Sephora , the global prestige beauty giant and part of LVMH , has reignited its presence in the United Kingdom with a strategic post-reentry expansion—announcing plans to open at least 20 stores by the end of 2026 , reaffirming its ambition to become the culture-forward, household name for beauty in Britain.
After exiting the UK in 2005 due to fierce competition and economic constraints, Sephora returned with a carefully considered strategy in 2022 , first acquiring local e-tailer FeelUnique before launching its
flagship in Westfield White City, London , in 2023 . Turning the Previous Challenge Into an Opportunity Sephora’s Managing Director in the UK , Sarah Boyd , reflected on the turnaround. The expansion is absolutely continuing. The UK is, and frankly has been for a while now, one of the most dynamic retail markets in the world.
Early flagship launches were greeted with fanfare and surging foot traffic; the Trafford Centre store in Manchester saw over 3,000 visitors on its opening day in June 2024 , ranking third globally for Sephora's opening sales and driving a 25.7% footfall surge at the Trafford Centre compared to the same week last year .
The Expansion Pipeline The renewed expansion is rapid— ten UK stores are already open in London, Kent, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, and more , each featuring Sephora’s own-brand products, alongside cult launches like Rare Beauty, Makeup by Mario, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, and GXVE by Gwen Stefani .
The Liverpool ONE location will add another 6,727 sq ft footprint in spring 2025 . Stores in Sheffield, Westgate Oxford, Manchester Arndale, and Cardiff’s St David’s Centre are confirmed for summer and autumn 2025 ; Sephora plans to reach 20…
