1. Famous UK Department Stores
Clarks (famous British leather shoes), Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and the UK's premier store, world-renowned for its exquisite goods and high prices.
Foris.89: This perfume specialty store sells products that are all made in the UK. Naturally, various floral scents are the mainstream. In addition to perfumes for personal use, the bulk of their products are bathroom fragrances. You can try these British scents to see how they differ from Parisian ones.
2. British Shirt Shops
Founded in 1898, this shop offers shirts with very stylish quality and colors. A shirt costs about 45 to 55 pounds. The shirts are placed in green cabinets, which look quite pleasing to the eye.
Gentlemen's Goods Store
Being a gentleman is not that simple. You can see the gear for washing faces and shaving here, which is sure to leave you stunned. The various tools for gargling, spitting, washing your face, shaving, and applying perfume are lined up, and you will surely sincerely admire the meticulous efforts of British gentlemen.
3. Harrods Department Store
It is the largest and most prestigious department store in Europe, covering 63,000 square meters across seven floors. The food hall in the basement offers mouth-watering delicacies and fine wines.
Bond Street
There is no better place than Bond Street to browse boutiques by famous designers. This area is extremely tasteful, and all internationally renowned designers have opened stores here.
4. Regent Street
A shopping paradise for gentlemen and ladies. The world's largest toy store, Hamley's, the porcelain shop Wedgwood, and the cutlery shop Mappin & Webb are all on this street. The street winds and connects Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. Compared to the high-end luxury stores on Bond Street, this area is more approachable. Many shops like Liberty and Hamleys have a distinct British style, and the nearby Savile Row has numerous high-end suit shops.
5. Oxford Street
There are many high-end shops here, but the casual and relaxed-style shops aimed at young people are more eye-catching. Here, you can learn about London's most prevalent fashion trends. Selfridges on this street is the department store most loved by Londoners. If you want to buy gifts that will surprise friends and family, you can choose items with a strong British flavor, such as exquisite bone china from Wedgwood, authentic clothing accessories from Burberry, or some elegant perfumes. Oxford Street has countless department stores and street stalls, offering a wide range of choices.
6. Burlington Arcade
Burlington Arcade consists of new and old sections. It gathers high-end luxury brands from the UK and around the world and is also very famous as a hub for trendy shops.
Jermyn Street: Turning in from Piccadilly St., you will find yourself entering another time and space. The shops on Jermyn St. have been in business for at least a hundred years, and it is not rare to find old shops with a history of three hundred years. Therefore, the buildings and shop signs are quite rustic, and the wooden display windows are somewhat mottled, revealing an antique luster.
7. Flea Markets
Camden Markets: Saturday and Sunday, 08:00 - 18:00. Features a variety of antiques, handicrafts, clothing, and shoe stores.
Petticoat Lane: Sunday, 09:00 - 14:00. People of all races gather here, focusing on clothing and household goods.
Portobello Road: Saturday, 07:00 - 17:00. Once a sanctuary for London hippies, it has many vintage clothes, jewelry, coins, and curiosities.
Brixton Market: Monday to Saturday, 08:00 - 17:30. Features many African and Indian fruits, handicrafts, and tapes.
8. Business Hours
Most shops in the UK are closed on Sundays, but they are open all day from Monday to Saturday. Most shops here operate from 10:00 to 18:00.
9. Sales Seasons
There are two major sales in London every year. The summer sale offers discounts of about 30%-50% and lasts for three weeks from the fourth week of June to the second week of July. The winter sale offers discounts of about 40%-60% and runs from Christmas to the end of January.
10. Currency and Banking
The currency unit in the UK is the Pound Sterling, with 1 pound equal to 100 pence. The exchange rate between the Pound and the RMB is approximately 1 Pound = 12 RMB. You should not carry large amounts of cash to the UK but should make wise banking arrangements. Choose your bank carefully. Fees charged by different banks vary, so you should compare prices before opening an account to see which one offers the best service. Banking hours in the UK are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
11. Shopping Tax Refund Procedures
When shopping in the UK, you must pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on everything except basic food and books. VAT can be as high as 17.5%. Unless otherwise noted, store prices already include VAT. If you are leaving the UK permanently within 3 months, you can declare to the store that you want a tax refund. The store will generally give you a tax refund form for you to fill out and have signed by the store. You can then claim your tax refund at the airport tax refund office when you leave the country. Tax refunds are generally issued in the form of a check mailed to you later. However, some large stores can deduct the tax for you at the time of purchase, saving you the trouble of airport tax refunds.
