Shopping at Gatwick

For many people the thought of shops at a port or airport means 'Duty Free'. Perfume, cigarettes, spirits and wine have been the trophies carried home by millions of airline passengers, but there are changes on the way.

• Places To Eat Gatwick
• Eating North Terminal
• Eating South Terminal

The retailers are not sitting idle, of course, and there may yet be concessions to the new legislation, but no effort will be spared to find ways of replacing the spending power that might otherwise be lost. From the newspaper stands and coffee stalls that charged extortionate prices some years ago, a whole new attitude to airport retailing has developed. Not only are the shopping areas now purpose-designed, they are also occupied by many of the top names in retailing. But that alone is not a recipe for success. What has made the shopping facilities at BAA airports the envy of most other airports in the world is the fact that passengers use them with confidence. Besides the top quality names, the magic ingredient must be BAA's absolute guarantee that anything bought at the airport will not cost a penny more than it would be in a High Street store, and often will be cheaper. Add to that the guarantee that any item may be returned, for whatever reason, from any country in the world for a full refund including postage costs, and it is not difficult to see why Gatwick's retail facilities are as popular as they are comprehensive.

Even though there has been a huge growth in general retailing, much of the turnover in Gatwick's shops is still from the traditional duty-free goods. BAA runs seven airports in the UK, and their combined sales of perfume account for 20% of the entire UK market.

Gatwick offers a wide range of shops ­some 150 in total- both before and after passport control, although those before passport control are not, of course, allowed to sell their goods tax free. The choice of merchandise spans electrical goods to lingerie, and for the youngsters the Planet Hollywood, the Warner Bros Studio Store and the Disney Store are a great diversion. The majority of shops before passport control are in the Gatwick Village in South Terminal, and The Avenue at North Terminal.

After passport control, not only are goods sold duty-free, they are also free of Value Added Tax (VAT) which is currently 17.5%. Savings on that scale make a wide range of goods very attractive, and many of the retailers find that their airport outlets perform better than those in the High Street.

If you don't have time to shop yourself, call 0800 844844, check out the availability of goods and prices and order in advance. The goods will be packed ready for you to collect on your way through.

The forward looking approach to retail development at Gatwick has made time at the airport a pleasurable part of the whole travel experience for millions of passengers. A wide range of quality goods at guaranteed prices, tax-free and with the promise of full refund is a powerful mixture.