Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, if it doesn’t have a presence in London, then it doesn’t have global reach. But that’s not to say the rest of the UK doesn’t have it sewn up as well.
Tax Free shopping in London
With a population of over eight million, as you might imagine there’s more than one shopping area in London. More than 200 million visitors a year head for the bright lights of the West End’s Oxford Street where you’ll find every high-street brand imaginable – from American Apparel to Coast, River Island to French Collection, Zara to Urban Outfitters. Plus, Oxford Street is home to many of the famous department stores such as House of Fraser, where you will find luxury brands and a personal shopping service – perfect for anyone who loves fashion.
If you wanted a quick break from the merry hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, the quirky narrow streets around St Christopher’s Place are not only home to some excellent eateries but also independent shops such as Diverso, a young creative British brand inspired by the luxury fabrics and handmade ‘artisan’ heritage of the ‘Made in Italy’ hallmark.
Crossing through Oxford Circus is Regent Street, which is quickly becoming the most popular shopping street in London. Home to international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Zara, as well as flagship stores for J Crew, Michael Kors and Karl Lagerfeld. You will also find the iconic, Hamleys, the oldest toy store in the world, dating back to 1881; considered one of the city's major tourist attractions, you can discover 7 floors with more than 50,000 toys.
Behind Hamleys and running parallel to Regent Street is the quirky Carnaby Street. It may no longer be the home to the Beatles and Rolling Stones but it retains its trendy atmosphere, as do Newburgh Street and Kingly Court, with shops like All Saints, Red Sparrow, Joy Everley and Benefit.
Covent Garden exudes the fun and fabulous atmosphere London is so famous for, with street entertainers enlivening the shopping fun. Choose from lifestyle brands like Superdry, Cotswold Outdoor and GAP, as well as luxury brands like Michael Kors. Nearby Charing Cross Road is the place for books – there are amazing second-hand stores as well as the largest bookshop in the UK, Foyles.
North of Oxford Street is the chic Marylebone High Street, a great place for beloved brands like Cath Kidston, LK Bennett and L’Occitane. A hop, skip and a jump away southwards, elegant and sophisticated Mayfair claims the London ‘home’ of Alfred Dunhill in Bourdon House, complete with its own bar, restaurant, spa and barber for clients. Then, round the corner on Bruton Street, you will find Stella McCartney’s flagship store as well as the boutique of British designer, Rupert Sanderson, who has become a symbol of understated British elegance in the shoe industry.
Old and New Bond Street are home to the largest and finest collection of British & International luxury brands. Here, you will find the UK flagship stores of Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Gucci and Alexander McQueen, as well as fine jewellery boutiques from Boodles and Damiani. Running alongside Old Bond Street is the quintessentially Burlington Arcade, a beautiful shopping arcade dating back to 1819. This is one of London’s most exclusive areas and often chosen by celebrities on a shopping spree.
For a taste of London tailoring that has barely changed in 300 years, Jermyn Street and Savile Row in St James/Mayfair are the places to go. Gieves and Hawkes, founded in 1771, is used by The Prince of Wales has been at No. 1 Savile Row for more than 100 years.
A little further west you’ll find Knightsbridge, second only to the West End in popularity and arguably more luxury. It’s home to the famous department store and fashion powerhouse that is Harvey Nichols. For more than 150 years, this famous department store (a haunt of Princess Diana’s) has offered a curated Aladdin’s Cave of fabulous style. You’ll also find ateliers for very British brands like Burberry, Stella McCartney, and Vivienne Westwood. The slightly off-the-tourist-track boutique delights of Brompton Cross and Walton Street are also well worth a visit.
After Knightsbridge, sashay down Sloane Street to find boutiques from power brands such as Gucci, Chanel, Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, as well as Giorgio Armani – home to Armani Privé. Head towards King’s Road, once the hang-out of punks and now a relaxed thoroughfare with brands like Rag & Bone, Calvin Klein and Reiss. Check out Duke of York Square and nip into the Saatchi Gallery if you want to know what’s rocking the contemporary art market at the moment.
