| Unless you are escaping to a desert island for the | | | | coming to Birmingham to see in itself although, having |
| whole of December, Christmas shopping is pretty | | | | said that, it might not be to everyones taste!). As well |
| much unavoidable but if your local shops just aren't | | | | as all the major high street shops including Harvey |
| going cut it this year (and you don't want to rely on the | | | | Nichols and House of Fraser, the well-known jewellery |
| post!), then why not use our guide to head out to the | | | | quarter should sort you out with all your bling! |
| best shopping locations in the UK? Pre-Christmas sales | | | | 6. Spitalfields Market, London |
| are not uncommon now so search around for some | | | | Okay this would be the alternative choice but if you're |
| real bargains. | | | | fed up with the same old stuff in all the usual high |
| 1. Oxford Street, London | | | | street stores then Spitalfields market with it's eclectic |
| Forty million shoppers making their annual Christmas | | | | range of stalls - many with original designs - is definitely |
| pilgrimage every year can't be wrong. People come | | | | worth a visit. Buy your cool cousin an original leather |
| for the lights, the two mile stretch of 300+ shops, the | | | | satchel, your mum a vintage brooch, your niece or |
| extended ranges in many of the international flagship | | | | nephew a trendy printed babygrow or just pick up a |
| stores and the massive amount of choice (Selfridges, | | | | slice of wheat-free Christmas cake. |
| Top Shop, Nike Town, John Lewis, the list goes on). | | | | 7. Newcastle |
| Although they probably don't come for the crowds. | | | | If you like your shopping experience to be on a very |
| Oxford Street is one of London's top tourist attractions | | | | large scale then this would definitely be the place to |
| and is still one of the most popular shopping | | | | visit. The enormous Metrocentre is probably the |
| destinations in the world. | | | | reason most people travel to Newcastle for shopping |
| 2. Manchester | | | | as it's one of largest shopping and leisure centres in |
| England's unofficial second city has the cooler edge on | | | | Europe. North Easterners also have a fondness for |
| many of it's rivals. Not even counting the The Arndale | | | | original designs so as well as the usual high street |
| Centre, this city is a shoppers paradise and is | | | | favourites there is also a wide range of independent |
| crammed full of small niche retailers, vintage/retro | | | | shops and a popular art and craft market each |
| boutiques and shabby chic/boho stores many with an | | | | Sunday on Armstrong Bridge in Jesmond. |
| original Mancunian style. Perfect if you really stuck for | | | | 8. Bath |
| Christmas shopping ideas - just remember to pack the | | | | If it's the quintessential English Christmas shopping |
| umbrella! | | | | experience you are after, look no further than Bath. |
| 3. Brighton & Hove | | | | With it's grand Georgian streets, Roman baths and |
| Even though it's a small city, Brighton & Hove has | | | | beautiful abbey, Bath is very easy on the eye and |
| made it high on the list because of it's amazingly | | | | even the most discerning shopper is well catered for. |
| diverse range of shops from chic boutiques, | | | | As well as all the familiar big name stores, the town |
| contemporary unique fashions to antiques and original | | | | offers a wide range of independent shops and stylish |
| art and jewellery. The more bohemian and trendy | | | | boutiques and a well-organised Christmas Market |
| shops are located in Brighton's North Laines. Wander | | | | running from 26th November to 6th December 2009. |
| the half a square mile of streets and alleys buying 50s | | | | 9. Dublin |
| and 60s kitsch, aspirational lifestyle products or french | | | | Ok, it's not in the UK, but Dublin is a fun and vibrant city |
| reproduction furniture and then stop for a mung bean | | | | and would make an excellent choice for an easily |
| burger at one of the many health and vegetarian food | | | | accessible Christmas shopping destination. It's a very |
| outlets. Designer bargains are to be found in the | | | | compact city with all the shops in walkable distance |
| Brighton Marina and the big name stores are located in | | | | and most of the shopping centred around the |
| Churchill Square. | | | | pedestrianised Grafton Street (shops towards the |
| 4. Edinburgh | | | | upper-end of the market) and St. Stephens Green |
| Edinburgh is a very aesthetically pleasing shopping | | | | Shopping Centre (the usual high street shops). After |
| location and is often considered one of the most | | | | you finished there head for Temple Bar for trendy and |
| beautiful cities in Britain. People brave the cold to come | | | | more unusual clothing, music and art stores (and |
| here and view the sights as well as do their Christmas | | | | probably also a pint of Guinness). |
| shopping. The locals take style and consumerism very | | | | 10. Cardiff |
| seriously and as well as being packed with designer | | | | Even if you're not searching for a rugby shirt or a |
| names (Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, Prada etc) | | | | Welsh Love spoon don't overlook Cardiff as a |
| there are plenty of hip and trendy smaller boutique | | | | Christmas shopping destination. Cardiff is a very |
| shops. | | | | friendly city and is now one of the best shopping |
| 5. Birmingham | | | | locations in the country thanks to the new St. David's |
| England's official second city shouldn't disappoint would | | | | shopping centre £675 million extension. Every |
| be shoppers, it's an easier place to get your bearings | | | | major store is represented in the very impressive "St. |
| than you might think with most shops located in the | | | | David's 2″ but if it's more intimate shopping you |
| newly redeveloped Bull Ring and New Street. | | | | are after try the cute Morgan and Castle shopping |
| Brummies love trendy designer labels but they also | | | | arcades still with their Victorian and Edwardian |
| love a bargain. They also love unusual architecture (the | | | | features. |
| £40 million futuristic Selfridges building is worth | | | | |