3 Smart Tips for Factory-Outlet Shopping
Do Your Homework
Check outlet websites in advance; many list which brands are stocked and when their seasonal sales start.
Plan Your Route
Outlets can sprawl; map your priorities so you don’t miss the brands you love.
Shop Mid-Week
Avoid weekend crowds for a calmer experience and first pick of the rails.
The Best Factory-Outlets In The UK
Bicester Village, Oxfordshire
At just under an hour from London, Bicester Village is packed with more than 160 boutiques, making it the UK’s foremost designer-outlet destination. It has it all covered – country attire at Barbour, sartorial high-end at the likes of Burberry and Marc Jacobs (to name but two of a myriad), and serene lifestyle vibes at The White Company. It’s the place to snap up serious style at base-camp savings – all while spending what you save at the new Double Red Duke (you can’t not).
Insider tip: Go early to avoid the crowds, scope out the map and aim for opening time to bag best selection before the midday rush.
Junction 32 Outlet, West Yorkshire
Serving the North of England in pocket-friendly style, Junction 32 offers a comprehensive mix of fashion, home and high-street labels just outside Castleford – think the likes of Radley, Bonmarché, Fatface and Flannels to note just the tip of the iceberg. An ideal stop if you want serious value in one go – and perfect for snapping up something for everyone on your list.
Insider tip: Parking is free and easy (there are some 1,400 spaces); combine with a café stop to turn it into a mini-day out.
Barbour Factory Store, Tyne & Wear
An abiding Royal Warrant-garlanded favourite for heritage outerwear and rugged style, the Barbour Factory Store is the place to head when you’re next in need of one of its incomparably good waxed jackets. It stands to reason that the factory store – where you can shop with 30–50 per cent off – should be in South Shields, its birthplace and home for over 120 years. Perfect whether you’re a bona fide country lifer or an urbanite adding an artfully battered edge to your ensemble.
Insider tip: Keep an eye out for end-of-season jackets – you’ll often find heavy discounts on iconic waxed styles. You can get there by Metro, so no need to bring the car.
Sophie Allport Factory Shop, Lincolnshire
For lovers of home accessories and charming British design, Sophie Allport’s factory shop in Bourne, Lincolnshire, offers her signature prints at outlet prices of up to 70 per cent off. And yes, you can shop the outlet online too – music to the ears of whimsically inclined non-locals.
Insider tip: Visit mid-week if you can for fewer crowds and a better pick of cushions, rugs and kitchenware.
OKA Outlet South Godstone, Surrey
A great find for interior-lovers: OKA’s outlet shop in South Godstone brings a classic, high end interiors sensibility to the factory-shop format, offering exceptional quality furnishings and stylish décor at reduced prices of at least 25 per cent off.
Insider tip: Larger items may require delivery, so factor in service charges when comparing deals. For smaller buys, the nearest train station, Godstone, is a walkable 0.2 miles away – though parking is free if you drive.
Toast Outlet Store, Somerset
The Welsh-born brand is the dreamiest offering on the high street, espousing an artsy, artisan sensibility through its sartorial and home collections – both so exquisitely presented it’s hard not to want to take the lot. At its Kilver Court outlet store in Shepton Mallet, that ambition is made slightly easier to achieve, thanks to its housing of archive pieces alongside current collections.
Insider tip: Head to the store during seasonal changeovers (around February and August) when past-season stock is rotated – the best time to find those perfect linen and knitwear pieces at their steepest markdowns.
Burleigh Pottery Factory Shop, Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent
Burleigh Pottery was imagined into life in 1851, when Messrs Hulme and Booth established an earthenware manufacturer at Burslem. Eleven years later, Frederick Rathbone Burgess and William Leigh took over, and it swiftly became a titan of The Potteries – and, these days, is really the last of its kind. Expect heritage, beautifully crafted tableware – and an excellent ‘Seconds’ range. These pieces may have slight cosmetic imperfections, but they’re fully functional, discounted, and eco-friendly by saving waste.
Insider tip: Stock rotates regularly, so checking ahead is wise.
Emma Bridgewater Factory Shop
PLS USE THIS PIC: https://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/pages/emma-bridgewater-factory-shops
In addition to its presence at Bicester Village, Emma Bridgewater has its main factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent, where you can buy ‘seconds’ pieces at a discount – perfect for Christmas gifting and snapping up a bargain.
Insider tip: If you want to get hands-on, you can book a tour of the factory (complete with afternoon tea) and even try your hand at making a piece yourself.
