Best Deals in North London
Quick summary
- For birthday freebies and member perks: Lakeland, Mango, Lola's Cupcakes, Rituals, Boss, Ralph Lauren, Geox and Newbie.
- For student meals: Wagamama, Shake Shack, Pizza Express, GDK, Marugame, You Me Sushi, Chopstix and KFC.
- For coffee, chai and sweet treats: Starbucks, Bakers & Baristas, Chaiiwala, Krispy Kreme, Wenzel's and Hotel Chocolat.
- For fashion and accessories: Levi's, Ray-Ban, Sunglass Hut, Hawes & Curtis, Moss, Reserved, Fenwick, Anthropologie, Intimissimi, Accessorize and The North Face.
- For shoes and trainers: Clarks, Dune, Skechers, Timberland, Carvela, and Foot Locker.
- For beauty, hair and wellbeing: Laser Clinics UK, The Perfume Shop, Superdrug, The Body Shop, Holland & Barrett and Regis.
- For books, homeware and gifts: Miele, Oliver Bonas, TG Jones, Miniso and Waterstones.
- For Blue Light Card holders: Neom, H.Samuel, Phase Eight, Hobbs, Bubble CiTea, Sushi Dog and The White Company.
Finding a real bargain in North London is easier once you know which shops and restaurants offer student discounts and birthday freebies.
This guide brings together the offers from 58 of them, plus member perks and Blue Light Card savings, sorted by what you're shopping for.
Each entry gives the exact offer first, followed by any small print worth knowing before you get to the till.
➡️ Note before we continue: Most offers need a student card, Blue Light Card or discount app shown at the till, and the few that work differently are pointed out in their entries. Offers are correct at the time of publishing but can change, so check with the retailer before you buy.
1. Celebrate your birthday with free treats and member perks
Joining a membership scheme unlocks every one of these eight deals, and five of the retailers offer a separate student or Blue Light Card discount as well.
Lakeland
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: A £5 birthday voucher for members, and 10% off a £50 spend for Blue Light Card holders.
Anyone setting up a first kitchen or replacing a tired baking tray will find plenty to spend a £5 birthday voucher on at Lakeland, the kitchenware and home organisation specialist.
The Blue Light Card discount only kicks in once your basket reaches £50, a total that's easier to hit when a bigger item like a slow cooker is on the list.
Mango
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: A £5 birthday voucher for members, and 5% off full-price items for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Mango's £5 birthday voucher arrives once you've joined its membership scheme, and it can go towards anything from the Spanish label's womenswear and menswear.
Students and Blue Light Card holders get a smaller, separate saving that only works on items that haven't already been reduced.
Lola's Cupcakes
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FQ.
The deal: One free cupcake for Lola's members on their birthday, and 10% off for Blue Light Card holders.
A cupcake on the house is the birthday reward for Lola's members, which gives you a sweet reason to join the scheme before your next birthday comes round.
Blue Light Card holders can put their discount towards a full box, handy when a colleague's leaving do needs catering.
Rituals
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: A free hand soap on your birthday when you sign up, and 15% off for students.
Rituals, the Dutch body care and home fragrance brand, gives members a free hand soap on their birthday once they've signed up.
The student discount comes with more conditions, applying to full-price products only and excluding limited-edition collections.
Boss
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: A gift for members.
Details of the Boss members' gift aren't published in this guide, but the team in store can tell you what it currently is when you sign up.
The brand covers tailoring and casualwear for men and women, so there's plenty to browse while you're there.
Ralph Lauren
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off your next purchase for new members.
Sign up to Ralph Lauren's membership ahead of a planned trip, because the 10% saving applies to the purchase after you join. We’d say that a polo shirt or a cable-knit jumper is a sensible place to spend it.
Geox
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: £10 off as a welcome offer for new members.
New Geox members get £10 off as a welcome offer, which takes a useful chunk off a pair of children's school shoes or smart work shoes with the brand's breathable sole. The offer is only available through membership, so joining comes first.
