About
British
Luxury

UK luxury is a byword for quality, creativity and heritage. By harnessing the storied histories of their brands to sustainable, forward-looking business practices, these companies are the platonic ideal of the best of British business. It is a £81bn powerhouse industry, which supports 454,000 jobs across the UK and generates 3.7% of UK GDP. Its highly innovative, creative, export-led approach is a driver of growth and prosperity for the UK while promoting British design and craftsmanship to the world.

£81bn
powerhouse industry
454,000
jobs across the UK
3.7%
of UK GDP

Business Practices

Across the sector, there are several unifying business practices that unite all luxury brands.

Creativity, Craft & Quality

A commitment to creativity, craft and quality – often with a focus on domestic manufacturing

Brand
Protection

Safeguarding of brand and designs through intellectual property

Sustainable Practices

A focus on sustainable business practices that prioritise long-term success

Selective Distribution

Luxury brands carefully choose how and where their products are sold

International Consumers

An international customer base and export-focused business

Investment in Digital & Tech

Investment in digital and technology to improve customer experience

A Growing Sector

United by a business model, the UK’s world-leading luxury sector is a significant driver of prosperity across the country. As well as delivering growth, it also contributes to our soft power overseas, and supports the creative and culture sector.
Over the last 5 years, UK luxury has grown at a rate of 11% a year, nearly three times the UK’s growth rate. What is more, this already successful sector is projected to grow even further. With the right support, the sector could be worth £125bn by 2028.
£56bn
Exports

The UK luxury sector's total exports are £56bn, up 45% in 5 years

11%
Growth

The UK luxury sector is growing at a rate of 11% annually

£25.5bn
Contributions to the Exchequer

The UK luxury sector contributes £25.5bn to the Exchequer (based on direct and indirect employment)

£105bn
Turnover

The UK luxury sector is forecast to be worth between £105bn to £135bn by 2028

British Luxury Stories

A series of short films that uncover the untold stories of UK’s most innovative luxury brands, Love Letters was produced for Walpole by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions and supported by the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign.

Skydiamond

Diamonds in the sky

Sun, wind, rain, and atmospheric carbon captured from the sky are the ingredients for Skydiamond’s diamonds, created in the heart of Gloucestershire in England. The diamonds are the same composition as those mined from the ground and have the added benefit of extracting harmful gases from the air.

Core by Clare Smyth

Putting vegetables at the Core of cuisine

Raised on a Northern Irish farm, chef Clare Smyth learned the value of growing quality produce from early on. Now, in her three Michelin star restaurant Core, she elevates produce from across the UK and celebrates the farmers that grow it.

Heatherwick Studio

Why meaningful spaces matter

From a park rising above New York’s Hudson River, to a Singapore high-rise overflowing with verdant gardens – architect Thomas Heatherwick’s designs integrate with nature to create innovative and sustainable spaces all around the world.

McLaren Automotive

Engineering a more sustainable future

With a long history of developing technology to build a more sustainable future, across both racing and road cars, McLaren Automotive is pioneering innovative approaches in the automotive sector to help protect our planet.

Bremont
2nd July 2025

The Time is Now

Determined not to let British watch craftsmanship become a thing of the past, two brothers are revitalising an industry rich with history. Their passion, precision, and pioneering spirit prove this trade is right at home.

Kathryn Sargent

The Story of the Suit

London's Savile Row is an iconic destination for tailoring, home to the best bespoke and made-to-measure suits in the world. Kathryn Sargent is the first female tailor on the Row; walk with her down this historic Mayfair street to discover the magic of the bespoke British suit.

Mulberry

Can a Bag Help Save the World: Fashion, Farming and the Future

Iconic British brand Mulberry is embedding principles of transparency, regeneration and circularity across its supply chain to create signature leather bags that have a positive impact and are made to last.

The Lakes Distillery

Crafting Every Drop

Tucked away in an historic farmstead in the stunning English countryside of the Lake District, is a distillery with a difference. This is a story of a path being forged by The Lakes Distillery's master blender Dhavall Gandhi, who is passionately crafting an opulent whisky with a unique flavour as he aspires to put England on the whisky-making map.

Jo Malone London

Healing Through Horticulture

Renowned for crafting exquisite fragrances, the power of nature is integral to the philosophy of Jo Malone London. But how can the wonders of nature be adopted to improve mental health and wellbeing? Jo Malone London's belief in cultivating kindness has its roots in British gardens...

London Sock Co

Best Feet Forward

They might be a humble clothing item, but socks have the power to make a statement about their wearer and tread a sustainable path. With an emphasis on circularity and the introduction of recycled materials, the London Sock Company mixes style with substance.

Dunhill

Re-Imagining Modern Masculinity

What it means to be a modern man is a concept that is constantly evolving – and so too is luxury menswear brand, dunhill. From founder Alfred Dunhill's original inspiration in 1893, to new creative director, Mark Weston's vision for the future, this pioneering heritage brand has always had innovation at its core.

Bicester Village

The Magic of Shopping

With a similar footfall to Buckingham Palace, Bicester Village is the home of retail royalty and also upcoming talent. Discover how Britain's iconic outlet shopping centre is keeping the magic of shopping alive by curating artistic spaces within its villages to champion young designers and artists.

Molton Brown

Closing the Luxury Loop

Goodness is not just a feeling, but an act - and Molton Brown is continually evolving. Passionate about circularity and reducing single-use plastic, its iconic packaging is being reimagined with longevity in mind. From creating refillable glass bottles to incorporating recycled plastic across its ranges, it's about curating experiences that last.

The Balvenie

Old Traditions, New Directions

In the small Scottish burgh of Dufftown, the historic Balvenie Distillery has been maturing its craft across generations. There is no book on how to make The Balvenie Single Malt, instead it is passed on by hand and by story from master to apprentice. Passing his whisky secrets down the line of succession, malt master David Stewart  is inspiring the next generation by combining historic customs with modern passion and flair.

The Londoner

London’s New Landmark

The golden age of the grand hotel is returning. A project in the heart of London’s West End is seeking to embody the creative spirit of the area, collaborating with artists and creators in a hotel that will reflect the vibrancy and bright lights of the city it sits in when it opens in September 2021.

Bentley

Updating Tradition

Luxury is as much about process as the product itself. This century-old luxury car manufacturer is decarbonising its processes with the aim of becoming carbon-neutral. Discover the people pioneering a new image for Bentley, a brand steeped in tradition.

What is Luxury?
Business Practices
A Growing Sector
British Luxury Stories

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