One of the pre-departure anxieties I experienced before setting out to travel to the UK was where the in the hell I was supposed to buy anything once I got to the UK.
Where do I buy groceries? Where do I buy clothes? Where do I buy hangers? Where do I buy towels? Where do I buy a small, inexpensive fan for my overheated bedroom?
The answer to that last one: nowhere, apparently. Try amazon.
So, in the hopes of easing the minds of future travelers, here’s a basic breakdown of where you can buy your stuff:
Food and Groceries
Most common chain stores are Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Morrisons. You’ll find these all over the place, and Sainsbury’s and Tesco both have superstores.
Most of the stores are small corner stores, but they have a pretty good selection of all your basics, including some fresh produce and meats and a fresh bakery. I did about 90% of my grocery shopping at these places.
Other grocery stores: Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, Asda. I rarely used these places, mostly because I had a Sainsbury’s and a Morrisons right across the street from my residence, but they generally have a wider selection, particularly Asda (which is owned by Walmart and basically looks like a Walmart).
Fancy grocery stores: Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose. I bought a gift for a friend at Marks and Spencer and was blinded by the decadence. Good for if you want to really treat yourself/others to fancy foods.
Clothes
Primark: I have oft compared Primark to the US store Gordmans. It’s a similar setup: really cheap stuff, generally pretty stylish, not made to last. Unless you’re a clothes horse and you’re looking to buy fancy clothes while you’re abroad, I’d really recommend you stick to Primark for your clothes needs. I came over at the beginning of autumn and bought my winter gear at Primark and it all served me perfectly (and, actually, the winter coat I bought is still in great shape, a full six months later).
H&M: I never shopped here (I’m sorry, I’m recommending clothing stores but I honestly didn’t do any clothes shopping while abroad), but it’s the same basic setup as the US chain.
Asda: Any of your basics, anything you’d expect to find in a Walmart. Some of the same brands, even.
Toiletries and Home Basics
Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Morrisons all carry all your toiletry basics, basic medicine and pain relievers, and some kitchen gear like plates, cups, cutlery, toasters, pots, and pans (this is doubly true if it’s near a university, where they’ll have your typical “back to school” line). You can take care of a lot of your basic needs at these stores.
Boots and Superdrug are common cosmetics and drug stores.
Asda and the superstore versions of Tesco and Sainsbury’s for everything else: hangers, lamps, rugs, trashcans, bedding, towels, etc.
If there’s anything you don’t see on this list that you want to know about, feel free to ask me! And if you’re ever in a situation where you really can’t figure out where to find a specific item, your best bet is to just ask your nearest native Brit, look online, or just try Amazon.
