Factory Outlets

A haven for true bargain hunters!!!  Look no further than the factory outlet centres scattered around the country.

These are typically where major retailers and designers will be selling off the remainder of stock from last season and discontinued lines.  However, don't think that the quality will be compromised as this is not the case.  

Be prepared to rummage along the rails to find the best bargains, but these places claim to sell items at up to 60% of the original selling price, so perseverance is the name of the game.  However, also be prepared to find the perfect item; but then be told it's not available in your size!  

Shopping at one of these places tends to be for impulse buys rather than for a specific item, as there is no telling until you are in the stores as to exactly what they're going to have on sale.  So if you're searching for the perfect outfit for a special occasion, visit here first, but leave enough time to go to another shopping centre in case you can't find what you're looking for.

Typically, the items on sale will be clothing and sports items, but a few household shops have opened outlet stores.

For a general guide to the outlet villages in the country, click here

The main outlet villages in the area are situated in:

Bicester Village, Oxfordshire (M40 J9, about an hour NW of London, or by train from London Marylebone to Bicester) The McArthurGlen factory store mall is in Swindon, Wiltshire (M4 J13, about 75 minutes W of London, or by train from London Paddington to Swindon)
Whiteley Village, Hampshire (M27 J9, about 90 minutes SW of London, or by train from London Waterloo to Southampton Airport, then taxi) Hatfield, Hertfordshire. (A1(M) J3, about 30 minutes N of London. By train from London Kings Cross to Hatfield, then taxi)

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