The Internet revolution has influenced almost every aspect of our lives. One of the most notable changes happened in our shopping culture. Though traditional shopping stores remain stronger than ever, many people turn to online shopping sites for their needs.
Day by day more and more people are starting to use online shopping sites, driving up worldwide e-retail sales. This trend is also visible in the United Kingdom as well. It doesn’t matter how small or big the thing you want to buy, they are all available just a search away.
Online shopping is highly convenient especially when you factor in the drive, finding a parking spot, going back and forth through an entire floor searching for what you are looking for, and having to deal with long queues for checkout. But can you trust all the online shopping sites in the United Kingdom? Sadly no, which is why we are here with the list of the best online shopping websites in the UK.
How to Find the Best Shopping Sites?
As the demand for online shopping solutions rose, the number of shopping sites also multiplied exponentially. Today, you can find hundreds of shopping sites with a single Google search.
While most of them can be reliable, you cannot completely disregard the possibility of online scams. But by doing the below-mentioned practices, you can make sure that you are using a credible online shopping site:
- Search for retailer reviews and learn what other customers are talking about the platform.
- Check if the platform provides a return/refund of a product.
- Read the seller’s terms and conditions and policies.
- Make sure that the platform provides a secure payment gateway.
- Periodically recheck the updates in user agreements and policies of the shopping site.
Also Read: 20 Most Popular Comparison Shopping Sites
Top Shopping Websites in the UK
Online shopping is all about convenience and a wide range of selections. This list of the most popular shopping sites in the United Kingdom was created by considering the site’s features, range of products, and easiness of use. Read on to discover what our top picks are:
1. Amazon
Well, there is no surprise here, Amazon is one of the biggest online shopping sites in the UK. This American-based global online retailer provides an infinite number of products from countless small and big suppliers, making it the go-to choice for people worldwide.
Some of the major features that make Amazon stand out from the rest of its contemporaries are its ability to find a product’s availability instantly through voice search, barcode scanning, or photo recognition. So, if you find something you like, just click a photo of the product to check its availability on Amazon.
- Website URL: www.amazon.co.uk
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: A vast range of products
2. eBay
eBay is an online shopping platform for finding both new and secondhand products instantly. In addition to purchasing a range of products including home decor, refurbished tech, vehicle parts and accessories, used cars & more you can also sell your old products on the platform.
On eBay, you can find high-quality products at affordable prices. The platform allows users to shop by category, heart favorites to check back later, and search products using photos, giving the best user experience.
- Website URL: www.ebay.co.uk
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: New and secondhand products
3. ASOS
ASOS is an online retailer based in Britain. The site primarily focuses on clothing and fashion, catering to young adults. The site provides clothing products from hundreds of brands in addition to their own products. They operate worldwide serving more than 196 countries.
ASOS offers its brands in more than 30 sizes offering something for all body types. Their inclusivity, and easiness of use have made them one of the top shopping sites in the UK. some of the notable features include easy checkout with a camera card scanner, sales alerts to get you the best deals, and catwalk videos for products.
- Website URL: www.asos.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of Items: Clothing and fashion
4. Shein UK
Shein is a clothing brand founded in China and is now headquartered in Singapore. The global clothing brand is one of the largest fashion retailers in the United Kingdom for its relatively inexpensive apparel.
The website greets you with offers and deals, and it has a striking theme, with its generous usage of bright colors, which can be off-putting for some people. They offer a range of products such as womenswear, menswear, accessories, toys and games, and more.
- Website URL: www.shein.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Clothing, accessories, toys, and games
5. Boohoo
Boohoo is a global clothing brand for men and women. They provide fashion and lifestyle products needed for all kinds of occasions. The company focuses on body positivity by embracing all kinds of body types.
You can find clothing, shoes and accessories, activewear, going-out outfits, and more on the platform. The website also allows you to track the progress of your order. Overall the brand has some quality clothes, and the website is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Placing Boohoo in the second place on this list.
- Website URL: www.boohoo.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of Items: Clothing, shoes, and accessories
6. Pretty Little Thing
Pretty Little Thing is an online shipping destination for women above 16 years old. It is owned by Boohoo Group and is operated in multiple global markets including the UK, Ireland, Australia, US, France, and more.
If you are looking for the latest and trendiest women’s clothing, Pretty Little Things has got you covered. With its sleek design, aesthetically pleasing color theme, and wide range of collections, the website offers exactly what you’d look for in a credible online shopping site.
- Website URL: www.prettylittlething.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Women’s Clothing
7. Zalando UK
Zalando is an online retail store founded in Germany. Today, it has become one of the biggest online shopping stores in Europe due to its commitment to providing the latest fashion trends in clothes, shoes, accessories, sportswear, etc.
