Buying tech online is easy, but for the big purchases many people still want to see it, try it and ask questions. These seven are the best places to do that.
A new television, laptop, phone or sound system is a big investment, and it pays to see it in person first. In a shop, you can compare screens side by side, hear the speakers, try the keyboard and ask the staff for advice. You can also take it home the same day. Shops change, so check before you go.
1. Tottenham Court Road, London
Long known for electronics shops, and still home to plenty, close to the West End. For decades, Tottenham Court Road was the place in London to buy computers, hi-fi and gadgets. Many of the old shops have gone, but the street still has plenty of technology stores.
The street runs from St Giles Circus, near Oxford Street, north to Euston Road. Tottenham Court Road station, on the Elizabeth line, the Central line and the Northern line, is at the southern end. The West End, Soho and Bloomsbury are all close by.
Shop around and compare prices, as they can vary. Ask about warranties and returns. Keep your receipts safe.
For big items, ask if the shop delivers. Smaller items, such as laptops and speakers, can come home with you. A car booked for the journey home keeps them safe.
2. Apple’s flagship stores
Regent Street in London is the flagship, with large stores in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other cities. The Regent Street store opened in 2004, and it was Apple’s first store in Europe. Its grand building has a soaring interior.
Apple’s stores let you try every product before you buy, and staff can help you set up your new device. Many offer free sessions on photography, music and more. You can also get help and repairs, usually by booking ahead.
In London, there are also large stores at Covent Garden and Battersea Power Station, among others. In Manchester, Apple has stores in the Arndale and the Trafford Centre. Check which is closest to you.
New product launches can bring queues, so check before you go. Book an appointment for help or repairs. See the UK’s top shopping destinations.
3. The big department stores
John Lewis and Selfridges have large technology floors with helpful staff and good aftercare. Department stores are a good place to compare brands side by side. Staff can explain the differences.
John Lewis began in 1864 as a shop on Oxford Street, and it is now owned by its employees, who are called partners. It is known for its customer service. Its technology departments sell televisions, computers, phones, cameras and kitchen appliances.
Selfridges has technology departments in its stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham. It sells the latest gadgets, headphones and smart home devices. It is a good place to find something special.
Ask about delivery and installation for big items, such as televisions and appliances. Many stores offer both. Smaller items can come home with you.
4. Retail parks
The big electrical chains on the edge of most cities, with the biggest ranges and the TVs you can compare side by side. Currys, the biggest electrical retailer in the UK, has large stores on retail parks across the country. Seeing the screens side by side is the best way to choose.
Retail park stores are big, with a wide range of televisions, computers, appliances and gadgets. Many have demonstration areas where you can see and hear the products. Staff can help you choose.
Retail parks are usually on the edge of towns, with big car parks. They are often hard to reach without a car. A booked car can take you there and back with your purchase.
Many stores offer delivery and installation, and some will take away your old appliance. Ask when you buy. For smaller items, take them home with you.
5. Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre
Most of the big tech brands under two roofs in Greater Manchester. The Manchester Arndale, in the heart of the city, is one of the largest city centre shopping centres in the UK. The Trafford Centre, just off the M60, is one of the largest shopping centres in the country.
The Arndale opened in the 1970s, and it was badly damaged by the IRA bomb of 1996, which devastated the centre of Manchester. The rebuilding that followed transformed the city centre. Today, the Arndale has hundreds of shops, including Apple and many other technology stores.
The Trafford Centre has technology stores, department stores and brand shops, including Apple. It is surrounded by retail parks in Trafford Park, with big electrical stores. You can compare prices across several stores in one trip.
The Arndale is right beside Market Street and the Exchange Square tram stop, with Victoria and Piccadilly stations a short walk away. The Trafford Centre has its own tram line and huge car parks. See our Manchester guide.
For a big shopping day, a car by the hour can take you between the Arndale, the Trafford Centre and the retail parks, with your purchases in the boot. The price is for the time, not the miles. It makes a tiring day much easier.
6. Westfield London and Stratford
Tech stores and brand shops in two giant centres. Both Westfield centres have technology stores, department stores and brand shops. You can compare several brands in one visit.
Westfield London is at White City in west London, and Westfield Stratford City is in east London, beside the Olympic Park. Both are among the biggest shopping centres in Europe. Both are busy at weekends.
Both centres have big car parks, and good public transport. The Central line serves both, and Stratford also has the Elizabeth line and the DLR. They are open late on many evenings.
With a car by the hour, you can take your purchases home in the boot. For big items, ask about delivery. See the UK’s top shopping destinations.
7. Independent hi-fi specialists
For speakers, turntables and home cinema, a specialist with a listening room is worth the trip. Independent hi-fi shops can be found in most cities, and many have been trading for decades. Their staff are often passionate experts.
In a listening room, you can hear speakers and amplifiers properly, with your own music. The difference between one system and another can be surprising. It is the best way to choose.
Many specialists will visit your home to advise on a system, and install it for you. They can help with home cinema, multi-room audio and more. Ask what they offer.
Book an appointment for a demonstration, especially at weekends. Bring your favourite music. Speakers and turntables are delicate, so a car to take them home safely is worth it.
Getting the box home
A 65-inch TV comes in a very big box. Count it as luggage when you book and choose a car that fits it: an estate or a people carrier. And the fragile stuff travels with you, rather than in a bus luggage rack.
Measure the box before you book, or ask the shop for its size. Televisions should be carried upright, as the box shows. Only the cars that fit your party and your luggage are offered when you book.
Ride with ZeroLanes. A car booked ahead, at a price fixed before you confirm, with the driver and the car on your journey page before pickup. Book a car by the hour.