UK Department Stores

When you have a lot of shopping to accomplish in a short time - and visitors often find themselves in that position - department stores are useful for everything from outfitting all the family or choosing a fashion wardrobe for round the clock to furnishing your home and buying gifts to take home - all in one go.

This handy guide will help you figure out what to shop for in the different department store groups around the country. Look here for what you can expect to find and what you can expect to spend.

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Harvey Nichols, made world famous as Harvey Nicks by the BBC's classic comedy Absolutely Fabulous, is a must visit department store for supermodels, celebrities, fashionistas and Sex and the City-style shoppers. Glamorous, trendy and expensive.

Prices? If you have to ask, wait for the sales.

All over the world, people who have heard about shopping in Britain have also heard about Marks and Spencer. This department store chain is so fully enmeshed in British life that it is hard to imagine a decent sized town or village without one.

The company specialises in budget to modestly priced, high quality clothing for men, women and children. Most Englishwomen, no matter what their social status, have at least some M&S lingerie or underwear. And separate food departments, selling M&S own label food products and prepared or ready to cook foods are very popular.

Prices? Inexpensive to moderate and invariably good value.

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