Where to buy children's clothes in the UK?

[Pfaffingabout]

I thought I'd ask this here because I think people can probably relate better! I live in Belgium, where everything is expensive, but will be visiting the UK in a few weeks. I want to stock up on kids clothes whilst I'm there but won't have much time to shop around. It's been 11 years since I lived in the UK (and I have never lived there with kids) so I've lost touch with the best places to shop.

So, can you please tell me which are the must-shop-at places in the UK for kids clothes? Thanks!

Price range?

Supermarkets are excellent.

Supermarkets or an outlet village does depend on price range. I personally believe you can't beat M&S for best and school then supermarkets for everyday playing out getting dirty and grass stained. Supermarkets are so cheap you can throw them out if the stain doesn't come out

if you are near a john lewis I do like their clothes bit pricey but nice
M&S you can order in advance on website and pick up in store and they are v could about taking things back so if time was limited I would do that
but do get loads - v cheaply at the biggest supermarkets plus primark and matalan

Sorry - been out looking for a new table. It's a pity it isn't practical to buy one of those in the UK!

Budget: well, value for money I suppose! I don't want something that will fall apart after the second wash, but I don't do designer stuff. My ds in particular tends to drip dinner down himself and it doesn't always come out - I don't like getting cross over things like this, but I know I will if the item was expensive. He also loses things like gloves, waterproofs etc etc.

I was planning to do Sainsbury's or Asda (whichever is local to the PILs) with a look in at M&S. I like multi-packs! I'm off to check out their website.

Sainsburys has some great offers on winter and summer clothes right now up to 75% off in our local one so that would be a good idea, ASDA is ok but would only go for their more expensive stuff the cheap does tend to wash twice then fall apart IMO. M&S also deliver and their return policy is good if you got it sent to PIL for when you get there you should be able to return and change size by the time you leave if you were staying for say 9 days

As for table how far from Holland are you great bargains there for furniture we found

Hi pfaffing. I would say the best places for children's clothes are h&m, Zara and gap (on sale). Would also second john Lewis.

Why don't you put this on s&b, sure you'll get lots of ideas and responses.

Gap! Ooh, I had forgotten Gap - for some reason, I always associate it with the US and not the UK.

Hi Pimms! We're in Brussels, so the Netherlands is doable if we know where we aiming for - any recommendations for furniture shops? We're looking for a solid wooden kitchen table, big enough for 6 people.

I buy most of ours in Asda as it's so close by. We also bought a lot in Tesco.
Depends how much you want to spend really.
H and M also do some nice stuff.

Gap's sale is just about over - so back to the overpriced stuff! H&M, ASDAs, Tescos or dare I say it Primark (if you don't mind how the stuff is produced)

I did think the sales might be over by the time I get there. Next year I'll have to plan better!

Zara, H&M, Gap,M&S

I've found Sainsburys clothes wash better than Tesco's.

M&S is v good, quality and decent price. Worth noting they are 'big' on their children's sizes. Also, try Gap kids.

What age range are you looking at? for very little ones, Pumpkin Patch have some adorable and hard wearing stuff, but not cheap if full price (they seem to have a constant sale on). Jo Jo Maman Bebe are also v good for little ones, but again, pricy.

I'd avoid Mothercare not good quality, washes badly and not all that cheap.

I quite like Next for my two too. They are 10 and 15mths. Both children are clumsy with food that flaming stains

Definitely Sainsbury's then and adding Next to the list - and my husband thinks we could arrive a day later, shaving hours off my possible shopping time! I don't think so!

If you're near a decent sized shopping centre, Pumpkin Patch do really nice good value childrens' clothes.

I've just moved to Sydney from the UK & am gobsmacked at the expense of EVERYTHING....so I've just done an on line shop at Debenhams for my DS (3) & got his entire summer wardrobe sorted ( as well as some bits for myself & DH) for a delivery cost of £14....it might be only £7 for Belgium. All sale stuff.

Agree with other posters...I found H&M stuff good quality, Sainsburys good for playtime basics & tended to shop at sale time - Gap, Next, Monsoon & Debenhams.
Happy shopping!!

Tesco and Sainsbury's for clothes for ds (another near Brussels here) and M&S. However, the place I use out here is down at Waterloo (J26 on the ring Mont St Jean/Lasne exit), and is next to the big Carrefour there. It is called Disport, and sells Lonsdale, No Fear, Quiksilver etc for teens and stuff for littlies as well. Great place for shoes too - I spend time getting trainers there for school as they do Brit makes at Brit prices. They have a 20% off sale at present (I was there yesterday and got a good polo shirt and a shorts for my 15 yo for 16 euro 20).

I'm in Leuven

C&A, H&M are both in belgium and are great for children's clothes.

Hema is has more interesting clothes, mostly a good price and good quality and I buy nearly all of my children's clothes from there.

You've just missed the sales in Belgium, there were plenty of bargains!

I mainly buy clothes from Sainsbury's and TK Maxx when I go back to England.

Pfaffing, we got ours in a shop in Hengelo, lovely little shop friendly English speaking staff but can't remember the name now it was about 6 years ago, we noticed that when you crossed the German Dutch border the price of everything shrank massively. Hengelo, as I recall, was also good for all the little clothing boutique shops and the larger ones, nice little UK high street atmosphere, we used to go just to have a coffee sometimes. Also has an IKEA for the cheap essential purchases

Size wise Belgian clothes are cut smaller than Brit ones, so be aware of that too and size up.

I live in France where the children's clothes are lovely, but when I am in the UK I always raid Monsoon which has a lot of dross and the occasional really nice stuff, especially for girls.

Next will deliver to Belgium, as does George at ASDA now.

We live in France - I am just back from the UK and stocked up at ASDA, Primark (sorry), Matalan and Hennes. My parents bought some nice stuff at M&S and GAP for DS.

Also I try and buy shoes on Ebay (new, but last season) as £40 for a pair of start-rite or Clarks adds up every 6 months or so.

Be careful with NEXT- despite not many people mentioned it on it on this thread it is very common and some of it can be a bit..well, chavvy (leopard print shudders ). With that said there are a few babygrows I saw on their website which i've ordered.

Zara, GAP, John Lewis, H&M, M&S (although their baby range is tiiiiny?!)