Im travelling to the UK later in the year, and was wondering if there are any particular bargains that people pick up when holidaying in the UK to bring home?
Im thinking about UK equivalent of buying electronics in Japan, knock off clothes and bags in SE asia etc.
Is the UK known for anything in particular?
Coke
Bring back some authentic Spotted Dick: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_dick
If you like wine buy some English wine and bring it back. I've never seen it on sale here. Not really a bargain as such, but it's bound to be a talking point when you serve it.
I've lived in Australia for 6 years and I buy less and less stuff to bring back each time I go. Globalisation has brought much here.
Buy your duty-free alcohol on way home in Asia, it's way cheaper than Heathrow
Certainly not electronics, the UK VAT rate of 20% kills that (their GST). Much better deals here now.
Keep an eye on www.hotukdeals.com this sites UK equivalent
Any food from Marks and Spencer, much missed by UK expats here
Also Waitrose we miss that too - its a posher Coles
The Westfields in London at Shepherds Bush and Stratford are bigger and better than the Australian ones, better shops
Go to Greggs, a UK pastry institution and eat a steak bake and sausage roll. Also very cheap
I'd also recommend the Tastecard https://www.tastecard.co.uk/ you can eat out 2 for 1 every night of your holiday. A 60 day trial costs 1 pound.
Also check out the Wetherspoons chain of pubs. Laugh at a pint that costs $3.50. Some of them are a bit sketchy though.
I would definitely recommend a visit to Poundland if you are bringing back chocolate, biscuits and chips. Everything costs a pound! 4 mars bars is a pound, 6 bags of chips a pound etc.
Clothes are better, and Australia usually gets them later (summer Uk stuff comes out in April before turning up in Aus in October).
Sales start on boxing day, Oxford Street Selfridges are one of the best
Cosmetics and toiletries, go to massive chemist Boots - a much classier Priceline. The ones in central London are best.
You can still buy Nurofen Plus without prescription, stock up
Buy your train tickets as soon as possible, very expensive in teh week leading up to travel.
On expensive medication? turn up at NHS clinic and say you've lost it and replace it for about 8 pounds.
If you are buying big, you can request a VAT free receipt in major shops and claim the VAT back at the airport (get there early as there can be big queues)
Awesome response.
The Westfields in London at Shepherds Bush and Stratford are bigger and better than the Australian ones, better shops
Except for food courts. You don’t seem to get that concept.
Otherwise, yes. The centres are beautiful.
Thats fantastic, thanks so much for the detailed reply!
I will absolutely give many of the suggestions a go! Im keen for Greggs, I know the sausage rolls are nothing like the ones we get here and the tastecard.co.uk is going to be a real winner, literally halving our food budget which is awesome! Thank you!
Re transport we are looking at hiring a car and have heard mixed reports about hiring one early, or waiting till it gets closer and getting them cheaper. We wont be fussed on what car (there is just 2 of us) so picking up what ever they have left might be a better option in the last week before we go. Thoughts?
Clothes will be another winner, Ive lost some descent weight lately so a new summer wardrobe is in order! We will be there in October so I should be able to pick up their clearance summer stuff as they are going into winter.
We will be going via Abu Dhabi on the way home, so not sure if the duty free alcohol will be cheaper there or not?
Seriously that is such a fantastic reply, I really appreciate it Mark! :)
No worries, a few other tips:
Food in central London pubs are usually overpriced and awful, UK pubs are mainly chain operated with frozen food distribution. You will have better luck in the Uk regions where there are more independent pubs
Get yourself a fee-free international account, I used the HSBC global account for NZ/UK recently and worked fantastic with no charges and spot rates - using these you don't have to bother with opal cards on buses and trains and will rarely have to use cash
Check out an Argos, you don't have anything like that here - its a catalogue store that sells literally everything (apart from clothes).
Car hire is usually about 25 GBP per day for a basic one. Will get more expensive if there are shortages. Try and avoid airport pickup - you don't have to drive back to Heathrow
Someone has mentioned luxury goods, UK brands are a bit cheaper and the range is much wider if you get the VAT return back.
Finally (and sadly) keep an eye on currency exchange around 29 March. There may be some serious currency volatility if hard Brexit happens, or if a sensible deal/revoke A50 happens a rapid recovery of the pound.
They're famous for B, M & C.
