BEYOND RETRO
The vintage temple in the Brick Lane district! A huge warehouse where you can snoop, search and ...Read more
The vintage temple in the Brick Lane district! A huge warehouse where you can snoop, search and ...Read more
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Most stores open Monday to Saturday from 9 or 10am to 6 or 7pm without interruption. In the city center, stores can sometimes stay open until 8 or 10 pm, and many open on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. In London, you'll even find stores open 24 hours a day.
Prices are about the same as in France. Some major American brands are slightly cheaper in the UK. Prices include VAT. Travelers from non-EU countries whose stay does not exceed three months can apply for a refund, provided they have their passport. You can pay in all stores by credit card. Some readers will ask you to pay in euros, but the conversion rate is often unattractive.
They are held twice a year. In winter, the sales officially begin on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, December 26. They end at the end of January. The summer sales usually start at the end of June. During these periods, the shops are very busy, especially on Regent Street and Oxford Street. Travellers come especially for these exceptional sales: up to 70 and 80 %. But London shops can actually hold sales at any time of the year, as the legislation is different. This makes London an ideal shopping destination. There are major promotions going on all year round.
London may be known for its department stores and shopping malls, but it is also the capital of vintage. It's a cheaper way to find great pieces, while protecting the planet. The east end of the city is full of vintage markets like Brick Lane, where you can get trendy, customised and British clothes for very competitive prices. You can also find rare gems while doing a good deed at charity shops, of which there are many in London.
You won't find any hawkers or counterfeit goods in London, but avoid the big souvenir stores on Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square, which are overly touristy and sell all the same items produced who knows where at prices that aren't always attractive. Instead, take home some tea, a vintage piece from a market or lemond curd bought in a supermarket, which are much more typical.