About Out of Town Shopper
An independent, plain-English guide to the practical side of shopping at UK retail parks.
Out of Town Shopper exists because the questions people have about retail park shopping are surprisingly hard to get straight answers to. The parking sign is long and small. The returns policy and the law say different things. Opening hours depend on the size of the shop and which part of the UK you are in. We pull the rules together, check them against official sources and explain what they mean for an ordinary trip.
What we cover
- The visit: parking and parking charges, EV charging, access for disabled shoppers, opening hours and planning. See our visiting guides.
- Your rights: refunds and returns, click and collect, delivery of bulky goods, large appliances and proof of purchase. See your rights.
We write for the whole UK and point out where the law differs between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What we do not do
- We do not review or rank individual retail parks, shops or brands.
- We do not represent any landowner, retailer, parking operator or charging company.
- We do not sell anything, carry advertising or use affiliate links. See our advertising disclosure and affiliate disclosure.
- We do not give legal advice on individual disputes. Our disclaimer explains the limits of what we publish.
Who writes it
The guides are written by Helen Marsh, a consumer and retail writer. Our editorial policy, content standards and research process explain how guides are put together and kept up to date.
Get in touch
Corrections and suggestions are welcome by email. See our contact page.