For some, the words Black Friday conjure up frenzied scenes of crowds at shopping centres jostling for the last remaining products on an otherwise stripped shelf.
For the Standard Shopping team, it means a weekend of buying from the calm and comfort of your sofa.
The only way to emerge victorious from Black Friday is by shopping online. No elbows to the face, no queuing for hours at a changing room or till, and no dragging everything home on the tube. When it can all be at your fingertips, why settle for anything else?
Black Friday may be in November, but the hype is already building, with some of the UK’s biggest names already making reductions. Along with high street heroes, some of the capital’s biggest and best shopping destinations are in the mix, including Knightsbridge’s Harvey Nichols.
When is Black Friday?
The date shifts slightly every year; the easiest way to remember is that it happens on the final Friday of November, the date after the US celebrates Thanksgiving.
In 2025, Black Friday will take place on November 28.
Why you can trust Standard Shopping’s Black Friday coverage
The last three months of the year are the busiest at Standard Shopping; Black Friday is our Moby Dick. It’s been that way for over six years, as our editors work hard to whittle the wheat from the chaff and bring you the deals worth knowing. We tell you about the best deals as soon as they land and shout from the digital rooftops about the ones you really can’t afford to miss out on.
Our Black Friday coverage spans popular topics - think home, fashion, tech - and retailers, so you should be able to find what you need at a glance - and buy it before stock runs out.
Are there early deals ahead of the main sale?
Competition between retailers in the run-up to Christmas is cutthroat, which means shoppers stand to make the greatest gains. Harvey Nicks is no exception, with some amazing reductions on its site before the official Black Friday firing gun even starts.
We’ve rounded up the best of them below.
Shop now
Stella McCartney Double-breasted wool-blend blazer
Take any outfit up a notch with a blazer. Stella McCartney comes up trumps with this double-breasted design in a warm tan hue.
Was: £1250
Buy now £500.00, Harvey Nichols
Zimmermann Pleated cape-effect chiffon maxi dress
Float serenely through party season in this Florence Welch-esque maxi, complete with ethereal cape sleeves. The chiffon design is partially lined, so you won't overheat on the dance floor.
Was: £1400
Buy now £560.00, Harvey Nichols
FARM RIO Printed quilted reversible shell jacket
Invest in this Farm Rio jacket, and you'll get two in one as it's reversible. We can't decide which side is the nicest.
Was: £410
Buy now £205.00, Harvey Nichols
Givenchy Storm panelled chunky boat shoes
Looking for a pair of fresh kicks to step into autumn? Givenchy's boat shoes have enough height to lift you above the sea of fallen leaves.
Was: £795
Buy now £397.00, Harvey Nichols
GANNI Leopard-print barrel-leg jeans
Everywhere you look, Ganni's leopard print jeans are still going strong. This barrel cut is perfect for loungey days and weekend walks.
Was: £147
Buy now £295.00, Harvey Nichols
What is Black Friday?
Thanksgiving may not mean much in the UK, but it’s a major holiday on the other side of the pond when families come together to enjoy a traditional turkey dinner. Sometime back in the 70s, American retailers decided to take advantage of entire families being together and throw huge sales afterwards, allowing shoppers to nab bargains before Christmas the following month. The idea traversed oceans and borders, and now Black Friday sales can be found across the globe.
When is Cyber Monday this year?
Black Friday isn’t a one-day thing - it runs through the entire weekend, finishing with Cyber Monday on the other end. This year, Cyber Monday will take place on December 1.
The term was coined thanks to the volume of electronics and tech deals usually reserved for the day. Whether you’re after a new TV or a pair of earbuds, Cyber Monday deals rarely disappoint.
