UK equivalent of Wal-Mart?

filcanmike

I just moved to the UK about less than 5 months ago and I'm still unfamiliar with the stores you have here apart from Tescos and Sainsbury's and the high street shops. I'm looking for small common items like flashlight and water bottles (like nalgene for example), but I don't know which stores sell them. Is there a store were I can find items like these in one roof?

matt2012

the tesco close to me basicly has a bit of everything, as for a walmart equivalent i think you should try asda. they claim to be part of walmart. i can' t really be certain of what they have i store though because i have never been to one.

jayme1

filcanmike wrote: »

I just moved to the UK about less than 5 months ago and I'm still unfamiliar with the stores you have here apart from Tescos and Sainsbury's and the high street shops. I'm looking for small common items like flashlight and water bottles (like nalgene for example), but I don't know which stores sell them. Is there a store were I can find items like these in one roof?

Tesco and Asda have larger versions of their stores which will practically stock anything you are likely to need, Tesco Extra is what the Tesco stores are called and I think the Asda large versions are called Asda Superstores and Supercentres on the website (Asda was bought by Wal-Mart some years back).

You can use their store locators to find where they are near you http://storelocator.asda.com/ and http://www.tesco.com/storeLocator/

Even the smaller versions of all supermarkets should have a smaller selection of essentials I doubt you'll find one that doesn't sell a torch.

Other options than a large supermarket are shopping centres, buying online, and also cash and carries.
Big supermarkets are probably your best bet for getting it all under one roof but if you are looking for specific brands of items (like Nalgene water bottles) then you may find that one store doesn't sell it all like Mal-Mart does in the US.
If you can't find what your looking for in a store just ask they'll show you where it is or tell you they don't stock it so you don't waste your time.

So to sum a big Asda or a Tesco Extra should see your right.

moneysavingmumofone

Wilkinsons is a good store for things like flashlights and other household bits and pieces. (doesnt sell groceries though apart from things like crisps, chocolate etc) http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/page/landingmain-sayt?utm_expid=3977112-0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wilkinsonplus.com%2Fextension-leads-timers%2Baccessories%2Fwilko-segment-time-switch-24h%2Finvt%2F0142473%2F

lil.smartie

Simply, there isn't! No Target either BIG Asda is your best bet but you will not find the brand names you are looking for.

Kate

Charliezoo

There is an 'Asda Walmart Supercentre' in Watford. Having worked in the US for many years I must say that you can't compare it to Walmart over there but its probably the closest you'll get.

Helix

Charliezoo wrote: »

There is an 'Asda Walmart Supercentre' in Watford. Having worked in the US for many years I must say that you can't compare it to Walmart over there but its probably the closest you'll get.

Milton Keynes has one too, that one was the biggest Hypermarket in Europe when it first opened.

I think they have stopped using the Wal Mart name on newer Superstores they are just called Asda Superstore.

flea72

The Range or QD/Cherry Lane would be best shops for a mix of stuff, at reasonable prices

luckylady0

I've never seen an equivalent of Wal-Mart in the UK, we had a chain called Woolworths which was the closest I can think of but they are only online now.

We do have Poundland, 99p Stores and stores like those which are vastly smaller than Wal-Mart but sell some food, cosmetics, stationary, gifts, decorations, household/garden items, electronic accessories etc.

vivatifosi

The only stores I can think of that are close to a direct equivalent are the very big Asda stores (such as the one in Watford which I use), these are similar but not the same. In general I would say the UK stores clothing ranges are better than the US, both are called George, but the UK clothes are way better.

The other store that exists here, which is more or less the same as the US format, including in terms of some of the things sold, is Costco. Like in the US, this is a membership club. We don't have a Sams or other alternative here.