Santa's cattle run

High Street retailers have been launching early sales and special offers to encourage early Christmas shopping. A mild and lingering autumn has left stores with plenty of winter stock on the shelves. In desperate attempt to boost sales a rash of Internet discount vouchers started circulating on email last last week. Selfridges, Urban Outfitters, Borders, Gap and Warehouse were also circulated vouchers last week. While most offered 10-20% off regular prices, Threshers, a local liquor merchant, was offering 40% off. At least half a million Threshers coupons were downloaded in three days.

Garry and I decided to hit the shops today armed with our vouchers. It seems that everyone else had the same idea. Oxford Street was choked with people, while department stores like Selfridges resembled a Christmas cattle run. You can get a sense of the street scence from the photo above.

I later learnt that we got off lightly today. Yesterday the same city streets hosted an estimated one million shoppers. People were drawn into town as Oxford Street and Regent Street were made traffic-free for the first time. The same streets will continue to close every Saturday up to Christmas. The BBC says that 40 million shoppers descend on the West End in the six weeks leading up to Christmas. At least a quarter of these shoppers come from overseas.

Garry and I took advantage of a Selfridges coupon, saving 20% on a new blender, crockery and other items. We also stumbled upon St Christopher's Place, a delightfully quiet, narrow side lane, with plenty of fashion stores and cafes in a cobbled courtyard. I vaguely recall coming here for lunch about five years ago. In a smart shirt store, Garry picked up four business shirts for £100, and had a free silk tie thrown in. When an average business shirt sells for £40, this was definitely today's bargain.