With its well-earned Northern cool and a local love for the thrill of the chase in shopping, Manchester has a ton to offer the discerning buyer. Here’s just a taste of what there is to discover in this bustling metropolis.
Designer Centre
For visitors to the UK, obviously the Vivienne Westwood store is a great port of call to make. This classic British designer has recently had quite a bit of success dressing stars such as Christina Hendricks and Helena Bonham Carter in British heritage inspired waist-nipping dresses for the red carpet. High-price shoppers will also find designers such as Burberry, Paul Smith, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and more on the street. For even more labels under one roof, Selfridges, especially its shoe lounge and accessory hall, carries a whole host of other designers.
Independent Shops and Home Grown Food
Manchester’s vast array of smaller independent shops are also definitely worth a gander for out of town visitors. After all, unique items are part of the fun of travelling for shopping. Barton Arcade features a few independent stores within a fully restored Victorian-style glass and iron building, worth seeing for the architecture alone. For the foodie, the city hosts a number of delis and farm stores, perfect for getting some of the freshest food the surrounding countryside has to offer.
Unique Fashion
Followers of slightly quirkier takes on fashion will also find a lot to like about Manchester. Afflecks is the king of the city’s subculture fashion, with 50 independent outlets operating within the building. Whether you’re on the lookout for some sky-high shoes, retro homeware or fashion from the future, someone in the area probably sells it. The city is also the place to be for vintage shoppers. The Manchester Vintage Fashion Market gives buyers a chance to get their hands on some really interesting vintage pieces on the third Saturday of every month, while stores such as Cow, Retro Rehab and Pop Boutique also stock some of the greatest sartorial hits of past decades.
Need a change of scene on the highstreet? The city’s central location within the UK makes it a brilliant choice for a number of regions across the country for an overnight holiday shopping trip. Manchester’s airport hotels are also a very easy and comfortable way to make a quick shopping trip by the city – especially when planning to shuttle a number of bags between the hotel room and the airplane.
