With discounts of up to 70-80%, the London winter sales attract shopaholics from all over the world. Traditionally they begin on December 26, the day called Boxing day. However, many businesses boost Christmas sales by offering discounts from the beginning of December. This is the time of year when consuming in London can be cheap and provides a perfect excuse to escape and buy Christmas gifts. Here is a guide to not get lost among offers.
Department stores: For lovers of everything in one
Unlike in other countries, if something characterizes the panorama of British ‘department stores’ it is its variety. The mother of all sales takes place at Harrods with discounts of up to 60%. Each year, a famous person opens the season, which runs from December 26 to January 23.
The popular Selfridges department store has just inaugurated its Shoe Galleries, the largest shoe section in the world, with more than 50,000 shoes in stock. During sales they drop up to 75% off. Liberty occupies the interior of a beautiful Tudor-style building. It is an exquisite place, for gourmet purchases at half the price. Instead, Harvey Nichols it only offers high-voltage glamour: well-chosen pieces in the heart of Knightbridge.
Indigenous luxury: For fans of British style
In the streets of the center, better known as “West End”, most of the luxury brands and designers are concentrated. This is the case of two typical native eccentrics like Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood. In New Bond Street we find the very British Burberry establishment. In this same street is Alexander McQueen, who after the sad disappearance of the designer has a new creative director, Sarah Burton. Not far away, on Bruton Street, we can visit two other ambassadors of British fashion: the very daughter Stella McCartney and the exotic Matthew Williamson.
Browns multi- brand store, founded in 1970 by the incombustible Joanna Burstein, has been discovering new British designers for decades. To get the next Galliano at a bargain price. It is distributed among several numbers of South Molton Street.
Independent boutiques: For those who go on their own
Napoleon took up Adam Smith’s phrase describing Great Britain as “a nation of shopkeepers”. And in Marylebone Lane, around Carnaby Street, and around Angel, it’s easy to see why. Walking through these neighborhoods is discovering gems: the most indie and original shops in the city, and pop up establishments.
Ready fashion chains: With a democratic spirit
London is very proud of its clean high street that during the sales, its prices drop to ridiculous levels. Topshop ‘s flagship store in Oxford Circus is quite the pilgrimage site for fashionistas (No details of sales are revealed until the last minute).
But there are other British chains that are enjoying enormous success: Oasis, New Look, River Island and Warehouse target young trendsetters. Reiss and Whistles appeal to a contemporary and sophisticated audience. The inevitable riot on Oxford Street can be avoided with a tube ride to the gigantic Westfield shopping center, where Zara rubs shoulders with Prada.