Is it any surprise that us Aussies and Kiwi’s are the biggest shoppers in the market when it comes to spending up across Britain?
Given the vast choice, price and range of shopping on offer not just in London but also throughout Britain it’s easy to see why us antipodeans have an insatiable appetite for retail therapy in the UK.
Retailers today in Britain have truly embraced the customer experience to entice people into stores and entertain them while they’re there and keep them there longer.
If you’ve seen Mr Selfridge on television, you’ll know that Harry Selfridge pioneered a whole new way of shopping, and were he alive today he’d no doubt be proud to see his landmark megastore has been voted the best department store in the world for the last several years.
Here’s KarryOn’s top 5 shopping tips to help ensure your retail experience is a happy one.
1) Window shopping can be fun…
The ever saucy and risqué Agent Provocateur
Saucy underwear shop Agent Provocateur – who have stores across England and in Glasgow – are known for their tongue-in-cheek window displays, theatrically showcasing the British label’s risqué lingerie (past slogans on the window have read ‘EXHIBITIONIST’ and ‘I can’t believe it! Knickers coming down!’ during the sale).
Selfridges window displays (branches in London, Manchester and Birmingham) are always beautiful to look at. Recent memorable windows have included its Shoe Carnival – displaying footwear on high-top helter skelters and shoe ferris wheels, and the Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton collaboration last year, which saw the Japanese artist cover the shop in red and white dots.
Harrods recently caught Gatsby fever when Baz Luhrman’s film hit cinema screens and displayed all the glitz of the 1920s in its windows, while last Christmas designers dressed Disney princesses in amazing scenes recreated from the stories.
2) Give your feet a break and enjoy some time out from retail
Chill at Wah Nails, Top Shop Oxford Street London
When you’ve finally shopped til you dropped, you can restore your energy levels, mood and appearance, with an on-site makeover or treatment. Like stopping for a manicure at the Wah-Nails bar in Topshop’s iconic flagship store on London’s Oxford Street for example. Nice.
Harvey Nichols Liverpool’s Beauty Bazaar is a one-stop destination for all things beauty and also has a champagne bar (called the WOW bar), in addition to the Electric Hair Lounge and hundreds of beauty brands to buy, with experienced make-up artists to do makeovers and showcase products.
Department store John Lewis has ‘beauty retreats’ offering a real spa experience in several of its stores (Newcastle in north-east England, Cheadle in north-west England, Reading and Milton Keynes, which are both around an hour outside of London.
3) Get the top brands for less… Yeah!
Shopping for brand bargains at Bicester Outlet, Oxfordshire
If it’s catwalk-worthy clothes you’re looking for, but not at eye-watering prices, head to the Oxfordshire village of Bicester, an hour by train from the London station of Marylebone. Here you’ll find Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, Burberry and Vivienne Westwood, as well as niche British labels and international designers – with stock constantly updated – at a minimum discount of 30% on the original price and can be up to 60% off. Now that’s what I call good value!
In the southwest of England and just over 30 minutes’ drive from Bath, Kilver Court is a lovely place to shop, with alluring reductions on Mulberry, LK Bennett, Hawick Cashmere and more. They even have a natural health centre on site, along with a lovely café. Over near the border with Wales, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet in Cheshire draws shoppers from all over the world to its discounts of up to 60% on designer goods.
Up in Scotland, between the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh is McArthurGlen’s Livingston’s outlet, where you’ll find more than 70 brands based here, including famous British labels such as Marks & Spencer, Ted Baker, Austin Reed and handbag manufacturer Radley.
There is another McArthurGlen outlet mall in Bridgend, south Wales, around a half-hour drive west of Cardiff and Northern Ireland has two main outlet malls; Junction One, near Belfast, and The Outlet, close to the border with Ireland.
4) Make it personal and have someone else shop for you…
Get your own personal shopper at Harvey Nichols
Looking for professional shopping expertise to get the look that best suits you? Most of Britain’s top department stores, including Liberty, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Harrods, have personal shoppers who will trawl through the stock on your behalf and find you ‘just what you’ve been looking for’.
Personal shoppers aren’t just for the wealthy either. Topshop has its own team and it’s free to use. In Brighton, freelance stylist Igor Srzic-Cartledge will take you round his favourite shops, luxury, chain store and vintage, depending on your budget.
5) For everything else there’s Primark
Primarks Oxford Street Store (Tottenham Court Road end)
If you haven’t cottoned on yet (no pun intended) to the latest player on the British retail scene then here’s your brief.
Primark is the ‘super cheap and chic’ store for everyone with 161 stores across the UK including two flagship stores alone on Oxford Street.
Adored by fashion fans and value seekers alike, Primark is widely established as the destination store for keeping up with the latest looks without breaking the bank. Battle with the crowds throughout the whole store and watch or get involved in the Primark tradition of ‘filling a trolley’ to capacity. Its like a supermarket for clothes.