Nice Guy

I am returning to the UK for a longish visit fairly soon from OZ.

I have done a search here and also Google regarding purchase of duty free items (especially alcohol) on arrival at London Heathrow, but without much luck (I am a Luddite).

Simple question really, on arrival at LHR are there duty free shops where one can purchase alcohol prior to border control/customs that are....well.........duty free?

Thanks in advance for your help!

NG

Tahiti_Bound

Hi Sir

http://www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk/shopping.html

The answer is yes you can .... although whether it's cheaper than the prices in Oz duty free I would not know!

All the best

Tahiti

Tahiti_Bound

Hi again

Just to correct my last note - it appears that while some items are available duty free - closer examination of the description of the duty free stores available on arrival indicates that specifically liquor and tobacco is 'duty paid'.

Tahiti

Pollyana

Problem with trying to buy Duty Free in Aus en route to the UK is the limit for liquids on flights.

Nice Guy

Thanks Tahiti_Bound (cool user name by the way!) and Pollyana

I have seen the web site referred to and I must say it is not the best presented in the world wide webby thing.

Suppose I will have to find out once I arrive, but I see that whisky is considerably cheaper in the UK compared to Oz..........yummy!

K coming both your ways

Thanks again

NG

EnoughIsEnough

There are no proper duty free shops upon arrival at Heathrow. In Terminal 3 there is a discounted shop that sells those kind of items AFTER customs and immigration, which I would imagine is required to charge VAT and any other applicable duty. Terminal 4 does not have any shops inbound and from I remember nor do Terminals 1, 2 or 5. I can't say I know any airport in the world that sells duty free on arrival, kinda defeats the purpose. Most long haul flights have duty free sales on the aircraft though.

Nice Guy

Thanks EnoughIsEnough, that is very helpful.

BTW NZ / Auckland does allow duty free prior to exiting the airport and I think Brisbane is the same, the egress and access points are the same.

I have decided to buy duty free at Brissie............a nice malt whisky..............and then drink it on the plane!

BristolUK

I think that's frowned upon.

brits1

Hi, we arrived via LHR last year and was impressed with the low cost of alcohol but in all honesty most of the supermarkets do great deals on alcohol as well, ie currently Tesco by two spirits for 22 pounds....not bad...I just flew in to Manchester from Singapore via Germany and the deals at duty free UK were by far cheaper.

Nice Guy

Yes it is, but ho-hum!

Thanks anyway.

Thank you, I have seen the online costs of alcohol, jolly cheap compared to OZ!

Seems I am going to have a pickled time in the UK!

Thanks for replying.

NG