Staycation swaps: Shop ‘til you drop
The fashion capitals of the world are vibrant places and luckily for you, London isn’t too far. To make all your shopping-related dreams come true, here are the best shopping spots in the UK.
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No trip is complete without a day (or two) of shopping, but you can experience the best shopping without flying to Paris, Milan or New York. From Harrods to Bicester Village, here’s our pick of the top shopping spots for your next staycation.
Swap the streets of Barcelona for York’s Shambles
While Europe is known for its historic shopping centres, The Shambles in York wins the prize for being its best-preserved medieval retail hotspot!
Rumoured to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter it’s stuffed full of restored timber-framed buildings, their upper floors overhanging the narrow streets. Once the domain of a rather unappealing open-air slaughterhouse and numerous butchers’ shops, The Shambles has diversified! Ignore the meat hooks and focus on the independent boutiques, artisan food stores and pretty tea rooms instead.
Swap Shakespeare & Co for Persephone Books in Bath
Bookshop chains are one thing. You know what you’re getting, wherever you are in the world. Independents are something else: uniquely personal, quirky and charming, rather like Persephone Books in Bath. It’s the perfect alternative to battling the queues at Paris’s famous bookshop.
Described as “a gem of a place” by the New York Times, categories start with ‘Adultery’ and end with ‘WWII’. There’s also a calendar of events and A Book a Month, their book subscription service. Persephone Books is a publisher too, reprinting neglected titles, many by women writers.
Swap Copenhagen’s vintage shops for Brighton’s boutiques
The global village of vintage includes Copenhagen, Istanbul and Mexico City, according to Vogue. Not exactly a staycation fit. But that’s where hip and trendy Brighton comes in – and we do like to be by the seaside!
Wolf and Gypsy and Snoopers Attic were both picked out by Cosmo as must-visits, but there are plenty more to explore around The Lanes and beyond. If you want to pick up some designer fashions, extravagant eveningwear or an outrageous 1950s’ Hawaiian shirt, look no further!
And this being Brighton, the nightlife is not to be missed, so book into a hotel and make a weekend of it!
Swap Fifth Avenue for Harrods
New York’s Fifth Avenue. It’s home to the iconic Saks Fifth Avenue but you don’t need to travel across the pond for a luxury shopping experience. Here in the UK, we have our very own iconic shopping spot – Harrods.
As one of the world’s leading department stores, Harrods is a must-visit when you’re in London. Whether you’re searching for your dream designer handbag or just want to browse around for the day, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. You can also dine in spots like the Gordon Ramsay Burger restaurant and the Harrods Tea Room – perfect for a quintessential British experience.
And if you’re in London during Christmas time it’ll be hard for you to miss the building which is always adorned in stunning lights.
Swap Mall of the Emirates for Trafford Centre
Forget about Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. It’s all about Manchester’s Trafford Centre instead.
The famous city isn’t just known for its popular football clubs but also for its renowned shopping centre which is home to stores like Selfridges, John Lewis and Stradivarius. You’ll also find plenty to keep the little ones entertained while you shop, including bowling, adventure golf and SEA Life. And yes, these are all located inside the shopping centre!
Swap the streets of Madrid for Bicester Village
Versace. Prada. Gucci. You don’t need to be in Milan to get your hands on a designer item or two when we’ve got Bicester Village in the UK.
Located in Oxfordshire, Bicester Village is a designer outlet shopping centre that has everything you need (in fashion-related terms of course). You’ll find over 160 designer brands here and the best part? You can save up to 60% on the recommended retail price.
So, you’ll be able to buy your dream shoes or gifts at an amazing price (and maybe spend the money you’ve saved on another item instead).
Swap Japan’s vintage shops for Portobello Road Market
Thrifting and vintage shopping. It’s what all the cool kids do. But the good thing is that Japan isn’t the only country with quirky, independent stores.
Of course there are many reasons to visit Japan but if you can’t get to Tokyo anytime soon, you can still do a spot of vintage shopping in London’s very own Portobello Road Market.
Take note that on Saturdays (the main day) you’ll find hundreds of antique and specialist shops and stalls and on Fridays you’ll find vintage clothing & accessories on Portobello Green, North Portobello.
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