Newbie
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for new sign-ups, and 10% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Parents shopping for babies and young children can get 10% off Newbie's Scandinavian-designed clothing by signing up as new customers.
Blue Light Card holders are offered the same 10% through their card.
2. Eat out on a student budget
Wagamama and Shake Shack lead the way with 20% off for students, and the other seven restaurants in this section offer between 10% and 15%, a fixed-price deal or a rotating weekly discount.
Wagamama
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off for students from Monday to Thursday through the Wagamama app, and 20% off for Blue Light Card holders for up to four guests.
The Wagamama app is the key to the student discount, which runs from Monday to Thursday and can't be claimed with a card at the till.
For Blue Light Card holders, the 20% covers up to four guests, a good fit for a family meal or colleagues heading out after a shift.
Shake Shack
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Both students and Blue Light Card holders get the same 20% at Shake Shack, matching Wagamama as the biggest restaurant discount in this guide.
Burgers and crinkle-cut fries are the usual order, and a milkshake on the side is easier to justify with the saving.
Pizza Express
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: A weekly discount for students and Blue Light Card holders that isn't valid on Saturdays or bank holidays, plus rewards through Pizza Express Club.
The size of the Pizza Express discount for students and Blue Light Card holders changes from week to week, and it can't be used on Saturdays or bank holidays.
Pizza Express Club runs alongside the discount, with stamps that build towards rewards and free items.
German Doner Kebab
Location: Upper Mall, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
German Doner Kebab, better known as GDK, is a quick and filling stop when you still have shops to get through and don't want to sit down for long.
Doner comes in wraps or boxes, depending on whether you're eating on the move or at a table.
Marugame
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Bowls of udon made fresh in the restaurant are the draw at Marugame, and you pick up tempura from the counter as you go along.
The discount helps most if you tend to add a few extra pieces of tempura to the tray.
You Me Sushi
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
For a lighter lunch between shops, You Me Sushi's sushi and Japanese-inspired dishes come with the same discount for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Chopstix
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Chopstix works on a counter system where you choose noodles or rice and add Asian-inspired toppings, which gets a hot meal in front of you without waiting for a table.
KFC
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: A £3 snack box for students, and 9% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Students get a fixed price at KFC, paying £3 for a snack box, while Blue Light Card holders take 9% off their order at the fried chicken chain.
3. Get your coffee, chai and doughnut fix for less
A cheaper coffee stop is never far away at Brent Cross, with six cafés and sweet shops offering student or Blue Light Card discounts.
Starbucks
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off for students, a £2 hot drink for students on Tuesdays, and 10% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Tuesday is the day for students at Starbucks, when a hot drink costs £2, and the 20% student discount is there for everything else.
Blue Light Card holders save 10%, handy if a coffee is part of the routine before or after a shift.
Bakers & Baristas
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Bakers & Baristas is a sit-down café for coffee and baked goods, which we’d say is a good place to rest your feet halfway through a shopping trip and take your time over a flat white with 15% off when you’re a student or a Blue Light Card holder.
Chaiiwala
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FY.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Karak chai is the drink to order at Chaiiwala, and the Indian street food snacks on the menu turn a quick stop into a light meal. It makes a warming change from the usual coffee break in the colder months.
Krispy Kreme
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students, and 15% off for Blue Light Card holders.
A box of glazed doughnuts from Krispy Kreme is an easy crowd-pleaser for a study group or a staff room.
This is one of the few food spots where Blue Light Card holders (15%) save more than students (10%).
Wenzel's
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
If you need something to eat on the move, the Wenzel's bakery counter has savoury pastries and sandwiches ready to take away.
Hotel Chocolat
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Hotel Chocolat, the British chocolatier, is a reliable stop for a last-minute present, with boxed selections and chocolate slabs to choose from. Nobody needs to know if the discounted box ends up being for you.
4. Refresh your wardrobe with a student card
Student discounts on clothing and accessories run from 10% to 20% across these eleven retailers, and four of them limit the offer to full-price stock or a specific discount app.
Levi's
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Levi's matches Ray-Ban for the biggest student fashion discount in this guide, and you can spend it on jeans in a wide range of fits or a denim jacket to go with them.