You can discover products from hundreds of brands including Zalando’s own brand on the shopping site. We found the menu of Zalando’s website more user-friendly than many other websites we’ve included in this list. It is easy to navigate and find what you are looking for.
- Website URL: www.zalando.co.uk
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Clothing, shoes, and accessories
8. Next
Next is a multinational clothing, footwear, and home products retailer. They have hundreds of retail stores in the UK and some parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The online store of Next offers all more products you would find in their physical retail stores including garments, furniture, beauty products, and more.
The Next website provides features such as order tracking, cancellation, multiple payment options, and sizing guides, making it one of the best online shopping sites that operates in the United Kingdom.
- Website URL: www.next.co.uk
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Clothing, footwear, and home products
9. Selfridges
Selfridges is an upscale department store in the United Kingdom. They have a great online presence, making it into the top 10 online shopping destinations in the United Kingdom. You can find all kinds of products including clothing for men and women, beauty products, home appliances, electronics, food and wine, jewelry, and accessories all in one place. The overall look and theme of the website are aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eyes. Our only critique is that the website contains a lot of different products.
- Website URL: www.selfridges.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Clothing, beauty products, home appliances, electronics, food, and wine
10. River Island
River Island, also referred to as RI is a fashion brand based in London. The brand was launched in 1948 by Bernard Lewis. Now, the brand has online and retail operations in more than 125 worldwide markets.
River Island is known for its chic and upbeat womenswear collections. However, they also provide quality collections in men’s, and kid’s wear. The entire collection offered by the brand is designed at the brand’s London head office.
- Website URL: www.riverisland.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Clothing for men, women, and children
11. Matalan
Matalan is another leading UK and international clothing retailer. More than catering to fads and trends Matalan focuses on providing its customers with the best casual and formal wear. In addition to the online store, the brand has a retail chain of 270 stores in the UK alone. They strive to provide affordable and budget-friendly clothing for the whole family.
Matalan is also available on Android and iPhone. According to their latest announcement, orders above £40 can enjoy a discount of 20% on purchases through the mobile application. The categories of products offered on the website include women’s, men’s, kids’, home, school, sale, and holiday.
- Website URL: www.matalan.co.uk
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Clothing, home, and school items
12. Princess Polly UK
Princess Polly is not a native UK shopping website. The brand was founded in Australia and is headquartered in the USA and Australia. However, they are one of the biggest online clothing brands in the United Kingdom. They ship the orders to the UK from their warehouses located in the United States.
As you may have already guessed from the name, Princess Polly is a clothing brand for women. They are the destination for finding some of the best clothing options in dresses, tops, bottoms, jumpsuits, shoes, jackets, and more.
- Website URL: www.princesspolly.co.uk
- Mobile Application: No
- Category of Items: Women’s Clothing
13. Etsy UK
Are you getting bored of using mass-produced items? Then look no further and go straight to Etsy, where you can find various handmade and vintage items and craft supplies. The company says that all of its products have a person behind them, giving each item a touch of uniqueness.
In addition to fashion, jewelry, home decor, and other daily needs, the platform also provides original paintings, sculptures, prints, etc. Etsy lists several small businesses in your hometown. The platform allows you to communicate with the sellers, enabling you to make personalized suggestions to get exactly what you want.
- Website URL: www.etsy.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Handmade and vintage items, craft supplies
14. Wish UK
Wish is an online shopping platform that needs no introduction to people from the UK. It is your one-stop destination for all of your shopping needs. The platform provides electronics, fashion, automotive gear, wellness products, home essentials, and decors, to name a few.
While users might have a polarising opinion about the products they find on Wish.com, the platform is known for providing specific products that you might not find anywhere else. The products are so vast that it is easy to get lost in the website’s infinite collections of useful and some not-so-useful products.
- Website URL: www.wish.com
- Mobile Application: Yes
- Category of items: Electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more
15. 5poundstuff
Exceptional quality at reasonable prices is the goal of 5poundstuff. They work by working with the most decorated suppliers around the world to directly source a range of products cutting down the middleman. They remove the original brand name of the products before selling them online.
5poundstuff offers men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. You can also find footwear, gifts, seasonal selections, household items, and more on the website. Shipping starts from £3.99 and only varies according to the weight of the order, potentially helping you save a good amount on shipping.
- Website URL: www.5poundstuff.com
- Mobile Application: No
- Category of items: Clothing, footwear, gifts, and household items
Read More: Top Online Shopping App For Clothes In UK: Shop Smart!
Conclusion
Online shopping services are growing day by day. Today, there are countless shopping websites in the world. In this article, we have focused on finding some of the best shopping sites in the UK. Our top 15 list includes global online shopping leaders such as Amazon, eBay, ASOS, and more.