NEED INFO: Stores/shopping in the U.K.
 

Need information on what types of stores I might find in the U.K. -- how they are "categorized," what names to look for. For example, if I needed to shop for dog food, where could I find it? Are there large retail stores similar to Wal-Mart in the States? Would dog food be in supermarkets? Grocery stores? Pet stores? Where else?

All of the above. Supermarkets (Safeway, Tesco, Sainsburys) all carry pet food. There are pet stores as well. Wal-Mart recently opened stores in the UK however I'm not sure if they are called Wal-Mart or go by another name (it starts with an A but I cannot remember what it is ... some one in the UK help!)

Gloria--Based on previous experience, Iwould recommend trying Tesco for food,etc.It's a huge department store with everything. Boots for your pharmecy needs and Marks & Spencer for clothingand also some food. Hope this helps you. Have a great trip!

Almost forgot, if you are looking for things other then dog food there are lots of dept. stores in the UK as well including Marks & Spencer, Debenham's, Liberty, Selfridges, C&A, etc. They are all similar to any of the "anchor" stores you find at malls in the US and vary in price of course. Drug stores are more commonly called chemists and Boots is a large chain. Every high street (equivalent to a main street in the U.S.) has lots of shops and stores. You will neither go hungry or unclothed in the UK, nor will your dog starve!

ASDA is the name of the chain recently bought by WalMart. I found them and Sainsburys to be just like chain grocery stores in the US.

You'll find large Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and Safeway supermarkets on the outskirts of every town, usually at the junctions of main arterial and ring roads. Sainsbury and Waitrose (not mentioned above) are more expensive but have the best quality. If you're used to US markets, it's certainly worth visiting a Waitrose to see the range of upmarket provisions and luxury foods on sale. Tesco and Safeway are middle market, while Asda follows the "stack it high, sell it cheap" philosphy (no wonder Wal-Mart picked them). <BR> <BR>In contrast, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, etc are department stores that tend to be located in town centres. (BTW, C&A has gone bust although stores are still open).

MORE INFO NEEDED. Thanks for the replies. Do you know what ASDA stands for. When I went to the ASDA.com website, it linked me to smartshop. <BR> <BR>So, would I expect the ASDA/Walmart stores to be larger than Tesco supermarkets, for example? Or does Tesco have different levels of stores --for example, hypermart, supermarket, convenience store? <BR> <BR>ARE there such things as convenience stores in the UK -- as we think of convenience stores in the States (run in for a beverage, bag of ice, pack of cigarettes, snack and possibly a tank of gas? Or are convenience stores in the U.K. greatly different than that? <BR> <BR>Thanks!

ASDA is indeed the chain that WALMART recently bought. So far WALMART has not made any modifications to the ASDA chain. They are still distinctly ASDA, not WALMART. <BR> <BR>As far as large grocery stores, there are many to choose from (a British friend of mine told me that the large grocery stores/superstores are an American invention...one more thing that has crossed the big pond - much to the dismay of small family run market shops here in the UK). <BR> <BR>These: <BR> <BR>Sainsbury's <BR>ASDA <BR>Safeway <BR>Tesco <BR>Morrison's <BR> <BR>are some of the largest ones I can think of. <BR> <BR>If you will be buying clothing and/or shoes in the UK, keep in mind that for women, UK clothing sizes are larger...meaning if you wear a size 8 in the US, you will wear something like a 12-14 in the UK. As for shoes, UK sizes are smaller...meaning if you wear a size 8 US, you will wear something like a size 4 in the UK. <BR>

Gloria, <BR> <BR>Some supplementary info for you: <BR> <BR>I believe ASDA tands for "Assciated Dairies", the Yorkshire-based company that it started out from. <BR> <BR>ASDA, TESCO, Sainsbury and Safeway all operate various sizes of store (superstore, hypermarket etc). It all depends upon the population of the town they serve. The largest stores IMO appear to be bigger than most I've seen in LA, Seattle etc. <BR> <BR>Yes, we have convenience stores too - a recent import from the US. Chains like Alldays, Co-Op, Costcutter and 7-11 are spreading rapidly across most urban areas.

Gloria, <BR>Before we all go off on this dog food thing if you plan on taking your dog to the UK you had better check the quarantine rules. They have been pretty strict if I remember correctly, altho I believe some were being relaxed. It could be 6 months or something like that in quarantine, but of course the UK residents who frequent this forum would know better than I on that one. <BR> <BR>Where will you be in the UK? If you tell us the city/town we could all provide you with more info I'm sure. <BR>I'm really familiar with London and there are lots of little grocery/markets all over the place to run into for a quick purchase, but you won't find Circle K or 7/11 on every corner I'm afraid if you are heading for London, also as in the U.S. the small shops tend to be more expensive then the supermarkets and don't carry larger sizes, etc. In all the smaller cities and towns I've visited there have been small (independent) shops for the quick purchase as well as the large Tesco type supermarkets. <BR> <BR>Again, let us know where you are heading for and I'm sure the answers can get much more specific.

