January is one of the best months to visit London. It’s not too crowded and the weather is relatively mild—especially compared to most European capitals. Also, the shopping is fantastic. Yes, there’s great shopping to be had all year round, but London’s January sales make the city that much more attractive to fashion-forward bargain hunters on the prowl for the latest goods. Here’s where to go to get the best deals…
The Best of January Sales in London
Shopping the sales in London? The prestigious Harrods should be your first stop. (Image by Russ Martin via Unsplash.)
Harrods
Favored by the royal family and those with regal taste, Harrods is one of London’s most iconic department stores. They only have one winter sale per year, and it’s in January. The big event starts on Boxing Day (December 26), and the good stuff goes fast. As such, many shoppers actually stand in line and wait for the doors to open at 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the sale. To make the waiting more enjoyable, Harrods serves warm beverages to those waiting, and there’s even live music to keep you entertained. You can expect to find designer goods up to 50-percent off, so be prepared to snag some serious bargains. Harrods fans should consider staying nearby at the spacious three-bedroom Spencer. (Don’t worry, there’s plenty of closet space for all your new steals.)
Harvey Nichols
Located just a short hop away from Harrods in Knightsbridge is Harvey Nicks (a.k.a. Harvey Nichols), where you can score more stylish savings. Their sale usually also starts on Boxing Day. (Transportation may be limited on Boxing Day, so check your route on Google Maps.) Like most of London’s January sales, the Harvey Nicks sale will last until mid-January. If you need to rest after all that shopping, there’s a restaurant on the fifth floor of the store. Serving fine seasonal produce, The Fifth Floor restaurant provides plenty of dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there’s a café too, which makes for a good spot for a quick coffee break.
Image by Freestocks via Unsplash
Westfield London
Set right on the border of Shepherds Bush and the pretty neighborhood of Holland Park, Westfield London is a modern shopping mall with plenty on offer. Westfield is a great place to shop for affordable British brands like Hobbs, River Island and Monsoon. The mall is massive, so be prepared to spend several hours there, if you’re motivated to do some serious shopping. There are plenty of restaurants in the mall, should you need a break. (There’s also a big cinema.)
Westfield can get very busy, so try to visit early. If you’re after luxury goods, start in the area called The Village, which is closest to the tube station. The Village has over 35 luxe British boutiques including Burberry, Jigsaw and Zadig & Voltaire, plus international names like Prada, Gucci and Jimmy Choo.
Liberty
With a Tudor-inspired façade and high-end collections draped throughout its teakwood halls, Liberty is another of London’s premier department stores. With up to 60-percent off, it’s another one of the January sales in London that cannot be missed. Liberty is great for finding lesser-known and niche designers. If you’re looking to come back from a trip home from London with some really interesting pieces, this is the place to shop. It also has an unrivaled beauty department, and there’s an ultra-cool home section too. Liberty is located just off Oxford Street, which is a big shopping mecca. It’s home to many of London’s flagship stores like Next, H&M and Zara. Also, you’ll find Selfridges on Oxford Street, which will also be hosting a big January sale.
Carnaby Street, in the heart of London, is a great place to find bargains from smaller, independent shops
Carnaby Street
If small, independent designers are more your speed, check out Carnaby Street, which is quite close to Oxford Circus as well. On the pedestrianized Carnaby Street you’ll find over 100 shops ranging from indie boutiques, international labels and one-off pop-ups. Many of them will be having big post-Christmas sales. Check out 26 Kingly Street, the womenswear shop by a duo of new fashion school graduates. For cool jewelry pieces and on-trend accessories, try Liars & Lovers. They’re very affordable—even when the pieces are not on sale.
The January sales in London provide a great excuse for a trip to London. London Perfect has luxury rentals near all of London’s best shopping districts. Get in touch with the team today. We’ll help you find a great London apartment rental for your next trip to the capital.
