Chicago wishes Londoners a Happy Christmas

A team of Santas gave out free festive bags containing shopping discounts and travel tips for Chicago to commuters in need of some Christmas cheer at Oxford Circus Underground station yesterday.

By crossing the pond, Brits will find great value for their money with plenty of bargains to enjoy the festive season ahead. With the exchange rate still favouring the pound over the dollar at £1.00 = $1.50, Chicago is a top destination for Christmas shopping.

What’s more, November 28th is Black Friday in the United States – the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season, and one of the busiest sales days in the country. Black Friday has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.

Chicago is renowned as one of the best shopping cities in the world boasting fantastic one-off shops and special boutiques that make finding the perfect gift easy, even for those ‘hard to buy for’ relatives. This year in particular, Chicago retailers are offering incredible bargains with early discounts on new merchandise. Even luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, found along the famous Michigan Avenue, have discounted newly-arrived designer goods up to 40 percent.

Beyond Michigan Avenue, also known as the Magnificent Mile, travellers are encouraged to explore Chicago’s numerous shopping neighbourhoods like Wicker Park, Bucktown, Lincoln Park and Southport.

Visit gochicago.com/shopping for exclusive insight on the best neighbourhood boutiques, downloadable coupons for extra savings and tips from My Chicago Shopping Ambassador, Melissa Gamble. The site also includes information on personal shopping tours for VIP treatment and access to hidden bargains. Alternatively, visitors can arrange a free shopping greeter tour through the Chicago Office of Tourism.

As the My Chicago Shopping Ambassador and Chicago Director of Fashion Arts, Melissa Gamble shows how to squeeze the best shopping experiences out of your trip. Some of her recommendations include:

- Head to The Magnificent Mile for massive markdowns at all your favourite retailers. - Make sure to ask for a Premier Perks discount booklet at Water Tower Place.
- In Wicker Park, check out thrifty Silver Moon or Crossroads Trading Co. for rows of lightly worn designer and vintage pieces to create an eclectic ensemble at a fraction of the cost.
- January is one of the best times of year to shop in Chicago as winter clothing, cold-weather shoes and outerwear move to the sales rack.
- Lissa on Maxwell, in the heart of up-and-coming University Village, will offer 30 to 50 percent most fall/winter merchandise with some items reaching up to 70 percent off 15 December to 31 December.

For more tips and advice from Melissa, go to gochicago.com/mychicago/melissagamble.