When do the UK sales start and what deals can we expect?

It may not be until the end of November, but rumours are already swirling about the deals on offer for Black Friday 2021. Since last year was an online-only affair due to the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, eager shoppers may be quicker than ever to rush to the high street and snap up a bargain in person come November 26. 

However, in keeping with the growth seen in recent years, online Black Friday sales will likely be longer in duration and bigger than ever, even with in-person retail back open for business. 

On Black Friday those who are looking to get their Christmas shopping done early will be spoilt for choice, with significant discounts on TVs, tablets, gaming consoles, smart devices and more. 

We have prepared the following guide to help you find the best Black Friday deals this year. Here’s everything you need to know… 

When is Black Friday 2021 in the UK?

Technically Black Friday falls on November 26, but with each passing year deals seem to creep earlier in the calendar. Some retailers will entice customers with early discounts from the beginning of November, if not sooner. 

However, it is still worth keeping an eye out on the day, as some major retailers still reserve the biggest discounts and best deals for Black Friday itself. 

When is Cyber Monday 2021 in the UK? 

Cyber Monday used to be the online-only sale that followed Black Friday, but it’s less significant now that more people are shopping online than ever before. Most retailers introduce online offers at the same time as in-store sales for the big day itself. 

Cyber Monday 2021 falls on November 29 but, as with last year, it is likely the deals available won’t differ significantly from those available over the Black Friday weekend. 

Where can I find the best Black Friday deals?

It’s no surprise that Amazon leads the pack, as it is not only responsible for bringing Black Friday to the UK, but offers the widest range of deals in the widest range of categories –including TVs, tech, mobile phones, appliances, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, smart devices and more. 

Both John Lewis and Currys PC World are also considered hot spots for Black Friday deals, and tend to launch a few big bargains before the day itself. Both stores also price-match many of their competitors’ best deals, making Currys an easy one-stop-shop for tech and John Lewis a worthwhile destination for high-end lifestyle products.

Argos also gets in on early deals with big discounts. The store is a go-to for smart tech, video gaming and consoles, which can tick quite a few categories off the average Christmas shopping list, too. 

Cross-category retailers such as Very and AO are also worth bookmarking, as they work hard to beat Amazon’s prices every year – particularly for home appliances. 

Last but not least, clothing and beauty retailers including Net-a-Porter and Boots typically offer site-wide discounts. 

How can I find the best early Black Friday deals? 

Black Friday deals now start much earlier than the day itself – you can expect some retailers to introduce discounts from the beginning of November or even the last week of October. So, how can you keep abreast of the deals on offer? 

We will be updating the Telegraph’s Black Friday channel with the best deals as soon as they’re made available. In addition to bookmarking this guide, it is worth signing up to email lists and downloading the apps of your favourite retailers and following them on social media for updates in real time. 

The most savvy Black Friday shoppers bookmark a wish list of items in advance. That way, you can cut through the deluge of deals on the day and go straight to the discounts that most interest you.

Black Friday is especially useful for saving money on big-ticket tech items such as TVs, laptops and tablets – but beware that some retailers exaggerate discounts by comparing prices to RRPs that aren’t reflective of how much the item costs for the rest of the year.