Where can you find the best Black Friday deals?

Black Friday can be a great opportunity to get ahead on your Christmas shopping and bag some festive deals.

This year, Black Friday falls on Friday 24th November, although as usual, the deals will likely start rolling out way ahead of the big day. Some retailers launch their offers at the beginning of November, while others like to keep their best deals back for the day itself.

If you’re hoping to find a bargain in this year’s sales – here’s what you need to know.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is a shopping event that originated in the USA. It’s the day after Thanksgiving and it became the day that Americans would start their Christmas shopping and when retailers would encourage them with special deals. Eventually, the idea arrived over here in the UK and it’s been gaining in popularity for over a decade.

Is Black Friday only for online shopping?

No, you can find deals in-store as well as online. 

What time do shops open on Black Friday UK?

Retailers will open their doors at different times, so check with your favourite ones. Some will open as normal, but others may start as early as 6am. With many online retailers, you can create a wish list ahead of time so you’re ready to go. Some even close their website leading up to the event only displaying a countdown timer to increase the excitement.

It’s common for popular items to sell out quickly and a few well-known websites have been known to struggle under the pressure in previous years, so it pays to research what you’d like ahead of time.

When is Cyber Monday in the UK?

Cyber Monday is the Monday following Black Friday. This year, it falls on 27th November 2023. Traditionally, Cyber Monday was when retailers would slash their online prices for the last 24 hours of the Black Friday sales. These days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have merged to form one sales event lasting a couple of weeks or more around the dates themselves.

How long does Black Friday last?

Black Friday seems to start earlier and finish later every year. It was originally just one day, but when retailers realised how popular it was, they all started to offer deals for longer. You could find deals being offered through the whole of November and beyond.

Where to look for Black Friday deals

We’ve gathered some of the most popular retailers that traditionally participate in Black Friday, and what you can expect them to offer deals on.

• Argos - Toys, games consoles, tech
• ASOS - Fashion, accessories
• Boots - Beauty, fragrance, electricals
• Currys - Electrical goods - small and large
• EE - Mobile phone deals
• Ernest Jones - Jewellery, watches
• Groupon - Variety of discounts and promo codes
• John Lewis - Fashion, accessories, homewares, electricals
• Very - Fashion, accessories, homewares, electricals

Are holidays cheaper on Black Friday?

If you’re after a discounted getaway, then keep an eye on your favourite travel sites for any deals that they’re offering. 

Are Black Friday deals real?

It’s easy to get carried away with the buzz of Black Friday. So, it’s important to remember that the principles you’d use to find the best deal on any other purchase, at any other time of the year, apply here, too: For example, if the same item is sold by more than one retailer, then it’s still worth comparing prices to see who’s offering the best deal. You could use a site like Pricerunner to get an idea of the price you should be expecting to pay.

You can also use tools like CamelCamelCamel to check and track the historical price of an item you're looking at and make sure the Black Friday price is as good a deal as it looks.

Also check that the retailer hasn’t artificially boosted their prices in the run-up to the sale, just to make it appear as though they’re offering a bargain.

As usual, resist the temptation to impulse buy. A good deal’s only a good deal if you need what you’re buying. Make a list, and try to stick to it!