What is Black Friday 2018? When is it? And where can I get the best deals in the UK?

The time is nearly upon us when retailers all over the country offer up some great discounts on your favourite products.

Yep, Black Friday is approaching, and with billions spent in previous years, this years, it's sure to be as popular as ever.

But what exactly is Black Friday? And where can you get the best deals?

We've put together a handy guide for everything you need to know.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is an annual shopping bonanza, first launched in the USA, the day after Thanksgiving.

It's a time when retailers unveil huge reductions on products ahead of the Christmas period.

Originally a one-day event, many retailers now offer sales and deals in the week leading up to it, thanks to its huge success.

A number of shoppers grab their bargains online so websites often receive huge levels of traffic on the day; huge queues often form outside popular stores on the high street as well.

When is Black Friday 2018?

Black Friday falls on Friday 23 November this year and many retailers – from fashion to homeware – will be announcing deals soon.

Major tech retailers - including Argos, Currys and Amazon - will be launching deals on top TV brands, such as Samsung, LG and Sony, while there are set to be plenty of bargains on 4K Ultra HD TVs and LG TVs too.

However, take note: e-stores often reveal their Black Friday sales in the lead up to the day itself. Make sure you check-in regularly so you don't miss out.

What time does it kick off?

If you’re shopping online, you can expect most bargains to appear on major retail websites at midnight, while the majority of the UK’s high street shops will open at 6am to reveal their discounted products.

There are, however, already plenty of live deals - visit such sites as Amazon, Argos and Currys to find them.

Where can I shop the best deals?

For many shoppers, e-commerce site Amazon is the first port of call, and for good reason: in the past, it has featured discounts of up to 87 per cent.

Other big discounters include Argos, John Lewis, Very, Currys, Littlewoods, and mobiles.co.uk.