Fierce competition has brought prices down considerably in the food, clothing and electronic sectors. England has a rich history of independent shops and small business, so much so England was called a nation of shopkeepers by Napoleon. Prices do vary and it is always worth visiting the various retail stores as bargains can often be found. Avoid buying from the tourist areas and stick to the High Street shops or the many ‘out-of-town’ retail parks where prices will be considerably cheaper. The retail market in the UK is a very competitive one and many bargains are to be had all year round. In the electronics sector, for example, it is becoming more and more common to ask for a price reduction at time of purchase.
Located at the heart of London’s West End, Regent Street is one of the world’s most prestigious lifestyle destinations, famous for its flagship stores and international brands.
Side view of Berry Bros & Rudd Wine Merchants, 3 St James’s Street, London SW1.
VAT (Value Added Tax – a mandatory tax on almost all goods and services in the UK) is 20% with reduced rates of 5% and 0% applying to specific categories of goods (foodstuffs and most books, for example, are taxed at 0%). For all consumer shopping, VAT is included in the sale price – so unlike the United States for example, the price you see is the price you pay. The exception to this rule are most industrial goods – where VAT is quoted separately (by law the term “ex VAT” must be displayed next to the sales price), but tourists are unlikely to ever be exposed to this.
In many of the larger towns and cities, many shops have the blue “Tax-Free Shopping” sticker in the window, meaning that when you leave the European Union (not just the UK), you can claim back at least some of the VAT before you leave the country. However, in order to do this, you must keep any receipts you receive from your purchase and request a voucher from the store. Minimum purchase amounts at a store before claiming back VAT would normally start at £30.
Electronic items such as computers and digital cameras can be cheaper here than many European countries (especially Scandinavian countries). The internet is always a good way to judge the price of a particular item, also you can use this as a bargaining tool when agreeing on a price with some of the larger electronic retail stores. If visiting from the US, there may be duties and taxes charged that make some of these purchases much less of a bargain so shop wisely. Plastic bags cost a minimum of 5p each from all large chains across the nation.
Beware of shopping on Sundays as some retailers only operate limited hours. Limited Sunday hours are in fact actually mandated by law (maximum of 6 hours in England) although in cities like London, if you entered the shop before closing you might still be able to complete the transaction after closing. Keep this in mind when planning shopping trips. Smaller corner convenience stores (eg Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local) are not covered by this and will normally operate late into Sunday. In England supermarkets are required by law to remain closed two days a year; Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
The range of products in English supermarket stores is very diverse. The main supermarkets include Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Lidi, Marks & Spencers, Sainsbury’s and the The Co-operative. You will find aisles of English and international foods in all supermarkets. In England, many retail stores are open every day. Some large supermarkets are open for twenty-four hours (except on Sundays). Most stores do not open on Easter Sunday, New Year’s Day or Christmas Day and have reduced hours on other public and bank holidays.
Typical store shopping hours: Mondays – Saturdays: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, or 10:00 am to 8:00 pm/10:00 pm Sundays – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, or 12 noon to 6:00 pm.