^{Welcome to the Best of England}

Not only are we, in the words of Napoleon, 'a nation of shopkeepers', we are also a country of compulsive shoppers. We love to shop! It is our number one leisure activity and accounts for around 37% of all money spent in England.

The main shopping street in many towns is called the High Street, where you should head for if you want to go shopping. A few small shops are owned by local people. Most are owned by national 'chains' of stores. This makes many town centres look the same. Some towns also have street markets where fresh food and cheap goods can be bought. Away from the town centre, small 'corner' shops provide groceries to local customers.

Peak shopping days are Saturdays and Sundays.

Shops are generally open on Bank Holidays (see below). Bank Holidays are a great time to shop as there are many sales on especially around Easter and Christmas.

Shopping Hours

In England, most retail shops are generally open 6 or 7 days a week.