Shop and Browse
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Bond Street in London is a byword for luxury and designer goods, including fashion, watches, jewelery and shoes. There's a combination of upmarket English brands such as Asprey and DAKS, as-well as the usual parade of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Prada to choose from, a some decent art galleries selling contemporary painting. Look out also for independent jewellery designers, who will happily make bespoke items for you - at a price. If you can afford it, it's a shopper's paradise. If not, you could always try celebrity spotting to pass the time.
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Covent garden is a popular destination for shoppers seeking up-market designer clothes and edgy fashion. The area generates its own youthful energy, with many independant shops selling everything from copyright free images to antique garments, and larger chains such as Diesel, Jones Bootmaker and Reiss. There's a good selection of places to eat such as Belgo - a huge basment restaurant selling Belgian food served by staff dressed in monk-like outfits, and a good selection of other food ouitlets and pubs. Check out London Graphics Centre for art and design materials.
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Step out of Sloane Square tube station and walk straight ahead onto the
Kings Road – fashion epicentre of the swinging 60’s, and home to
Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s shop “Sex” in the 70’s. The Kings Road isn’t on the edge any longer, but being one of Lonodon's wealthiest districts, it does have a very
good selection of clothes and shoe shops, and an atmosphere which you
will either love or hate (Think women wearing sunglasses when it’s
cloudy).
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Borough Market is busy, noisy and bursting with wonderful produce.
If you’re not familiar with the produce on the stalls, or you’re not
sure how to cook it, just ask: the traders will be delighted to tell
you about their specialities, where they come from and how to make the
most of them. The Market sells some expensive delicacies but there are also lots of
delicious cheaper cuts of meat and good-value seasonal fish, vegetables
and fruit.
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Arguably the most famous department store in the world, Harrods sells
everything you would expect and more. You can buy anything here – and
if it isn’t in stock, they will order it for you, whether it’s a real
helicopter or a toy one. Even if you aren’t buying, have a look at the
magnificent food hall on the ground floor. The fact that there are a
total of 28 restaurants over 7 floors gives you an idea of the scale
and opulence of this place.
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Shopping in Manchester should satisfy even the most hard to please
consumers and premiership footballers, with everything here from Armani, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Vivienne
Westwood to the warehouse building of alternative stores that is
Affleck's Palace. The city centre is quite small and easy to navigate, with a good starting point being St Anne's Square not far from the Royal Exchange Theatre. Here you'll find most of the up-market smaller shops, with a scattering of big designer brands.
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Glasgow is reputedly second only to London in terms of the quantity and quality of places to spend your cash. The main shopping area in the city centre is formed by the Z-shaped and
mostly pedestrianized route of Argyle, Buchanan and Sauchiehall streets, with Princes Square and the city's poshest malls. Otherwise, make for the West End - or the Merchant City, with its chichi and pricey Italian Centre. In general the Merchant City and West End have more eccentric and individual offerings.
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The landmark Selfridges department store building makes a bold
statement about Birmingham's intentions to attract consumers to the
city centre, and has helped to create a buzz about the place that is
mirrored by other outlets. With other luxury stores such as Harvey
Nichols and a variety of smaller designer boutiques, Birmingham is a great place
for a spot of retail therapy. Check out the Custard Factory Arts Complex for independent clothing and fashion shops.
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Beautiful Bath is a shoppers paradise, with lots of independent boutiques and stores, selling everthing from fashion and jewellery to food, antiques and wine. Check our Sassy and Boo at St Margaret's Buildings, where they sell original 1920's dresses, as well as unique contemporary bags and body products. Why not treat yourself to a bottle of wine at The Tasting Room, where you can try before buying!
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Cardiff has a good mix of high street shops and an interesting Victorian covered market. The
main shopping thoroughfare is on Queen Street, which
is also home to the Capitol Shopping Centre, with brands including
Karen Millen and Benetton. The Victorian indoor market offers merchandise from fresh fish and Welsh
cheeses to mobile phones. Another place to
visit for locally grown food is the Riverside Real Food Market which
takes place on the Taff Embankment every Sunday.
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