As one of the UK's leading and most-trusted high-end department stores, John Lewis is esteemed for its carefully curated luxury brands, outstanding customer service and one of the best shopping experiences on the high street.
Put all this together with two cafes, in-house stylists, in-store treatments and events, and handy on-site parking and you've got a winning retail destination. SoGlos rounds up 14 really good reasons to visit John Lewis Cheltenham all through the year.
Exclusive rewards for My John Lewis members
If you aren't already a My John Lewis member, then you're missing out. Members earn bespoke rewards — free tea and cake in the cafe being one of the most coveted; exclusive promotions; special invitations to in-store and online events; early access to trending products before they sell out; and much more.
It's easy and completely free to join online or via the John Lewis app and you simply swipe as you shop. Members can also access its fashion and beauty recycling programmes — take in five empty beauty products or five unwanted clothing items (that don't need to be bought at John Lewis) and receive £5 off your purchase (please note that there's a minimum spend of £20 in home, fashion or beauty to access this discount, and terms and conditions apply — see the John Lewis website for details).
In-house personal fashion stylists
Make shopping for a new season, a special occasion or curating a capsule wardrobe a cinch with the help of one of John Lewis's in-house personal stylists.
Located on the fashion floor for both men and women, the styling team has a dedicated area where you can view new collections, get help choosing what works for you and leave with an outfit that has been expertly styled by a fashion professional. All appointments are free with no minimum spend or obligation to buy. To book a style consultation, visit johnlewis.com or speak to a partner in-store.
Visit the extensive nursery and childrenswear department on the ground floor
It can be overwhelming shopping for a new baby, with all the equipment needed to get ready for the big arrival. At John Lewis, new parents can book an 'All Things Baby' nursery appointment to choose prams and car seats and stock up on all the essentials — with a shopping list, tailored to your budget, emailed after your appointment.
The childrenswear section has a huge range of gorgeous clothing, from newborn sizes all the way up to age 14 years. And for toddlers and older kids with non-stop growing feet, the children's department even offers shoe fittings — ideal for taking some of the back-to-school stress away, too. Book online or speak to a partner in-store.
Stunning beauty hall with a range of treatments available
Many shoppers visit John Lewis in Cheltenham just to browse its incredible beauty hall. It's jam-packed with all the luxury make up, skincare, hair care and perfume brands you'd expect. There's Elemis, Sisley, Kiehl's, Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, Tom Ford and Aveda; plus The Ordinary, Laura Mercier, Hourglass, Bobbi Brown, Lancome, Dior and Estee Lauder, among many others — the hall is a beauty fan's haven.
It also offers a range of bookable services, too, such as indulgent facials with luxe brands Elemis and Dermologica; make up consultations with multiple brands; and brow treatments with Benefit at the brow bar.
Earn points shopping with a Partnership card
With a Partnership credit card, shoppers earn points on every purchase, whether that's the food shop, a day out, the weekly commute or a shopping spree. You get five points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose, and one point for every £4 spent elsewhere.
When you reach 500 points, you'll get a £5 voucher to spend in either John Lewis or Waitrose. To apply you need to be a UK resident aged 18 or over; have 12 months of UK address history; and have an email address and UK mobile number.
Shop accessories and gifts for every occasion
Located on the ground floor next to fashion, you'll find jewellery, gifts and accessories for every occasion.
Shop jewellery from Daisy London, Nina B and Tutti & Co; handbags and accessories from Coach and Radley; and choose special occasion gifts for family and friends from the extensive in-store range — even including a stylish selection of gifts for four-legged friends, too (who are also allowed into the store on a lead!).
Extensive home showroom with all the latest trends and styles
Up on the first floor, the home department takes over most of the space. With furniture, lighting, accessories, fabric, made-to-measure soft furnishings such as curtains and blinds and bespoke flooring — it's everything you might need or want for every inch of the home.
And if you're kitting out a whole room, or even your entire house, John Lewis's home design experts can work with you to create a dream kitchen or bathroom, cosy living room or peaceful bedroom; selecting colours, furniture and accessories tailored to any budget or room size.
Two in-store cafes for an indulgent lunch or afternoon tea
The Place to Eat and Huffkins cafe are the ideal eateries for a shopping pitstop, be it morning coffee, brunch or an afternoon tea for two.
Open every day, The Place to Eat serves up breakfast, hot lunches, drinks and an extensive selection of cakes and cream teas; while in Huffkins bakery and cafe, diners can tuck into lunch, handmade cakes, artisan coffees and afternoon tea topped off with a glass of fizz.
Cutting-edge tech department with all the latest devices
John Lewis is renowned for its tech department, stocking big brands such as Apple, Panasonic, Google and Samsung as part of its extensive selection. And its tech advisors are second-to-none when it comes to help choosing the latest devices.
Also good to know is the store's two-year warranties on most electrical and tech goods, offering consumers an extra year on the industry-standard.
Pick up holiday currency from the in-store bureau de change
Alongside stocking all the holiday essentials, John Lewis Cheltenham also boasts an in-house bureau de change on the ground floor, open seven days a week during store hours. Order and pick up foreign cash for your trip, with 50 different currencies available and no commission.
The bureau also buys back leftover currency too, exchanging it back into pounds at very competitive rates.
Kit out your home in the cookshop and appliance showroom
Handily located next to the home section (perfect for matching up all the details!), the cookshop and electrical showroom are situated next to each other.
Displaying everything from fridge freezers and Dysons, to washing machines, coffee machines and air fryers, John Lewis's appliance buyers have curated a selection of the very best brands and models. While the cookshop stocks glassware, kitchen utensils and cookware; cutlery, dinner services, mugs, food prep items, laundry and storage solutions; and much more.
A sparkling Christmas showcase for the festive season
Once the festive season kicks in, there's nothing nicer than browsing the Christmas departments in some of the big stores — and John Lewis has one of the finest.
With a veritable winter wonderland created each year, a massive section of the first floor is transformed into a dedicated Christmas alley, with rows of glittering baubles, walls of fairy lights and a mini forest of indoor trees to walk among. And there's Christmas events throughout the season to entertain the whole family.
Handy car parking for shoppers that's free for click and collect users
One of the most important considerations for coming into town — where you're going to park and how much it costs per hour! This is taken care of at John Lewis as its Citipark car park is handily located at the back of the store, with direct access straight into the shop.
It's even free for up to 30 minutes for visitors using the click and collect service. And, if you're buying anything big and heavy (or have a lot of bags!), one of the partners will help carry everything to your car for you.
New health clinic on the ground floor
Randox Health recently opened a clinic in the beauty department on the ground floor. It offers extensive in-clinic health checks for men and women, genetic testing and even sports performance testing to help optimise training.
Randox is one of the largest healthcare diagnostics companies in the UK and has been operating for over 40 years — it has state-of-the-art clinics across the UK and Ireland. To book, ask a partner in-store or visit the Randox website.
