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Recent falls in the value of the pound sterling allow the Stratford upon Avon US visitor an opportunity to some tax free bargains.

Most Stratford upon Avon retail stores accept credit cards. But its worth checking with your credit card company (before leaving the US) to ask if they impose additional charges for purchases made in English pounds, some do.

Stratford upon Avon Markets are held in the following locations

Waterside, most Saturdays, crafted goods and gifts, Farmers markets are sometimes held here too.

Rother Market, Friday and Saturdays all year round, you can buy all manner of goods at Rother market, good savings to be enjoyed on toiletries, inexpensive clothes and leatherware.Beware fake designer perfumes and aftershave.

Bridge Steet market only opens on some public holidays, for example, the Christmas markets in the weeks leading up to Christmas. When open Bridge Street is closed to traffic and stalls are positioned on both sides of the street, goods for sale tend to be seasonal or craft related.

Stratford upon Avon offers a contrast in shopping styles depending , maybe, on which type of transport brought you into the town

There is a lot said by stratford's shop owners about the impact of car parking charges on the prosperity of town centre shops compared to store owner rivals in the outer town shopping Mall with its huge FREE car parking.

The town centre offers an eclectic mix of shops from haute coitture, art gallerys, books and antiques to name just a few.

But the biggest difference in shopping in town rather than at the outer town Mall, is the character of the shop buildings themselves, the smell of age, old wood and damp, uneven floors and low ceilings.

Contrast this with the rather sanitised brand Name stores at the Mall where your surroundings could echo those of a store in any UK town or city, perhaps those who govern Stratford upon Avon do too little to support town centre business.

Stratford upon Avon offers a wide choice in shopping, antiquarian items are in high demand by US visitors.

Stratford upon Avon has many stores specialising in antiques.These shops are mainly situated in Stratford upon Avon town centre.

If it is larger antique items you are interested in there are several 'Antique Barns', these are large out of town stores often trading out of barn buildings selling larger antique items. Closest of these may be the Antiques Centre, Bidford Road Dodwell (4 miles) or the Antiques Barn, near Mickleton village (7 miles)

Stratford upon Avon town centre is home to many designer clothes stores where you can buy the latest in British fashion, Wood Street and Bridge Street are home to many of these stores. Look out for stores advertising tax free shopping.

A visit to the Maybird shopping mall on Birmingham Road will be an introduction for US visitors to modern Stratford upon Avon. Home to many large retail stores with large free car parks.

Tax free shopping; US and other, non eu-country visitors can reclaim the sales tax (VAT) paid on purchases made in the UK. Most UK goods carry vat currently 17.5%.

Keep receipts for all purchases, these will be required for your tax reclaim form. Your tax reclaim form will need to be stamped by UK Customs when you leave the UK and within 3 months from the end of the month in which you purchased your goods.

Click here for a directory of Stratford upon Avon store