Ray-Ban
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off for students, 20% off for members, and 21 to 26% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Blue Light Card holders do best at Ray-Ban, where their discount ranges from 21% to 26% depending on the purchase, while students and members get 20%. The shop focuses on the brand's own sunglasses and optical frames.
Sunglass Hut
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for students, and 21% off for Blue Light Card holders.
With designer and sports sunglasses from a mix of brands, Sunglass Hut gives you more to compare in one place. If you're set on a particular pair of Ray-Bans, it's worth checking both shops, as the discounts differ.
Hawes & Curtis
Location: Upper Mall, Multi-Storey Car Park. Fenwick Car Park, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for students, and 22% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Hawes & Curtis is best known for its shirts, and the discount pays off when you're putting together a work wardrobe or need something sharp for an interview. Suits and accessories for men and women are part of the range too.
Moss
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders, using a code from your discount app.
The Moss discount comes as a code generated in your student or Blue Light Card app, so have the app open when you reach the till.
Men's suits and formalwear for weddings and other occasions make up the bulk of what's on the rails.
Reserved
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off full-price items for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Only full-price items count at Reserved, where the everyday clothing for women, men and children is discounted for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Fenwick
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students.
Fenwick is a department store with designer fashion and beauty under one roof, and the student discount is its only offer in this guide.
Anthropologie
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off full-price items for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Anthropologie's colourful, eclectic mix of clothing and homeware is the kind of shop you go into for a dress and leave with a candle as well. Sale items are left out, as the discount only applies to full-price stock.
Intimissimi
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Intimissimi's Italian lingerie and nightwear make a thoughtful gift, and the discount works whether you're buying for someone else or for yourself.
Accessorize
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students.
A new bag or a piece of jewellery from Accessorize can finish an outfit, and either one wraps up well as a small present for a friend.
The North Face
Location: Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Prince Charles Drive, London NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students through UNiDAYS only.
Students need a UNiDAYS account for The North Face discount, and setting one up before you visit saves time at the till.
Outdoor jackets and fleeces are what the brand is known for, which makes it a natural stop before the weather turns.
5. Save on shoes and trainers
Six shoe shops feature in this section, and Clarks is the odd one out, with a saving based on how much you spend.
Clarks
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off when you spend £70 to £99, and 20% off when you spend £100 or more.
Spending between £70 and £99 at Clarks brings 15% off, and the saving rises to 20% once your total reaches £100.
Families tend to pass that threshold quickly when buying school shoes for more than one child at the same time.
Dune
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross.
The deal: 20% off for students, and 15% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Dune's 20% student discount matches Timberland as the highest for shoes in this guide. The range covers heels and boots for evenings out, along with flats and bags for everyday wear.
Skechers
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FE.
The deal: 15% off for students, and 20% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Long days on your feet are what Skechers' cushioned trainers and casual shoes are designed for, and Blue Light Card holders are the ones who get 20% off here.
Timberland
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross.
The deal: 20% off for students, and 10% off for Blue Light Card holders.
The wheat-coloured boot is the Timberland design most people recognise, and the shop also carries outdoor clothing for a wet British winter.
Students come out ahead here, saving double what Blue Light Card holders do.
Carvela
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross.
The deal: 10% off for students, and 20% off for Blue Light Card holders.
For heels and bags with a bit of glamour, Carvela suits Blue Light Card holders in particular, since they save twice as much as students.
Foot Locker
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Foot Locker's range of sportswear and footwear from major sports brands is discounted by the same amount for students and Blue Light Card holders.
6. Book beauty treatments and haircuts at a discount
These six beauty, hair and wellbeing offers range from 5% at Holland & Barrett to 40% at Laser Clinics UK.
Laser Clinics UK
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FD.
The deal: 40% off full-price treatments for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Laser hair removal and skin treatments are the focus at Laser Clinics UK, and the 40% discount on full-price treatments is the largest percentage saving in this guide.
Booking a consultation first lets you talk through which treatment suits you before you commit.