Even further southwest you’ll find the pretty pink stucco houses of wealthy, celebrity-filled Notting Hill, home to the famous weekend Portobello Market, where you can buy everything from fashion students selling their first collections to antiques, rare prints and much more. Ledbury Road and Westbourne Grove are also home to some very rarified boutiques like Diptyque and Zadig & Voltaire.
If it’s markets you’re after, head east to the antiques and vintage Spitalfields Market in Shoreditch. In fact, the whole of Commercial Street is about old-school cool – the road has the best vintage shops in London, as well as shops like Cath Kidston, Frockbrokers and Offspring. Parallel to Commercial Street is the fun and fabulous Brick Lane, leading to the ultra-cool district of Hoxton, which also house artists, young designers, happenings and dangerously seductive and trendy bars. These days Colombia Flower Market is famous for its artists’ studios and galleries. Last but not least, don’t miss the music-heavy Camden Market, stuffed with indie record labels, alternative clothing and plenty of cool bars.
Tax Free shopping in other UK cities
It’s sometimes hard for visitors not to think of the UK as London with some pretty countryside and historical houses tacked on, but that doesn’t do justice to the depth and diversity of the Tax Free shopping experience in the UK. Cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool all feature fabulous shopping and have their own distinct characters. And less than an hour out of London itself is Bicester Village, fast becoming a tourist destination in its own right, as well as a prime destination for Tax Free shopping with a cash refund location on-site.
At Bicester Village, you’ll discover a relaxed shopping haven in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, where spacious boutiques showcase the world's leading fashion and lifestyle brands, such as Dior, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Rupert Sanderson normally only found in the most exclusive shopping streets – and all offering outlet discounts all year round.
It’s also a great jumping off point to do some sightseeing, being only 30 minutes from Stratford upon Avon, home to Shakespeare and family run jeweller, George Pragnell. A must visit, located in the walls of a historic 16th century building, chose from a selection of fine jewellery, luxury Swiss watch brands, such as Patek Philippe, or their rich collection of antique and period jewellery.
Bath is also full of so much history it has been designated a World Heritage site. The city is also full of leading British fashion and lifestyle brands such as Jack Wills, Karen Millen, Urban Outfitters and Whistles. Bath is fast becoming a second home to international brands including Anthropologie and Banana Republic.
In Manchester the presence of two football teams and their luxury-loving players and wives means some of the most high-end purchasing you can find outside of Knightsbridge (in fact there’s a Harvey Nichols on New Cathedral Street). The main shopping district, Deansgate, is home to luxury brands such as Armani. The Arndale Centre on Market Street, is complete with many British & international brands such as River Island, Urban Outfitters and Superdry, however, if you’re looking for a vast shopping centre, then the Trafford Centre, just outside the city has nearly 300 stores, including All Saints, Forever 21, and Thomas Sabo.
Much further north you’ll find Scotland’s beautiful capital, Edinburgh, famous for its woollen mills and glorious castle looming over Princes Street. There is a wide selection of shopping to cater for every taste, ranging from department stores such as Harvey Nichols and Jenner’s, through to high street stores such as Marks & Spencer, GAP, and River Island, down to smaller luxury boutiques. You can also explore the vast array of souvenir shops, which can be found on the historical Royal Mile, leading up to Castle – make sure you visit Edinburgh Wollen Mill and take home with you a perfectly-cut wool coat or a soft-as-a-cloud cashmere jumper.
Shopping advice
Shopping hours are generally 9-6, however, many shops participate in late night shopping on a Thursday and during peak summer weeks, Due to trading laws, most shops are open from 11-5 on a Sunday.
It’s best to avoid public transport in these cities, especially London, during peak rush hour periods (6-9am and 5-7pm). Public transport is extremely busy during these times.
Paying with Cards: virtually all but the very smallest shops, accept credit cards and debit cards, notably Visa and MasterCard. In virtually all cases, foreign cards are accepted in UK as long as they are chip and pin variety; swipe & sign may not be accepted. You can also pay using Contactless, however, this is for very low sales amounts.
Union Pay is accepted in stores where you see the Union Pay logo, and you will be able to pay in your home currency (Dynamic Currency Conversion) if the staff offer this service to you in-store.
- See more at: http://premiertaxfree.com/where-shop-tax-free/united-kingdom#sthash.w17qkO46.dpuf