Dear Chanel, why did you stop stocking iconic bags at Heathrow? You heartbreaker! The most favorite store for every Chanel shopper is the Chanel boutique in London Heathrow airport at Terminal 3. More about this later on.Located in the United Kingdom, near London, the Heathrow Airport is one of the most popular destinations to shop for designer handbags. Why? Because our favorite brands are located at the tax-free area. So why not shop Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada at Heathrow airport.

Guide To Heathrow Airport Overview

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VAT free is better than VAT refund

Europe is already famous for shopping high fashion goods, because they’re cheaper than most of the countries due to the VAT refund policy. However, if you apply for VAT refund, you need to pay a fee to the company that helps you process the application. But if you buy directly at Heathrow airport, the VAT will not be included in the price and thus you don’t need to apply for tax-refund at all.

Price comparison Heathrow airport vs boutiques

To clarify what we mean by VAT free is better than a refund, we made a calculation between buying at Heathrow airport and at the boutiques.We took the current retail price of the Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag, which is £4450 GBP (price as per June 2017). Then we create a calculation of Heathrow tax-free price and the price at the boutiques in the UK.Price Heathrow airport

Retail Price	£4450 GBP
Airport Tax-free Prices	£3708 GBP

 Price UK boutiques with VAT-refund

Retail Price	£4450 GBP
VAT Refund	-£623 GBP
Retail Price – VAT Refund	£3827 GBP

 So the bag costs £3708 GBP at Heathrow and £3827 GBP after you get the VAT refund.“Buying at Heathrow airport is less expensive”We took the Chanel bag as an example, but this is also an example for other designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Hermes and so on. And it doesn’t matter what goods you buy, the prices at Heathrow airport for a brand-new items are cheaper than at the retail stores.

You can only buy VAT free if you leave the EU

Here’s the bad news, not everyone gets to buy VAT free at Heathrow airport. You get the VAT free prices only when you’re about to leave Europe to another country. So Heathrow must be your final destination.But how can they know?The SA will ask for your flight ticket when you are the cashier. If you’re qualified, they will offer you the goods without VAT and you can enjoy more discount.But if you’re not flying outside Europe, then the SA will give the same price as at the boutiques in London. So the prices will be with VAT. And of course, you can apply for VAT refund later on.

Airports have limited stock

Buying at airport is a great experience, but there is short supply of space and a lot of shops. The location is not cheap as well, so the stores can only carry limited stock. Usually, you will find a lot of small accessories like wallets, but the bags can be limited.Since 2013, Chanel has announced that they will stop selling iconic handbags at Heathrow. There are six types of iconic’s, which include the Chanel Classic Flap Bag, Chanel Reissue 2.55 Bag, and Chanel Classic Quilted Boy Bag. The WOCs, Mini Classic Bags as well as the Mini Reissue 2.55 Bags have all been spotted.

Shopping at Terminal 3

As you can see, there is lot of terminals. But if you’re looking for the crème de la crème, go to terminal 3 (T3). That’s where the boutiques are where you can find lot handbags.At terminal 3, make sure you get to level 1, the departure lounge. This entire section is Duty Free and there are numerous of boutiques, from Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton to Burberry and Mulberry.

T3 map: get to the departure lounge at level 1

T3 stores: after security

Bulgari Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8757 1286	Burberry Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8564 8125
Cartier Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 (in Harrods) Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 6000	Chanel Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8754 1000
Gucci Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8759 9159	Harrods Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 5290
Hermes Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 0179	Mulberry Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 8399
M·A·C Cosmetics Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00	Paul Smith Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8990 9402
Salvatore Ferragamo Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 5290	Smythson Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)208 745 0715

Shopping at Terminal 5

T5 is the next stop to go if you have the time. It has boutiques like Chanel, Chloe, Hermes, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton. These stores are located at level 2. If you want to go to Harrods, go to level 3 (after check-in).

T5 map: get to level 2

T5 stores: after security

Armani Collezioni Opening hours: 05:20 -22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095	Hugo Boss Opening hours: 05:20 – 22:00 (in Harrods) Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095
Bottega Veneta Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 5260	Burberry Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 8343
Cartier Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6072	Chanel Opening hours: 05.30 – 22.00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 7777
Chloe Opening hours: 05:20 -22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095	Dior Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
Gucci Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6333	Harrods Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 (B Gates) Tel: +44 (0)7500 101 699
Hermes Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6084	Longchamp Opening hours: 05:20 – 22:00 (in Harrods) Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095
Louis Vuitton Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6061	Mulberry Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6254
Prada Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6339	Rolex Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8757 2115
Saint Laurent Opening hours: 05:20 – 22:00 +44 (0)20 8283 5095	Stella McCartney Opening hours: 05:20 -22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095
Tods Opening hours: 05:20 -22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095	Valentino Opening hours: 05:20 -22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 5095

Shopping at Terminal 2

The popular shops are located in Level 4.

T2 map: get to level 4

T2 stores: after security

Bottega Veneta Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7535	Bulgari Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7570
Hugo Boss Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8564 8316	Burberry Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 1167
Gucci Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7790	Harrods Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7756
Kurt Geiger Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8564 8839	Micheal Kors Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7762
Mulberry Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7730	Paul Smith Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 8447
Rolex Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7516	Smythson Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7577
Ted Bakers Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 7590

Shopping at Terminal 4

The popular shops are located in level 2.

T4 map: get to level 2

T4 stores: after security

Hugo Boss Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 1431	Bottega Veneta Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 5260
Bulgari Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 2373	Burberry Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 9151
Cartier Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8283 6072	Gucci Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8754 1475
Harrods Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 0353	Longchamp Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 (in Harrods) Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 6724
Mulberry Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8897 7990	Rolex Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 5145
Saint Laurent Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8976 5280	Valentino Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8757 4043
Versace Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00 Tel: +44 (0)20 8745 0353

Travelling between terminals: travel time and transportation

From terminal 2 to terminal…

Terminal 3

• You can walk via the pedestrian underpass
• Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

Terminal 4

• Take the free shuttle trains; there is a train in every 15 minutes
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

Terminal 5

• Take the express train; there is a train in every 15 minutes
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

From terminal 3 to terminal…

Terminal 2

• You can walk via pedestrian underpass
• Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

Terminal 4

• Free Take the free shuttle trains; there is a train in every 15 minutes
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

Terminal 5

• Take the express train; there is a train in every 15 minutes
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

From terminal 4 to terminal…

Terminal 2 or 3

• Free Take the free shuttle trains; there is a train in every 15 minutes
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

Terminal 5

• Take bus number 482 or 490 from Bus Stop 7, the destination is Heathrow Terminal 5. The transportation is free.
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

From terminal 5 to terminal…

Terminal 2 or 3

• Take the express train; there is a train in every 15 minutes
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

Terminal 4

• Take bus number 482 or 490 from Bus Stop 7, the destination is Pools on the Park. The transportation is free.
• Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

Update: Since 2021, Shopping at Heathrow Airport is no longer tax-free