London and New York: Where to Get the Best Xmas Deals

Whether you’re planning a Christmas shopping trip close to home, or fancy a taste of Americana with a stateside shopping spree to New York, there’s plenty of deals to be had this year. In London, Selfridges kicked off the festive season (albeit a little prematurely!) in August with the opening of their Christmas department, and since then the rest of the city has been transforming into a winter wonderland.

London

It’s expected that around 40 million shoppers will hit London’s Oxford Street this year, so where can they find the best gifts, and the best deals? Well, London is home to some of the very best Christmas markets in the country – particularly those at Hyde Park, the Southbank Centre, and the Barbican. They’re great places to find original, handcrafted items that are a little different, and certainly unique.

John Lewis is proving to be one of the best places to grab a pre-Christmas bargain this year, with the ‘12 days of Christmas’ promotion that offers a new deal every day for 12 days. John Lewis are also expected to lead the way when it comes to the Boxing Day sales. While deals haven’t yet been announced, it is anticipated that the store will provide similar deals to last year, which saw some products at 50% off.

New York City

Thinking of taking a trip across the pond to do your Christmas shopping this year? Shopping sprees to New York are becoming increasingly popular. It’s reported that bookings were up 15 percent for Christmas 2013, and 20 percent for Christmas 2014. Bloomingdale's are offering pre-Christmas discounts of between 20 and 55 percent on selected products, while Macy’s have offers on fashion and jewellery.

While Christmas markets are traditionally more of a European thing, New York is getting in on all the action this year, too. Union Square – which is normally a great place to find deals anyway – has a fantastic market for 2015, and there are magical pop up markets at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, and the Chelsea Market, too. These are excellent places to find some unusual and unique gifts for family and friends.

Finally, if you want to visit the Big Apple but the budget will only just stretch to travel and accommodation, don't despair; window shopping in New York is, perhaps, as big an event as actual shopping. Manhattan’s department stores go all out at Christmas, and this year shoppers are in for a real treat. Bergdorf Goodman have used more than 7 million Swarovski crystals for their 2015 Christmas display, and Macy’s is honoring the new Peanuts movie with its childhood-inspired display. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year from us all at Yazoomer.com