Quick answer
Use World Duty Free's Reserve & Collect to save 10% — reserve online 24 hours to 30 days ahead, then collect and pay in store. Duty free is not the same as a VAT refund, and here's the part that catches people out: tourists can no longer claim VAT back in Great Britain (the scheme ended in January 2021). For money, skip the airport currency desk at the last minute — pre-order or use a low-fee card, and always pay in pounds abroad.
Gatwick's two terminals are both packed with shops — World Duty Free is the main duty-free operator in each, alongside names like Harrods, Hugo Boss and Michael Kors and beauty brands such as Charlotte Tilbury and Lancôme. A little planning turns "browse and hope" into real savings, and saves you from a couple of common money traps.
Reserve & Collect: the easy 10%
World Duty Free's Reserve & Collect is free and the simplest saving at the airport. You browse online, reserve your items from as little as 24 hours and up to 30 days before you fly, and they're set aside at a collection point in your terminal. On the day you simply collect and pay, and you save 10% — and that same 10% applies to anything extra you add in store. A few things worth knowing:
- The discount is an online exclusive applied at collection — you don't get it just by walking up to the shop.
- Order further ahead for a wider range, including travel exclusives and brands that may not be on the shelf.
- You'll need a valid boarding pass to collect, and you're not obliged to buy — you can swap or cancel.
- The Club Avolta app adds member offers and points on top.
Where duty free is actually cheaper
Airport duty free can genuinely beat the high street — but not on everything. It tends to win on spirits, tobacco, fragrance and travel-exclusive gift sets, especially once the Reserve & Collect 10% is applied. It's weaker on electronics, sunglasses and some cosmetics, where high-street or online prices can match or beat it. The rule that never fails: know the normal price of what you want before you fly, so "duty free" is a saving you've checked rather than a word you've trusted.
Duty-free allowances coming home
Buying duty free is only a bargain if you stay inside your allowance on the way back. Coming into Great Britain you have set allowances for alcohol and tobacco, plus an allowance of up to £390 for other goods. Go over and you may owe duty and import VAT on the whole amount, not just the bit above the limit — which can quietly wipe out the saving. Allowances change and depend on where you're travelling from, so check the current figures on gov.uk before you load up.
Currency & money, without losing on the rate
The most expensive place to change money is usually the airport bureau at the last minute. A few habits keep more in your pocket:
- Don't leave currency to the terminal desk. Walk-up airport rates are typically the worst you'll see — if you want cash, pre-order online for collection at a better rate, or use a low-fee travel or debit card abroad.
- Always pay in the local currency. When a card machine or ATM abroad offers to charge you "in pounds", decline — that's dynamic currency conversion, and it bakes in a poor markup. Choosing the local currency lets your own bank do the conversion, usually far more cheaply.
- Carry a backup. A second card or a little cash saves a holiday if one card is declined or a machine is down.
Not financial advice — just travel-money common sense. Compare providers and your own bank's fees for your situation.
VAT refunds for tourists: the honest answer
This is the one most people get wrong, so it's worth stating plainly: you generally cannot claim VAT back in Great Britain anymore. The VAT Retail Export Scheme — which used to let overseas visitors reclaim the 20% VAT on shop purchases carried home in their luggage — was withdrawn on 1 January 2021. The old airport VAT-refund / customs-stamp desk no longer operates for personal tourist shopping at Gatwick or Heathrow. A few important nuances:
- VAT is already in the price. The 20% is included in what's on the shelf; there's no refund to reclaim on the way out.
- Direct export still works. If a retailer ships your goods directly to an overseas address ("Shop & Ship" / direct export), the 20% VAT can be removed — common at big luxury stores. You just can't carry those goods out yourself.
- Duty free is different. Airside duty-free on things like spirits and tobacco is sold without certain taxes at the till — that's a point-of-sale saving, not a refund you claim.
- Northern Ireland has its own rules separate from Great Britain.
So if you're visiting the UK and planning a big shop expecting an airport refund, plan around direct-shipping instead — and always confirm the current position on gov.uk, as policy in this area is debated and can change.
Arrive unhurried — and actually use your Reserve & Collect
The 10% only helps if you reach the collection point with time to spare, not at a sprint to the gate. A fixed-fare transfer gets you to the right terminal calm and early, flight tracked, so you can collect, browse and still make security comfortably. It's a small thing that makes the whole pre-flight nicer — both North and South Terminals, one fixed price, no surge.
See Gatwick transfer fares →Frequently asked questions
Does Reserve & Collect save money?
Can tourists claim VAT back in the UK?
Where's the best place to change money?
What can I bring back duty free?
Is airport duty free actually cheaper?
Offers, allowances, currency guidance and tax rules are indicative and current at the time of writing (2026) and can change; the money tips here are general consumer information, not financial advice. Always confirm current duty-free allowances and VAT rules on gov.uk, and offer details with the retailer, before relying on them. RushXO is not affiliated with London Gatwick Airport, World Duty Free or any retailer.