Groceries, Clothing, DIY
Something you might not think about is shopping!!
In the states we have grocery stores, even general retail stores, open 24 hours a day, some including holidays and weekends. Now, while that may be convenient for the shoppers, maybe not so much for the employees.
What I’ve seen here in England is that some stores may be open until 8:00 PM. Some of the smaller “Express” stores may stay open until 11:00 PM. But, for the most part, the stores close at 8:00 PM or earlier. So…planning is essential! Also, the stores do close on Bank Holidays (Federal Holidays in the states), so again, plan accordingly!!
This past Christmas, my first Christmas here in England, it was humbling to see not a single store open for business on Christmas Day
Now Boxing Day—well that’s for another post!!!
Most other retail shops, clothing, hardware, etc. also close “early”, at least to us from the states. There is no Walmart open 24/7, there is no Target or Kohl’s—and boy do I miss Kohl’s–I do like a bargain!!!
Although my husband, family and friends may tell me it’s a good thing there’s no Kohl’s over here!!
(Copyright AMSchotel)
(Copyright AMSchotel)
Most retail shops (clothing stores, DIY stores) close by 8 PM during the week and, believe it or not, at 7 PM on Saturday! Sunday hours are generally 10 AM-4:30 PM. And Boots, England’s sort of CVS, is generally open from 9:00 AM-5:30 PM weekdays and Saturday and …CLOSED on Sundays. Imagine that!!!!
So…a list of comparable stores that may help when you’re out and about, either a Brit shopping in Yank world or a Yank shopping in Brit world:
Another thing to seriously consider is NOT shopping at the large retail stores. I’ve found in the community I live in here in Dorset, there are small business owner shops on the “High Street” (Main St.) that deserve your business too!! More so than I’ve encountered living in small communities in the states, the communities here all have their own High Streets. With shops covering everything from small cafes offering specialty coffees and pastries, independently owned restaurants, to locally owned small hardware stores and specialty shops offering all sorts of goods and services. Carpet cleaners, small appliance repair shops, furniture, clothing….and with the knowledge you’re supporting local community members!! One note to make is that the High Street shops generally close a bit earlier, usually around 5 P.M., so once again–plan accordingly!
Now a good idea, if you’ve relocated to Brit country, and still have favorite shops in the US that you like to frequent when your home for a visit, is to bring along an extra, empty suitcase. This also works if you’re just on a vacation (holiday), either side of the pond, and want to ensure you have that option!! This way, if you need more space for your travel back to England, you don’t need to buy another suitcase!!
I generally pack a few foldable tote bags that are lightweight and zip-down to almost nothing, but hold a great deal! They are made of a sturdy nylon and are extremely durable. The only thing missing are wheels, so be prepared to drag, stack or carry when you land back to wherever you started from, but it’s worth being able to bring back all your treasures!!
(Copyright AMSchotel)
I place it in my checked bag on my trips to the US, and then if necessary (and it’s always necessary!), I can fill it with all of my purchases for the trip back to Brit! Even if you’re not buying for yourself, it’s a great way to make sure you have enough room to bring back some Yank goodies for your Brit fam and friends or vice versa, across the pond to Yank world from Brit. This ensures you only have to pay for the extra bag when you need it, and not actually have to purchase another suitcase while you’re abroad. (I generally find the extra baggage allowance can cost $45-$60 depending on the airline, provided you add the extra baggage to your trip a few days PRIOR to your flight date. Easy to do online with the airlines app!
Stay tuned for a future blog on Yank vs. Brit clothing sizes, shoes sizes etc.!
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