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Shopping
Each village and town has an area that is referred to as "The High Street". This is the area where most of the shops can be found, although shopping malls are becoming more numerous. Most shops close early (i.e. before 6:00 p.m.) and some still close in the afternoon on one day of the week. On Sunday, stores are allowed, by law, to stay open for six hours. Most DIY (hardware type stores), garden centres, large computer stores, and Supermarkets are open on Sunday until 4:00 p.m. Prior to Christmas, other shops also open on Sunday and extend some evening hours.
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Food Shopping | |
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Supermarkets & Grocery Stores | |
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Major Shopping Centres | |
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Street Markets | |
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School Supplies | |
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Toy Stores | |
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Book Shops | |
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Newspapers | |
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Major Department Stores | |
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Inexpensive Household Goods | |
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Miscellaneous |
Food Shopping
There are several large grocery chains. They carry different product lines from one another and you will find things that you like at each of them. They are usually open until 8:00 p.m. a few nights a week and some chains have been extending their hours until 10:00 p.m. Check your local supermarket hours as they vary from location to location. Smaller village supermarkets are great for picking up things like milk and bread on a daily basis and prices on other items are also quite reasonable. Some of the shops, in areas where a lot of Americans live, have American products or will try to get them for you if you ask.
Supermarkets & Grocery Stores
Here is a list of some of the supermarkets and grocery stores.
- Tesco
- Sainsbury
- Waitrose
- Marks and Spencer Food
- Safeway
- ASDA
Costco
This is a "members only" warehouse in Bushey, near Watford, with a lot of American products. Take the A41 off the M25 (junction 19) and you will eventually come to it on the right. You can join by having affiliation with certain businesses or with the Chilterns American Women's Club. If you have a Costco card from the States, it is valid here.
Organic Food and Ingredients
Holland and Barrett is a chain of health food stores in the greater London area.
Also, most big supermarkets now have extensive ranges of organic products. Waitrose is especially good.
Major Shopping Centres
Harlequin Centre, Watford
The nearest American-style mall is in Watford. This mall has over 100 shops and department stores, such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, BHS and Littlewoods. There are also speciality stores like Pier One Imports, a Sony outlet, etc. There are many shops outside of the mall that might be of interest - Clements Department Store, Laura Ashley, Jaeger, and The Gap. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, there is an indoor market.
The Bentall Centre, Kingston
This is a very nice mall at which to shop because of both the variety of shops and the setting of the mall and town centre. The main department store, Bentalls, has an excellent range of items for everyone. Other stores within the mall are Warner Brothers, Austin Reed, Jerry's Home Store, The Gap, and many others. Outside the mall there is Talbots, John Lewis, and an excellent variety of speciality shops and boutiques. (For moms of teenage boys, there is a shop just outside the mall that sells clothes teenage boys really like - "No Fear" skater-type clothing with that California look.) There are also many unique women's clothing shops where you could find that special dress. An added bonus is that there is a T.G.I. Friday's just outside the mall!
Matalan Discount Club
The Matalan Discount Club is an American-style shopping club that comprises well-known brands and its own label. There are 57 stores nation-wide.
Bluewater MallL, Greenhithe, Kent
This is the largest mall in Europe with over 320 shops and a 13-screen luxury cinema. The mall aims for the top-end of the market with designer shops and gourmet restaurants, but also includes the more familiar Talbots, John Lewis, and Marks & Spencer to name a few. The cr¸che takes children up to the age of 12.
Lakeside Mall, North of the Dartford Tunnell
This is probably the second largest mall in England. There are over 280 department stores and shops. There is also an open market section with stalls selling various crafts. There is a cr¸che for children and a cinema as well.
Meadowhall, Sheffield
This is another large mall, with more than 270 department stores such as Debenhams, Liberty, and House of Fraser. Other stores include Aquascutum, Austin Reed, Jaeger, Talbots, Warner Brothers, Disney Store, and several toy/game stores. There is an 11-screen Warner Brothers cinema, and a professionally run cr¸che. Within the mall is an area called "The Lanes", which carries many unusual and individually handcrafted items.
