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Shopping in the UK

Cardiff city centre is one of the best in the UK and is only a five minute walk away from the main University campus.

Cardiff City Centre

One of the first things that you will notice about the city centre is how compact it is, with many shops in covered arcades. There are two main shopping streets: Queen Street and St. Mary Street.

Shopping Malls, Arcades and Markets

 

Cardiff has a number of covered shopping malls which are well worth exploring:

  • St. David's Centre
  • Queens West
  • Capitol Centre

Arcades

One of Cardiff's most interesting features is its network of arcades dating back a century or more. These arcades contain many small shops, boutiques, delicatessens, cafés and bookshops.

Markets

The city centre has two markets, one open-air and the other covered. Both markets are an excellent source of cheap fruit and vegetables and the covered market is a great place to buy fresh fish, meat and dairy produce.

Shops

Cardiff has one of the best regional shopping centres in the UK and you will find that almost every major store is represented here, including: Marks & Spencers, Debenhams, Next, River Island, H&M, Habitat, Virgin, and HMV.

Away from the City Centre

Supermarkets

You will find supermarkets the best place to stock up on provisions as there is likely to be one near to where you are staying. The largest supermarkets are located some distance from the city centre, including Tesco which is next to Talybont Hall of Residence. Other large supermarkets in Cardiff include: Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's

  • Cowbridge Road East, Canton and Albany Road in Roath

These two areas of Cardiff are great places to get most of the things you will need without having to go into the city. There are supermarkets, clothes shops, bakers, butchers, grocers and some beautiful gift and card shops.

  • Shopping in the UK

When shopping in Britain please remember to keep receipts of any major purchases. If you find that the product is faulty or unsatisfactory most shops will give an exchange or refund if you have kept the receipt and the product is still in the same condition in which it was bought.

Student Discount Cards

You will find that a lot of things, from cinema tickets to clothing, CDs to travel, can be bought at discounted cost if you are a student and have one of the following cards:

  • International Students' Identity Card (ISIC)

This card can be purchased for around £7. It is available to any full-time student and entitles you to discounts on: charter flights; some accommodation; admission to art galleries; museums; cinemas; etc. To obtain an ISIC card you need a passport-sized photograph and proof that you are a full-time student at Cardiff University.

  • NUS (National Union of Students)/Identity Cards

Your identity card, which will be issued to you at enrolment, is used to gain access into libraries, to prove that you are a student of Cardiff University. This card also proves that you are a member of the NUS (National Union of Students) and entitles you to various discounts in shops, cinemas, restaurants, etc.

Reclaiming Value Added Tax (VAT)

VAT is a government purchase tax of 17.5% which is added to many goods and services. Most prices include VAT. If you decide to buy some quite expensive items during your time in Cardiff, it might be worth your while reclaiming this tax.

The Retail Export Scheme allows you to reclaim VAT on goods purchased for export. However, not all shops operate this scheme and you must check before you make any purchase that this is possible with that particular retailer. Often shops will only offer this service if the item is above a certain price. You must show your passport before the shop can complete the necessary VAT form. This form must then be presented to the Customs Officer when you leave Britain, within three months of the date on which you bought the goods. You will see signs at the airport indicating where to go for this. After the Customs Officer has certified the form, you must then return it to the shop which will send you the VAT refund.

Some specialist forward (freighting) agents may be able to obtain certain items for you free of VAT for direct export. This will save you the time and trouble of trying to claim a refund.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the International Foundation Office who will be happy to help.