Vape Shop Near Me - The Different Places to Buy Vapes & E-Cigarettes


By James Powley


Some of the information in the following blog is based on external, third party sources and is for educational/informational purposes only. Such content is not intended to be representative of the products sold on this website.

Not sure about the best place to buy e-cigarettes in the UK? Sure, you could sit down at your computer and search for “vape shop near me”, but there are a wide variety of places that sell vaping equipment to consider. From specialised vape shops to supermarkets, plenty of retailers sell vaping equipment.

No matter where you buy your vape devices, there are a couple of things to watch out for. When you buy, you may want to double-check the products to make sure that they’re licensed – packaging tends to be a good giveaway. Check the authenticity stickers or labels, which can usually be found on the side of the product, and make sure they match up to the manufacturer’s authenticity address.

There are stringent regulations around the sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids in the UK, and all e-cigarettes and e-liquids have to be notified to the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) before they can be sold. Furthermore, e-liquids sold in the UK have to meet specific requirements (for example, e-cigarette tanks cannot have a capacity of over 2ml, the maximum volume of nicotine-containing e-liquid in one refill container is 10ml, the maximum nicotine strength cannot exceed 20mg/ml). If you encounter e-liquids that exceed these concentration limits, there’s a good chance that they’re counterfeit or unlicensed.[1]

It’s also worth remembering that - since the legal vaping age in the UK is 18 - you may need to provide proof of ID before you purchase a vape device or e-liquids, whether you’re purchasing from a vape shop, an online store, supermarket, or other retail outlets.

If you want to know more about where to buy vape supplies, read on.
 

Vape Shops

The popularity of specialist vape shops has exploded in recent years. Across the UK, there are thousands of these types of stores dotted across high streets and shopping centres. As such, they’re an obvious choice for people looking to buy vape supplies.

Vape shops typically sell all types of vape supplies, from mods to e-liquids, cases to starter kits, their product range revolves around vaping. For those who have recently switched to vaping from smoking, vape shops are probably the best bet. The staff will be happy to walk you through everything they need to know, helping you find the right products and supplies.
 

Supermarkets

Vape supplies are often sold at supermarkets. The main benefit here is simple – the convenience. You can pick up devices and e-liquids while you shop; no need to go out of your way to go to a specialist store. However, it’s important to note that the product range may not be as varied as other retail outlets.

Many of the major supermarket chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury's sell vapes and associated products, and unless you live in a remote location, you’ll probably be able to find at least one or two supermarkets near you. Of course, larger supermarkets are the best option, and a superstore in a retail park will probably have a greater selection than a smaller city centre shop such as your local Co-op.

When buying vape supplies from a supermarket, you’ll probably find them sold alongside tobacco products and similar goods behind the counter, and depending on the retailer, they may be kept out of immediate sight like cigarettes. Some supermarkets however have chosen to display vaping equipment on the shop floor, allowing customers to browse for themselves.[2]
 

Online

Of course, you don’t need to visit a physical store to buy vaping supplies. Instead, you should be able to find plenty of different sites selling vapes and associated products online.

One benefit of buying supplies online is that you can search for something that meets your exact requirements. Plus, there will often be a wider range of products available online than you’d find in a vape shop or supermarket. If you’re on the hunt for a particular e-liquid, for example, you might have more luck searching online than heading out to your local store.

Remember, age verification checks will be necessary before you’re able to make a purchase online.
 

Petrol Stations and Convenience Stores

Supermarkets and specialist vape shops aren’t the only physical retailers that sell vaping supplies. Many petrol stations, convenience stores and newsagents will stock them too.

If there’s no vape shop or supermarket nearby, there’s probably a petrol station or a small retailer that will sell a basic selection of vapes and e-liquids. You won’t get the same level of choice as you would at a specialist vape shop, but these stores can be useful if you want to top up your supplies while you’re out and about.
 

Heated Tobacco & Where to Buy

You can also find alternatives to vaping, like heated tobacco products, at many of the same types of retailers as we’ve mentioned above.

As with vaping supplies, you can buy IQOS at supermarkets and convenience stores – if you’d like to find a shop near you, head over to our Find My Nearest IQOS Store locator.

If you're travelling abroad and want to know where you can buy vapes abroad, what the rules are and other essential information, visit our ultimate vaping guide

[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-cigarettes-regulations-for-consumer-products

[2] https://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/vaping/sainsburys-leads-move-towards-displaying-e-cigs-on-shop-floor-/590321.article

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