Top UK shopping cities outside of London

Shopping is one of the main pastimes of British people and every city and town in the UK is home to an array of stores. From designer boutiques to quirky local shops, it’s not just London that makes the UK a shopping Mecca for the global population. A number of other cities have made their mark as shopping hotspots.

A stay in Manchester offers the same range as London, with everything from designer shopping to vast malls and specialist markets. The Trafford Centre is well known for housing a huge number of retailers as well as a dining hall complete with stage and swimming pool.

If that’s not enough, Manchester is also home to the Arndale Centre and the Triangle Shopping Centre. For designer labels take a wander down King Street or for something a little more edgy or unusual head to Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter.

Liverpool is fast becoming a shopping heaven for the North West. An increasing number of designer and boutique outlets have popped up alongside traditional markets and shopping centres, making this a city with something for everyone.

The new Liverpool One centre is a taste of the shopping mall of the future. On top of the well-known stores, designer labels and extensive choice of restaurants, it’s also home to a 14-screen cinema. Finding accommodation in Liverpool has never been easier either, with a number of new hotel chains opening up around the complex, such as the new Hilton and Holiday Inn.

As the second-largest city in the UK after London, Birmingham is the shopping capital of the Midlands. As one of the most culturally diverse places in the country, the city offers a wider and more exciting selection of shops than other places.

The Balti Triangle is home to a number of shops selling Asian goods and clothing and also has a number of celebrated places to eat afterwards. Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter is a unique place to shop and it’s where 40% of the UK’s jewellery is produced.

For Welsh shoppers, there’s no reason to traipse to London when everything you need is in Cardiff. Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades exist seamlessly amid modern and dynamic shopping centres.

Cardiff Market is a vast, covered Victorian market which sells everything from clothes and household goods to food or music. For vintage and boutique shopping, visit the High Street or Morgan Arcades, where you can find a selection of one-off items from dresses to pieces of furniture.

As one of the UK’s oldest and most visitor-friendly cities, Bath has moved with the times impeccably to offer shoppers a choice of traditional shops and spanking new shopping centres. From the boutique stores of Upper Town to the hidden gems of the Artisan Quarter, Bath boasts a great selection of shops. The new SouthGate shopping precinct is perfect for those who prefer all the big names in one place.

Brighton is so much more than merely a seaside city. It’s home to a selection of vintage shops and fashionable boutiques as well as a number of well-known stores.

The famous ‘Lanes’ is where shoppers will find unusual gifts, clothes and jewellery as well as number of celebrated eateries. The Churchill Square Shopping Centre is the place to go when it’s raining, with over 90 stores and restaurants to peruse.

Glasgow offers shoppers a little bit of everything and it’s not just the shops but the whole experience which is worth visiting for. It is one of the friendliest places in the UK and there are also a number of funky bars to relax in after hitting the stores.

For designer and boutique shopping in Glasgow, head to the glass-roofed Princes Square or the nearby Italian Centre. Alternatively, the Barras flea market is the place to pick up something unusual or perhaps just a great bargain.

While London has its attractions, they’re not a reason to discount the fabulous, funky and eclectic shopping offered by many of the UK’s other major cities. Whether it’s vintage in Brighton or the future of shopping in Liverpool One, you can find something different and appealing all over the country.