It used to be one of the extra perks of travelling to Europe, that on your return to the UK, you could stock up on alcohol and tobacco at prices 20% of that in the UK high street.

Nowadays, this benefit is normally only offered if you are travelling long haul on intercontinental flights from the UK, and even then the Airport's shops increase their prices only giving you a small discount. 

However, there are still a few places very close to the UK where duty free shopping is still available with bargains to be had without having to suffer the long haul flight. One such location is the duty free island of Alderney, which seems to benefit from the fact that it is not quite part of the UK or France and revels in its offshore status. 

If you are lucky enough to visit the island, there is a nice snack shop serving coffee, tea and biscuits through a small hatch opposite the check-in desks. What is not quite apparent until you are placing your order, is the huge stock of tobacco, spirits, beer and wine stacked up behind the counter. Don't think that what is visible is all they've got either, I can tell you there's even more stock tucked away in a room at the back! So be sure to ask for the duty free list when having a cuppa.

Alderney is not the only duty free destination, you can also visit Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. All these destinations offering that something special and giving you that old fashioned duty free sweetener when your visit of over and you have to return home.