Bicester Outlet Shopping Village, Bicester
There are 48 shops, including Polo, Ralph Lauren, Cerruti, Jigsaw, Karen Millen, John & David, Kurt Geiger, and Hom Menswear.
TK Maxx, Reading
This is an off-price retailer in the Broad Street Mall. This store carries name brands at cut-rate prices. If you've been to TJ Maxx in the US, you are familiar with the kinds of items they might carry. Every week 10,000 items are delivered there, and 50,000 items are always in stock.
Other Shopping Centres
High Wycombe - High Street, Octagon and Chiltern Shopping Centres
Slough - High Street, Queensmere and Observatory Shopping Centres
Windsor - Thames and Peascods Streets - Parking in King Edward Parking Garage.
Uxbridge - High Street, Pavillions Shopping Centre, and The Chimes Shopping Centre
Watford High Street, Ring Road, Watford,
Charter Place,Harrow-on-the-Hill, Station Road, and St. Ann's Shopping Centre (can be reached by train or underground from Amersham or Little Chalfont).
All these shopping centres can be reached by regular local bus services.
Street Markets
Open-air stalls are set up all year round, no matter what the weather. These offer very good prices for fresh vegetables and fruits, plants, bric-a-brac, household goods like mops, buckets etc., school lunch drinks and snacks, sewing notions, and basic stationery.
Amersham-on-the-Hill - Tues, Sycamore Road
High Wycombe - Tues/Fri/Sat, High Street
Old Beaconsfield - Tues, Windsor End
Chalfont St. Peter - Fri, Parish Church Hall
Chesham - Wed. & Sat., High Street
Uxbridge - Pavillions Shopping Centre. There is a market or Craft Fair every day of the week and on Friday & Saturday a full market (all under cover).
School Supplies
The best place to go is a large branch of W.H. Smith located in each of the major shopping centres listed above, to Woolworth or Costco. In addition to these school supplies can be found at the following.
Martin's the Newsagent, Amersham-on-the-Hill
JPS Ltd., 7 Market Square, Chesham
Staples, Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe
Toy Stores
The Entertainer
Beaconsfield New Town
Slough Queensmere
Amersham
Uxbridge Pavillions Shopping Centre
Toys-R-Us
Brent Cross Shopping Centre
Reading
Yeading (closest one to Hillingdon)
Children's World
Caversham Road, Reading
Early Learning Centre
Pavillions Shopping Centre in Uxbridge
Chiltern Shopping Centre, High Wycombe
Other Toy Stores
Beatties 27 White Hart Street, Wycombe
Daniel's, Windsor
Harvey Johns, 10 High Street, Chesham
Howard Marshall, Station Road, Gerrards Cross
Book Shops
Local book shops offer great service and advice, and will order any title available.
W.H. Smith has a more general range of books. Large London bookstores include Waterstone's, Dillons, Border Books, Hatchards and Books etc.
Newspapers
Most villages have a newsagent, usually Forbuoys or Martins, where you can purchase newspapers.
Newspapers are available in Forbuoys and Boots Drug Stores as well as at small newsstands. You can have papers delivered to your home. Ask at Forbouys or your local newsagent.
Major Department Stores
Owen & Owen, John Lewis, Caleys and Debenhams, to name a few.
Inexpensive Household Goods
Try street markets and DIY (Do It Yourself) stores listed below.
Argos Catalogue Stores in Uxbridge, Harrow, Slough Observatory and High Wycombe. It is also in most other large towns.
Robert Dyas - Queensmere Centre, Slough and Harrow-on-the-Hill
Woolworth's - in every major town
Cargo Home Shops Amersham, Chesham, Marlow, Gerrards Cross
Miscellaneous
For those of us who celebrate American Independence Day, Howard Marshall toy store in Gerrards Cross carries fireworks.
There is a Christmas tree farm in Farnham Common that will deliver trees within the local area.
For visitors who use wheelchairs, wheelchairs are available to rent from British Red Cross.
