The Stashbee Guide to Black Friday in London

Black Friday, which falls on the 26 November 2021, is the perfect time to bag a bargain. It’s a great way to get a headstart on your Christmas shopping and a cheap chance to make up for lost time after last year’s winter lockdown.

But with so many shops offering discounts, bargain hunters in London will be spoilt for choice on exactly where to find the best Black Friday deals near them, especially if they’re heading to London’s biggest shopping centres. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to get the most out of Black Friday in London. We’ll provide you with a few Black Friday shopping tips, introduce some of London’s best shopping malls, and help you find affordable parking so you can shop till you drop.
 

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Source: Giphy

What Is Black Friday?

Just like Halloween and prom night, Black Friday is one of the many traditions that we’ve appropriated from the United States. Every year, Black Friday comes the day after Thanksgiving in the US, where it has been routinely the busiest shopping day since 2005.

Here in the UK, the term Black Friday was originally used by the emergency services in reference to the Friday before Christmas, when the majority of office parties tend to take place and people tend to drink a little more than they should. However, the term is now better known for the bumper shopping event, which sees millions of us heading to the high street in search of incredible discounts.

As Black Friday has gained a foothold in the UK’s retail calendar, it has spawned a further shopping bonanza called Cyber Monday, which falls at the start of the following week. The big difference between the two is that, as its name suggests, Cyber Monday is a purely online affair, with deals and discounts only available online. However, the reality is that these two key dates are becoming increasingly blurred together into a monster, four-day-long sales event known as Black Friday weekend.

In 2019, total UK retail spending during Black Friday weekend was £8.6bn - the highest of any country in Europe. Due to the pandemic, that figure fell to £7.5bn in 2020. However, in 2023, brands like John Lewis, Amazon, Currys PC World, and Argos are all expected to launch a massive range of offers, so there’s sure to be plenty of bargains to be found across all sorts of goods.

 

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When Is Black Friday 2023?

Black Friday always falls the day after Thanksgiving Day in the US. This year, Thanksgiving Day is Thursday 23 November, with Black Friday on Friday 24 November. Cyber Monday will be on Monday 27 November.

In recent years, many retailers have tried to stretch out the bumper sales period for as long as possible, with some deals being offered from the start of the month. That means that if you shop around, you should be able to grab a bargain throughout November.

Source: Giphy

Black Friday Shopping Tips

If you’re tempted to do some Black Friday shopping of your own, then it pays to put a little method in your madness.

For one thing, Black Friday has been seen as a ploy from retailers to lure shoppers into their stores by offering discounts on outdated products, or reductions that aren’t quite as good as they seem to be. And while that’s true to some extent, you could easily level that argument at any sale. Besides, there are still some great deals out there - you just have to shop in the right way.

• Always know what products you’re interested in beforehand

No matter how good the price, it’s not a bargain if you don’t need the item in the first place. That’s why it’s worth limiting your purchases to the items you really need and scoping out in advance where you can find them at the best prices.

• Sometimes brand names do matter

You’ll often find that many of the products in Black Friday sales are made by less well-known brands. While sometimes that’s fine, there is a certain reassurance that comes from a recognised brand, particularly on electronics such as televisions. If you’re considering buying an item from a more obscure manufacturer, always check the online reviews of that product beforehand.

• Is it really that good of a deal?

It’s easy to get caught up in the Black Friday hysteria and believe that retailers are practically giving things away. They’re not. Research from Which? found that 85% of Black Friday products from 2019 had already been available at the same price (or even lower) in the previous six months. To check whether you’re getting the right amount of bang for your buck, head over to PriceRunner and follow the items you’re looking to pick up for cheap.

• Find out which retailers offer to price match

With limited stock available, it pays to know which retailers will be willing to match any cheaper Black Friday deals you might find elsewhere. John Lewis price matches with all stores other than online-only retailers such as Amazon, while Currys will match just about any price you find.

• Returns policies are usually better if you buy online

Although the lure of the high street can be strong on Black Friday, it’s worth checking whether you’re better protected if you buy online. Many e-tailers will give you 14 days after the delivery date to cancel and a further 14 days to return the product for a full return. When buying in-store, you can return non-faulty goods for an exchange, but you will usually only receive a refund if the retailer has a returns policy, which is not required by law.

Where to Shop for Black Friday in London

Now we’re down to the serious business of introducing the London shopping centres and malls where you’ll find the best Black Friday deals. These shopping hotspots are dotted around the capital, so there’s sure to be a convenient location for you.

Source: Giphy

 

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    1. Westfield, Stratford

With 250 shops and 70 places to grab a bite to eat, Westfield Stratford is one of the largest shopping malls in Europe and is the best place to hunt for Black Friday bargains in East London. The stores at Westfield include everything from luxury retailers and men’s and women’s fashion clothing to tech, sports and fitness, jewellery, shoes, and more.

With so many products to choose from, Westfield will get busy on Black Friday and over the weekend, particularly when you factor in all of the Christmas shoppers too. While parking is available at the mall itself, at £6 for two hours, it certainly doesn’t come cheap, especially when you’ll have queues to contend with in both the car park and the shops themselves.

