Napoleon famously mentioned that Britain was a country of storekeepers and it’s still real today. Bear in mind that taxes are high with VAT a whopping 17.5 %. Thankfully price cut outlets and other kinds of deal shopping are plentiful.
Other than buy from deal outlets, your best buys are things made in Britain that would cost more abroad. These include Body Shop and Filofax items in addition to woolens and cashmere products.
A map of the distribution of the top 20 largest UK Shopping Centres (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
London Shopping Experience
London is among the world’s excellent shopping cities. From the swank enjoyment of Harrods to the cosmopolitan color of Portobello Road street market, the entire city looks like one big emporium. Here we’ll take a look at the well-known West End.
The West End was long the standard heart of London shopping and still draws in bargain hunters from all over the world. Popular Oxford Street has actually revamped its facade over recent decades. The huge old faithfuls such as Marks and Spencers are still there however much of the area has actually been taken control of by ethnic specialty establishments. If it’s tradition you’re after, nearby Regent and Bond streets still maintain their unique upmarket air.
One wonderful ‘new’ area in the West End to get threads is the well-known Carnaby Street now increasing from the ashes. Once the colourful haunt of 60s designs, actors, musicians and fashion photographers, the location is now bring in a new age of designers.
Birmingham Shopping Experience
If you travel up the M! to Birmingham, you will find another fantastic UK shopping experience. Brum, as the UK’s second biggest city is affectionately understood, is home to over 700 retail stores, including the queen of them all, Selfridges.
Other significant outlets include the Mailbox complex at Wharfside Street. When Birmingham’s mail sorting hub, it’s now a big shopping center and the home of all the marvelous outlet store consisting of Harvey Nichols. You can also find all your preferred labels right here including Armani, Hugo Boss and Jaeger.
Another city-center parvenu is The Bullring. It’s Europe’s most significant city-center retail zone and offers a more down to earth shopping experience that the Mailbox with providings from H M, Gap, FCUK, and Footlocker.
Edinburgh Shopping Experience
North of the border, Scotland’s capital city provides a medley of boutiques, souvenir stores, and outlet store consisting of old steadfast John Lewis. Harvey Nichols, beloved of the Absolutely Fabulous crowd, has also arrived in “Auld Reekie” in the last few years.
New Town’s Princes Street is Edinburgh’s principal shopping road and the home of the leading department stores. For more unique outlets, such as Laura Ashley, George Street is the place to go.
For vacationers searching for tartan, Highland ornaments, kilts or sporrans, the Old Town’s Royal Mile is the mother lode.
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