You gotta try it while you're there.
Beef, Mac & Cheese?
Bacon, Mayo & Coriander?
Bitching, Moaning and Complaining.
Oh, the irony!
Marmite, once you try it you will never go back to that garbage you call Vegemite.
How unAustralian (or maybe a state thing lol).
I first tried marmite visiting Aussie relatives in Vic. Having grown up eating vegemite, marmite presented as a very poor substitute. Other relatives from Vic recently visited and mentioned marmite also.
I am curious, did you grow up having vegemite as a kid ? I would be very surprised if anyone who grew up on vegemite, then tried marmite and thought it was better. Just a very poor vegemite substitute IMO.
I'm English so grew up on marmite, that being said I haven't had it for 10+ years so without wanting to sound 'unEnglish' if I tried marmite now I might not like it as much as vegemite.
I expected as such. I find it interesting how you see aussie kids (babies even) eating vegemite on toast with a huge grin on their face like they're eating chocolate ot ice cream…
But then people from overseas try it for the first time and think it's horrible. I think most people try it for first time and put too much vegemite on and no or not enough, butter.
@[Deactivated]: Yes I think you need to be introduced to this type of food at a young age to really like it.
I grew up eating baked beans most days of the week but my wife who is Japanese grew up eating natto (fermented soy beans). I hate natto and she hates baked beans even though for an outsider they may seem similar. My kids who have only lived in Australia hate baked beans and love natto but they are weird.
Check out hotukdeals
It's Ozbargain for UK
Just don't buy any opium.
Just got back from UK last month. Agree with what people says above.. not much bargains in UK really. We did stumble upon Primark department store where we see "bargains" for clothings (1 pound shirts, 50p slippers) but then again if you convert that into AUD.. you are likely to find similar bargains here in Target/Kmart/BigW. They have Harry Potter stuffs which I would call it bargain because it is only a fraction of the price that Harry Potter studio sells - but of course different "style".
As for bags and leather - I'd go to Italy for that. 15 euros leather bags is a bargain to me.
Oh and you can claim VAT back.. just ensure you show them at the airport upon exiting your last Europe stop. But it is also a bit of a scam because the "service fees" that the companies (such as mondial / global blue) is exorbitant.. It's not like Australia where you are guaranteed your GST back. So we didnt bother queuing up just for the sake of getting a measly 10 quid back
Primark has throw away 'fashion' that is way ahead of big W and target etc.
In terms of cost, yes similar but 'better fashionable' stuff.
not sure how much of a discount it is but when i go to england i make sure to pop into sports direct. they usually have a bunch of branded (adidas, nike) clothing on sale or generally cheaper than australia.
last time i went (last year april) i bought i pair of brand new adidas shoes for 40 pounds which was the equivalent to around $75. the same shoes in australia were about $150.
Ahh yes, Sports Direct, thanks for the tip. I checked out their online store and they also have some Liverpool gear Im keen to grab! Thank you!
Doc Martens.
If you live there for 12 months, buy a Porsche, bring it back as a personal import, sell it in Australia at grossly inflated local prices.
https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/import_option…
TLDR : Porsche => ???? => Profit
As long as you actually drive & insure it for a year minimum.
I bought a car when I lived in Japan. 6 months later I got a company car so I cancelled my vehicle's insurance etc, and parked it in the garage. 3 years later I went to import it back to Australia and DFAT said "sorry, you have to actually use it for 12 months" grrr.
With Brexit going on, there might not be any big brands still left…
any airfare , for the flight out
Camping stuff can be cheap. Also children's clothes and shoes don't attract VAT so if you fit into their sizes…
Other it's just British brands that would be cheaper, but if you're not aware of any then I wouldn't worry too much. (Hunter boots?) Just concentrate on food and drink. I do miss Hula Hoops and M&S ready meals! Tropicana juices!
Their yogurt is cheap, plentiful and excellent. I recommend Muller Corners. The yogurt rows in UK supermarkets are probably 5 times the size of the ones here.
Thank you all for your comments, it has really given me a lot of great ideas!
Luxury goods tend to be cheaper there, especially since you get VAT back (check prices first of course). You can check how much VAT you get back http://www.globalblue.com/tax-free-shopping/refund-calculato….
Go to Bicester Village for outlet stores and there's also a decent Burberry outlet in London with very good prices compared to oz.
Whine