Alternatively, you could book parking near Westfield Stratford with Stashbee! We have secure, affordable, and convenient spaces to rent nearby from as little as £2 per hour.

    2. Westfield, Shepherds Bush

Westfield Shepherds Bush, in the west of the city, was the first of the two giant Westfield shopping malls to be built. Easily accessible via the Central line, if you’re looking for Black Friday deals on designer goods of any kind, it’s probably the better of the two Westfields for you.

It also has longer opening hours, staying open until 10pm rather than 9pm, making it perfect for some after-work bargain hunting. Due to its more central location, Westfield Shepherds Bush can get very busy, especially in the lead up to Christmas and on Black Friday.

Parking at Westfield Shepherd Bush is limited and slightly more expensive than its East London counterpart, at £6.50 for two hours. If you are struggling to find an affordable place to park in Shepherds Bush, then you can rent a parking space from one of our verified Hosts. We have hourly parking available just a stone’s throw from the mall that starts at just £2 per hour.

    3. Brent Cross Shopping Centre

If you’re based in North London, or it’s a more convenient location for you to get to, then the Brent Cross shopping centre could be the Black Friday destination for you.

Located by the Brent Cross interchange in Hendon, the Brent Cross shopping centre is home to more than 120 fashion, beauty, and lifestyle stores. It also has more than 30 restaurants - perfect for when you need to refuel.

Given its more out-of-town location, getting to Brent Cross may well be quickest by car, in which case, you’ll need somewhere to park. Brent Cross is the only shopping centre that offers free customer parking all year round, but that does mean that spaces can fill up quickly. In that case, you can rent secure and affordable Brent Cross parking by the hour at Stashbee.

    4. Canary Wharf Shopping Centre

With department stores such as John Lewis and major electrical retailers like Currys PC World, you can be sure that the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre will have plenty of Black Friday bargains this year.

This is a convenient and pleasant shopping centre made up of three arcades that encircle Jubilee Park and the Canary Wharf tube station on the banks of the River Thames. It has more than 200 shops, bars, and restaurants to choose from that are open seven days a week.

Although Black Friday will be very busy with workers hanging around in the evening for late-night shopping and Christmas drinks, there are four car parks and 2,500 parking spaces to choose from. Those car parks are in:

• Cabot Square - Use E14 4PA for your sat nav
• Canada Square - E14 5EW
• Jubilee Place - E14 5NY
• Westferry Circus Car Park - E14 4HD

But while there are plenty of parking spaces to choose from, they’re not particularly cheap. You’ll pay £4.40 for up to two hours, £6 for 2-3 hours, and £9 for 3-4 hours. Alternatively, you could pre-book guaranteed parking in Canary Wharf at Stashbee to use at your convenience.

    5. Hays Galleria

Located on the doorstep of London Bridge, the Hays Galleria is the most architecturally impressive shopping centre you’re likely to see. 150 years ago, it was one of London’s oldest and busiest Thameside docks, but it has since been converted into a covered area of shops, restaurants, and bars.

Although the Hays Galleria is home to mostly smaller retailers, it’s still not averse to a Black Friday bargain. However, as well as the shopping, you also have to think about all of the other fantastic benefits that are thrown in. That includes the nearby Southbank Christmas market, the wonderful Christmas lights, and the history that’s built into all corners of the local area.

If you plan to drive to the Hays Galleria, then be warned - there’s no parking on site and not much in the way of nearby public car parks. However, there are plenty of parking spaces in Tower Hill to rent with Stashbee and, once you’ve found a convenient spot and reserved it in advance, you can enjoy the most peaceful parking experience possible.

    6. Coal Drops Yard

The Coal Drops Yard in London’s King’s Cross is one of the most impressive regeneration projects in the city. The shopping destination and foodie hotspot is just a five-minute walk from King’s Cross St. Pancras station and boasts more than 50 shops, restaurants, and cafés.

The cobbled streets and brick arches of what used to be a derelict industrial yard are now home to an eclectic mix of independent shops and designer brands. While that might not sound like your typical Black Friday shopping fodder, there are still plenty of discounts to be had and it’s great fun trying to find them.

If you’re driving to the area, then be warned - there’s no on-site parking at Coal Drops Yard, though there are several public car parks to choose from, all of which are at least a 10-minute walk away. These include:

• Handyside Car Park
• Euston Station Underground Car Park
• Judd Street NCP
• Brunswick Square NCP

Prices are around £8 for two hours, rising to £12 for up to four hours, making it quite an expensive option. But if you want your parking to fit the Black Friday spirit and keep the bargain prices going, rent a parking space in King’s Cross by the hour from local residents, courtesy of Stashbee.

Source: Giphy

 

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Pay Less for Your Black Friday Parking

Black Friday shopping is all about finding great discounts, but if you’re paying a fortune to park then that cancels out those savings. Here at Stashbee, we have thousands of parking spaces for rent by the hour that you can book beforehand. That gives you the chance to shop till you drop without having to worry about where you’re going to park.

All of our spaces are available for a pre-set price that has been determined by our Hosts, with no hidden fees or charges to pay. The result is cost-effective, time-effective, and guarantees you a place to park, even in central locations.
 

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