The Perfume Shop
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FY.
The deal: 15% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
On a bigger bottle of perfume or a gift set, The Perfume Shop's discount adds up quickly, and the choice of designer fragrances covers presents for most people on your list.
Superdrug
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Make-up, skincare, toiletries and everyday health essentials are things you buy again and again, which is why a regular discount at Superdrug adds up over a year.
The Body Shop
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Gift sets from The Body Shop are a dependable birthday present, and the discount works just as well on skincare and bath products for yourself.
Holland & Barrett
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students, and 5% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Holland & Barrett gives students twice the discount it offers Blue Light Card holders, on a range of vitamins, supplements, health foods and natural beauty products.
Regis
Location: Upper Mall, Multi-Storey Car Park, Brent Cross, NW4 3FY.
The deal: 10% off one service for students and Blue Light Card holders, from Monday to Thursday only.
Regis limits its salon discount to one service booked from Monday to Thursday, so a weekday cut or colour is the way to use it.
7. Kit out your home and bookshelf
Two of the five offers in this section depend on how you verify your student status, and Miele's discount changes with the size of the purchase.
Miele
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off purchases under £1,000 and 20% off purchases over £1,000, for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Replacing a washing machine or a dishwasher is where the Miele discount helps most, since purchases over £1,000 get 20% off and anything under that gets 15%.
Oliver Bonas
Location: A11-A12, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Prince Charles Dr, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students through Student Beans only, and 15% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Oliver Bonas is a design-led shop for fashion, jewellery, homeware and gifts with a playful look.
Students have to verify through Student Beans to get their discount, while Blue Light Card holders save a little more at 15%.
TG Jones
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FB.
The deal: 10% off for students and Blue Light Card holders.
Picking up a last-minute birthday card or new notebooks before term starts is a quick job at TG Jones, which also stocks books and magazines.
Miniso
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for students.
Stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts on a student budget turn up all over Miniso, between the plush toys, stationery, beauty accessories and small gadgets.
Waterstones
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 5% off for students with a Waterstones Student Card only.
The Waterstones discount only works with a Waterstones Student Card, so it's worth signing up for one before you reach the till. There, you can find books for every age, as well as some gift options.
8. Make the most of your Blue Light Card
Many of the retailers earlier in this guide also offer Blue Light Card savings, while these seven keep their discounts for Blue Light Card holders alone.
Neom
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Neom's scented candles and bath and body products are designed around wellbeing, and the 20% discount is one of the more generous Blue Light Card offers at Brent Cross.
H.Samuel
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 20% off full-price items for Blue Light Card holders.
Jewellery and watches at full price from H.Samuel come with the Blue Light Card discount, a welcome saving on an anniversary or birthday gift.
Phase Eight
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Wedding guests and anyone with a party coming up will find dresses and occasionwear at Phase Eight, where Blue Light Card holders save 15%.
Hobbs
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Hobbs takes a classic British approach to women's tailoring and dresses, which suits a workwear refresh as much as a special occasion.
Bubble CiTea
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 15% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Fruit teas and milk teas are mixed to order at Bubble CiTea, with your pick of toppings, and Blue Light Card holders save 15% on each cup.
Sushi Dog
Location: Prince Charles Dr, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for Blue Light Card holders.
Sushi for a lighter bite between shops is on the menu at Sushi Dog, where Blue Light Card holders take 10% off their order.
The White Company
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The deal: 10% off for Blue Light Card holders with a voucher bought through the Blue Light Card app.
The White Company's Blue Light Card discount works differently from the rest: you buy a voucher through the Blue Light Card app, and it generates a code to use in store.
The shop covers bedding, homeware, candles and clothing in white and neutral tones.
Plan a money-saving trip to Brent Cross
All of these deals are under one roof at Brent Cross in North London, so a birthday freebie and a discounted lunch can fit into the same afternoon.
Parking at the centre is free, and EV drivers can charge at the RAW Charging points while they shop.
Our plan your visit page covers getting to Brent Cross by car, bus, train or bike.
