ebook writing sample - london shopping

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A sample of writing from London Secrets eBook shopping chapter

London - Sensational Shopping

With a chubby pound sterling symbol snuggling up to every price tag in town, no one ever accused London of being a cheap shopping date. On the other hand, the huge range of stores and quality products from all over the world makes the city an irresistible temptation for even the most frugal visitor.

Where to find London sales
As the old saying goes, "When in London shop as the Londoners shop". This involves loitering around sales, tracking down discount shops and hitting the amazing selection of markets dotted throughout the city and suburbs. If you know where to look there's no excuse why any self-respecting shop-a-holic shouldn't max out their luggage allowance for the flight back home.

The official sales at London's department stores take place twice a year. These days the traditional July sales start in June and run through to the end of July. The biggest sales time is the January Sale that usually starts December 26. If you ever find yourself outside Harrods's on opening day, surrounded by hundreds of bargain ravenous housewives, just as the doors are flung open, you'll understand why we call it Boxing Day.

Many shops also have a permanent sale racks or promote sales outside these traditional periods to bring in some extra cash. The Evening Standard and Time Out magazine list many of these clearances and warehouse sales.

Depending on where you're from you might find some London shop assistants less helpful than those at home. The general excuse is that because they work on a wage rather than an incentive we should be grateful they even turned up to take our money, wrap our purchase and show us the door. On the other hand, staff in many of the department stores, smaller shops and boutiques will go out of the way to help, although you might have to ask for assistance first - it's that personal space thing again.
 

London shopping hot spots
You could spend your entire days just shopping in London. Old Bond Street offers big name brands such as Gucci, Chanel and Versace, and stunning silver gifts at Asprey's and Tiffany. The main shopping area of King's Road is alive with boutiques of every description, whilst up at Sloane Street the lady Sloane Rangers of Knightsbridge strut around the most exclusive shopping area in the city which play home to both Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

Newer hot spot, Oxo Tower Wharf along Southbank, includes another Harvey Nichols, bars and designer boutiques. Oxford Street is full of inexpensive fashion shops and chain stores. Charing Cross Road is a literary legacy and Tottenham Court Rd an electronics extravaganza. For the man of culture Jermyn Street offers hand-made shirts and shoes, Havana cigars, antiques and fine art. Those rebellious teenagers will mope around Camden Town looking for denim, funky hats, boots, jewelry, music and more, whilst littlies will drag you to Regent Street toy heaven at Hamley's.

After all that, head to Covent Garden, near Soho, and take a load off your feet in the open-air cafes and wine bars before browsing through the wonderful boutique shops and antique and craft market held on the weekends.
 

Shopping hours
Shopping hours are generally 9am to 5pm or 6pm, except Thursday when they open until 7pm or 8pm. Some shops don't open until 10am because, well, they just don't want to get up early, especially in winter. On Sundays shops can remain open for 6 hours so it could be 10am until 4pm, 11am to 5pm, etc.

Remember the VAT we mentioned earlier in the book? Skipped that bit did you? In a nutshell, almost everything you buy will have an additional 17.5% sales tax whacked on top. If you fill out a form at the time of purchase you can have this refunded at the airport. 

It defies all laws of nature that a person attempt to shop in London without being lured into at least one department store - unless you have a inconsolable fear of vinyl walkways and being surrounded by hundreds of burly looking clothes racks. Over the past few years major department stores have been spruced up to rival the swishest of New York and Paris offering some of the best shopping in the capital. What we are trying to say is that if you're a professional shopper, London is the place to be!