Supermarkets <BR> <BR>Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Safeways, Waitrose, Somerfields, Marks and Spencers <BR> <BR>These are the main chains in the London and SE Enagland area. <BR> <BR>In the UK supermarkets tend to concentrate more on food than many US giants such as Walmart, though this is changing towards the one-stop sell-everything model. <BR> <BR>The above list vary in terms of price... Tesco and ASDA are good value, M&S is the most expensive and these days no longer justifies it, Waitrose is also at the pricier end. <BR> <BR>In terms of size each chain has stores of many sizes, Tescos for example has a number of very large stores which include chemists, clothing etc; it also has much smaller Tesco Metros which are like convenience stores but with fresher better quality food, located in city areas, and mid sized supermarkets. <BR> <BR>Most chains are the same. <BR> <BR>You can get most things from supermarkets, food, toiletries, magazines, books, household goods etc. <BR> <BR>My fave is Tesco's as the quality of their food has improved and left the traditional highclass supermarkets such as M&S standing. <BR> <BR>For more specific info please post here.

Thanks to all for the really great information. While we're on the subject of dogs, can you tell me how dogs are treated in the UK? <BR> <BR>I know in some countries, dogs are allowed in restaurants with their owners, to lie at their feet. Is this so in the UK? <BR> <BR>Are dogs well-disciplined and well-behaved (as I have heard is the case in Germany) or are they more like American dogs (maybe not so well behaved?) <BR> <BR>Again, thanks for all the input.

The UK is a country of animal lovers and dogs are generally well cared for and well behaved. It's quite common to take dogs to some country pubs, some pubs even have their own pub dog, owned by the landlord. But it would be important to check first. Dogs are definitely not acceptable in restaurants though. <BR> <BR>BTW, Lori is quite right about the strict quarantine laws here, althogh there is a pilot scheme to allow animals to be admitted from certain countries with a "pet passport" don't laught, its basicaly a vet's certificate). I'm not sure which countries are incuded in the scheme.

Hi .... <BR> <BR>You can buy dog food from almost any food shop/gas station etc etc .... <BR> <BR>the big chains tend to have large stores on the edge of town ... eg where I live (Southampton) M&S and Sainsbury's have large stores .... far bigger than I've ever seen in the US, just on the edge of town ... <BR> <BR>As to quarantine ... well the dog will NOT be allowed into the country if coming from the US (where are you coming from ??) ... the passport system is for Europeans only ... & evne then it is hard to get a passport. <BR> <BR>Most resturants will NOT allow animals in. Some pubs have a resturant section ... it is unlikely that a dog would be allowed there .... but in the bar should be ok ... check with the landlord ... the only exception to this is if your dog is dog for the blind .... <BR> <BR>Hope this helps <BR> <BR>Mark

Going back to convenience stores. There are a large number of "corner shops" which are often open till 7am - 10pm (some 24 hour). The supermarkets also tend to open till 10pm (again some 24 hour)&gt; it would help if you told us whereabouts in the UK you are coming to?

Gloria, yes, there is a 6 MONTH quarantine on pets from overseas, meaning your pet would be kenneled (you pay) for that long, no matter what veterinary records you have. I know of British citizens living here in the US that want to return but won't because they don't want their pets quarantined.

We stayed in an apartment in Queens Gate Gardens in early April a couple of years ago. There was a small market just across from the Gloucester tube stop where we made some food purchases including super imported chocolate and great strawberries. I did not ask but have since wondered where the berries came from. They were far better that we get off season, and it seemed too early to be local. Anyone know where the great produce is grown?

J.M.'s a bit off on the sizing in the UK. If you wear a women's 12 in the US, you'll most likely wear a women's 14 in the UK. With shoes, the difference for women is either 1.5 sizes, or 2 sizes (8.5 U.S. is about 7 or 6.5 in the UK). However, half sizes are sometimes difficult to find. Also, shoes sizes sometimes are European--I think I wear a 40 by European sizes (8.5 U.S.). <BR> <BR>In terms of buying clothes, make sure you buy all of the casual clothes (jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, khakis, casual tops, sneakers, etc.) in the U.S. The only things you'll want to buy in the UK are suits and sportcoats/blazers. The quality and prices for these are better in the UK. Everything else is cheaper and of better quality in the US. This is evidenced by the hordes of UK citizens that pack their luggage to bursting every time they return from Florida (most don't like to venture anywhere else in the US!). I can't tell you how many Champion sweatshirts, pairs of Levis and Nikes, and Timberland boots I have bought for friends living in the UK. But I buy all of my suits over there.

Well, considering that I wear a U.S. ladies' size 11 shoe and a British size 7 shoe, I'd say my size estimate was a little closer than Shib's. Maybe I just have funny feet (certainly I have large ones!! LOL) <BR> <BR>I have also found that UK clothing sizes are usually, but not always, 2 sizes larger (example: US12 ~ UK16 <BR>..etc.)

Okay, J.M., we'll agree to disagree! Gloria can find out for herself what fits. And maybe she's only buying dog food, anyway. <BR> <BR>Oh--one more thing, Gloria. Be careful buying eggs over there. I'm always leery (leary?) of eggs in UK supermarkets, as they sit out on shelves, rather than being refrigerated. Just scares me a little.