All the information about Black Friday in the UK is on this page. Here you can find out what and when Black Friday is, as well as all the stores participating and the biggest deals to expect. We have already collected the best shopping tips on how to save money and get the most from the event. Check out the latest news here and enjoy Black Friday!
About Black Friday in the UK
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the biggest shopping sale day in the world. In the UK, it has grown in popularity since it arrived in 2010, with more retailers taking part every year.
During Black Friday, you can find massive discounts available both in physical shops and online. Shoppers queue up outside of their favourite stores on Black Friday morning and race in to pick up the best bargain deals first. Online retailers often drop prices across their whole range and you can even find price reductions of up to 70% off sometimes.
Popular products during Black Friday include clothes, tech gadgets and toys. All the biggest retailers also join the sale, including Amazon, Currys, John Lewis & Partners, and hundreds of others!
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Participating shops
Find Black Friday deals at your favourite shop
Every year more and more shops take part in the Black Friday sales. In the UK you can find discounts at thousands of brands and online retailers on the day itself, as well as in the weeks leading up to and after it. We’ve gathered the biggest sales and best deals in one place, so you can browse your favourites and see what’s on!
Shop with coupons
Search for voucher codes and discount coupons for your favourite retailers on the DailyMail website. These can be used at any time of the year and are regularly updated. You can even use them during Black Friday to increase your discount.
Create an Account
If you’re going to shop online during Black Friday, we strongly recommend creating online accounts right now. Visit the websites for your chosen stores and open an account. It only takes a few minutes but will save you valuable time on the day itself.
Sign up for Newsletters
Many retailers announce their sales to subscribers first, some even give subscribers early access to the best deals. Sign up for newsletters at your favourite stores and check your inbox regularly. If there’s no newsletter option, follow the retailers on social media.
Check the Delivery Policy
Many retailers offer free delivery with a minimum spend. By shopping carefully during Black Friday and grouping your purchases, you can avoid paying the delivery charges. Check the delivery webpage for your favourite stores and plan your shopping around that.
What else should I know?
Is it safe to buy online?
Yes, it’s safe to shop online in the UK. In fact, it’s a very popular way to shop. 80% of internet users in the UK shop online and the UK has one of the largest e-commerce markets in the world. You can increase your online safety by processing your payment with Paypal or with a credit card as both of these methods offer some protection to the buyer. Only buy from recognised retailers and check the website address to make sure it’s legitimate. Use a private internet connection, for example at home, if possible.
Should I wait for Black Friday?
You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to save money. There are several other big sales events during the year that are well worth a look. The sister event to Black Friday, called Cyber Monday, is another good shopping opportunity. If you don’t want to wait for a sale and want to buy something right now, you can still save money by shopping with a discount code.
Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is another great sale that comes right after Black Friday. It is always held on the following Monday. Cyber Monday began as an online-only sale, while Black Friday was still focused on in-store reductions. Now you can shop online on both sale days. Cyber Monday tends to be more focused on electronics and tech gadgets. Many retailers hold a weekend-long sale that covers both Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
How does Black Friday in the UK compare to…
… the rest of Europe
Black Friday is more popular in the UK than in other European countries. Some that do join Black Friday include Germany, France, Finland, Austria, the Netherlands and Italy. A study analyzing more than 8000 stores in European countries determined that sales on Black Friday 2018 increased with 361% compared to the daily average during the rest of the year, but that the average spending in the UK was still higher than in other countries.
On the number one spot, the average amount spent by Britons on Black Friday in 2018 was £300, followed by £185 by households in Germany and £167 in Italy. Furthermore, the highest average discounts are also given in the UK compared to other European countries.
A report shows that the average discount percentage offered by UK retailers is 62%, with all other European countries showing average percentages around 50%-40%. However, as the event is gaining popularity every year, there is no telling when the rest of Europe will be able to match figures from the UK.
… to the USA
Originating in the US, of course Black Friday remains bigger there than in the UK with spending still rising every year. It’s even marked as an official public holiday in some of the states. In 2018 the average spend per person was $483.18. This equates to a total national spending of $90.14 billion, which is $30 billion more than initially projected for that year. The average discount amount given in the US at 68% is still a little higher than in the UK at 62%, with sales at stores increasing by 1500% in the UK and an amazing 2103% in the US on Black Friday compared to regular Fridays.
However, all relative figures for the UK are expected to go up as the sale is growing in popularity. In both regions, online shopping is a huge part of Black Friday, with the majority of shoppers opting to shop online rather than brave the crowded stores. Both countries have also seen violent episodes at stores as customers fought for the biggest bargains. Fortunately, many stores now take security precautions to avoid these incidents.
