them in terms of shopping are Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, York and others. If during your trip you find yourself not in large center, but in a small town, don’t worry. You can also find something very interesting there, and large shopping centers are often found in small places. If possible, check out one of the antique stores (for example, Christies or Sotheby`s) - you can find very interesting and unusual items there.

If you run out of cash while on vacation, don’t despair, as almost all stores accept international plastic cards, which makes the shopping process even more convenient. The only distinctive feature of English stores is their relatively early closing time. As a rule, most stores are open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00-17.30 (with the exception of large shopping centers, which may be open until 20.00). On Sundays, shops are open only 6 hours, usually from 10.00 to 16.00. Naturally, there are a number of large supermarkets open around the clock or until 22.00. But there are not many of them. You should also remember that all shops will be closed during major holidays such as Christmas or Easter. Therefore, when planning your vacation, it is better to take this nuance into account in advance.

Your trip to English stores during sales can be especially enjoyable. Interestingly, in the UK, in addition to the traditional sales seasons in summer and winter, there are periods of discounts in different stores throughout the year. Therefore, when passing by shops, do not forget to look at the windows in search of the coveted “Sale” inscription, because perhaps on this very day you will be able to get a tempting offer and make bargain purchase. The best time for shopping is considered to be the period before Christmas, when the discount can reach (this is almost incredible) 80-90%, although not everywhere.

The UK, along with many European countries, also has a value added tax (VAT) refund system - tax free, providing the opportunity to return about 11-15% of the cost of the goods at the border upon presentation of a coupon and receipt filled out in the store. Is it true, this service Only available on items purchased from the same store on the same day for an amount exceeding £100.

What do people usually buy in the UK? Well, first of all, branded clothing, shoes and accessories. All this, as a rule, is not cheap, but it fully meets the latest fashion trends and is famous for its excellent quality. Although, along with expensive boutiques, you can also find quite budget stores where you can buy quite decent, interesting things for money that is ridiculous by our standards.

In addition, it is impossible to leave the UK without a pack of real English tea, often with the addition of some aromatic herb, such as bergamot or jasmine. In any city you can buy traditional souvenirs: figurines of a red bus or Big Ben, books or a tobacco pipe. When in Scotland, special attention should be paid to the beautiful woolen blankets, as well as kilts and, of course, Scotch whiskey, which has a pleasant taste and soft golden color.